February 2026 Membership Newsletter |
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Past Board Member Message |
Scott Turner Board Member Emeritus
Email 314-348-9687 |
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Board Member Emeritus Corner: Scott Turner - EC Member since April 2011 | Board Member 2015–2023
- “Begin with the end in mind.” — Stephen Covey
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I’m deeply grateful for my EC experience, the EC family, and for relationships that have grown into lifelong friendships. I hope the reflections below offer alumni and in transition members alike a few relatable takeaways—and perhaps a nugget or two worth carrying forward.
Current Situation Vice President, Commercial Partnerships – Shields Health Solutions (May 2024–Present) - I lead new business development for roughly one third of the U.S. at Shields Health Solutions, partnering with nonprofit health systems to grow specialty pharmacy care models. The work is meaningful, fast paced, and purpose driven—and I’m fortunate to be learning alongside leaders I deeply respect.
My Transition Experience -
My EC journey began in 2011 when I learned I would be separating from Hicuity Health (fka Advanced ICU Care). As an Olin EMBA alum, I benefited from career coaching and, more importantly, from sponsors and mentors who challenged me to grow—particularly around networking.
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I came in thinking I was an effective networker. I quickly learned I had room to improve.
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Through the guidance of Frans VanOudenallen, Frank Danzo, and many EC members willing to make introductions on my behalf, I raised my game. That foundation served me well across subsequent roles at Daugherty Business Solutions, North Highland, Maryville Consulting, and GE HealthCare.
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I returned to EC in 2015 following a large scale executive reduction and once again experienced the power of this community. In 2024, I followed trusted GE HealthCare mentors to Shields—and I’m loving the journey.
Observations on Networking Today - I make a point to respond quickly to networking requests (virtually preferred given my travel schedule). And for the record—Carlos Saenz keeps my inbox very full.
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The caliber of EC candidates remains strong, and Rose and team continue to vet exceptionally well. What I’ve noticed, however, is a wider range of networking readiness and maturity than in years past.
- My personal must haves for a productive networking engagement include:
- Clear context for the meeting request
- Proposed dates/times
- Resume, one pager, and target list
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A brief agenda with goals and objectives
- Meeting confirmation the day before or morning of
- A small segment of members do all of this. Others provide only a LinkedIn profile or resume with no context.
- During sessions, I expect concise introductions, preparation, note taking, and follow through. I’m happy to make introductions—but I expect people to help me help them, including drafting blurbs and closing the loop afterward.
- Networking is a discipline. When done well, it compounds.
Motivation, Purpose, and What’s Next -
I was asked how I stay motivated while remaining employed. For me, it comes down to purpose.
- At Shields, we help patients access specialty medications affordably, improve continuity of care, and enable health systems to grow sustainably. Doing well by doing good still matters to me—and likely always will.
- I expect to work full time three to four years past age 65, assuming I’m still learning and contributing. Longer term, I hope to spend more time supporting senior executives in their career journeys, continuing my involvement with Olin, EC, and community initiatives across St. Louis.
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My wife Teresa and I are accelerating travel, staying close to our daughters Christina and Caroline, and making time for fitness, golf, and the relationships that matter most.
- EC played a formative role in my professional life. I’m grateful—and always happy to give back.
Scott |
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Networking Corner - Members in Transition |
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Seeking: I am pursuing a Senior Leadership position in technology that leverages my expertise in data and analytics, research and consulting, software engineering, and IT transformation. I am open to opportunities across various industries and seek organizations that prioritize hands-on, people-focused leadership.
One unique aspect of me: I'm interested in how AI is changing work at the intersection of data and software. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies has begun to reshape both fields, influencing everything from automation to decision-making processes. I'm eager to lead these innovations and evolve workflows to impact business bottom lines.
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With over 30 years of expertise in software engineering, data & analytics, and IT transformation, I have consistently demonstrated strong leadership and the ability to lead global resources effectively. Throughout my career, I have guided teams in pursuing ambitious business objectives, resulting in innovative solutions that consistently surpassed expectations. My approach centers on optimism and a forward-looking perspective. I am eager to engage with organizations that are committed to transforming their technology solutions, driving positive change, and achieving meaningful results through collaborative leadership.
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Seeking: An opportunity in or outside of St. Louis where I can drive real operating improvement and measurable results in healthcare, Pharmacy Benefits, and other industries in which my skill sets and experience are transferable.
One unique aspect of me: I consider myself one who will always be there if someone/some people are in need. One example is my experience as past president in helping build Chesterfield Baseball/Softball into a thriving organization helping thousands of children in the St. Louis area for 25 years learn valuable lessons, including life lessons, through sport.
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I’m a results-driven operations and finance leader who builds scalable operating systems and delivers measurable performance improvement to increase client success. At Acera Surgical, I built the Sales Support function from scratch, implemented the company’s first automated order processing and supply chain system, replacing manual work with AI-enabled process automation, and helped fuel year-over-year revenue doubling, reaching a projected $40M run-rate. At Express Scripts, I directed operations for New York’s largest health plan, drove $100M+ in revenue impact through client finalist presentations, and delivered $372M in client savings. At Magellan Health, I led Medicare plan startups while running CMS reporting and annual bid execution. I’m different because I can sit with the board on Monday, map the process on Tuesday, and have measurable improvements by Friday.
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| Seeking: Senior leadership opportunities where organizations are scaling, integrating, or reinventing themselves and need experienced leadership to turn plans into executable priorities.
One unique aspect of me: I built my career inside one enterprise (Express Scripts / Cigna) as it scaled from $13B to $270B in annual revenue, partnering across multiple business units through repeated waves of growth, integration, and reinvention. |
I’m a technology, product, and operations executive with more than 20 years of experience leading transformation in large, complex enterprises. My work has centered on the hard part after strategy — building the operating discipline, leadership alignment, and delivery muscle required to produce results at scale. I’ve led global teams, modernized platforms and portfolios, and worked closely with executive leadership to manage execution risk during periods of growth and change. I’m drawn to environments where results, not activity, are the measure of progress.
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| Mike Penrod Vice President Technology Integrations Focus Financial Partners
mcpenrod@gmail.com |
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Paul Birk Head of Human Resources Huber Engineered Woods (relocating to Charlotte, NC) pjbirk00@gmail.com |
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From Experience to Advice - Alumni Insights - |
Amy Borlin Principal / Fractional Commercial & Sales Operation Advisor ABorlin Consulting
amyborlin@gmail.com 314-750-8859 |
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Navigating a career transition is never easy—especially when your work has been such a big part of your identity. After spending 18 years at one company and experience a restructure left me feeling untethered and overwhelmed with where to start over. It was more than just the loss of a job; it felt like a loss of self. That’s where I am grateful for my EC sponsor Joe Quinn and the Executive Connections group that immediately started positively providing coaching and guidance.I’m incredibly grateful for the role it played in helping me find solid ground again.
From the beginning, Executive Connections created a welcoming, supportive environment where I didn’t feel so alone. There’s something powerful about being surrounded by others who truly understand what it means to be in transition. It takes some of the emotional weight off your shoulders, and that sense of shared experience gave me space to breathe—and to start rebuilding.
One of the most helpful aspects of the program was its ability to help me shift from an emotional response to a more pragmatic mindset. It’s easy to spiral into self-doubt and replay the past over and over, questioning decisions made. Executive Connections helped interrupt that cycle. Instead of looking backward, they encouraged me to focus on my strengths, to recognize my accomplishments, and to think about what’s next. That mindset shift—away from the past and toward possibility—was empowering.
One challenge I did face was the limited number of industry-specific connections for my field. While Executive Connections offers strong general support and cross-industry perspectives, more legwork was required for me to find deeper connections within my niche. Still, that didn't diminish the overall impact. It showed how many skillsets are transferable across industries, opening my eyes to opportunities that were not in my industry.
The EC concept of “networking for life” has been a powerful mindset shift for me. While I still sometimes get caught up in the rat race of daily life, being part of EC and experiencing the support firsthand has helped refocus my priorities. It’s motivated me to pay it forward, just as Joe did for me,by sharing what I’ve learned and supporting others along their journey. Whether you’re navigating an unexpected transition or proactively planning your next move, building and nurturing a strong professional network gives you greater control in an unpredictable world. Executive Connections showed me that networking isn’t just about landing a job—it’s about creating opportunity on your own terms.
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Upcoming Events
(Sign up and let us know you are attending) |
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Unofficial EC Happy Hour at Sapore 4:30 - 6:30 CST |
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451 S. Kirkwood Rd. Kirkwood, MO 63122 |
Dates for this location
2/4/26 3/4/26 |
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Unofficial EC Happy Hour at Lester's 4:30 - 6:30 CST |
| 9906 Clayton Road Ladue, MO 63124 |
Dates for this location 2/18/26 3/4/26 |
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Executive Exchange 11:30AM - 12:30PM 2nd Friday of each month |
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3 City Place Drive Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Each session will feature a guest speaker, a complimentary lunch, and dedicated time at the end of the program for networking. This is open to all EC members. |
Dates for this event
02/13/26 03/13/26 04/10/26
05/8/26 06/12/26 07/10/26 08/14/2025 09/11/26 10/09/26 11/13/26
12/11/26 |
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| EC Events - Past and Upcoming News & Information |
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Inaugural EC Exchange - Held on Feb 13th, 2026
Heather Leek - AI for Job Search & Work
Great turnout at the first EC Exchange (Formally EC Lunch) focused on AI in the job search and how it can help once you have landed. Special thanks to our speaker Heather Leek and the coordination of the first event by Joe Quinn and his committee. A survey will be going out shortly to get your feedback for those that attended. Appreciate the focus, attention, and questions that were raised. This is an important competency to learn as an advantage in that search for your next best move.
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Sapore Happy Hour Held on Feb 4th, 2026
Thanks to all who came out to Sapore in Kirkwood for our first Unofficial EC Happy Hour at this location. It was the perfect venue to have great conversations with new members and alumni. We hope to see even more members at the next ones on Feb 18th at Lester's and March 4th back at Sapore. Full info is on the EC event calendar. |
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Rick Hall President
Email 636-795-9744 |
| Sandhya Vollala Vice President Email 773-562-3529 |
| Mary Houlihan Director & Facilitator
Email 314-267-1128 |
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Jeff Reed Director / Treasurer
Email 314-221-9616 |
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Rose O'Brien Director / Candidate Vetting
Email 314-974-3055 |
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Jan Alonzo Director Email
314-322-0272 |
| Karen Moceri Director / Alumni Engagement
Email 636-575-0916 |
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| TBD Director Marketing / Comms |
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