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Executive Profiles
Guillermo Salazar, President & CEO
Mr. Salazar has been in healthcare since 1983. He founded 13 primary care physician offices in the South Florida area. This group consisted of 35 primary care physicians ranging from internal medicine physicians to family practice. In addition, Mr. Salazar contracted with approximately 100 multi-specialty physicians throughout the Dade, Broward and Palm Beach county areas. He was able to negotiate highly favorable contracts with these specialty physicians, which enabled his primary care physician offices to provide cost effective services for their patients. This healthcare group continued to prosper under his auspices until 1993 when they were acquired by a large medical services organization. Mr. Salazar remained in healthcare becoming a consultant and minority owner of Florida IV Services, Inc. In 1998, he became the president of the managed care division of a publicly traded healthcare company. He was instrumental in heading this division for several years however he realized the potential of Florida Homecare Services and Florida IV Services and decided to devote more of his time and attention to building and growing these Companies. He purchased the shares of the other owners of Florida IV Services and became the majority owner. Over the past few years, he has remained committed to enhancing the quality of services and the profitability of these Companies.
Cheri Rodgers, Chief Operating Officer
Mrs. Rodgers has been in healthcare since 1989. She began her career with a large managed healthcare company for approximately ten years in the contracting, provider relations and the administration and management of their wholly owned medical practices. While at the Health Plan, Cheri was instrumental in training and growing their provider networks. Towards the latter part of her career with the Health Plan she directed the operations of the wholly owned medical practices and positioned them for member growth. When the managed care company decided to eliminate the medical practices, Cheri was offered a position with a publicly traded healthcare company. She chose to leave the managed care company so that she could continue to utilize her expertise in the area of physician practice management and at that time began to work with Mr. Salazar. Cheri worked as the Director of Operations and took over the management of 15 primary care practices in the Tri-county area with this healthcare company for almost two years. During her time there, Mr. Salazar realized the benefits Cheri could bring to his integrated healthcare company (Atenda) and therefore hired her to head up this newly started Company. Cheri has brought her managed care and physician practice management experience to Atenda and has developed customer satisfaction programs along with being instrumental in designing our proprietary software program. She continues to maintain all of Atenda’s present contractual relationships and is a major part of bringing of new Health Plan Payor Contracts. Cheri oversees the day to day operation of the Home Benefit Management Company, the Specialty Pharmacy Company and the Nursing Management Company. She also works closely with the Durable Medical Equipment Company for growth and development. She has been with Atenda for more than nine years!
Arnold Finkel, C. R.Ph., Director of Pharmacy
Mr. Finkel has been a pharmacist for over 30 years, 17 of which have been specifically focused on the home infusion industry. Mr. Finkel has been part of the Atenda Executive Team for the past eight years. Mr. Finkel is responsible for the daily pharmacy operations and related patient care services. He assists in overseeing compliance to all State, Federal and JCAHO regulations at Atenda. He is also a Clinical Affiliate Assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University, College of Pharmacy. He served as an advisory board member for the Red Book Publication. Mr. Finkel has been in management/administrative positions, including hospital and home health agencies, during his home infusion experience. He also owned and operated four retail pharmacies for 16 years which gave him tremendous experience in running and managing his own business.
Lisa B. Sussman, LCSW, Administrative Operations Manager
Ms. Sussman has been with Atenda since 1998, and has over 18 years of healthcare experience. She is responsible for the intake, warehouse, human resource, and medical records departments. Ms. Sussman oversees all product delivery and customer satisfaction. Ms. Sussman has played a major role in the company's explosive growth over the years. Her past experience as a licensed clinical social worker includes hospitals, physician practices, managed care companies, medical billing companies, and national home infusion and durable medical equipment companies.
Rene Valverde, CEO – Atenda Home Medical Equipment
Prior to co-founding Atenda Home Medical Equipment in 2001, Mr. Valverde co- founded Physician Practice Services, Inc. Mr. Valverde was CEO from 1996 to 1999. PPSI was a joint venture with the North Broward Hospital District. PPSI managed all of the District’s physician practices and contracted with various HMO’s on a risk basis. PPSI’s assets were sold to the District in 1999. From 1993 to 1995 Mr. Valverde was Executive Vice President of Operations and CFO of Coastal Physician Group of Florida. At Coastal Mr. Valverde was responsible for the operations, finance and MIS department of 63 medical centers with revenues in excess of 225 million dollars. Mr. Valverde oversaw a staff of approximately 1000 non physician employees. In 1993, Mr. Valverde co-founded Healthcare 2000. Healthcare 2000 marketed Physician Practice Management Software known as MTRACK. The software is still in operation in over 100 Humana Medical Centers. From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Valverde was the CFO and COO of Goldstar Medical Management. Goldstar owned or managed 15 medical centers in South Florida, with revenues in excess of 50 million dollars. Goldstar was acquired by Coastal in 1993. From 1983 to 1988 Mr. Valverde was Executive Vice President of General Federal Savings and Loans. At General Federal Mr. Valverde oversaw the residential, consumer and construction lending departments. In addition, Mr. Valverde started a television station in Puerto Rico, a Savings and Loan Company in Granada, Spain, and a property and casualty company in Miami, Florida.

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