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Annual Conference Speakers

Lexi Arthur
Lobbyist, President, A. Arthur & Co.
Legislative Days: Why It Matters to You (Handouts)
Friday, May 20th | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Lexi has more than a decade of government relations expertise. She has worked closely on a wide range of issues and represents entities across a wide range of industries (including healthcare, public safety, technology, media, environment, and energy), which has resulted in strong professional relationships with members of both the legislative and executive branches.

Of the many policy solutions she has led on behalf of her clients, those relevant to healthcare facilities include: mitigating compliance risks, cutting administrative costs, and blocking unnecessary regulatory burdens.

Her broad client portfolio has led to an uncommonly broad network of contacts to draw from and a uniquely comprehensive perspective on policy and effective solutions for her clients. She works closely with the legislature and key staff members, state agencies, and stakeholders to ensure her clients’ evolving operational needs are met.

Chip Baggett, JD
Executive Vice President and CEO, NC Medical Society
Panel Discussion with NC Candidates
Friday, May 20th | 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

In his capacity as CEO/EVP, Chip is responsible for state level advocacy efforts (primarily focused on the NC General Assembly) as well as communications and fundraising for the NCMS and NCMS Foundation.

Chip has a long history in organizational advancement and advocacy. Dating back to college, he has fundraised in numerous paid as well as volunteer capacities. He has led successful corporate and personal annual fund programs and gone through training at the Indiana School of Fundraising. Chip has worked in many different facets of health care ranging from a children’s science and health museum and pharmaceutical sales before going to work directly for physicians and PAs as a medical society executive first at the county level and then here at NCMS.

GeGe Beall, MS, FACHE, SPHR
EQ-i 2.0 Certified Coach
Toxic Staff: Vampires @ Work (Handouts)
Wednesday, May 18th | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Creativity: It's Still There, Just Snoozing (Handouts) (Handouts)
Thursday, May 19th | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

GeGe Beall has worked in healthcare Human Resources and Organizational Development for her entire career.  This includes serving as Vice President of Organizational Development and Director of Human Resources at several HCA hospitals. GeGe has a master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and is owner of [email protected], where she helps companies enhance their culture, which she feels is the key overall leadership, organization, & staff success. Certifications include Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives; Emotional Intelligence Coach; and Senior Professional in Human Resources.

Dr. Mary Ann Contogiannis
Owner and Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Mary Ann C. Contogiannis, MD
Panel Discussion with NC Candidates
Friday, May 20th | 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Dr. Mary Ann Contogiannis’ mother, Eleni, frequently recalled that Mary Ann told her as a young teenager that she wanted to become a physician. Eleni would ask Mary Ann why and she answered, “I want to be able to help people who are sick.” Eleni told her that she could do anything that she wanted so if she wanted to become a physician she could. With the support of her parents and family Mary Ann was able to achieve the American Dream. After graduating Grimsley High School Mary Ann went to Duke University for her undergraduate degree and East Carolina University for medical school. And she worked at her family’s restaurant all the way through medical school to help finance her education. Mary Ann then trained in General Surgery followed by a Plastic Surgery residency and achieved her American Dream. Mary Ann came back home to Greensboro to practice Plastic Surgery and currently is in a solo private practice. So, Mary Ann is a small businesswoman and feels the economic and inflationary pressures everyone is experiencing.

Early in her career, Mary Ann was attracted to the political side of medicine as she began to realize that advocacy was an important part of providing good healthcare to her patients. Contogiannis has worked hard to not only serve her patients, but to also improve access to quality healthcare for people all across North Carolina and America. She has been advocating for patients in healthcare for over 30 years at both the national and state levels. Mary Ann is confident walking in the halls of the US House and Senate and talking with members about ways to improve quality and access to healthcare.

Cameron M. Cox, III
Founder & CEO, e3c3 Consulting
Pre-Conference: Am I An 8? Using Enneagrams© to Improve Communication
Wednesday, May 18th | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
General Session: What's Your Culture Club? (Handouts)
Thursday, May 19th | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Cameron Cox is the MacGyver of healthcare business management, and he’s a man with a mission: to help medical practices thrive.  With a history of being a practice administrator and founding a successful medical billing and consulting firm, Cam brings unique views and perspectives on today’s practice management.   Over the course of the last 25 plus years, Cam has worked with more than 500 medical practices and health systems across virtually every medical specialty in the spectrum. 

Cam is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives, which is the most prestigious designation you can earn in the medical practice management profession. He also has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Josh Dobson
NC Commissioner of Labor
NCDOL Update
Thursday, May 19th | 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Josh Dobson was sworn in as North Carolina’s 18th labor commissioner on Jan. 2, 2021, after serving eight years in the state House of Representatives. Dobson represented the 85th district covering Avery, McDowell and Mitchell counties located in the western part of the state. Dobson is a native of McDowell County and currently resides in Nebo with his wife, Valerie, and his daughter, Kennedy.

“We want to provide a real service to every business and every worker in the state of North Carolina,” Commissioner Dobson said. “I am excited to continue the collaborative training and education initiatives that have resulted in a continual decline in our state’s injury and illness rate.”

Steve Gilliland
Hall of Fame Speaker
Welcome and General Session: Follow Me (Handouts)
Thursday, May 19th | 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Steve Gilliland is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on only 249 men and women worldwide since 1977. Recognized as a master storyteller and brilliant comedian, he can be heard daily on SiriusXM Radio’s Laugh USA and Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup.

In addition to being one of the most sought-after and top-rated speakers in the world, he is a prolific, accomplished author, evidenced by his books annually making the publishers’ bestseller lists and his being named Author of the Year. He was also named one of the Top 10 Motivational Speakers in 2015 by eSpeakers from over 9,000 candidates. He built a multimillion-dollar company from the ground up, which the Pittsburgh Business-Times named one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the region.

Timothy Reeder, MD, MPH
Associate Professor and Executive Vice Chair in the Department of Emergency Medicine
Eastern Carolina University
Panel Discussion with NC Candidates
Friday, May 20th | 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Timothy Reeder, MD, MPH earned a Medical Degree and completed his residency in Emergency Medicine from Ohio State University. He then obtained a Master Degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1998, he joined the faculty of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina where he is currently an Associate Professor and Executive Vice Chair in the Department of Emergency Medicine. He served as President of the North Carolina Medical Society in 2019. He is a past Chief of Staff of Vidant Medical. He has taught Health Systems Science topics across the educational continuum for varied health professions. He is the Director of the Health Care System Transformation and Leadership Distinction Track, a 3-year, para-curricular longitudinal program for 10 medical students a year beginning after their first year of medical school. He directs the Teachers of Quality Academy, a professional development program about quality, safety and leadership. He provides clinical care at an EM residency program which provides care at a rural, academic, Level I trauma center. His academic interests include operational enhancements, quality improvement and educating on health systems science.

Dana Simpson
Attorney, Smith Anderson
Legislative Days: Why it Matters to You (Handouts)
Friday, May 20th | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Dana Simpson co-chairs the Government Relations practice at Smith Anderson and regularly represents clients before the North Carolina General Assembly and with State agencies.

Dana advises clients regarding legislative and regulatory advocacy, public relations, issues management, economic development initiatives, ethics, and campaign finance law compliance. Dana has been consistently rated one of the most influential lobbyists in North Carolina by both the nonpartisan N.C. Center for Public Policy Research and The North State Journal. Dana also has experience representing clients on rulemaking and administrative law matters. He served as a member of the North Carolina Rules Review Commission from 2003-2006.

Prior to law school, Dana served as Special Assistant for Communications and Policy to the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Michelle Wallace, FACMPE
NCMGMA ACMPE Liaison
ACMPE Certification and Fellowship Breakfast: Make This the Year!
Friday, May 20th | 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Michelle Wallace, FACMPE, is the Practice Administrator at Gastroenterology Associates of the Piedmont in Winston-Salem, NC. She has been managing independent primary care and specialty group practices for more than three decades. She was honored to be named the NCMGMA Administrator of the Year in 2016. She earned her CMPE in 2012 and became a Fellow in 2018. In 2017, she became the ACMPE Liaison for North Carolina. As the NC Liaison, Michelle mentors and supports members who are on their way to becoming board certified through the American College of Medical Practice Executives and those seeking Fellowship.

Keep checking back as more handouts get added

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