David Lash
Bethesda,MD
Summary
A dynamic Head of Product Strategy with over 20 years of progressive experience. Proven experience in high-level product management, business development, and technical leadership roles. Strong record of developing innovative and disruptive technology to maximize efficiency in healthcare delivery systems. Skilled in product development, product strategy, technical team leadership, business strategy development, corporate marketing initiatives, process analysis/improvement, agile software development, executive-level communication, and more. Diligent and goal-oriented, with hands-on experience needed to make an immediate impact in any fast-pace organization.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Product Strategy
Willis Towers Watson (formerly Extend Health)
2012.01 - Current
- Managing product portfolio to positively impact more than 2 million retirees
- Managing product marketing, Health Policy and a Product Management team of 32 highly-effective professionals
- Overseeing the installation of best in market telephony and CRM systems
- Oversee integration of 3rd party data sources and manage the onboarding of new vendor technologies
- Communicating across all business levels, from engineers/product designers to executive-level stakeholders
- Representing the product and company in client finalist meetings with employers and at industry conferences
- Planning, implementing, and owning the tactical and strategic definition and software/product design
- Improving products by listening to and acting on feedback from customers, stakeholders and end-users
- Analyzing market and consumer data to develop impactful products and deliver value-based solutions
- Moving the business and product into emerging markets like the public sector and direct to consumer.
Vice President/Sr. Director, Product Management
Extend Health, Inc.
2007.01 - 2012.01
- Created technology platform that disrupted the retiree healthcare marketplace
- Developed 1st and most profitable private healthcare exchange
- Earned #94 fastest growing private companies in US in 2010; sold to Towers Watson in 2012 for $435 million
- Led Product Development and User Experience teams to create the first private healthcare exchange
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to develop and execute strategies for completing technical projects/programs
- Received patent for integrated CRM and telephony system; Complemax
- Hired, trained, developed, and mentored cross-functional project teams of highly technical staff
- Deployed industry leading decision support tools for customers and agents
- Managed Product Management and User Experience teams.
Senior Product Manager
Revolution Health Group
2005.01 - 2007.01
- Led product development effort to create online insurance shop and compare functionality
- Designed and implemented key programs for a consumer-oriented healthcare IT start-up
- Executed complex product initiatives on time and within budget to meet defined business development goals
- Proactively assessed and measured product quality to drive all needed solutions and improvements
- Managed a 10 person development team to build out and launch the product
- Owned the full product lifecycle, from market research through to launch and client satisfaction
- Oversaw lead generation, analytics, third party distribution, analysis/reporting, and more key functions.
Associate Director, Workforce Management
The Advisory Board Company, H*Works
2004.01 - 2005.01
- Reduced premium labor costs and grew workforce recruitment/retention through client engagement strategies
- Designed projects to improve managerial, financial, clinical, and operational performances
- Managed workforce functions and identified new opportunities to enhance efficiency
- Improved bottom line by managing supply costs, streamlining labor issues and implementing financial controls
- Developed a $2 million+ book of business for small rural hospitals and urban academic medical centers
- Established, managed, and maintained client relationships with Hospital Boards, CEOs, COOs, and line Managers
- Led ongoing financial planning, budgeting, and resources for workforce management tools and programs.
Product Manager
Simo Health
2002.01 - 2004.01
- Developed an impactful Health Expense Management software application
- Managed the successful product design, implementation, and sale (sold to Revolution Health in 2005)
- Oversaw the product lifecycle from start to finish and resolved any and all problems
- Coordinated cross-functionally with engineering, sales, marketing, and support teams.
Education
Master of Health Services Administration -
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI01.2004
Bachelor of Science, Public and Environmental Affairs (Management Focus) -
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN01.1997
Skills
- Product Management / Strategy
- Innovative Healthcare Solutions
- Strategic Analysis and Planning
- Executive-Level Communication
- Project Management
- Corporate Marketing Initiatives
- Software Development Lifecycle
- Rapid prototyping
- Patent winner
- HR Tech / Insure Tech
- CRM and Telephony Systems
- Increasing Process Efficiency
Careernote
Also held the roles of Management Extern for William Beaumont Hospitals (2003-2004), Product Manager, EBusiness Operations for Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (1999-2001), Lead Product Manager NexxtHealth Inc. (2001 -2002) a subsidiary of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield sold to IBM in 2002, and Research Analyst for Cambridge Pharma Consultancy (1997-1999) sold to IMS Health in 2002.
Professional Highlights
- 20+ years' experience in high-level healthcare focused product management and strategy.
- Part of 3 start-up companies that were acquired.
- Working at the intersection of healthcare and technology to maximize efficiency in fragmented systems.
- Using innovative and disruptive technology to improve user experiences for patients, payers and providers.
- Growing business from a handful of employees to 4,000+ staff members serving 2M+ customers.
- Understanding of the intersections between healthcare markets and technology enablement.
- Creating tech-driven products to disrupt status quo, improve client quality of life, and achieve significant savings.
- Simplifying complex procedures into elegant and insightful customer experiences.
- Supervising software development life cycle from R&D phase through implementation and evaluation.
- Saving a retiree healthcare subsidy for hundreds of thousands of retirees.
- Innovating healthcare systems through customer experience, policy knowledge, and data-driven insights.
- Part of evaluation team on several company acquisitions.
- Maximizing the use and performances of analytics to inform design and development.
- Presenting/demoing tech for Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders (GM, OPERs, GE, IBM, Pepsi, Lilly).
- Producing and analyzing financial impact studies to provide meaningful analysis and actionable reporting.
- Ensuring accurate and timely deliverable of project milestones to customers and internal management.
Personal Information
I enjoy playing tennis, basketball and swimming. I have a boating license but still a bit timid.
Timeline
Head of Product Strategy
Willis Towers Watson (formerly Extend Health)
2012.01 - Current
Vice President/Sr. Director, Product Management
Extend Health, Inc.
2007.01 - 2012.01
Senior Product Manager
Revolution Health Group
2005.01 - 2007.01
Associate Director, Workforce Management
The Advisory Board Company, H*Works
2004.01 - 2005.01
Product Manager
Simo Health
2002.01 - 2004.01
Master of Health Services Administration -
University of Michigan
Bachelor of Science, Public and Environmental Affairs (Management Focus) -
Indiana University
Similar Profiles
Laura SpeasmakerLaura Speasmaker
Licensed Benefit Advisor at Extend Health, Willis Towers Watson, VIA BenefitsLicensed Benefit Advisor at Extend Health, Willis Towers Watson, VIA Benefits
Eric von PingelEric von Pingel
Director of Technology Support at Individual Marketplace(formerly Extend Health) & TranZact (Willis Towers Watson Companies)Director of Technology Support at Individual Marketplace(formerly Extend Health) & TranZact (Willis Towers Watson Companies)
Anais MercadoAnais Mercado
Bilingual Insurance Underwriter at Willis Towers Watson- Extended HealthBilingual Insurance Underwriter at Willis Towers Watson- Extended Health