Movers and Shakers March 13, 2010

Delta executives change; Blue Cross names senior officer; Schwab gender case resolved

Delta executives change

Tamara Chafin Brandstetter, chief executive officer and president of Delta Dental of Idaho, the state's oldest dental benefits carrier, announced her retirement this week after nearly 30 years. Delta Dental of Idaho's board of directors appointed Jean DeLuca, Delta Dental of Idaho marketing manager, as the new president and CEO, effective March 8.

Chafin Brandstetter's retirement culminates a successful career highlighted by strong leadership and numerous accomplishments, a press release said.

"Thanks to her vision and leadership for the past 29 years, Delta Dental of Idaho has grown from a small dental benefits company to a market leader with a strong mission to give back to Idaho's communities and increase access to dental health for all Idahoans," said Kurt Petellin, DDS, Delta Dental of Idaho board chairman.

As the incoming CEO, De Luca brings more than 24 years of employee benefits experience to her new role, including six years with Delta Dental member company, Oregon Dental Service (ODS). DeLuca joined Delta Dental of Idaho in 2005 and has successfully led the marketing and sales efforts of the organization. Prior to coming to Delta Dental, De Luca was the general manager of Best Choice Administrators, a third party administrator and subsidiary of ODS. She also served as Medicaid Director and Executive Director of the Oregon Dental Foundation. She was awarded her MBA from Willamette University and served on the Idaho Association of Health Underwriters board from 2005 to 2008.

Blue Cross names senior officer

Blue Cross of Idaho has named Bruce Croffy, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, replacing Doug Dammrose, M.D., who is retiring from that position after 13 years.

Croffy joined Blue Cross of Idaho in 2009 and was promoted to senior medical director in October. Prior to joining Blue Cross, Croffy was the national medical director at OptumHealth, Inc., and previously was chief medical officer for HCC Life Insurance Company. After graduating from Tufts University School of Medicine, he practiced internal medicine and gastroenterology in Salem, Mass. for 15 years. He also has a doctorate and master's in biochemistry from Boston College.

"Dr. Croffy's impressive professional background and extensive experience make him the perfect fit as our chief medical officer," said Zelda Geyer-Sylvia, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Blue Cross of Idaho. "We're pleased and fortunate to have him serving on our executive staff."

Schwab gender case resolved

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said this week it has resolved its gender-based hiring class lawsuit against Les Schwab Tire Centers of Washington, et al., and Les Schwab Tire Warehouse, Inc. for $2 million and other corrective measures.

The EEOC's suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (Seattle) claimed that Les Schwab had failed to hire qualified women for tire changing jobs at its stores in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah starting in 2004.

"While the parties have engaged in extensive litigation the past four years, we are pleased to work with Les Schwab to bring this case to a resolution and to start a new era of cooperation," EEOC Regional Attorney William Tamayo said. "This resolution allows Les Schwab and the women who the EEOC represents to move forward."

In addition to the monetary amount, Les Schwab agrees to maintain its anti-discrimination policies and procedures and anti-discrimination training for all its managers, assistant managers and employees about Title VII and sex-based discrimination. The company will also provide periodic reports to the EEOC on its compliance with the terms of the consent decree.

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