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Rex Wallace is a distinguished leader in the Medicare Advantage (MA) industry with over a decade of dedicated experience in Star Ratings. As the founder and CEO of Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC, he excels in helping MA plans develop and implement strategies to enhance their Star Ratings, providing tailored solutions to address unique internal and external challenges. Rex's expertise encompasses all aspects of the Star Ratings program, including member and provider engagement, data collection, reporting, forecasting, and operational improvements.

Before founding his consultancy, Rex led Star Ratings, operations, and member experience for a multi-state 4.5 Star plan, consistently achieving significant improvements. He has also served as a senior advisor to McKinsey & Company and held pivotal roles at Cambia Health Solutions, Universal American, Cigna Healthcare, Marsh, and Aon. Additionally, Rex hosts the "Rising Stars" podcast, interviewing industry experts on Star Ratings. His innovative approach and deep industry knowledge have established him as a trusted advisor and leader in the MA space.

Nate Lucena is the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC, where he develops and implements data-driven strategies to enhance healthcare quality, health equity, and business development across the managed care landscape. He previously worked for Centene Corporation as Staff Vice President, leading Quality Analytics/Data Science, Improvement Strategy, Vendor Management, and Quality RFPs. Notably, he developed an analytic roadmap for CAHPS improvement, resulting in a 40% reduction in customer grievances.
 
Nate holds Master’s degrees in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience/Aging and spent over a decade researching the neural bases of conditions like schizophrenia and dementia before entering managed care Quality. Now, in health care consulting, he brings his passion for equity to bear in helping managed care organizations and health care providers reduce disparities and improve health outcomes.
 
He has served on the Health Equity Technical Expert Panel for the Pharmacy Quality Alliance and assists healthcare organizations in incorporating sexual orientation and gender identity data into health equity efforts, particularly in Medicaid and Medicare populations. A sought-after speaker on health equity, Nate recently chaired the RISE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit and will speak on Health Equity and the Member Experience for LGBTQ Older Adults at an upcoming conference. He is dedicated to advancing health equity through innovative strategies and effective leadership.

Ryan is a proficient Star Ratings expert with over five years of dedicated experience in the Medicare field. Since joining Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC in July 2023, he has been instrumental in partnering with Medicare Advantage organizations to identify challenges, devise strategies, and execute initiatives that enhance Star Ratings performance. His role encompasses data analysis, program management, and strategic planning, ensuring that clients achieve substantial improvements.

Before joining RWC, Ryan was the Program Director for Medicare Star Ratings at Cambia Health Solutions, where he led initiatives to improve quality of care, health outcomes, and member experience for Regence BCBS's Medicare Advantage population across multiple states. His tenure at Cambia also saw him in roles such as Consulting Research Analyst and Data Reporting Analyst, where he played a key role in supporting and coordinating Star Rating performance efforts through robust analytical support.

Ryan's professional journey began in data management and analysis roles at Boston Medical Center and the New England Public Health Training Center, where he focused on public health research and training metrics. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Ryan is deeply committed to leveraging data to inform decision-making processes and enhance outcomes for vulnerable populations, consistently driving operational efficiencies and performance improvements.

Heidi Salerno is a seasoned Member Experience Consultant with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management and 14 years of experience in the Medicare Star Ratings Program. Since joining Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC in September 2023, Heidi has been pivotal in guiding clients to enhance their Medicare Star Ratings through strategic member experience initiatives and comprehensive program management.

Before her current role, Heidi led the National Stars strategy and execution for CAHPS, HOS, and Member Experience at Cigna. As the Stars Customer Experience and Outcomes Director from July 2020 to September 2023, she managed key responsibilities, including contracting, vendor management, analysis, reporting, and developing strategies to improve Star Ratings. Her role required close collaboration with senior leadership to share insights and drive matrix partnerships.

Heidi’s tenure at Cigna also included her role as CAHPS HOS Program Management Senior Advisor from February 2016 to July 2020, where she continued to focus on improving Star Ratings through detailed program management. Additionally, she held positions as a Pharmacy Quality/Audit Specialist and MAPD Customer Service Supervisor, further honing her expertise in the Medicare segment.

Heidi's extensive background in healthcare management and her deep understanding of the Medicare Star Ratings Program make her an invaluable asset to Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC, and its clients.

Angelo Rexach is a highly skilled Medicare Star Ratings Consultant with a Master’s degree in Demography and six years of specialized experience in the Medicare Star Ratings Program. Since joining Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC in January 2024, he has utilized his expertise to assist clients in enhancing their Star Ratings through strategic data analysis and performance improvement initiatives.

Previously, Angelo served as a Senior Data Scientist at MCS Puerto Rico, where he was instrumental in helping the organization become the first plan in Puerto Rico to achieve a 5-star rating. Over his seven-year tenure at MCS, he held various roles, including Data Scientist and Business Analyst, focusing on data-driven strategies to elevate Star Ratings performance. His comprehensive understanding of metrics and analytics has been critical to the program's success.

Angelo's professional journey began in public policy and government affairs, where he gained significant experience during an internship from October 2016 to February 2018. His background in demography and extensive experience in Medicare Star Ratings position him as a valuable consultant in the field.

Jennifer Nguyen holds a Master's degree in Public Health and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. With over a decade of experience in the payer field, healthcare industry, and non-profit sector, she possesses a well-rounded understanding of healthcare quality and outcomes, coupled with a passion for promoting health equity.

Jennifer previously led the Medicare Stars Program at a local carrier, where she played a pivotal role in developing and executing multi-year Stars strategies across multiple contracts. In this capacity, she implemented targeted initiatives to drive quality improvement and optimize Stars performance, ensuring measurable outcomes. As the owner of executive committees and workgroups, Jennifer established strong program governance, fostering collaboration among key stakeholders and embedding a culture of Stars and quality improvement within the organization. Her extensive expertise in both strategic planning and hands-on execution underscores her commitment to advancing healthcare quality and operational excellence through a public health-focused approach.

Paige Caprara holds a Bachelor's degree in Human Development, Family Sciences, and Middle Childhood Education. With a robust career spanning over a decade, she has accumulated extensive experience on both the provider and payer sides of the healthcare quality ecosystem. Paige has played a key role in supporting quality improvement initiatives, enhancing patient outcomes, optimizing revenue capture, and driving operational efficiencies for various healthcare entities, including Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs), and Independent Practice Associations (IPAs).

Her career includes leadership roles at WellCare/Centene Health Plans, where she led a national team of Stars Improvement strategists. In this capacity, Paige focused on implementing strategies to improve healthcare outcomes and elevate Stars performance across the organization’s more than 100 H-contracts. Additionally, her experience extends to business development, as she has contributed to strategic planning and execution, supporting the success of healthcare networks on a national scale. Her work showcases a deep understanding of healthcare quality measures and a commitment to advancing the performance of healthcare organizations through targeted improvement strategies.

Laurie Call is a Project Manager at Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC, with extensive experience in client success, business development, and talent acquisition. Since joining RWC in March 2024, Laurie has managed projects that enhance client satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Laurie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and is a Certified Master Trainer of the Predictive Index. In her current role, she uses the Predictive Index to align RWC clients' talent strategies with their business objectives, leading to reduced turnover rates and enhanced performance. Previously, as a Client Success Manager at Emerge, she crafted data-driven strategies to boost organizational engagement and effectiveness, , helping businesses maximize their investment in their most valuable asset—their people.

Laurie has also held key roles at TalentBridge, focusing on sales, networking, and recruitment. At L3Harris Technologies, she led the talent acquisition strategy for a major manufacturing project, ensuring the timely production of products and securing contracts for future years.

Laura Wilhelm is the Head of Medicaid Practice at RWC where she leads the firm’s Medicaid strategy and consulting efforts. She partners with health plans and stakeholder organizations to expand RWC’s presence in theMedicaid and ACA space and strengthen program performance in an increasingly competitive landscape. Laura holds an MBA from Maryville University of SaintLouis and holds the Certified Foundation certificate from the Association ofProposal Management Professionals.

She has held executive leadership roles at the Centene Corporation and Health Care Service Corporation, where she led initiatives across Quality Improvement, Business Development, New Business Implementation, andEthics & Compliance. During her tenure, Laura oversaw Medicaid product rollouts, cross-functional implementation strategies, and quality withhold revenue capture. She has experience managing end-to-end Medicaid operations, including pre-bid capture planning, RFP development, implementation readiness, and regulatory compliance.

Laura brings strong expertise in Medicaid strategy, quality improvement, and compliance. She has a track record of advancing initiatives that strengthen program performance and align with regulatory expectations.Laura partners with organizations to assess readiness, enhance operations, and develop strategies that improve health outcomes and support long-term growth.Her work includes developing and refining compliance and quality frameworks, supporting accreditation efforts, and helping teams stay ahead of evolvingMedicaid requirements through training, policy development, and strategic planning.

In 2023, Laura launched Wilhelm Strategy & Solutions to support clients across the Medicaid landscape. Since then, she has built a thriving consulting practice with an emphasis on Medicaid RFP development—particularly in the areas of Quality Improvement, EPSDT, HealthEquity/SDOH, Member Engagement, and Care Coordination. Laura also brings expertise in health plan and product strategy, helping organizations design and operationalize solutions that align with state Medicaid priorities. She has served as a Compliance Officer for vendors supporting both Medicare andMedicaid lines of business, providing guidance on compliance program development and ongoing oversight. Her work ensures alignment between proposal strategy and program implementation, positioning clients for success in both competitive procurement and long-term performance.

At RWC,Laura is building out a national Medicaid footprint while helping clients stayahead of regulatory shifts and drive long-term program success. Her unique experience across the RFP, strategy, and implementation lifecycle, combinedwith her operational, compliance, and quality improvement expertise, makes her a trusted advisor and strategic partner in delivering high-impact results.

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Kyra Valdez-Shipp is a transformational healthcare executive passionate about driving innovation in managed care quality and improving patient outcomes. With a foundation as a bedside nurse and years of leadership experience, Kyra offers a unique blend of clinical expertise and strategic vision.

Kyra specializes in designing and implementing quality frameworks that align with regulatory requirements, leveraging data-driven insights, and prioritizing provider engagement and member care. Recognized as a "quality pioneer," Kyra is energized by creating impactful, scalable solutions that elevate healthcare performance and advance care delivery.

Throughout her career, Kyra has led large-scale organizational change, revitalized underperforming programs, and launched groundbreaking quality initiatives. She is known for building collaborative, high-performing teams and fostering cultures of accountability and empowerment.

From improving accreditation outcomes and navigating complex regulatory landscapes to developing real-time HEDIS engines and AI-powered quality platforms, Kyra consistently delivers measurable results that enhance member care and operational efficiency.

Deeply committed to connecting data, people, and processes, Kyra bridges strategy and execution to achieve exceptional healthcare outcomes. Her work has strengthened partnerships with providers, regulators, and stakeholders, positioning organizations for long-term success. With a relentless focus on member advocacy and continuous improvement, Kyra is dedicated to advancing healthcare quality and delivering meaningful, lasting change.

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