Meet the Team

Chief Executive Officer

Jim Cusumano

As Chief Executive Officer of Brighton Health Plan Solutions, Jim Cusumano is responsible for the day-to-day running of the business, financial planning and analysis, business performance reporting, Human Resources and risk management functions. He led ownership/debt reorganizations and oversaw efficiency reviews that led to savings of $3 million yearly. Revenue almost tripled during his time at the company.

Prior to Brighton Health Plan Solutions, Jim served as Chief Financial Officer of a startup, National Healthcare Resources, an episode management company focused on managing care for work-related injuries on behalf of property and casualty insurers. During his tenure, the company developed a specialty preferred provider group, built a telephonic case management strategy to manage episodes, and hit $170 million in annual revenue before being sold to Concentra Managed Care. Jim began his career at Deloitte and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and the New York State Society of CPAs.

Jim has a Bachelors in Accounting from Pace University.

President, Labor and Public Sector

Michelle Zettergren

As President of MagnaCare’s Labor and Public Sector division, Michelle and her team work tirelessly to deliver personalized service and custom-fit solutions that put the needs of her clients and members first. Michelle joined MagnaCare in 2017 because of her desire to renew her career-long commitment to Labor with a trusted company that appreciates the value of delivering on its promise to its Labor clients.

Michelle brings over 20 years of experience in the health insurance industry, most recently as Chief Sales Officer at HPOne, and Senior Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for ConnectiCare, a subsidiary of EmblemHealth. Michelle led ConnectiCare’s efforts in the commercial and Medicare segments, with ownership of sales, account management, product, underwriting, group reporting, marketing, communications, and public relations. Prior to ConnectiCare, Michelle spent nearly 14 years at Anthem BCBS in various leadership roles in sales and underwriting focused on Labor.

Michelle completed Labor Relations training with the University of Connecticut’s Office of Labor Relations. She is a certified Mediator and has consulted in numerous Labor negotiations, and has served as an expert witness for Labor in several arbitration and mediation disputes.

Chief People Officer

Julie Bank

Julie is an influential Human Resources leader with more than 20 years’ experience managing all aspects of HR for growing businesses. Since joining the company, Julie has continually developed and implemented strategic approaches to recruiting, hiring, and retaining career-oriented, talented people. She is regarded as a valued strategic advisor to the executive leadership and operational leadership teams.

In prior roles, Julie served as a Human Resources Consultant, managing all aspects of Human Resources for hundreds of employees in multiple locations.

VP, Total Quality Management and Process Improvement

Madhu Belagoor

As Vice-President, Total Quality Management and Process Improvement, Madhu and his team ensure that quality is controlled and sustained in the services offered to the company’s clients, whether it be call center performance or claims processing outcomes. At the same time, his team identifies potential opportunities where their input can help improve workflow to achieve more efficient results.

Madhu has had broad experience across the company’s operations. After joining MagnaCare In 2015, he formed and managed the Quality team until 2019, at which point he went to work on the IT side before returning to Quality in 2022. Whether in IT or in operations, Madhu has been fortunate to work with a very good team with whom he can share his thoughts and contribute his insights—as well learn something different every day.

Madhu came to the United States from India in 2011 as a liaison manager for TriZetto (now Cognizant) and became Director, Quality & Business Planning, before leaving for MagnaCare in 2015. Madhu, formerly of Westbury, Long Island, lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and their young son.

Chief Information Officer

Arun Bhatia

Arun leads the company’s technology operations and infrastructure management. He is responsible for setting the technology vision and introducing new technologies that improve the customer and member experience. By introducing new technology and technology platforms, Arun has gained efficiencies while improving the customer and member experience.

In prior roles, Arun served as Senior Vice President of Information Systems for MagnaCare and Chief Information Officer at Healthfirst.

VP of Enrollment and Eligibility

Wiljanda Boatwright

Senior Vice President, Sales & Account Management

Nick Bonaldo

Nick joined Brighton Health Plan Solutions in 2022 as Senior Vice President, Sales & Account Management in the fields of Labor and Trust, Public Sector, Third Party Administration, Health Plan Administration, Claims Administration, Trust Fund Administration,  401(k) Pensions, Annuities, Health, Technology and Wellness Engagement programs.

Nick has over 15 years of serving the Labor, Public Sector and Commercial markets in various executive level positions.   Nick brings a wealth of experience in Client relationship management, pre and post-merger integration, sales/ sales coaching, business continuity, continuous process improvement, health plan/ TPA operations and team building; working with both regional and national Health Plans as well as TPAs.

Client loyalty and retention are hallmarks Nick’s philosophy along with his unbridled commitment and dedication to excellence.  As a leader, Nick coaches and mentors teams to provide “best in class” Client and future Client experiences.  Equally as important is the drive to create and foster a positive and collaborative workplace culture.  Workplace culture and inclusivity is something Nick takes very serious along with the dedication to create high performing client-focused teams.   This collaborative approach has and will result in long-term Client trust and loyalty.

Nick earned a B.S. in Marketing. Master of Science in Management (MSM) and Master of Business Administration (MBA). He currently holds a Life, Accident and Health license, and Green Belt of Six Sigma Methodology.

General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer

Joseph Brennan

Senior Vice President, Network Solutions

Jennifer Cancellieri

Vice President, Marketing

Rosemary Chowallur

Rosemary uses her deep understanding of the healthcare consumer and customer to deploy integrated marketing programs to drive awareness, growth, and engagement with the company and its portfolio of products. As head of Marketing, Rosemary oversees marketing and sales communications, digital marketing, public relations, and brand strategy.

In prior roles, Rosemary served as the Content & Value Proposition Lead at American Express Global Business Travel, where she built and executed global marketing plans for new product, service, and partner launches targeting small to mid-sized businesses. As a Strategic Consultant at Humana, Rosemary built Humana’s large group employer wellness positioning and led multi-channel, go-to-market campaigns for new wellness product acquisitions and innovations. Rosemary earned her Bachelors in Biology and Anthropology as well as her Masters in Healthcare Management from Union College, and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Vice President, Customer Service

Mark Fintz

Vice President, Claims

Tamara Fuller

In her role as Vice President of Claims, Tamara and her team manage claim operations and client services, processing claims for the company’s self-insured clients. She and her team have the all-important purpose of ensuring that claims are processed quickly and accurately for members and providers while meeting quality measures and adhering to clients’ benefit design.

Prior to arriving at MagnaCare, Tamara worked in the finance industry for JP Morgan Chase and Axa Advisors. During her more than 20 years at MagnaCare, she managed customer service, then jointly customer service and claims, before arriving at her current position. She loves the culture of MagnaCare, the open door policy and access to individuals of all levels, as well as the support and the opportunity to grow within the company.

A former Army reservist, Tamara lives in Queens. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with family and friends, read, shop and attend church activities.

Vice President of Application Support

Joseph Guarino

As Vice President of Application Support, Joseph leads the team that manages the core systems that manages claims adjudication. Major functions of the team include system configuration, integration of enrollment and accumulators, and the reconciliation of client provider rosters. Members of his team play a key role in the implementation of new clients as they are brought onto the platform while also supporting the day-to-day management needs of existing clients. Joseph has also set up an external team that augments the current staff.

Joseph enjoys working at MagnaCare, where there is such a major focus on building and growing the business and enabling the required supporting technology. He began his career in healthcare in 1987 working in outpatient registration at Lenox Hill Hospital. He received his MBA while assuming roles of increasing responsibility at Montefiore Health System, where he was one of original employees of their Care Management Organization. Before joining Brighton, Joseph was the Director of Core Systems at MetroPlus Health Plan.

Born, raised and still living in the Bronx, Joseph has three grown daughters and is a huge baseball fan. Ironically for lifelong Bronx resident, the team he roots for is the New York Mets.

Chief Financial Officer

Vanessa Hargrave

Vanessa is a data driven finance executive with more than 20 years’ experience in the healthcare insurance industry focused on improving financial performance, influencing business partners by better understanding the customer, aligning organizational goals and processes with strategy, and shaping corporate culture.   Vanessa joined Brighton Health Plan Solutions in 2014 as Vice President of Finance responsible for accounting operations, financial reporting, sales reporting and financial planning and analysis.

Prior to joining Brighton, Vanessa served as CFO of a $3 billion Group Insurance business of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America with a focus on dental, life and disability insurance.  Vanessa also served as Vice President of Finance for GHI, an EmblemHealth company. Vanessa began her career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and Financial Executives International.  She has a BSBA in Accounting from Bucknell University.

Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development

Dina Jordan

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Nancy Klotz

As Chief Medical Officer at Brighton Health Plan Solutions, Dr. Nancy Klotz is responsible for all medical affairs and related operations, as well as clinical strategies across various business segments. Dr. Klotz provides oversight of our company’s clinical programs and strategy while addressing client-specific needs.

Dr. Klotz has an impressive background in managed care. Prior to joining Brighton Health Plan Solutions in October 2021, she served as Chief Clinical Officer and held a dual clinical leadership role in managed care and direct care domains at HealthCare Partners and Heritage NY Medical, PC. During her 11-year tenure, she led efforts in areas of utilization management, high-risk case management and disease management, quality and risk adjustment program development, clinical analytics and data management, provider education, contracting support, peer review, and credentialing. Along with 10 years of private practice experience, Dr. Klotz also developed and managed a successful healthcare information technology company, Clinical Data Technologies. Dr. Klotz has spent more than 23 years in various clinical roles at managed care organizations, including Oxford Health Plans/UnitedHealthcare and Fidelis Care New York.

Dr. Klotz is a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and her training includes completion of a B.A. in Biology at New York University, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa; a Doctor of Medicine from Albert Einstein College of Medicine; and a residency in Internal Medicine at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. Dr. Klotz also holds a Master of Business Administration with a healthcare concentration from Quinnipiac University and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

President, Casualty Solutions

Steve Kokulak

Steve Kokulak is a seasoned insurance executive who spent the first half of his career as a litigator and the more recent portion of his career in health care management. Steve joined MagnaCare in 2007 as Director of Workers’ Compensation and No-Fault and is now the President of Casualty Solutions.

His primary responsibilities include driving new business growth, overall retention of existing business and regulatory oversight of the company’s Casualty business. He leads a team of individuals who focus on helping injured workers return to work more promptly while curtailing costs for employers and insurers. Steve is extremely responsive to clients, with whom he maintains close working relationships and who call him directly for problem-solving.

Steve previously served as Senior Trial Counsel for Liberty Mutual and he is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Committee at SIIA. Steve earned a JD from Brooklyn Law and is a member of the New York State Bar.

Vice President of Sales

Tom Malczewski

Vice President, Implementation & Operations

Melissa Mari

As Vice President of Implementation and Operations, Melissa and her team manage new and existing client implementations.  The team is different from our other departments since they work collaboratively with clients, external vendors and all departments within BHPS to facilitate workstreams and manage tasks from integration through execution. With consideration to our unique client population, the team strives to create a positive experience that not only meets project specifications but exhibits a deep understanding of expectations while fostering professional business relationships.

Melissa is an experienced health insurance leader with a broad background in several key functional areas including Sales, Account Management, Operations, and Provider Relations. With over 25 years’ experience she has touched all areas of the industry from allowing her to effectively build high performance teams, define and execute strategies, identify opportunities to maximize efficiencies and process improvement.

In her spare time, she loves to travel and spend time with her family.

Vice President, Labor Relations & Business Development

Joseph Morrone, Jr.

Chief Operating Officer

Brian Murray

Brian has direct oversight and accountability for the company’s day-to-day operations and is responsible for the growth, health, and financial initiatives of daily operations across all lines of business. He ensures that our team delivers solutions that significantly reduce healthcare costs and improve healthcare quality.  Brian is charged with successfully executing the company’s mission and short- and long-term strategies.

Prior to joining Brighton, Brian served as Chief Operating Officer of Anthem’s Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus Plan in New York, where he oversaw operations for a $2 billion Medicaid plan in New York that represented 460,000+ members. From 2012-2014, he ran statewide operations representing more than $600 million in annual revenue as Chief Operating Officer for Anthem’s Amerigroup Community Health Plan of New Jersey. Brian also served as Senior Market Director at WellCare Health Plan of New York. Additional experience includes The Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York Presbyterian Health System and Creative Health Concepts. Brian graduated from St. John’s University with a BA in Speech.

Vice President of IT

Ashan Nilaweera

Senior Vice President, Account Management

Lavender Rouzier

Lavender Rouzier, who serves as our Senior Vice President, Account Management, has extensive experience providing high-touch service to clients. Lavender is highly regarded in the industry for her Labor expertise, her sound advice and her accessibility to her groups. Lavender is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of health plan/third-party administration experience and an extensive background in managing all aspects of Taft-Hartley and Labor plans. Lavender is a trusted Labor expert in the tri-state area and will continuously advocate for her clients.

Senior Vice President of IT

Rajneesh Sethi

Senior Vice President, Account Management

Mike Tufo

Michael Tufo is an industry veteran who first joined Brighton Health Plan Solutions’ MagnaCare division in 1999. He has a comprehensive understanding of all elements of the health care industry. He has experience supporting some our largest, most complex accounts. Throughout his tenured career in health care, Michael has held management positions in project management, process improvement, operations management, account management and sales. He has experience implementing complex TPA groups, as well as vast operations expertise to ensure a smooth implementation process and ongoing account performance.

Vice President, Product and Portfolio Delivery

Shibu Nair

SVP, Strategic Initiatives

Ambai Venkatesa

Senior Vice President, Analytics

Daniel Vaughan

Senior Vice President of Analytics with Brighton Health Plan Solutions since 2021, Daniel Vaughan is an accomplished insurance professional with 25 years of experience within our industry. Daniel is responsible for the company’s risk structure, managing client Stop Loss programs and custom-designing reports for our clients. His team of actuaries and analysts deliver member and trend analysis, assess risk and generate strategic monthly and annual reports. This information supports the advice we offer clients on plan performance, financial risk and benefits strategy.

Previously, Daniel served as the Vice President of Underwriting, Sales Operations and Implementation at EmblemHealth. There he was responsible for large case underwriting of fully insured and self-insured clients, as well as supporting Sales functions, including revenue forecasting, developing automated reporting and underwriting tools and forming new Stop Loss partnership programs. Daniel also worked as the Director of Sales Strategy and Development at ConnectiCare and held several roles over a 13-year span with Anthem, including Manager of Underwriting, Business Change Manager, Data Analyst and other roles.

Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Western New England University.