Whitford new director of sales

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – December 17, 2007) Don Whitford has been named the new director of sales and client services for Eastern Michigan at Priority Health, a nationally recognized health plan company. In this role, he will oversee new business sales and customer retention. Whitford is also a member of the corporate senior sales leadership group which develops and manages the organization's annual strategic sales plan.

"Don's experience and expertise will be vital as we continue to grow our business in Eastern Michigan," said Mark Zickel, vice president, client services and regional management. Priority Health began serving Eastern Michigan after purchasing Care Choices from Trinity Health Care in April 2007.

Whitford came to Priority Health from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where he developed a long-term business strategy for the consumer-directed health care market. He also served as a regional marketing director from 2001 to 2004 where he was responsible for statewide new business and retention of 65,000 customers representing 830,000 contracts. 

Whitford obtained his bachelor's degree in business administration with distinction from Walsh University. 
   
About Priority Health:
Priority Health serves more than 550,000 members with a broad portfolio of products including commercial and government health plans. Priority Health is a non-profit company governed by a volunteer board of directors. Dedicated to improving health and lowering health care costs, the company is consistently ranked among the nation's best health plans by the National Business Coalition on Health and the National Committee for Quality Assurance.