Meet the People Who Make It Happen

Rick Anderson

Rick Anderson has been a driving force in healthcare innovation for over 30 years. With a deep passion for enhancing healthcare delivery, Rick has played key roles in leading some of the most prominent online health services. Currently, Rick holds the positions of chairman and chief executive officer at The Hive, a company dedicated to making healthcare more affordable and effective.

Previously, Rick served as chairman and CEO of Smart Choice MRI, an independent MRI provider known for its consumer-centered approach, exceptional quality, and transparent pricing. Under his leadership, Smart Choice MRI grew from a single clinic in Milwaukee, WI to a multi-state operation with 16 clinics across the Midwest, ultimately being acquired by Rayus Radiology. Rick’s career highlights also include his role as senior vice president at Sharecare, where he was instrumental in expanding the platform and establishing key partnerships with major health networks. Rick was a pivotal early member of WebMD’s startup team, leading business development efforts in the Western and Midwestern regions.

Throughout his career, Rick has contributed as an executive team member to various healthcare enterprises including QDS, Endeavor Technologies, and served as Cofounder of both Ovation Hand Institute and Alithias. He remains actively engaged in fostering business development and serves on multiple advisory boards both in and outside of the healthcare space.

Rick earned his B.A. in history from Bethel University, underscoring his diverse background and strong foundation for leadership in healthcare.

Richard Kennedy

Rich is a seasoned professional in the cardiac device industry with over 25 years of comprehensive experience spanning manufacturing, device implantation, vendor relations, and contracting. His expertise is rooted in extensive involvement with leading implant companies such as Intermedics, Guidant/Boston Scientific, and St. Jude Medical/Abbott, having contributed to over 5,000 cardiac device implants.

Currently, Rich holds the role of President at The Hive. In 2014, Rich founded Shockbox Consulting to tackle the challenge of maintaining physician autonomy in vendor contracting. He was committed to ensuring all vendors remained viable options while reducing device costs for hospitals and health systems. His efforts resulted in securing over $20 million in savings on cardiac implant devices, while empowering physicians to select devices from their preferred vendors. Shockbox expanded its offerings to include the full CV service line as well as Orthopedics and Spine and became The Hive in 2020

Rich holds a B.A. in Telecommunications/Marketing from Ball State University

James Stoll, MD

Dr. James Stoll is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who currently practices in Milwaukee, WI, where he continues to make a significant impact on his patients’ lives throughout his distinguished career. Now, he is leveraging his expertise to support companies focused on transforming healthcare delivery.

He is a distinguished fellow or member of several prestigious medical societies, including the American Academy of Orthopedics, the North American Spine Society, The International Society of Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery, the Wisconsin Medical Society, and the Wisconsin Orthopedic Association.

Dr. Stoll earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University and obtained his medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

John Jefferies, MD

Dr. John Jefferies is an internationally recognized cardiologist specializing in cardiomyopathies, heart failure, genetics, heritable disease, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and rare diseases. He is a Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis. He is also the current Governor of the Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, the President of the American Heart Association Mid-South region, and he is the team cardiologist for the Memphis Grizzlies. He is a Research Member of St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

He completed his combined pediatric and adult cardiology training at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas at the Texas Children’s Hospital, and the Texas Heart Institute. He is the lead Editor of two leading textbooks on cardiology and has authored or co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters. His research is funded by sources including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and multiple industry partners.

He received his MBA from the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania with a dual major in Management and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. He is actively involved in the advancement of innovative technologies including artificial intelligence in healthcare, novel strategies for healthcare provision connectivity, precision medicine, diagnosis and management of rare diseases, and patient advocacy.

Bill Kottmann

Bill is the retired President and CEO of Edward Hospital, the flagship institution of Edward-Elmhurst Health (EEH), a prominent three-hospital health system in the western suburbs of Chicago. With annual net revenues exceeding $1.6 billion, EEH employs over 8,000 individuals and engages 1,700 physicians, providing healthcare services to 2 million local residents. EEH has gained national recognition for its excellence in complex medical specialties and innovative healthcare initiatives.

During his distinguished 28-year tenure at EEH, Bill held several senior executive roles, including Chief Operating Officer, CEO of EEH Medical Group, and President of Edward Health Ventures. He played a pivotal role in expanding critical clinical programs and establishing numerous joint ventures with independent physicians and healthcare organizations. As CEO of EEH Medical Group, Bill spearheaded the growth of the hospital-owned multi-specialty group to over 600 providers from its inception.

In addition to his extensive healthcare leadership, Bill possesses over a decade of experience in the banking and consulting sectors. He holds a B.A. in Environmental Science, an M.A. in Psychology, and an M.B.A. in Healthcare Finance. Furthermore, Bill is a distinguished Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, reflecting his commitment to excellence and innovation in healthcare management.

David Lade

David offers over 30 years of extensive financial leadership experience across various industries, including public accounting. He began his career at Arthur Andersen & Co. in Cleveland, specializing in commercial audits and information system reviews for a diverse client base. Transitioning to industry, David played a pivotal role as Controller in establishing the accounting department for a new subsidiary resulting from a merger of three distributors, which grew to 17 branches across three states with annual revenues of $60 million.

As Chief Financial Officer of a software startup, David navigated the company from inception to over $10 million in annual revenue. Most recently, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Smart Choice MRI where he led the successful sale process He has also provided strategic financial consulting, particularly in turnaround situations and business sales, helping clients devise successful exit strategies.

David holds an MBA from Wright State University, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and Registered Securities Representative, reflecting his dedication to professional excellence in finance.

Shane Julian

Shane possesses over two decades of healthcare leadership experience, serving as a distinguished service line leader for prominent healthcare organizations nationwide. His expertise encompasses critical care, general and invasive cardiology, electrophysiology, interventional radiology, vascular surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery.

Previously, Shane held the pivotal role of System Director for the Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute at Advent Health. In this capacity, he provided collaborative leadership, strategic direction, and operational planning, all geared towards enhancing patient outcomes and fostering a cost-effective patient care environment. His career has also included executive leadership positions at Health First, The University of Kansas Health System, and Atrium Health.

Shane earned his Master of Science in Nursing Administration from The University of North Carolina Charlotte and holds certifications in leadership, critical care, and radiology. His academic achievements and extensive leadership background underscore his commitment to advancing healthcare excellence.

Gregory Schmeling, MD

Gregory is an ABOS certified and has been a Level 1 orthopaedic trauma surgeon and academic educator for the last 34 years. He has trained 165+ orthopaedic surgeons, medical students, and other allied health professionals since 1990. He is a Professor and Vice Chairman – Academic Division in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin. His clinical practice includes reconstruction of complex musculoskeletal trauma and the complications of that trauma including malunion, nonunion, and infection.

Gregory is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, The Orthopaedic Trauma Association, Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) Alumni Association, AO North America, The Wisconsin Orthopaedic Association, and the Medical Examining Board of Wisconsin. He has lectured internationally and nationally on the care and treatment of musculoskeletal injury.

Gregory grew up in the Milwaukee, WI area, has a B.S. from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, and an M.D. from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. He did a fellowship in orthopaedic trauma at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL and an AO International Fellowship in Böchum, Germany and Chür, Switzerland. He began his practice as an orthopaedic trauma surgeon at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL in 1990 and returned to the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI in 1992.

Michael J. Anderson, MD

Dr. Michael Anderson is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who has been in practice for over 30 years in the Milwaukee area. His major focus is on Adult hip and knee reconstruction, both primary as well as complex revision surgery.

He is a fellow of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Brian Pitsch

With over 25 years of experience, Brian Pitsch is a seasoned technology expert. As Vice President of Development at a leading healthcare technology company, he spearheaded innovative solutions in transcription, document management, and mobile applications. Brian’s leadership and expertise in database design, front-end and back-end coding, and mobile app development have driven operational efficiency and business growth in diverse industries. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the College of Engineering at Michigan State University.

Katie Obenberger

Katie brings extensive client service and training experience to The Hive. In her most recent role as Director of Training and Recruiting at a multi-state healthcare company, she developed a highly effective patient experience training program that significantly improved patient retention rates. Despite a challenging labor market, Katie excelled in identifying and securing high-performance employees due to her exceptional talent acquisition skills.

Previously, Katie served as Director of Communications and Training at Ovation Hand Institute, where she spearheaded patient-first training initiatives and managed communications regarding new surgical techniques. She also played a pivotal role as Director of Communications at Smart Choice MRI, implementing customer service training across a large team of over 130 employees. Katie’s foundational experience at the Broadmoor, a leading customer service-based property, has consistently underpinned her success in subsequent roles throughout her career. At The Hive, Katie’s expertise promises to drive exceptional client service and training initiatives.