Meet Sevita’s Senior Leadership Team

Alan Wheatley has dedicated his career to changing the way health care is delivered and improving access to quality care. As a leading healthcare executive, he has seen how health outcomes can be improved when services look at a whole person and meet them where they are.

Alan’s expertise is shaped by more than 30 years of experience in healthcare, successfully leading business transformation initiatives that integrate care, improve consumer health care, and lower costs. Most recently he served as president of Humana’s retail segment – including the company’s Medicare and Medicaid operations, Medicare sales organization, and Long-term Care and Supplement products – and was a member of the Management Team that sets the company’s strategic direction.

Alan joined Sevita’s Board of Directors in 2019 and was appointed Chairperson in 2022. He has also served in various roles on nonprofit boards, including Chairman of the Board for the National Senior Olympic Games. A Louisville native, Alan earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisville and a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Kentucky.

Philip Kaufman has committed his career to helping others live well by advocating for better access to health care that is personalized to meet each individual’s needs. As Chief Executive Officer, he works with Sevita’s leadership to guide the company’s growth and deliver on the mission to help people live more independent lives in their homes and communities.

Philip’s expertise is shaped by more than two decades in healthcare, including various positions at UnitedHealth Group. In that time, he has seen firsthand how focusing on the whole person and meeting them where they are can improve health outcomes.

Philip holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master of Health Care Delivery Science from Dartmouth College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard University.

“I’m excited to be part of this impactful organization and support the incredible work being done to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other complex health needs to live more independently in their homes and communities. Sevita has been a leader in this industry from nearly 50 years and has both the vision and expertise to provide solutions that expand access to quality supports and services that millions of Americans need.”

– Philip Kaufman

Empowering cultures where every individual can thrive is a hallmark of David’s leadership. Driving sustainable growth for purpose-led brands focused on wellness for more than 25 years – including Sleep Number, Ethan Allen, and Dentsply – he deeply connects with Sevita’s mission and belief that everyone deserves the right to live well.

David believes that financial strength creates capacity to pursue purpose. His collaborative leadership style empowers his finance team and business partners to unlock their full potential. In addition to a long history of growth-driving acquisitions and market expansion, he is known for inspiring organizations with an intense focus on continuous improvement, applying processes like Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen and more. By implementing processes for efficiency and expense discipline, he unlocked resources for innovation investments that improved millions of lives while significantly improving financial performance for all stakeholders.

Guided by strategic orientation, the courage to lead change, and heart-centered conviction, David brings the right combination of financial expertise, purpose, vision, and team leadership to create enduring value for Sevita’s individuals served, team, and investors.

Danna’s leadership is rooted in a firm belief that positive change arises from a strong sense of purpose, mission, and values – all of which drew her to Sevita.

As a servant leader, Danna makes it a priority to connect with as many team members as possible, cultivate relationships at all levels of the enterprise, and work across service lines to break down silos and help drive business outcomes. Her experience leading human capital programs spans Culture and Engagement, Talent Acquisition, Management and Development, Organizational Design, HR Service Delivery, and Data & Technology – often with a focus on process optimization and enabling employees to maximize their growth potential.

Danna’s experience spans financial services, manufacturing, supply chain, and retail industries. She has lived across the globe, where she has led various disciplines across HR in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. She holds a Master’s Degree in Labor Relations & Human Resources and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Michigan State University. Danna was a recipient of the 2016 World Women in Leadership Award, the Human Capital Future HR Leaders Award in 2007, and has appeared on the cover of HRO Today.

As a lifelong advocate for persons with disabilities and youth, Gerry is well-positioned as Sevita’s Chief Quality Officer to steer the company’s quality improvement program. Gerry has a passion for serving others and is devoted to developing partnerships that lead to long-lasting, positive change for children and vulnerable adults. With extensive experience at the national and state levels in the design, development, and implementation of quality metrics, he has seen firsthand the life-changing power that quality improvement has on individuals in need of services.

Gerry leads a team of quality-focused professionals that are committed to continuous quality improvement and are engaged in activities that are tied to the health, safety and well-being of individuals, of monitoring for regulatory compliance, and who are engaged in risk management and quality of care improvement processes.

Prior to joining Sevita, Gerry served as the Assistant Secretary for Disabilities and Community Services and as the Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He was a past president and board member of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities (NASDDDS) and the recipient of the Ben Censoni Excellence in Public Service Award. He holds a master’s degree from both Harvard and Antioch University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts. As an active volunteer, his personal causes include cancer research, advocating for persons with developmental disabilities, and youth development.

As Chief Legal Officer, Gina is involved in almost every aspect of Sevita’s work, including litigation, regulatory and compliance, labor and employment, and mergers and acquisitions. Gina helps Sevita grow and carry out its mission by applying her broad knowledge of corporate law and her experience in areas such as strategic planning, risk mitigation, and business optimization.

Gina joined Sevita from Goodwin Procter LLP, where she was a partner. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (cum laude) from St. Michael’s College.

“Being able to support an organization like Sevita is to know that you’re helping make a positive impact in someone’s life. I am inspired by the dedication this passionate team has to the people we serve.”

– Gina Martin

Liz brings a strong background and experience in compliance, ethics, and privacy in the health care and medical spaces. Most recently, Liz served as Vice President for Ethics and Compliance at Fresenius Medical Care North America, where she led a team focused on proactive business partnership related to compliance and proactive compliance preparedness. She also held multiple senior roles in compliance, ethics, and privacy management within Fresenius. Prior to Fresenius, Liz was responsible for regulatory intelligence, contracts, and business development at Clinivation, Inc., in Natick, Mass. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.

Patrick comes to Sevita with more than 25 years of Information Technology and Executive Leadership experience across a range of industries, including Business-to-Consumer and Business-to-Business retail, software development, financial services, communications, and technology. He has held positions as Chief Information Officer for DINE Brands, ARAMARK Corporation, and Xircom, and was a Senior Practice Director for Oracle Corporation. Most recently, Patrick served as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital and Information Officer at Luminex Home Décor and Fragrance, a market leader in branded and private label Air Care solutions. Patrick holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s in Business and Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

As Chief Development Officer, Nate is actively involved in Sevita’s growth and strategic initiatives, creating opportunities to advance our mission of helping the people we serve to grow, learn, and be as independent as possible in the homes and communities where they live. Nate previously served as Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) at Sevita, where he managed the M&A execution team and built partnerships across the country.

Nate has over 20 years of experience in Corporate Development across multiple industries including enterprise and consumer software, business services, and healthcare services. Before joining Sevita, he served as Vice President of Corporate Development at Demandware, where he was responsible for leading the company’s corporate/strategic business development, establishing best practices and managing the full lifecycle of M&A transactions. Nate holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College and an MBA from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Sami brings extensive digital transformation experience and program management expertise to Sevita via her background in consulting, with focused leadership in the healthcare/life sciences and behavioral health sectors. Most recently, Sami served as a Manager in West Monroe’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice where she led enterprise programs with a focus on separation and integration planning, management, and execution. She has a proven track record of advising executive leadership through organizational change and business transformation initiatives, with particular emphasis in M&A. Sami received a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership & Management with a minor in Psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

As Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Maria oversees Sevita’s human resources operations in the field, providing strategic leadership and support for major company-wide initiatives, including planning and implementation of a new human capital system. In nearly three decades with the organization, Maria has played a key role in a variety of large scale projects, including the transition of transactional activities from operations to Sevita’s human resources shared service center. Maria holds a B.S. from St. Michael’s College in Vermont.

As Vice President of Talent and Chief Diversity Officer, Natasha leads the Diversity, Culture, and Talent team to ensure our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is embedded in our practices, policies, and programs for all employees and people served. Natasha brings 15 years of experience across various industries, most recently with Learfield IMG College and G6 Hospitality.

She thrives on helping organizations and individuals connect their unique gifts and talents to drive personal and business success. She brings a diversity of experience building and leading teams to support cultural integration, talent strategy, and overall employee experience. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Industrial Psychology from Texas A&M University. Natasha is a native Texan based in the Dallas area, where she is active in ministry, volunteerism, and mentoring.

“It’s an honor to help others see the potential in themselves, and to support them in finding their unique voice and talents. I’m amazed and humbled to be surrounded by such a diversity of individuals who care deeply and are united around our common purpose.”

– Natasha Hudspeth

As President of Community Services, Jon oversees all aspects of strategic planning and service delivery for Sevita’s programs serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Since joining Sevita in 2006 with the acquisition of American Habilitation Services, Inc., Jon has taken on several leadership roles, most recently serving as Vice President of Operations for the Community Services Atlantic Region.

Jon began his career in human services nearly 35 years ago as a direct support professional. Jon has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities for more than a decade, part of that time as the board’s chairman. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of ANCOR. He holds a B.A. from Concordia College.

“Together we are better”

– Jon Fisher

As President of Specialized Health & Rehabilitation, Bill directs the company’s strategic business planning and program development. Bill joined Sevita as chief operating officer in 2008. Over the past 15 years Bill and his team have expanded post-acute brain injury rehabilitation services to 28 states across the country. These services provide much needed care to pediatrics and adults in a variety of settings from residential, day-programing, clinic based services and home care. Supporting children and adults with neurological and medically complex injuries, illnesses, behavioral and other challenges to rebuild their lives in order to achieve independence in their homes and communities.

Prior to joining Sevita, Bill was the Chief Executive Officer of Radius Specialty Hospital in Boston. He also served as Chief Executive Officer for Commonwealth Communities, overseeing four rehabilitation hospitals across Massachusetts. Bill holds a bachelor’s degree from Stonehill College

“I am honored to lead a team of professionals who are focused each and every day on supporting the individuals we serve. Their dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to the people who come to SHR are inspiring.”

– Bill Duffy

Doug brings a strong background and experience in the development and growth of behavioral health programs and services. Most recently, Doug served as Chief Operating Officer at Promises Behavioral Health, a company offering residential and day behavioral health programs across multiple states.

His previous roles include Chief Clinical Officer of Lakeside Health System, and Director of Child and Adolescent Programs for Charter Lakeside Behavioral Health System where he was responsible for developing, managing, and overseeing child and adolescent behavioral health programs. Doug’s deep and broad experience serving children, families, and individuals with behavioral health needs will be critical as he partners with the CFS leadership team to expand and grow our services.

Doug received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Memphis State University, and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Tennessee. He and his wife, Rebecca, reside in Franklin, TN, and they are the parents of five grown children. Doug is an avid fly fisherman in his free time.

As President of Sevita Connected Care, Michelle leads all aspects of the operational success and optimization strategy in supporting seniors in the community through our health center offerings, in-home, and virtual services. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Operations for Sevita Connected Care and has since led the growth of adult day health programs; optimizing the services through metric driven leadership, the launch of new programs, and integration of several acquisitions.

Prior to joining Sevita, Michelle served as the Divisional Vice President of Operations for Kindred Health Care, where she was honored with the President Award Recipient for Leadership and Performance. Michelle is a licensed nursing home administrator and a board member of the National Adult Day Health Association. She holds a B.A. from Stonehill College and M.B.A from Southern New Hampshire University.