Crestline Advisors Team of Executive and Senior Consultants

Susan Dess, R.N., M.S. – Managing Director, Emerita

Susan (Sue) Dess is a veteran health care management professional and the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of Crestline Advisors. Sue founded Crestline Advisors in 2013. Her background includes over 25 years of managed care experience, holding executive management, business development, operational, and clinical leadership positions in large heath care systems and national managed care organizations. Examples of past roles include Senior Vice President of Health and Wellness of ValueOptions, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer of ValueOptions of Arizona (the largest Managed Behavioral Health Organization contract in the country at the time), and Vice President of Care Management and Emergency Room Services at St. Agnes HealthCare.

Sue is also a Registered Nurse who spent 25+ years as a Public Health, Emergency Room, and Critical Care Nurse. Her experience gives her an understanding of the social determinants, medical, and behavioral health issues that impact the “big picture” of health care and the importance of integrated care.

As the C.E.O. of Crestline Advisors, Sue works closely with clients and consultants, valuing collaborative teams, ensuring the best resources, and driving high-quality outcomes for each Crestline Advisors project. She received her B.S.N., M.S. in Administration and Certificate in Managed Care from the University of Maryland. Sue serves on the Board of Directors of several community organizations and, throughout her career, has received multiple service awards.

Tim Mechlinski, Ph.D., M.H.A. – Managing Director

Tim Mechlinski is the Managing Principal of Crestline Advisors. Tim is a well-rounded health care management consultant with experience in R.F.P. response development, project management, program design, workflow development, operational review, and compliance auditing.

Tim leads most of Crestline’s proposal response development team, assisting clients with all facets of the R.F.P. response process, including pre-opportunity review, pre-RFP release work, and R.F.P. strategy and review. He is an experienced researcher with extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative approaches. By specializing in data analysis and visualization, Tim uses his skills to drive successful R.F.P. bids and to assist clients in presenting the data that demonstrates the value they bring to their clients and customers.

Tim joined Crestline Advisors in February 2014. His previous roles include working as a lecturer and professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Lewis and Clark College (Portland, OR), and California State University Long Beach. Tim also worked as a senior program evaluator for federal grants.

Tim earned his Bachelor of Arts in French and Sociology and Master of Health Administration at the University of Southern California, and his Ph.D. in sociology at UCSB. His academic work has appeared in both theoretical and applied peer-reviewed academic journals. Tim is also an alumnus of the Peace Corps.

Shannon Walters, M.C., L.A.C. – Associate Managing Director

Shannon Walters, M.C., is a versatile professional with more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry. She has worked in both provider and health plan organizations and held leadership positions in the utilization management, provider relations, and network operations departments, and crisis assessment. Shannon has been responsible for the management and director-level oversight of large departments in which she developed policies, procedures, workflows, improved processes, and developed intense employee training and supervision protocols. These efforts lead to increased employee satisfaction and performance.

Shannon has supported national Medical MCOs with pre-RFP release work, such as a review of the bidder’s previous responses and analysis of competitors’ recent responses to identify potential differentiators and gaps requiring mitigation. Her areas of writing expertise include care management and network management.

Shannon joined Crestline Advisors in 2015. Since that time, she has assisted Crestline’s health plan, and provider clients with Medicaid managed care Request for Proposal response writing, process improvement, policy and workflow creation, implementation of new programs, and strategic planning.

Shannon received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Counseling degrees from Arizona State University. She is a Licensed Associate Counselor in Arizona and has lived in the Phoenix metropolitan area since 1985.

Paul Barringer, J.D., M.P.A.

Paul Barringer has more than 30 years of health care experience.  He provides strategic direction, writing support, and other assistance with all phases of Medicaid managed care procurement. He previously led national payer account management for Wellframe, a health technology company supporting health plans with digital care management solutions, and worked with UnitedHealth Group, where he led state account management, operations, and compliance teams. He has worked directly with states on business development and engagements relating to health care operations, IT infrastructure, analytics / reporting, and other initiatives. Paul also served as general counsel at the legal reform non-profit Common Good, where he led the organization’s health reform initiative. He has worked as a health care attorney in private practice and as an entrepreneur.

Paul received a B.A. with Honors from Davidson College, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina, and an M.P.A. from Princeton University. He was a Rotary Scholar at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand and studied at the Oswestry School in the United Kingdom as an English-Speaking Union Scholar. He has completed the Appalachian Trail, biked the length of the United Kingdom and New Zealand and across the United States, and is an Eagle Scout.

Carol Bruce-Fritz

Carol Bruce-Fritz is a seasoned healthcare management consultant and former not-for-profit administrator. She draws on insight and skills gained through broad and varied professional experience to assist health plans and healthcare providers in crafting compelling responses to competitive procurement opportunities. Carol’s consulting expertise focuses on providing proposal project management, writing, strategy, and program development services to clients responding to competitive procurements.

Carol’s experience spans the range of functionals related to R.F.P. response development, including opportunity assessment, capture management, content management, strategic analysis, proposal development and management, quality assurance, and production. Carol’s areas of writing expertise include integrated care, healthcare system transformation, and serving at-risk populations.

Carol was formerly a principal with Health Management Associates (H.M.A.), a national healthcare consulting firm specializing in Medicaid and other publicly funded healthcare programs. While at H.M.A., Carol advised providers, health plans, and foundations serving at-risk populations in proposal development, governance, strategic planning, healthcare system transformation, integrated care, and innovation. She also established policies and processes for proposal development and oversaw H.M.A.’s national proposal team, which produced more than 1,000 competitive and noncompetitive proposal submissions annually. Carol’s healthcare experience includes both behavioral and physical health, integrated community-based healthcare systems, and collaborative provider coalitions. Carol join the Crestline team in 2019.

Carol received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and has developed and implemented marketing and communications strategies for United Way and the American Cancer Society.

Jennifer Brummet, L.P.C.

Jennifer Brummet, L.P.C., is an adaptable professional with over 18 years of experience working in various behavioral healthcare and child welfare settings across the country. As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona, Jennifer is an approved clinical supervisor under the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Clinically trained in the treatment of Eating Disorders, Trauma, EMDR, Substance Abuse, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jennifer’s experience working in both public and private sectors enables her to assist organizations in acquiring accreditation, credentialing and licensing. Jennifer’s expertise extends to conducting data validation, quality assurance, and utilization management auditing of providers and Managed Care Organizations.

Jennifer joined Crestline Advisors in 2015. Since that time, she has worked with an array of healthcare entities. These include integrated health care, behavioral health, mental health organizations, state agencies, and Managed Care Organizations. Her consulting focus includes leading project management teams for the implementation of statewide foster care organizations, request for proposal response development for specialty health services, offering clinical practice and quality improvement techniques, conducting organizational assessments, giving technical assistance around clinical programming and process flows, steering contract negotiations, and supporting service capacity building.

Jennifer Brummet received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Arizona State University and her Masters in Counseling from the University of Phoenix.  She also holds a certificate in Non-profit Leadership. As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona, Jennifer is an approved clinical supervisor under the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. An avid student of yoga and a certified children’s yoga instructor, she helps other yoga teachers understand and work with children with special needs.

Jeanne Golden-Burke, M.A.

A versatile professional with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Jeanne Golden-Burke, M.A. has worked in both provider and managed care organizations, holding leadership positions in provider relations, network management, eligibility/enrollment, and revenue cycle.

Through these positions, Jeanne was responsible for meeting compliance measures surrounding network management, provider satisfaction, and eligibility and claims functions. She accomplished this through establishing new processes and procedures, training and enhanced reporting standards and capabilities. These results led to improved provider and community satisfaction and accounts receivable trends. Jeanne has supported multiple managed care organizations with recruitment and pre-RFP activities, as well as implementing Medicaid MCO contracts. Her areas of writing expertise include provider relations and network management/operations. She has also supported provider agencies with resolving complex claim issues, reporting, and implementing electronic health record capabilities.

Jeanne joined Crestline Advisors in 2022. Since that time, she has assisted health plans across seven states with Medicaid and/or D-SNP managed care Request for Proposal response writing.

Jeanne received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Oregon State University and Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, NY.

Jeanne also serves as the Treasurer for the Arizona Showmen’s Association and has been living in the Phoenix metropolitan area since 2005.

Michele Grignon, M.C., L.P.C.

Michele C. Grignon, MC LPC, is a seasoned health care management expert who has 21 years of experience in managed care consulting, health care accreditation, clinical operations, and call center environments. Michele has served in management and executive roles for national managed care companies and provider organizations, overseeing utilization management functions, training programs, and behavioral health and nursing crisis intervention services.

Michele joined Crestline Advisors in October 2016 with a primary focus on completing utilization review and data validation projects, request for proposal writing, and managed care operations projects.

Michele received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her Master of Community Counseling from the University of Phoenix. She became licensed as a professional counselor with the Board of Arizona Health Examiners in July 2004. She is certified to provide clinical supervision to Arizona-based counselors and social workers seeking independent licensure.

Elizabeth Harken, J.D.

Elizabeth Harken, J.D., is a seasoned compliance executive with experience in a broad array of health care programs throughout the United States. Elizabeth served as the chief compliance officer for a national managed behavioral health organization. During that time, she oversaw compliance with 15 state Medicaid programs, as well as Medicare Advantage, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), state insurance requirements, federal contracts, and Employee Assistance Programs. She has developed and managed: the fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) prevention and detection program; privacy program, including implementation of Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) amendments; compliance training and education; and internal audit and ethics hotline. In addition to her compliance experience, Elizabeth served as the director of grievance and appeals. She was responsible for developing and operationalizing policies, workflows, and staff training materials consistent with state and federal requirements.

Elizabeth joined Crestline Advisors in January 2015, with a primary focus on compliance programs, fraud, waste and abuse prevention, and detection, and operationalizing health care regulations, accreditation standards, and licensing requirements. She also provides proposal response development services, primarily focusing on legal and regulatory functions.

Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cornell College and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa. She is a member of the State Bar of Arizona.

Annette Kuhn-Wine

Annette is an adaptable and forward-thinking professional with 30 years of experience in healthcare. Beginning her career as a certified substance abuse counselor, Annette has also gained operational experience in managed care settings including provider relations, provider network development, network adequacy, provider training, and monitoring. For the past 15 years Annette has consulted nationally for large and small, non-profit healthcare agencies optimizing business and clinical functions, leveraging technology such as Electronic Health Record (EHR) implementations.

As a writer, Annette has written grant applications and proposals ranging from local program development, and service delivery to statewide Medicaid managed care contracts specialization in staffing, training, administrative requirements, and network management. She works collaboratively with accountable owners and subject matter experts to design and develop solutions to address RFP specifications and requirements, which then informs the development of the proposal response.

Leading EHR implementations and provider network projects, Annette has experience producing and delivering successful results within complex business environments. Her responsibilities include analyzing specifications, leading solution design sessions, creating technical and training documentation, and facilitating change management sessions paving the way for business optimizations and efficiencies.

Annette received her Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies from Park University and Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Graphic Design from Newman University.

Melissa Lahr Thomas

Melissa is an accomplished executive with more than two decades of experience in local and national health systems and managed care operations. In her consulting work, she has led teams in implementing data-driven strategies for both for-profit and non-profit entities, including planning, proposal and grant writing, policy development, implementation, evaluation, oversight, and monitoring. She brings a unique blend of industry knowledge with the ability to navigate complex regulations, manage processes, and provide actionable outcomes.

Before her consulting career, Ms. Thomas was the Branch Chief of Program Operations at the Arizona Department of Health Services, responsible for leading the clinical, network, and operational management of behavioral health. She integrated care services throughout the State of Arizona. She is experienced in both healthcare and government with a strong background in working with the legislature, State and federal regulatory agencies, health plans, providers, advocates, and members. Melissa began her career as a Principal Consultant with a focus in healthcare in 2012; she began working with Crestline Advisors in 2014.

As a consultant, Melissa specializes in proposal writing, policy, procedure, and training development; managed care innovation; project management; program implementation, monitoring, oversight, and evaluation; group facilitation and strategic planning.

Joanne Scillia, R.N., B.S.N.

Joanne Scillia is a registered nurse with over 30 years of senior-level experience within the healthcare space, including public and privately held for-profit organizations, not-for-profits, and startups.  Ms. Scillia has extensive experience in building new programs and re-establishing current programs, incorporating improved efficiency, quality, and financial performance using technology, improved policy, training, and establishing a culture of accountability.

Joanne’s expertise includes the following populations and programs Medicaid, Medicare, Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans, institutional care, and chronic special needs programs.  She has held executive-level positions within health plans, Accountable Care Organizations, integrated health systems, health care consulting organizations, and provider organizations such as hospice, palliative care, and home care. She is highly familiar with the Joint Commission and the National Committee for Quality Assurance and has led multiple organizations through successful accreditation. Joanne’s knowledge base extends into population health, risk stratification modeling, integrated complex care management, long-term supportive services, utilization management, and behavioral health.

Joanne joined Crestline Advisors in 2022, with a primary focus on proposal writing (e.g., care management, long-term services and supports, utilization management, quality, and value-based payment arrangements) as well as utilization review and data validation projects, managed care operations projects and population health, including risk stratification methodology and hot spotting.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Florida International University and resides in New Jersey.

Michelle Squire M.S.N, R.N., C.C.M.

Michelle Squire is a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in health care, including acute care, commercial non-profit health insurance, and managed care operations. She has extensive experience driving health care strategies in diverse and rapidly evolving environments, propelling growth, and improving processes throughout organizations.

Before her consulting career, Michelle was the Director of Medical Management for a large health plan in New York City. She was responsible for pioneering innovative ways to deliver high-quality and cost-effective healthcare to some of the state’s most vulnerable populations, through the establishment of best-in-class care management and utilization management programs.

Michelle is a published author, with her 2019 publication about Whole Person Care Management leading care management solutions and strategies across the healthcare continuum. Her publications focus on evidence-based and holistic approaches to population health and the necessity for integrated methods in care coordination processes.

Michelle joined Crestline in 2022 with a primary focus on proposal writing. Her areas of expertise include population health, care management, utilization management, quality management, maternal and child health (including medically fragile children and foster care populations), transitions of care, LTSS, diabetes self-management, risk stratification, and information technology.

Michelle received her Master of Science in Nursing Degree from Walden University and resides in New Jersey.

Jeanna Thorpe

With over 25 years of health care experience, Jeanna has worked with managed care organizations, state agencies, and providers in over 20 states. She brings to the table a unique perspective of having consulted with multiple types of entities. These include not-for-profit and for-profit providers of service, county and State governmental entities, and not-for-profit and for-profit national and regional managed care entities, as well as serving on the leadership team for a national managed care organization in Arizona.

Jeanna has extensive knowledge of Medicaid/Medicare managed care and health plan operations. Specific areas of expertise include provider network design, development, and management, contract negotiation, provider relations; credentialing; member services, regulatory compliance, and policy development.

As a proposal writer, Jeanna has worked on over 100 proposals ranging from local program development, and service delivery to statewide Medicaid/Medicare managed care contracts. She works collaboratively with accountable owners and subject matter experts to design and develop solutions to address R.F.P. specifications and requirements, which then informs the development of the proposal response. She also has experience serving as the proposal manager responsible for producing and delivering compliant proposals within complex business environments. Responsibilities included scheduling and running proposal kick-off meetings, leading solution design sessions, facilitating key review meetings, final document review, and coordinating proposal governance/sign off. Jeanna’s writing expertise includes network development and management.

Additionally, Ms. Thorpe has been part of the “on the ground” implementation team for several statewide Medicaid health plan implementations. Jeanna has over 20 years of experience as a Principal Consultant with a focus in healthcare; she began working with Crestline Advisors in 2014.

She received her Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University.

Christine Wells, Ph.D., M.B.A.

Christine Wells is a clinical psychologist with over 25 years’ experience in the health care sector. She has held executive leadership positions in clinical and operational management in community-based provider organizations and a managed care organization.

In her role as a regional executive director with a managed behavioral health organization, she had responsibility for the management of comprehensive mental health services for a commercial health plan, including member services, provider network, claims management, and utilization review. As a non-profit executive, Christine was the lead for a team that developed the first facility licensed in Arizona to offer integrated primary and behavioral health care and wellness services exclusively to individuals living with serious mental illness. Christine has served as interim executive director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Southern Arizona.

Since joining Crestline Advisors in 2017, Christine has assisted Crestline’s health plan and provider clients with RFI/proposal response writing, implementation of integrated care processes and policies, facility licensing, process improvement, delivery system transformation, and strategic planning. Her writing expertise includes mental health and substance use, care management, and integrated care.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from Mount Holyoke College. She earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Clark University along with a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Vermont. She is currently a licensed psychologist in Arizona and has lived in Tucson since 2006.