Board of Directors
Heidi Fisher
Chair
Heidi Fisher joined the Board of Directors in 2020. Heidi Fisher is Chair of the People Incorporated Board. She was elected to the board in 2020. Fisher has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years with a focus on philanthropy. Fisher recently retired from working in higher education. Having a passion for mental health and health equity, she became involved because she believes in People Incorporated’s integrated and outcome-driven work.
Fisher is an active member of St. Paul Rotary and volunteers for People Incorporated and Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative. Fisher received her B.S. degree in Learning and Cognitive Disabilities from UW-Eau Claire in 1990. She also holds an M.A. in Nonprofit Management and a Certificate of Advanced Public Administration from Hamline University.
Trisha Stark
Vice Chair
Trisha Stark joined the Board of Directors in 2021. She is a retired psychologist emeritus and is active in advocacy at the state of Minnesota and national levels for quality mental health care. In addition to her doctorate in psychology, she has a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School and a Master’s of Jurisprudence in Health Law from the Loyola University of Chicago.
Bruce Bobbitt, Ph.D., LP
Board Member
Bruce Bobbitt, Ph.D., LP, joined the Board of Directors in 2022 and is currently devoting his volunteer efforts to career path professional and business mentorship for people ranging from advanced graduate students in psychology and mid-career psychology professionals to senior career business executives. Dr. Bobbitt’s career has included direct clinical service psychology positions in various settings, including community mental health, hospital pediatric psychology, and private practice. He has also held leadership positions in direct service organizations in the public and private sectors. He held various positions, all in behavioral health at Optum, UnitedHealth Group, over nearly 25 years, leaving that organization as Sr. Vice President of Quality Management, Specialty Networks, and Behavioral Health. Dr. Bobbitt was on the Board and Chair for Walk-In Counseling and the Bridge for Runaway Youth. In 2022, he left the United Hospital Foundation Board, St. Paul, after completing a three-year term. He has also been actively involved in committee work for the American Psychological Association and the Minnesota Psychological Association, where he was President in 2018. He has given numerous professional presentations on healthcare issues, published articles in peer-reviewed psychology and behavioral health journals, and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. He graduated from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and received his Ph.D. in child psychology from the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN.
Yuying Chen-Wynn
Board Member
Yuying Chen-Wynn joined the Board of Directors in 2023. Yuying is the Global Leader, Strategic AI at CohnReznick with 20+ years of experience building EdTech, FinTech, and Technology products across D2C, B2B, and SaaS segments and leading global teams. She got her start in product management at Microsoft Windows when Bill Gates still worked there and yelled at developers for their code. She specializes in AI-driven product strategy, data transformation, and international market expansion. She is currently the Head of Applied AI at PEAK6, a private investments firm, and the Chief Product Officer at Barnes and Noble Education, DSS, before that.
Yuying earned both her M.Eng. and B.S. in Computer Science & Electrical Engineering from MIT, with specializations in computer vision and visual effect models. She is a current member of Chief, a network of executive women, CEOX, a community elevating women into CEO and board roles; and VAB, a global advisory network of executives and board members from 50+ countries.
Outside of her professional life, Yuying is a mom to 3 teenagers who all believe they know technology better than her, and she’s an avid competitive ballroom dancer.
Laurie Colasanti
Board Member
Laurie Colasanti joined the Board of Directors in 2025. is currently SVP & CHRO for Sage Dental. Her experience spans over 30 years of senior executive leadership in Human Resources across various industries, including healthcare, automotive, transportation, and petrochemical. Her past experience includes leading the HR functions for Upstream Rehabilitation (the largest pure play outpatient PT provider), OneHome, a Humana company (providing home care, DME, and Pharmacy services in the home), and leading the HR functions for large multinational organizations, SIXT Rent A Car USA, and DHL Express – Americas.
Laurie earned a B.A. in Psychology and Business from Oakland University and an M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Central Michigan University.
Chris Collins
Board member
Chris Collins joined the Board of Directors in 2024. Chris Collins is a Founder/Principal at Clear Bay Capital Group—a real estate impact investment group focused on sourcing and repositioning distressed real estate assets.
Prior to founding Clear Bay Capital, Mr. Collins was Vice President for a boutique private equity real estate firm in NYC, actively managing a +$2.0B real estate portfolio that included hospitality, industrial, multifamily, and office assets around the country, primarily sourcing capital from foreign investors in the Middle East and Asia.
Before that, Mr. Collins worked at Starwood Capital Group, where he helped manage a +$8.0B distressed private equity real estate fund that invested across a diverse range of product types. While at Starwood, Mr. Collins worked closely with senior management to optimize portfolio returns and evaluate debt, foreign exchange, and portfolio composition risks. Before that, Mr. Collins worked in the insurance industry as a consultant and an actuary, working on statistical analysis, predictive analytics, and portfolio valuation.
Mr. Collins holds a B.S. in Finance from Lehigh University College of Business and Economics, with a minor in Mathematics.
Ashley Conger
Board Member
Ashely Conger joined the Board of Directors in 2023. Ashley has spent over two decades working with organizations to define and elevate their brand, navigate disruption, and drive consumer engagement and loyalty. She specializes in developing and scaling programs for complex, heavily regulated industries that address multiple stakeholders. Ashley leads with empathy and continues to succeed by creating meaningful, inclusive, & actionable experiences that combine the best in digital innovation with grassroots community outreach.
As the Chief Communications & Marketing Officer for Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, Ashley led communications, engagement, marketing, and public affairs strategy. She spearheaded digital transformation across the organization and created multiple programs to improve health access, equity, and outcomes for individuals with complex needs. Ashley built an award-winning content and outreach strategy that leveraged consumer partnership and unilaterally improved engagement and customer satisfaction.
Prior to her role at Cardinal Innovations, Ashley led a global Marketing Communications team for a multi-billion-dollar specialty manufacturing company. While there, she improved share of voice and increased market share for key business segments, successfully launched multiple new products, and rolled out a five-year strategic plan to over 5,000 employees in 63 locations around the world. Ashley was also previously the Director of Marketing and Communications for Lime Energy, a national, publicly traded energy efficiency firm, where she led all brand activities and created a national customer engagement and satisfaction platform.
She has provided coaching, mentoring, and leadership development consulting through the Behavioral Healthcare Leadership Academy, Wingspan Performance, and E4 Carolinas. Ashley is a proud mama, Demon Deacon, and long-term resident of the Lake Norman area in North Carolina.
Jermain Davis
Board Member
Jermain Davis joined the Board of Directors in 2024. Professionally, Jermain has worked in technology for over 13 years and currently works at Amazon Web Services (AWS) as a Sr. Account Executive. Jermain has pioneered allies taking action with his colleagues, which aims to build a bridge between the different communities in the tech community. Jermain has won multiple awards in the technology industry for his performance and leadership amongst his peers.
Jermain mentors young black and brown people on branding, self-image, and breaking the cycles of poverty and volunteers at high schools to discuss mental health and help break the stigma.
Mr. Davis holds a B.A. in Management from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Doug Elsass
Board Member
Doug Elsass joined the Board of Directors in 2022 and currently serves as Shareholder at Nilan Johnson Lewis, PA, in Minneapolis. With more than 30 years of practicing law, Doug is a skilled business litigator for various industries, such as health care, financial services, retail, agriculture, and professional services industries, among others. Doug has worked extensively on shareholder and partnership disputes, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and business competition cases. This expertise is why fellow lawyers and local law firms frequently seek him to represent them in disputes. Elsass has served as President of the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and as Chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, making him sought after by various national firms for local counsel.
At Miami University, Elsass earned a B.A. in History, an M.A. in Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, and a J.D., cum laude, at the University of Minnesota Law School.
Scott Farwig
Board Member
Scott Farwig joined the Board of Directors in 2023. He is an IT executive with extensive experience in the life sciences and medical technology sectors. He is currently at Olympus, where he is the strategic IT partner for the Global Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs function. Previously, Scott served as Senior IT Director at Medtronic, where he led a global organization that functioned as the technology partner to several key enterprise functions, including Quality, Clinical, Regulatory, and HR. Earlier in his career, Scott spent nearly 10 years in management consulting at Computer Sciences Corporation.
Scott earned a Master of Business Administration at the Carlson School of Management and a bachelor’s in economics and mathematics at St. Olaf College.
Jessica Kennedy Eguia
Board Member
Jessica Kennedy Eguia joined the Board of Directors in 2023. Ms. Eguia is the Chief Operating Officer at MNsure. MNsure’s mission is to ensure all Minnesotans have the security of health insurance. Previously, she was president of DeafHealth, a patient advocacy division of Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. (CSD). There, Ms. Eguia led a team dedicated to breaking barriers to health equity. Previously, she served as CSD’s vice president of legal and compliance, as well as the deputy general counsel and policy director at MNsure. Before arriving at MNsure, Ms. Eguia served as an in-house attorney for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, advising on healthcare and privacy issues.
She received her B.A. in political science from the University of Minnesota and her J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul.
Jean Machart
Board Member
Jean Machart joined the Board of Directors in 2025. She is a Healthcare Executive, serving as Vice President of Product at NMDP, with a mission to save lives through cell therapy. She is also a Board Member for Asbury Communities, a senior living & Age Tech company, and most recently, COO at the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.
Previously, Jean was a Vice President at UnitedHealthcare (UHC), leading global teams within Operations and developing and managing Enterprise Digital and Artificial Intelligence Platforms, with a scale that impacted over 60M consumers.
Before UHC, Jean was an Officer at Ameriprise Financial, with responsibilities that included owning a $1 billion P&L as a General Manager, guiding Digital Transformation, and leading product organizations with over $70 billion in assets. Additionally, Jean began her career at American Express in foundational finance roles.
She holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota in Operations and Technology, a BBA from the University of Wisconsin in Finance and Mathematics, a certificate from Harvard on Competing in the Age of AI, and is a NACD Certified Director.
Seth Paradis, Ph.D.
Board Member
Seth Paradis, Ph.D., was elected to the board in the fall of 2018. Dr. Paradis focuses on translating scientific discovery into real-world health impact. With over 25 years of experience at the intersection of physiology, biomechanics, and wellness, he specializes in connecting clinical research, academic insight, and product innovation to build scalable solutions that improve human health and longevity.
As a faculty leader, board member, and consultant, he has led cross-disciplinary teams, directed grant-funded research, and developed applied health curricula rooted in measurable outcomes. As a scientific advisor and collaborator, he has helped health startups and innovation groups transform data into strategy, informing everything from biometric algorithms to chronic disease interventions.
He is passionate about moving science beyond the lab and into the hands of people—whether through digital health tools, workplace platforms, or translational frameworks for preventive care and longevity.
Mari L. Payton
Board Member
Mari L. Payton joined the Board of Directors in 2023. Mari L. Payton joined Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in May 2018 as the Director of Engineering and Data, bringing her nearly 30 years of experience as a technology professional. In this role, she works with executives and professionals from Minnesota State’s 30 colleges and seven universities, focusing on strategy, development, and implementation of value-driven and secure enterprise applications and data solutions for Minnesota State. Currently, she is developing the Enterprise Data Strategy, leading the Reporting Refresh project, and developing the Business Glossary. She is a member of the Enterprise Data Governance Committee.
Mari’s affinity to data is firmly rooted in her vocation to serve others through the use of technology, improving the individual lives of others and strengthening the community overall. What gets her out of bed every morning is her belief that doing the right things with technology at the right time can not only provide value to the organizations she works for but also foster life-changing opportunities for the people those organizations serve.
Previously, she was the Systems Software and Database Director for the State of Minnesota. She managed the State’s Enterprise Resource Planning system software, which included a very successful implementation of Human Capital Management. She also chaired the Department of Human Services Information Policy Workgroup, developing and implementing agency-wide information policy and the Emerging Leadership Institute and Senior Leadership Institute Graduate Advisory Board for MN.IT Services, which provided leadership and strategy recommendations to the Commissioner of MN.IT.
Ms. Payton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater from the College of Saint Benedict; technical certifications in Computer Programming from Brown Institute, Oracle Certified Associate from Oracle Corporation, ITIL Foundation Certified Professional from Knowledge Peak; legal certification in Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Law from Mitchell Hamline School of Law; and leadership certificates from the Emerging Leadership Institute and the Senior Leadership Institute from the State of Minnesota and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She is currently working on a Master of Science in the area of Posthumous Data Privacy through the College of Individualized Studies at Metropolitan State University. Her anticipated graduation date is December 2023.
Chad Saunders
Board Member
Chad Saunders joined the Board of Directors in 2017. He earned an M.B.A. in Marketing and works as a client executive at Blue Cross Blue Shield. Saunders utilizes his education and experience to bring everyone quality and affordable health care.
Sharon A. Williams
Board Member
Sharon A. Williams, MPP, MHA, joined the Board of Directors in 2022. Sharon is a healthcare strategist and board advisor known for navigating complexity, strengthening payor alignment, and advancing value-based, community-centered care. She brings a systems-level perspective that connects policy, operations, financial drivers, and community needs, revealing patterns and insights others often miss and clarifying board-level decision-making.
Sharon currently serves as Health Plan President for the University of Michigan Health Plan, where she was engaged as a senior advisor to stabilize a financially distressed plan and guide the organization and Board through strategic decisions related to potential sale or multi-year orderly wind-down. Previously, as a Strategic Advisor with Grow Healthcare, she guided organizations through Medicare and Medicaid product launches, payor strategy, operational improvement, and multi-market growth initiatives. Her leadership experience includes Senior Vice President of Payor Relations at Cancer Treatment Centers of America; Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton; Director at Navigant (now Guidehouse); Chief Operating Officer at WellCare of Georgia; and Plan President at UnitedHealthcare/Evercare.
Sharon serves on the boards of People Incorporated and Indivisible Georgia and on advisory boards for Ciba Health, the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and Horizon Pharmaceuticals. She holds dual master’s degrees in Public Policy and Health Administration from the University of Chicago and is a Sloan Fellow through Carnegie Mellon University and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Matt Winston
Board Member
Matt Winston joined the Board of Directors in 2022 and is currently the Senior Vice President at Howden US, a top 10 global brokerage firm that works with organizations across both property & casualty and employee benefits – helping leadership teams take a more integrated view of risk, cost, and long-term strategy. Prior to that, he was a Senior Vice President at Brown & Brown, where he was responsible for generating and developing new business relationships and all aspects of program design, marketing, and administration, including coordinating ancillary services between the client and the insurance carrier. In addition, he is actively involved on a consulting basis for his clients concerning their insurance and general business needs.
Education: Bachelor of Science, St. John’s University, Certified Public Accountant (Inactive)