Prior to joining HealthGrades, Ms Esch was the Activation and Planning Director at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, HealthONE in Denver, Colorado. She was responsible for the overall activation of a new children's hospital within a hospital, which included a six-hospital system integration plan, pediatric sub-specialty physician recruitment strategy, and new program deployment.

Ms. Esch also has an entrepreneurial spirit having led her own successful healthcare consulting practice for 11 years. She has a BS Degree in Human Nutrition and Food Service Management from the University of Nebraska and began her healthcare career as a Registered Dietitian.

Ms. Fortner brings 16 years of healthcare business development and strategic marketing expertise to her clients. She has a proven track record in a variety of areas including developing corporate branding strategies, patient retention and referral programs, Web site redesign, advertising, public relations, direct marketing programs and internal communications initiatives designed to educate and emphasize major strategic initiatives. Prior to joining HealthGrades, Ms. Fortner was an account group director for an advertising agency where she specialized in healthcare accounts. Ms. Fortner has also held business development roles in larger physician organizations. Ms. Fortner graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. She recently obtained a Six Sigma Greenbelt certificate from Villanova University.

Mr. Sheehan brings fourteen years of strategic planning experience to HealthGrades, including ten years of direct interaction with senior hospital executives. Prior to joining HealthGrades, Mr. Sheehan represented more than 60 hospitals as the state legislative liaison for the Colorado Hospital Association. Mr. Sheehan's primary responsibilities related to public policy analysis. He also worked extensively with quality assessment officers, risk managers, physicians, and regulatory officials to identify new and innovative ways of reducing risks to patients. He has been involved in numerous healthcare coalitions and has led advocacy efforts on issues ranging from patient restraint regulations to adequate Medicaid reimbursement policies.

Mr. Sheehan also served in a government relations role for the University of Colorado system, and as the online communications manager for the CU-Health Sciences Center. Mr. Sheehan's accomplishments during his four years with the university include the development of new marketing strategies for the University of Colorado Hospital, successful media relations, coordination of state wide community outreach activities, and development of communication and marketing tools that helped secure more than $100 million annually of state funding.

One of Mr. Sheehan's strengths is analyzing information cultivated from government agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). His research led to the Medicare and Social Security chapters of Balance the Budget Now and How, (Tom Shellenberg, et al, 1995, Boulder, CO), a political and economic study of the federal budget.

Mr. Sheehan holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Colorado.

Prior to joining HealthGrades, Mr. Van Fossen served as Director of Public Affairs for Meriter Health Services, a diversified community healthcare provider serving south central Wisconsin. In his capacity with Meriter, Mr. Van Fossen built a successful government relations and advocacy program, directed the top healthcare media relations program in the region, and helped refine and reshape Meriter's overall brand image. He also played a key role in the system's long-range strategic planning, business development, and new product and service-line initiatives.

Mr. Van Fossen holds a BA from Kenyon College (Ohio) and an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Lakeland College in Madison, Wisconsin, and has an active record of volunteer and community involvement focusing on low-income housing and neighborhood redevelopment.