CHEYENNE, WY – President and CEO Rick Schum has announced his retirement on May 1, 2019, after a career spanning 38 years at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming (BCBSWY).
A native of Cheyenne, Schum served as President and CEO since 2011, one of only four who have held the title since BCBSWY was founded. Reflecting on his long career, Schum said the highlight “was recognizing that we help people at critical times in their lives. We’re not just a company selling insurance in Wyoming,” he said. “We’re a Wyoming company with a mission to help Wyoming residents through times when they and their families need health insurance.”
During his tenure, Schum guided the company through several significant changes in the nation’s health care system. He oversaw the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) and federal HIPAA protections for personal health information and privacy. He also played a leadership role in health policy for the state, serving on health care reform working groups and insurance reform groups for three Wyoming governors and the Wyoming Legislature. He was part of a group that worked to successfully design and implement the Wyoming Kid Care CHIP program providing health insurance for Wyoming children. He was appointed to serve on the Wyoming Insurance Agents’ Examining Board, the Wyoming Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association and as Chairman of the Wyoming Health Insurance Pool.
Schum began his career with BCBSWY as a management trainee in 1981, immediately after graduation from the University of Wyoming with a Business Management degree. Through his 38 years with the company, he’s worked in nearly every area of the company, serving as Manager of the Claims Department, Director of Operations, Director of Marketing Administration, Senior Director of Marketing, Vice President of Marketing, Senior Vice President of External Affairs, and Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer.
Schum is also an active volunteer for many community organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cheyenne Frontier Days. He is a past Chairman of the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the board for the Cheyenne Symphony and Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming. He also serves on the national boards of Prime Therapeutics and the TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
Executive Vice President Diane Gore will assume the leadership role at Wyoming’s oldest health insurer. Gore said, “I can’t express the value of Rick’s lifetime of service to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming and the health insurance industry. His years of experience are an important part of this company’s history.”
Gore will officially take on the title of President and CEO on May 1. She began her decades long career at BCBSWY shortly after graduating from the University of Wyoming with an accounting degree. She has been involved in the company’s financial area since she began her employment. She was named Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in 2002, Chief Operating Officer in 2017, and Executive Vice President in 2018. Gore says, “I look forward to moving into this role and using tools and technology that make it easier for our members to understand their health benefits and working to improve health care affordability and transparency in the coming years.”
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming (BCBSWY), a not-for-profit health insurer and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, provides access to high quality health care coverage, services and programs to help our members make the best health care decisions and get the best care. With 10 locations across Wyoming, we provide hometown service to residents and businesses while serving people and charitable organizations in communities around the state. Learn more about us at BCBSWY.com.