Leadership
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Laura Reeder
Chief Executive Officer
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Douglas Kelly
Chief Financial Officer
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Jason Cunningham
Chief Technology Officer
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Kelley Leonette
Senior Vice President
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Melissa Downs
Vice President of Strategy and Risk Management
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Leah Heimbach
President and Founder
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Tonia Bleecher
Independent Board Member
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Karen Jackson
Independent Board Member
LAURA REEDER – Chief Executive Officer
Laura Reeder began her career at HMS over 14 years ago as Director of Finance and HR. Working closely with the company founders, Laura was assigned additional responsibilities including managing contracts/compliance and operations management. Laura was appointed CFO in 2012, became CFO and Executive Vice President before being named CEO, June 1, 2022.
Laura began her career in finance and accounting over 31 years ago, amassing broad experience in public accounting and management, and evincing her commitment to quality and growth through ongoing education and professional development. Laura worked as an accountant, assisted living facility administrator, finance supervisor, contracts and finance manager, director of contracts, and senior contracts specialist, before joining HMS.
Her experience in both the private healthcare facility sector and work with large federal contractors give Laura a unique perspective as she guides HMS’ day-to-day operations and contract performance. Her seasoned and methodical approach, coupled with her keen insight, has contributed significantly to the continued growth and success of HMS.
Laura also serves on the Board of Directors.
“We think differently. We stay focused on the patients and families who are counting on us to help improve the quality of care patients receive. That’s our differentiator.”
DOUGLAS KELLY – Chief Financial Officer
Douglas (Doug) Kelly, CPA has over 14 years of accounting/finance related experience including 4 years in public accounting and 10 years of state/federal contracting experience with HMS. Currently, Doug leads HMS’ externally focused efforts such as working with auditors, lenders, vendors, and customers, as well as budgeting and overall Finance Department management. Doug consistently explores innovative ways to harness technology, aiming to simplify tasks and enhance efficiency for himself and his team.
Doug has a BS in Accounting and a BS in Finance from Fairmont State University and obtained the title of Certified Public Accountant (CPA) shortly after graduating.
JASON CUNNINGHAM – Chief Technology Officer
Jason Cunningham has amassed over 25 years of practical IT experience, having worked in program management and systems development in both the public and private sectors. He is especially adept in the areas of formulation and design of software systems according to a client’s perimeters, as well as in technical analysis and the resolution of software conflicts. In addition to his technical expertise, Jason has extensive experience in project and personnel management.
He has worked very closely with government healthcare entities to develop new software systems that improve efficiency and streamline processes through innovative, state-of-the-art technology. Jason’s expansive background in IT creative solutions and personnel management, and his knowledge and experience related to the real-world aspects of information technology and understanding a customer’s needs, allow him to always provide the perfect IT solution for any client.
KELLEY LEONETTE Senior Vice President
Kelley Leonette, MPP, PMP has 17 years’ experience in healthcare, with a focus on contract administration, federal and state compliance, policy development, surveyor training, and data analysis. As a member of the HMS leadership team, she assists in evaluating and implementing short- and long-term strategic objectives. She is responsible for the HMS Survey and Technical Assistance Division managing the overall coordination, operations, oversight, and communication of all state and federal survey and technical assistance (consulting service) activities. Her responsibilities also include various other contracts related to the oversight of the provision of Medicare and Medicaid services.
Prior to HMS, Kelley worked for the Division of Acute and Continuing Care Providers in the Quality and Safety Oversight Group (formerly Survey & Certification Group) at CMS Baltimore, where she directed and oversaw the administration of several provider types. She gained significant knowledge of contract management, serving as a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) for CMS on two multi-million-dollar survey contracts. She then managed multiple technology contracts while serving as project manager for revenue cycle management at the Cleveland Clinic. Kelley has a Master’s Degree in public policy and is a Certified Project Management Professional.
MELISSA DOWNS Vice President of Strategy and Risk Management
Melissa (Missy) Downs has over 17 years of experience working on projects at HMS. She has worked closely with clients across the country and helped identify improvements to HMS tools and processes to increase efficiency in daily operations. Most recently, she monitored compliance with CMS technical requirements for systems and applications used to conduct Oversight of State Performance (OSP) operations. She has been a member of the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee (ARCC) which plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of financial reporting, risk mitigation strategies/emergency preparedness planning and maintaining legal/contractual compliance for the company. Missy has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Marshall University and is a Certified Project Management Professional.
LEAH HEIMBACH – President and Founder
Leah Heimbach JD, RN, EMT-P founded HMS in 2002 with the ambitious goal of improving the quality of care and access to everyone.
When her mother and father-in-law were in nursing homes, she learned first-hand the importance of oversight in ensuring that healthcare facilities meet the high standards of care established in federal and state laws.
Leah’s multiple careers — as a lawyer, registered nurse, EMT-paramedic, flight paramedic, administrator of a federally funded injury control training and demonstration center, and executive director of a statewide emergency-physician nonprofit — converged when she co-founded Healthcare Management Solutions, LLC (HMS) in 2002.
She has overseen the development and implementation of compliance and risk management programs, reduced organizational costs by millions of dollars, and improved overall profitability for a variety of healthcare organizations. A popular presenter at state and national meetings, Leah has authored numerous articles and book chapters for national publications.
Leah knows her entire leadership team is world-class, because she sets high standards and only hires people who truly embody HMS’ focus on care and compassion, combined with deep skill and experience.
Leah also serves on the Board of Directors.
TONIA BLEECHER — External Board of Directors
Tonia Bleecher, an innovative, growth-oriented executive, has 30 years of leadership experience within multi-disciplined business units in the government consulting market, utilizing expertise in strategy, business development, client relations, quality delivery, and account management across geographically dispersed teams. Ms. Bleecher previously served as CEO of Ventech Solutions developing and executing the company’s growth and delivery strategy. Prior to joining Ventech Solutions, Tonia served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Federal Unit at Truven Health Analytics, an IBM Watson Health Business. Tonia also worked as a principal at Booz Allen Hamilton, heading their CMS Account.
Tonia has a B.A. in English and History from Dickinson College and a Masters in Community Planning from University of Maryland.
Tonia proudly serves on the Board of Directors.
KAREN JACKSON — External Board of Directors
Karen Jackson was elected to the HMS Board of Directors in 2024. She retired from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in March 2023 as its Deputy Chief Operating Officer, having served in various senior executive positions during her tenure at CMS. In her last position at CMS, she was responsible for directing operational support for more than $1 trillion in health care spending and an annual budget of $7 billion, including information technology, human capital, physical and systems security, and risk management in this agency of more than 6300 civil servants.
Over the course of her CMS career, Jackson was the executive lead for a variety of CMS initiatives that improved services and reduced operating costs. She led implementation of the mandate to protect Medicare beneficiaries from identity theft by issuing and mailing 62 million new Medicare cards before deadline and under budget, testifying before Congress on status of the initiative. She led the planning and implementation of the consolidation of the Medicare claims operations infrastructure to achieve greater consistency in Medicare claims payment and accounting operations and reducing administrative costs. Jackson also worked to build organizational capacity in CMS’s Innovation Center to support national expansion of Medicare payment models that improve health outcomes and quality and reduce health care costs.
Prior to her role as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Jackson was a senior executive at CMS in several capacities, including serving as Deputy Director of CMS’s Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, Group Director for Medicare Contractor Management and for Information Services Modernization.
Jackson is the recipient of multiple awards in recognition of her contributions, including FedHealthIT’s Leading for Impact: Women in Leadership Award, the Department of Health and Human Services Acquisition Award, and the Presidential Rank Award for sustained accomplishments.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, and a Master of Public Policy degree from the Gerald Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Karen proudly serves on the Board of Directors.