From Driving Innovation to Award-Winning Recognition
Blues Perspectives
| 4 min read
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the state’s largest health care provider, invests in and adapts the latest technologies to meet the needs of our members. We cannot meet these needs without a truly outstanding team with visionary leadership. Recently, Blue Cross Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Bill Fandrich was recognized by his peers for the exceptional work that has taken place in our information technology department during his tenure.
Bill Fandrich: Michigan’s Large Enterprise CIO of the Year
Michigan CIO has named Fandrich as its 2021 CIO of the Year in the Large Enterprise category. The Michigan CIO of the Year® ORBIE® Awards honor chief information officers who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership. To have one’s work recognized with an ORBIE is high praise, and the entire Blue Cross team could not be prouder of Fandrich and the IT department’s accomplishments. “This to me is a company and team recognition; this does not happen without the support and commitment of the enterprise. It is a humbling but good recognition for BCBSM on the progress and commitment we have made to deliver innovative and market differentiating solutions. The IT team works very hard, believes in the vision and always focuses on business value creation.” —Bill Fandrich, BCBSM Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer As SVP and CIO of Blue Cross, Fandrich guides our operations team as emerging technologies bridge the gap between the patient and patient care. He has also led the transformation of the IT department from a group that was reactive to issues within IT to one that is now a key partner in all facets of our business and business strategies, as well as one that stands at the forefront of our business model. Part of the Blue Cross mission is to provide innovative products that improve the care and health of our members. During his time at our company, Fandrich has overseen the expansion of patient health care in the digital realm while also further integrating our IT innovations throughout all our platforms. With continuous advances in how patients are treated – and given BCBSM’s goal of ensuring Michigan citizens have access to quality and affordable health care – every aspect of how BCBSM operates and provides health care is being transformed. At the core of this change is how technology and data are used. Fandrich’s team leverages data and information in new and inventive ways. From in-home health care and engaging members, the IT department strives to use customer data to improve the overall guest experience. A goal of the Blue Cross IT department is focused on how to create technology that makes every interaction with our users an easier experience. We have invested over $1 billion in new business capabilities the past five years, and every aspect of our technology investments includes new models, enablers and partners.
The IT Department’s Commitment to Diversity
Fandrich’s commitment to the IT department extends beyond data and the physical infrastructure. Fandrich, and by extension the entire Blue Cross organization, are committed to creating a diverse workplace that mirrors the communities they serve. The IT department has laid the groundwork for an environment that is inclusive and provides an opportunity for everyone to be their absolute best and share their talents and skills. This diversity also extends throughout the supplier base. Since 2017, BCBSM has spent $1.2 billion through our supplier diversity program, collaborating with a diverse supplier group, including minority and women-owned businesses. In addition, the IT department is dedicated to contributing to local and state communities. The team works with the Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation as the gala sponsor and also led community CyberGIRL Rocks IT! & coding boot camps. Fandrich and the entire IT department at Blue Cross understand this isn’t the time to rest on their achievements. As new advances in the medical world need to be married to the digital world, we are fully confident that the entire IT department will continue to find new ways to implement the latest technologies while simultaneously improving overall customer satisfaction.
Montgomery Selected to Top 100 Under 50 List
We are also proud to announce that we have another recent award winner on our IT team. Director II of IT Services & End User Experience Logan Montgomery has been named one of the Top 100 Under 50 emerging and executive leaders by Diversity MBA. Selected from a group of top executives from across many industries, this prestigious award can only be won once. Another unique feature of this award is that winners must hold an advanced degree. Montgomery holds not one but two post-graduate degrees, having received his Master of Arts in organizational leadership from Siena Heights University and an international business degree from Walsh College. Joining BCBSM in 2012 as a technology consultant, Montgomery then went on to become a senior IT manager before taking on the role of director of IT service management in 2017. Since taking on the director II role, Montgomery has aligned IT services with our customer needs and our business vision while continuously identifying opportunities for automation, cost savings and service quality improvements. Please join us in congratulating Logan Montgomery as one 2021’s top leaders!
