Sarah B.

Bannon, FACHE, LMSW, ACSW, SSGB

Home: 248.437.4207 Mobile: 517.9 27.3916

Bannon_S@msn.com

Objective and Mission

To build, coach, and inspire effective, diverse programs, teams, and partnerships. Committed, results-driven
leader that pulls together disparate groups, innovates existing and launches new programs, and moves
complicated, matrixed organizations into higher functioning teams through:
Designing, launching, and overseeing human, technical, legal and operational business needs.
Seasoned expert with history of working with health and human service programs and philanthropy;
Cultivating internal and external relationships to enhance achievement of organizational mission.
Executive leader, trainer, and change agent with proven ability to design and implement best practice
models, achieve outcomes, and create cohesion across industries and disciplines.

Areas of Expertise
Proven success in leadership, operations, and philanthropy; emphasis on publicly-funded programs and services.
Core Competencies include:
Publicly Funded Programs: 25 years
Legal/Risk Management/Corporate Compliance:
o Medicaid
17 years
o Medicare
Policy/Advocacy/Government Affairs: 15 years
o Special Needs Plans
Strategic Planning: 15 years
Subsidized Housing (MSHDA, HUD): 15 years
Contract Management: 20 years
Multi-Site Management: 15 years
Financial/Managerial Accounting & Financial
Quality Assurance/Utilization: 15 years
Management: 15 years
Information Technology Oversight: 15 years
Marketing/Planning/Public Affairs: 20 Years
Behavioral Health/CMH: 20 years
Disease Management: 18 years
State and National Trainer/Consultant: 15 years
Human Resource Management: 19 years
Nonprofit Board Work: 25 years

Professional Experience
CEO and President, Lakeview Consultants, July 2001-present.
Provide broad range of services to health, housing, and human service organizations nationally, including:
Organizational Re-Design, Operational Management, Program and Partnership Development: Specialize in
administrative, clinical and operational training; creating and improving outreach teams and services;
developing effective and sustaining contracts, funding, and partnerships in outreach and human services,
housing, and workforce development; management of teams ranging from 6 to 900+, oversight of budgets
ranging from $3 to $78 million (2001-present).
Chief Operating Officer, The Guidance Center for 4 years. See next section for full description. (2011-2015)
Interim COO/CEO, Carefree Medical and Dental: Three multi-specialty clinics including primary care,
optometry, dental, social work, and outreach. Created/improved all business processes (HR, Finance, Billing,
Contracting, Training, IT, Quality, Utilization Management, Compliance, etc.). Position was funded through
the Institute for Health Care Studies to expand services for medically underserved. (2008-2011)
Community Planner and Executive Director: Developed six community health and human service
partnerships for Berrien County CMH. Oversaw recruitment, training, staff oversight, and P&L total of 38+M
for 7 years (2001-2008). Brought in $6.5 million in new grant funding and $6.25 million in match funding.

S. Bannon - cv

National trainer and Consultant for HRSA to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), government,
behavioral health, and community stakeholders in 24 states focused to integration of physical and behavioral
health. One of only three consultants chosen nationally for this role (2002-2009).
National Trainer with the Center for Research and Program Development on youthemphasis on
community planning and EBP models. One of six trainers selected statewide for this initiative (2006-2011).
National Reviewer for federal grants through SAMHSA and HRSA (2004-present).
Field Instructor for graduate students at Michigan State University (2009-present).
Co-Chair of the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange-Strategic National Implementation Partnership
(WEDI-SNIP) on Health Information Technology (HIN); Chair of the Governments Programs Committee for the
Michigan Association of Health Plans (2003-2007).
Other Interim Executive level positions held include Quality Assurance Director (MCO), Corporate
Compliance Officer (3 nonprofit organizations), etc.
State and national presenter on topics including integrated physical/behavioral health, federal regulations,
corporate compliance, HIPAA, and public-funding/industry trends (2001-present).
Contract development and implementation including RFP and grant writing.
EHR and TPA procurement for large organizations; experience working with five EHRs to date.

COO, The Guidance Center and Executive Director of The Virtual Center of Excellence, May 2011-October 2015.
(*Developer and Trainer for region-wide initiative with TGC prior to assuming COO role for 14 months)
Responsible for 23 facilities, P&L of 48M, and 800+ staff providing services across full age continuum including
housing, mental health, addictions, developmental disabilities, juvenile justice, distance learning, early education,
and community outreach. Direct reports included all service programs, IT, QA, UM, Corporate Compliance, distance
learning program (for over 35,000 end users), and Contract/Network Management. Key achievements include:
Finance and Revenue Cycle: Increased TGC funding by $9 million which included statewide Childrens
Behavioral Action Team (CBAT). In four years: tripled medical services including adding a primary care and
psychiatric residency program, negotiated regional and statewide childrens crisis contract, expansion of
addiction and juvenile justice services, launched open access model, developed primary care and specialty
care partnerships. Built forecast model for all operations to track revenues and performance indicators.
Project Management/Operations: Successfully transitioned 14 databases into an integrated platform.
Implemented centralized training for all employees and contractors at TGC. Expanded current behavioral
health clinical internships. Developed standard monthly reports for all clinical programs using key
performance metrics. Instituted a comprehensive Clinical Excellence Employee Incentive Program in 2012.
Information Technology: Oversaw all IT programs and personnel. Expanded internal capacity to manage all
dashboards, improvement of EHR platform and all peripherals, achieved meaningful use standards, and
update all necessary coding/billing programming (fully compliant with all payers).
Legal and Regulatory: Re-designed Corporate Compliance Program, instituted a formal risk management
process for all services/payers. Restructured and created chartering documents for all standing committees
throughout TGC along with updated organizational charts. Principal on executing corporate Bylaws and
related policies. Exceeded 95% on all regulatory and accrediting body audits and maintained JCAHO
accreditation twice (3 year awards).
Human Resources: Created comprehensive new hire orientation for all programs that meet/exceed legal
requirements. Developed Cultural Competency/Diversity Development and launched company-wide
improvement initiatives. All trainers, credentialing processes, and ongoing improvements were managed
through Operations. Developed new and edited existing policies to ensure compliance with all legal
requirements. Re-designed job descriptions for many clinical and administrative positions.

S. Bannon - cv

Negotiation and Contract Management: Responsible for all clinical and business service contracts
(pharmacy, physicians, providers, third party payers, malpractice insurance, etc.) Procured and implemented
a contract database for all forty major programs and over 1,500 contracts.

Project Director/Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates, January 1999-July 2001.

Deliverables included:
Served as Project Director and central designer for a multi-year community reinvestment project including all
hiring, training, negotiating contracts, and managing those six programs. Created partnerships with
organizations in primary care, housing, juvenile justice, crisis response, developmental disabilities, etc.
National trainer and consultant to government and private sector on physical/behavioral health integration,
partnerships, diversity programs and cultural competency, new program development, clinical training and
program readiness, and corporate compliance.
Conducted needs assessments, political advocacy, developed strategic plans, and facilitated multistakeholder planning groups for public and private agencies.
Designed and completed evaluations and formal reviews for Medicare and Medicaid programs, managed
care, corporate compliance, housing, mental health/substance abuse, developmental disabilities, etc.
Provided analysis concerning policy and legislative issues in 15 different state programs.
Public speaker, liaison, and contributing author to various trade magazines-emphasis in behavioral health,
HIPAA, health reform, diversity development, and partnerships in public and private sector.
Primary writer and editor for the national newsletter that was sent to clients monthly.
Government Programs Director, Physicians Health Plan and PH-MI, 1994-1999.
Development of Medicaid, Medicare, and MIChild products in four state regions with P&L of 78M.
Oversight of 65 staff in operations, medical services, compliance and government relations.
Contract lead with hospitals and key provider groups in a 42-county region.
Performed needs analyses, developed work plans, business pro forma, and key regulatory relationships.
Served on the Executive Management, NCQA, and CQI Teams.
Developed/implemented a multi-disciplinary outreach, disease management, and member education team.
Served as co-chair for Michigan Association of Health Plans Government Programs Committee.
Wrote/edited health plan materials and advertising/growth strategy in all public program areas.
Part of the statewide team responsible implementing MIChild; role as facilitator to statewide focus groups.
National speaker on Medicaid, S-CHIP, Medicare, partnership development, and managed care.
Emergency Triage and Behavioral Health Clinician, Blue Care Network, 1993-1994.
Responsible for assessment, benefit and referral management for mental health and substance abuse
diagnoses for 75,000-member health plan.
Served as primary liaison to 29 internal and 198 community physicians, mental health and substance abuse
agencies, and numerous programs, and facilities throughout a 10-county area.
Senior clinician and on-call therapist for a crisis response team for a 15-county service area.
Public speaker to local groups and agencies on topics including managed care, mental health and substance
abuse issues.
Position ended due to out-sourcing of the behavioral health program. *
Program Manager and Senior Clinician, Horizon Center, 1988-1993.
Provided Assessments, benefit and referral management, didactic presentations, and outpatient group
facilitation for clients with moderate to severe substance abuse and dual diagnoses conditions.

S. Bannon - cv

Developed and received grant funding for a womens program which included a 10-week series of education
sessions and a 6-12 month outpatient psychotherapy group targeted to women in the correctional system
with addiction diagnoses.
Liaison with insurance companies, hospitals, community agencies and programs.
Public speaker on topics including addiction, healthy lifestyle management, and family dynamics.

Private Practice
Crisis Response Consultant, Supportive Solutions, Inc., (contractual), 2006-2015.
Responsible for providing onsite and remote clinical assessments, referrals, and consultation to organizations with
various workforce issues (e.g. downsizings, re-organizations, co-worker suicide/death, etc.).
Clinical Supervisor and Consultant, (part time), Listening Ear Crisis Program, 1992-1999.
Responsible for the development and clinical oversight of 15 staff focused to individual and group therapy services
for clients with sexual abuse histories. Developed training materials and forms used by all staff.

Education and Certifications

Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives
Trainer and Graduate, University of Massachusetts, Integrated Health Care certification
Six Sigma Green Belt Coursework, Villanova University
MSW (Master of Social Work), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (Phi Alpha national honor society;
GPA 3.9/4.0)
BA, English and Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (Secondary education)
ACSW, Academy of Certified Social Workers, national credential
LMSW, Licensed Master Social Worker, State of Michigan
Diplomat, American Psychotherapy Association

Community Experience
Extensive experience serving on Community Boards, Volunteering, Diversity and Training Committees, and
Community Coalition Building (full details will be provided upon request)

References, Publications, Presentations and Work Samples are Available

S. Bannon - cv