Encompass Health will be among the companies recognized for its female board representation at the fifth annual Breakfast of Champions on Nov. 7.
Hosted by the Women’s Forum of New York, the breakfast will honor 323 S&P 500/Fortune 1000 companies that have achieved 30 percent or greater female representation on their corporate boards.
“As an organization of top women leaders, the Women’s Forum of New York salutes the 2019 Corporate Champions which are raising the bar for female board representation by actively seeking more women directors,” said Janice Ellig, CEO of the Ellig Group and chair and founder of the Breakfast of Corporate Champions in a press release. “We salute these game-changing CEOs for accelerating the pace towards gender-balanced boardrooms and inspiring others to follow.”
Encompass Health Board of Directors is comprised of skilled directors who represent a diverse set of experiences, expertise and attributes and is almost entirely independent, with Encompass Health CEO Mark Tarr being the only non-independent member. Out of its 11 members, four are women.
Although there is no formal policy on diversity of board members and nominees, both the board of directors and the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee believe that having a diversity of skills and experiences adds value to the company.
In addition to having a strong female representation on its board of directors, Encompass Health also has women occupying key leadership roles on its executive team, as well as in its inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home health locations.
Meet some of the women leading Encompass Health’s board of directors and the company:
Board of directors
Yvonne M. Curl
Yvonne M. Curl is a former vice president and chief marketing officer of Avaya, Inc., which position she held from October 2000 through April 2004. Before joining Avaya, Curl was employed by Xerox Corp. beginning in 1976, where she held a number of middle and senior management positions in sales, marketing and field operations, culminating with her appointment to corporate vice president. Curl currently serves as a director of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. In the past five years, she has also served as director of Charming Shoppes, Inc. and Welch Allyn, Inc. She currently serves on the Board of the Hilton Head Community Foundation and the Hilton Head Humane Association.
Joan E. Herman
Joan E. Herman has served as the president and chief executive officer of Herman & Associates, LLC, a healthcare and management-consulting firm, since 2008. From 1998 to 2008, she served in a number of senior management positions, including president and chief executive officer for two corporate divisions, at Anthem, Inc. (f/k/a WellPoint, Inc.), a leading managed healthcare company that offers network-based managed care plans. Prior to joining Anthem, Inc. she served in a number of senior positions at Phoenix Life Insurance Company for 16 years, culminating with her appointment to senior vice president of strategic development. Herman currently serves on the board of directors for Convergys Corporation, a provider of customer management and business support system solutions. She also currently serves on the board of directors of AARP Services Inc., a privately held company. In the past five years, she also has served as a director of Qualicorp SA, a publicly traded company in Brazil.
Leslye G. Katz
From January 2007 to December 2010, Leslye G. Katz served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of IMS Health, Inc., a provider of information, services, and technology for clients in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Prior to that, she served as vice president and controller of IMS Health, Inc. for five years. From July 1998 to July 2001, Katz served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of American Lawyer Media, Inc., a privately held legal media and publishing company. Prior to joining American Lawyer Media, Katz held a number of financial management positions with The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, followed by two years as vice president and treasurer of Cognizant Corporation, a spin-off from D&B. Katz currently serves as secretary of the board of directors of My Sisters’ Place, a not-for-profit provider of shelter, advocacy, and support services to victims of domestic violence. In the past five years, she has previously served as a director for ICF International, Inc.
Nancy Schlichting
Ms. Schlichting has extensive healthcare experience and expertise in healthcare delivery. Her career in healthcare administration spans 35 years in senior level executive positions, most recently serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Henry Ford Health System, Inc. from June 2003 until December 2016. Prior to that, Ms. Schlichting served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 1998-2003. She also served as President and CEO of HFHS’s Henry Ford Hospital from 2001-2003. During her time at HFHS, the company garnered significant national recognition, including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award. Prior to joining HFHS in 1998, Ms. Schlichting served as the President of the Eastern Region of Catholic Health Initiatives, President and Chief Executive Officer of Riverside Methodist Hospitals and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Akron City Hospital and Summa Health System. Ms. Schlichting currently serves on the boards of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
Executive team
Barb Jacobsmeyer
Executive Vice President, President Inpatient Hospitals
Barb Jacobsmeyer was named executive vice president of operations on Dec. 29, 2016. She joined Encompass Health in 2007, serving as president of Encompass Health’s central region from 2012-2016 and as chief executive officer of the Rehabilitation Hospital of St. Louis, a partnership of BJC HealthCare and Encompass Health, from 2007-2012. Prior to joining Encompass Health, Jacobsmeyer served as chief operating officer for Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, MO. She received her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from St. Louis University and her master’s degree in health services management from Webster University.
April Anthony
Chief Executive Officer, Home Health and Hospice
April Anthony founded Encompass Home Health & Hospice in 1998 as her second successful home health venture. She has led Encompass Home Health & Hospice’s expansion from a single start-up location to an industry leader with a national presence. Anthony was also critically involved in the design and development of the company’s unique automation software, helping Encompass Home Health & Hospice lead the way in home health technology. She graduated from Abilene Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She is a certified public accountant and began her career at Price Waterhouse. Anthony moved into the home care industry in 1992 and soon became the owner and CEO of Liberty Health Services. She was the recipient of Ernst & Young’s prestigious 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year award based on her creative and innovative approach to home health care and has led the company’s long standing culture which has led to recognition on a national level as a best place to work.
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