Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) held its annual meeting of members on Monday, March 28. During the meeting, five board members were re-elected for three-year terms:

  • Leslie Andersen, BCBSNE board vice chair and president and chief executive officer, i3 Bank
  • Anthony Goins, director, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
  • John Mitchell II, Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates PC
  • Steve W. Seline, president, Walnut Radio LLC and Walnut Private Equity Partners LLC
  • Robert Synowicki Jr, executive vice president (retired), Werner Enterprises

Jeffrey Schumacher of Lincoln retired from the BCBSNE board after 22 years of service. To fill the resulting vacancy due to his departure, the board of directors has appointed Kevin E. Vermeer of Ashland. Vermeer most recently served as president and chief executive officer of Iowa-based UnityPoint Health, where he held various leadership roles over the course of his more than 20-year career there.

At the annual meeting of members, BCBSNE board chair Karen Aman thanked Schumacher for his years of service. “I want to thank Jeff for working tirelessly to help advance the organization’s initiatives and solidify BCBSNE’s position as Nebraska’s preferred health insurance company,” said Aman. “I am also pleased to welcome Kevin to the board of directors. He brings a strong leadership background and tremendous industry experience that will help the board support the BCBSNE leadership team’s strategic decisions.”

Other members of BCBSNE’s board of directors continuing to serve are Dr. Dan Ernst, Lincoln; Steven H. Grandfield, Omaha; John B. Jenkins, Omaha; and Anthony F. Raimondo, Jr., Columbus.

“The board’s support over the past year has played a key role in BCBSNE’s ability to be nimble as we continue to navigate the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Steve Grandfield, BCBSNE President and CEO. “For so many people, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska coverage means stability and security when they need it most. Because of the hard work of our employees and the support of our board, BCBSNE is well-positioned to continue to be there for our customers for many years to come.”