12.17.22
Transforming Internal Policy Management for the Veterans Health Administration
Increasing operational efficiency with improved policy development processes.
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Ari Friedman, JD
Ari Friedman has over 15 years of experience managing complex federal projects, with in-depth policy research and programmatic assessment knowledge and the ability to shape and direct implementation of project activities across national organizations. A proven expert in building and leading project teams within high-pressure environments, he brings expertise in measuring outcomes, process improvement, data management, qualitative and quantitative performance analysis, report development and executive briefing and legal analysis. Ari leads a team of more than 80 management consulting professionals within Aptive’s Veterans Health account providing program management, assessment and implementation support for several high-profile Veterans Health Administration initiatives, in addition to supporting emerging and urgent priorities.
- Member, The Bar of Maryland
- Member, The Bar of the District of Columbia
- J.D., St. Thomas University School of Law
- B.S., Finance, Syracuse University
Abby Rosenberg, MPS, CCMP, PMP
Abby Rosenberg helps clients address challenges, implement organizational improvements, communicate effectively and improve health care access and equity. With nearly 15 years of federal consulting experience, Abby leads technical assistance, health education, research and evaluation and program management projects, using data to drive decision-making and impact. She supports projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Defense Health Agency and Department of Health and Human Services.
- Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner (CCMP)
- Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
- MPS, Georgetown University
- B.A., Communications, University of Maryland
Michelle Hungerford, MPH, CPHQ, PMP
Michelle Hungerford has over 15 years of experience partnering with front line staff, physician leaders, executives and various departments across health care systems, managing and driving improvements in patient safety, quality of care and patient experience. Her proven analytic, evaluative and problem-solving abilities, paired with her interpersonal, communication and leadership skills, propel her ability to interact effectively with various disciplines, effect change and ensure a collaborative environment to address opportunities for improvement. In her role, Michelle applies these skills to support Aptive’s Veteran Health clients, focusing on improving systems, outcomes and access to care.
Michelle is an accomplished healthcare quality and project management professional and brings a wealth of knowledge in patient safety, quality, High Reliability Organization principles, survey readiness, performance measurement, process improvement and quality reporting for agencies, including Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission. She has an extensive background in supporting and acting as a data analyst and quality reporting subject matter expert in several electronical medical record implementations and upgrades. Michelle leverages her demonstrated knowledge and experience to support the Veterans Health Administration tackle some of their toughest challenges, such as addressing employee burnout, and improving a culture of safety and becoming a high reliability organization.
- MPH, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- B.S., Biology, Seton Hill University
- Project Management Professional
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality
Jon Brooks, MBA, PMP
Jon Brooks is a federal leader and U.S. Army Veteran with more than 20 years of experience supporting multiple agencies. At Aptive, Jon oversees a portfolio of health care-related projects and is responsible for the overall management of service delivery, quality, risk and cost control. He monitors and reports on the team’s financial performance, manages resources, builds key stakeholder relationships, leads project teams and mentors a learning culture across the enterprise.
Jon’s work in the industry includes project and program management experience leading large-scale, enterprise-level, transformative initiatives, including health care transformation, supply chain improvement/optimization and IT transformation. He has led teams of 50+ subcontractors and managed a $1.4B prime contract award, including a portfolio of 14 contract/task orders with over $30M in total contract value. Jon also led activities within the full business development lifecycle and designed go-to-market strategies.
In past roles, Jon has supported the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. He has built multi-year pipelines while leading pricing activities and coordinating strategic capture initiatives. Jon’s efforts led to exceeding profitability goals by over 75%, doubling service line headcount and revenue. He is a proven leader who has worked for top firms such as Rios Partners, IronArch Technology, and Deloitte and is highly skilled in developing meaningful relationships and strategic partnerships.
- Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Supply Chain Professional, ASCM
- Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution, ASCM
- MBA, American Intercontinental University
- B.S., Business Administration, University of Arkansas
Yessie Castillo, MPH, PMP, CCMP
Yessenia “Yessie” Castillo is an accomplished health professional, consulting executive and program leader. She leads the growth and operations for Aptive’s Civilian Health account.
Yessie leads Aptive’s efforts with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other federal health care projects. She supports business development activities, including strategic planning and solutioning related to program evaluation, implementation, measurement, public health, mental health, suicide prevention and substance use disorder.
A results-driven self-starter with a proven background in the academic and federal health care sectors, Yessie has over 18 years of experience, particularly in public health, evaluation and data analytics. In previous roles, she supported several Veterans Health Administration (VHA) contracts, primarily focused on mental health and suicide prevention, including evaluating the national rollout of the Women’s Health Transition Training, President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS), VHA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Clinical Decision Framework, Creating Options for Veterans’ Expedited Recovery (COVER) Commission for VHA and supported the VHA Primary Care Services Office for Post Deployment Health Services.
- Candidate, DrPH, Diverse Populations and Health Equity, Mercer University
- MPH, Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health
- B.S., Cognitive Psychology, Duke University
- Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner (CCMP)
- Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
- HRSA Building Education and Student Training in Maternal and Child Health Fellowship
