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Leadership

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange has a 10-person leadership team who collaborates to fulfill the agency’s mission. Members are appointed by the executive director and represent each department of the agency.

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange has a 10-person leadership team who collaborates to fulfill the agency’s mission. Members are appointed by the executive director and represent each department of the agency.

Leadership

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange has a 9-person leadership team who collaborates to fulfill the agency’s mission. Members are appointed by the executive director and represent each department of the agency.

LEADERSHIP

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange has a 9-person leadership team who collaborates to fulfill the agency’s mission. Members are appointed by the executive director and represent each department of the agency.

Leadership Team

Michele Eberle

Executive Director

Michele Eberle Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Michele Eberle is the executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. Michele is responsible for strategic direction, leadership, and oversight of all functions of the agency. Under her leadership, MHBE established the largest state reinsurance program in the nation, resulting in three years of double-digit premium reductions. She has more than 25 years of senior level experience in health care, including her prior post as executive director of the Maryland Health Insurance Program.

michele.eberle@maryland.gov

Andrew Ratner

Chief of Staff

Andrew Ratner Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Andrew Ratner is chief of staff for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, focused on strategic planning and communications. He was previously director of marketing for MHBE. Prior to that, he was a journalist for 30 years, most of that time at The Sun in Baltimore as an editor and writer covering government, telecommunications and technology. He also has had communications management roles in business and urban planning.

aratner@maryland.gov

Tony Armiger

Chief Financial Officer

Tony Armiger Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Tony Armiger is the chief financial officer for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. Tony is responsible for the planning, implementation and management of all finance activities for MHBE. Previously, Tony was chief financial officer for the Maryland Health Insurance Program.

tony.armiger@maryland.gov

Scott Brennan

Director of Compliance & Privacy

Scott Brennan Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Scott Brennan is the director of compliance and privacy for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange.  Scott is dedicated to protecting the integrity of MHBE and the privacy interests of consumers through the implementation, execution, and oversight of the agency’s Compliance and Privacy Program.  He has over 20 years of legal experience, practicing law throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia.  Scott has been heavily involved with multi-disciplinary compliance and privacy programs at both the State and Federal levels.  As a small business owner and advocate for the underserved, Scott is committed to MHBE’s mission of ensuring that affordable health coverage is attainable for all Marylanders.

scott.brennan@maryland.gov

Tamara Cannida-Gunter

Director of Consumer Assistance & Eligibility

Tamara Cannida-Gunter Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Tamara is the director of consumer assistance. She oversees call center operations, producer operations, the application counselor program, the navigator program, appeals and grievances, constituent services, escalations, training and special projects.  Prior to this role, Tamara was the deputy director of consumer assistance for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. Overall, Tamara has been a dedicated public servant who has served over 30 years with the state of Maryland where she has held various leadership roles within the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, Bureau of Long Term Care and the Baltimore City Department of Social Services.

tamara.cannida-gunter@maryland.gov

Johanna Fabian-Marks

Director of Policy & Plan Management

Johanna Fabian-Marks Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Johanna Fabian-Marks is the director of policy and plan management for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. She brings extensive health policy experience to her role, including as chief of staff at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, director of health and life insurance rates and forms at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, and in a number of roles working on the rollout of the Affordable Care Act at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

johanna.fabian-marks@maryland.gov

Venkat Koshanam

Chief Information Officer

Venkat Koshanam Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Venkat Koshanam oversees all Information Technology functions of MHBE. Venkat is instrumental in establishing, developing, and leading an agile IT organization that rapidly implements cost-efficient technology solutions, enhances consumer engagement through cutting-edge technology and promotes automation powered systems operations. Venkat has over 25 years of diverse experience as a senior executive, program manager, technologist, and an entrepreneur, with passion for bringing transformational changes to state government through technology.

venkat.koshanam@maryland.gov

Tisha Payne

Director, Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness

Tisha Payne Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Tisha is the director of human resources and organizational effectiveness for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. She is responsible for the planning, execution and management of employee-related initiatives, policies, and activities for MHBE, ensuring legal compliance and implementation of the organization’s mission and talent strategy.

Tisha has more than 15 years of experience, with a proven track record of providing strategic guidance to companies ranging from startups to high-growth organizations. Her expertise covers the entire HR spectrum, including HR operations, talent management, employee relations, labor relations, compensation, staffing, and benefits. 

tisha.payne@maryland.gov

Betsy Plunkett

Director, Marketing & Web Strategies

Betsy Plunkett Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Betsy Plunkett joined the initial team at Maryland Health Benefit Exchange in March 2013, and participated in building the agency’s structure and preparing for the first open enrollment. Her background in newspapers, hospitals, and ad agencies specializing in health care led her to the Maryland Insurance Administration, where she began state service. In her current role as director, marketing & web strategies, Betsy integrates the agency’s websites with marketing initiatives to further our mission. 

betsy.plunkett@maryland.gov