Healthcare Professionals

Melissa Monti at Mercer and Dan Minahan at Anthem brought their industry-based insights into healthcare to the CSUN campus (5/4/2023).

CSUN students were lucky to get timely updates on recent trends, such as mental health issues, specialty drugs, and digit health, at a time when companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Apple are heavily investing in healthcare for their business opportunities.

The healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving alongside regulatory changes due to the Inflation Reduction Act, health policy priorities by Biden’s Administration, as well as a public health plan in Oregon and Colorado.

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A great sunny afternoon to host Cole Piccioni, VP Consultant at Lockton Insurance Brokers, whose insights into employee benefits enriched CSUN students’ understanding of the healthcare landscape in the U.S. (5/10/22).

He further engaged students with his perspectives on several healthcare issues, including whether universal health insurance is a viable solution.

Our heartfelt appreciation for his presentation via Zoom due to his recent positive test result on COVID.

We are also grateful to Tim Noonan for his referral that made this event possible. 

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Both Melissa Monti (Principal at Mercer) and Dan Minahan (Executive at Anthem) brought their insights into health insurance to a Zoom class with 24 CSUN students in attendance (Dec. 1, 2021).

They not just elaborated the reasons behind the rising costs of health care in the U.S., but also answered numerous questions from students, including an interesting one about what gets them up in the morning and why they are incentivized for this profession. 

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 The Bolton team led by Scoot Morsch engaged CSUN students with interactive discussions on the future of healthcare (May 5, 2021).

• Scott Morsch, SVP
• Michelle Landrum, Consulting Client Executive – Employee Benefits
• Taylor Bridges, Associate Broker – Employee Benefits
• Melissa Eshaghian, Associate Broker – Property / Casualty
• Michael Koch, Associate Broker – Property / Casualty

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Not only did these five professionals share interesting stories about their career transitions. They also provide real-life perspectives on our national healthcare challenges.

The passion for life is vividly demonstrated in their presentations.  

CSUN Students are also advised to learn how to navigate through change and pivot themselves in this ever-changing environment. 

Below are some of these guests' responses to students' questions. 

• "I suggest you apply to several insurance opportunities including a brokerage like Gallagher or Bolton, as well as insurance carrier opportunities.  The key is to get your foot in the door of the industry.  Once you have some experience, whether a carrier or brokerage, you can advance and move within the industry and even switch between a carrier and brokerage."
• "No matter what path one’s career might take, everyone benefits in having friends and colleagues as resources along the way.  When you need a network but don’t have one, it is too late.  It takes time so start early!"
  
• "The key most any business is looking for is analytical and problem skills, communication skills both written and oral, and a drive and passion for learning new things.  There are many degrees and experiences that can demonstrate one has these in their skills suitcase!"

Leslie McKee, SVP of Aon, sparked interest among 25 CSUN students in the health insurance career paths through an interactive Zoom session (Apr. 22, 20).

As a Health Solution Practice Leader in Southern California, she addressed the traits of different generations in the changing workforce, pointing out the term “weisure” for Gen Y and Z whose life is characterized by a mix of work and leisure.

Leslie guided students throughout her presentation to ponder about some issues of how to take control of our health and how to survive and thrive in the face of a rapidly shrinking job market amid this pandemic crisis.

Her presentation equipped Matadors with an optimistic outlook toward the risk and insurance profession! 

Her goodwill is further indicated in the CSUN Today article "Remote Guest Speakers Enrich CSUN’s Virtual Classes," published on May 8, 2020.

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Leslie McKee, SVP and Southern California Health Solution Practice Leader of Aon, presented to CSUN students about healthcare changes and employee benefits in the U.S. (Dec. 6, 2019).

The lowest unemployment rates on record have affected the retention strategies used by employers in this tight labor market. 

Leslie McKee interacted with students on the subject, so they can get a better picture of the risk and insurance landscape.

At the conclusion of Leslie's visit, CSUN made an "A" hand gesture to appreciate her presentation.  

Vern Menden, Senior Vice President of Health & Benefits Practice at Aon, spoke to Matadors about changing health care landscape in the U.S. (May 9, 2019). His passion for his risk management and insurance career gave students the best example of how to choose what they like out of college. He also shared with CSUN students the importance of work ethic, teamwork, meeting deadlines, and taking initiatives on the job. "Love what you do, work hard, and never give up achieving your goals," Vern said.  

This is not just Vern's third visit to CSUN for the presentation but also his last one because he will retire and start off the next chapter in life this August. 

CSUN students made a hand sign of excellence to appreciate his speech of inspiration. 

Vern Menden, Senior Vice President of Health & Benefits Practice at Aon, provided Matadors with an overview of health care markets in California and some states in the midwest (Nov. 28, 18). His career experience in Brazil opened a window for students to learn healthcare from a global perspective. 

He also shared his perspectives on potential solutions to health care issues in the U.S. 

Matadors posed with a heart-shaped hand sign to express their thankfulness for Vern's presentation. 

Vern Menden, Senior Vice President of Health & Benefits Practice at Aon, interacted with CSUN students about the latest health care reform (May 2, 18). 

With 25 years of experience as a health and benefits consultant, he enriches his presentation with numerous personal career stories and life values.

Mr. Bill Green, Assistant Vice President of Healthcare Professional Liability at Zurich North America, visited CSUN to deliver a talk on health care reforms in the changing landscape of health insurance (Nov. 8, 2017).

Ms. Nadine Nelson Manning, Executive Vice President of Brown & Brown Insurance, talked to Nazarian College students about new changes in the health insurance landscape (Nov. 16, 2015).

Mr. Scott Morsch, VP of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., talked to Nazarian College students about new developments on healthcare reform legislation and regulation (Nov. 19, 2014).

Ms. Ilene Guzman, Associate of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and CSUN alumna, talked to Nazarian College students about the summer internship program at her company (Nov. 19, 2014).

Ms. Nadine Nelson, co-founder of Bestefits Insurance Solutions, talked to Nazarian College students about the impact of the Affordable Care Act on health insurance planning (Nov. 10, 2014).