Excellus Utica regional president to also oversee North Country operations

UTICA, N.Y. — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, the largest health insurer in Central New York, announced Monday that Eve Van de Wal, regional president of its Utica region, will have expanded responsibilities in Jefferson, St. Lawrence, and Lewis counties, effective immediately.

In her extended role, Van de Wal will be responsible for supporting and maintaining business relationships and community engagement in the North Country, according to an Excellus news release. She will oversee operations in the health insurer’s Watertown office.

“Eve brings solid knowledge of our business to the expanded role she will have in the North Country,” Christopher Booth, CEO, said in the release. “She is recognized for her success in building strong relationships with community leaders in Northern New York.”

Van de Wal has more than 30 years of experience in health-care delivery and health insurance. In her 17 years with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, she held several management positions before being appointed president of the insurer’s Utica region in 2008.

Van de Wal was paid $383,555 in total compensation by Excellus in 2014, including a salary of $270,603, according to the annual report Excellus filed with the state earlier this year.

Prior to joining Excellus, Van de Wal spent 15 years in critical care and coronary care nursing.

She is a member of the board of directors of Health Workforce New York, the United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area, Mohawk Valley EDGE, and other area organizations, the release stated.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNY Brockport, Van de Wal earned master’s degrees in health-services management and business administration from SUNY IT.

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