Executive Management Biographies

Meet the CNIC Team!
Leadership Profiles

CNIC's management staff has an average of fourteen years third party administrative experience working in a self-funded environment and on the RIMS® system platform.

Jim Swayze
President and CEO

Mr. Swayze is President and Chief Executive Officer of CNIC Health Solutions, Colorado’s largest third party administrator of employee benefit plans. Jim has served as a member of the CNIC Board of Directors since 2004, when CNIC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rocky Mountain Health Plans. He became the President and CEO of CNIC in May 2007. Mr. Swayze continues in his role as Vice President and General Manager of Rocky Mountain Health Plans Front Range operations, a position he has held since 2001.

With more than 20 years of both self-funded and fully-insured healthcare experience in the Colorado marketplace, Jim brings to CNIC extensive leadership capabilities and the ability to develop strong and positive working relationships with employers, brokers, and providers. He also brings strategic planning and management skills, innovative marketing strategies and an aptitude for developing new products. He has the proven ability to establish and expand broker distribution channels that market a wide variety of successful self-funded and fully insured products.

Mr. Swayze holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Ursinus College, where he majored in Economics and Business Administration. His community service includes serving as a member of the executive committee (2002-2005) and board of directors (2001-2007) for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and serving as a team coach for Real (Formerly Douglas County Soccer Association) since 2002. He also actively supports many other Denver-area not-for-profit organizations, including the American Diabetes Association, Girls on the Run, the American Heart Association and the Alzheimer’s Association.

 

Vicki Espinoza
Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Espinoza is the Chief Financial Officer of CNIC. She joined the organization in April 2001. Ms. Espinoza has brought financial discipline to CNIC, consolidated the accounting records of the parent organization and its wholly owned subsidiaries, implemented effective forecasting tools, reengineered accounting procedures and implemented financing and large-scale banking initiatives.

Ms. Espinoza was employed by Mountain Medical Affiliates, Inc. (MMA) beginning in 1999. As the Controller of MMA, she was instrumental in the turnaround of the organization's financial position. She added internal controls and was the lead negotiator for MMA's credit arrangements with their bank.

Prior to joining MMA, Ms. Espinoza was a Finance Manager for PacifiCare Health System's Central Region. During her ten years with PacifiCare and its predecessor organizations, Ms. Espinoza's responsibilities included managing the budgeting and analysis, cash management, accounting and finance quality management areas. Ms. Espinoza was also actively involved with financial forecasting, mergers and acquisitions, information system conversions and modifications, process improvements and training.

Ms. Espinoza holds a Certified Public Accountant license, non-active status, in the State of Colorado. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Accounting, summa cum laude, from the University of Denver. Ms. Espinoza was also the recipient of the University's prestigious Andrew H. Wood Award. Ms. Espinoza is a member of the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

Angela Moore
Chief Operating Officer

Ms. Moore is the Chief Operating Officer for CNIC. She joined the organization in May 2001. During her tenure with CNIC, Ms. Moore has developed and integrated the operational infrastructure and managed all operational aspects of the business, including Claims, Customer Service, Billing and Eligibility, Medical Management, Excess Loss, Premium Administration, and Funding.

Prior to joining CNIC, Ms. Moore was employed for over 30 years by PacifiCare Health Systems and its predecessor organizations. Ms. Moore managed a staff of 200 and had responsibility for all areas of operations for Commercial HMO, PPO and Medicare products. Key accomplishments included the incorporation of technology-based solutions within high volume operations. Under her leadership, PacifiCare increased its electronic claim submissions by more than 50% and was successful in building a high volume transaction platform. Performance standards were consistently met or exceeded under Ms. Moore's leadership. Additionally, she had extensive experience in managing large transitions of membership and system conversions resulting from acquisitions, divestures, and business realignments.

 

Iva Conner
Director of Claims and Medical Management Services

Ms. Conner is the Director of Claims and Medical Management Services for CNIC. She joined CNIC in September, 2002. During her tenure, Ms. Conner has further developed the disease management and case management programs offered by CNIC.

Prior to joining CNIC, Ms. Conner was employed for 18 years by Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company. At Great-West Life, Ms. Conner oversaw the initial startup and development of centralized medical management programs and subsequent decentralization of medical management to newly established HMO regional offices. In addition, Ms. Conner oversaw third party PPO network contracting, provider data maintenance and a variety of system development projects.

Ms. Conner is a Registered Nurse with 13 years of acute care experience in the clinical areas of Emergency Room and Intensive Care.