The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee board of directors has elected Betty W. DeVinney as its chairperson, succeeding outgoing chairman Lamar Partridge.
Ms. DeVinney has been a member of the BlueCross board since 2002, and previously served as vice-chairperson.
“Betty’s business experience within large organizations, as well as more than a decade of service on our board, are attributes that benefit BlueCross and its members,” said Bill Gracey, BlueCross president and CEO. “With her insight, discipline, and decisiveness, I can think of no one better suited to help guide our company’s efforts at this time to transform from a health plan to a health solutions company while providing continued peace of mind for our members.”
Ms. DeVinney formerly served as senior vice president of Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, where she worked for 30 years, holding positions in sales, treasury, human resources, corporate relations, communications and public affairs.
After joining the BlueCross board of directors, she served as chairperson of the audit committee and the compensation committee. She also served on the finance and public policy committees as well as the executive and governance committee.
Ms. DeVinney has chaired numerous boards including the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Kingsport Board and Fund Drive, Children of Tri-Cities, Volunteer Kingsport, Funfest, Northeast State Community College Foundation, Friends of Warriors’ Path State Park, the Number One Committee, and the Economic Summit. In addition to chairing these boards, Ms. DeVinney has served on numerous other boards. She was also founding president of the Tri-Cities affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
In 2002 Ms. DeVinney was inducted into the East Tennessee State University College of Business Hall of Fame and received the Spirit Award from the Mountain States Health Alliance for her service to the region. In 2003, she was awarded Honorary Alumna Status at East Tennessee State University. And in 2006, she was honored by the Bristol YWCA in its Tribute to Women.
“I’m honored and humbled by the responsibility given to me by my fellow board members to lead us in our efforts in making health care more affordable while maintaining quality in this environment of health care reform,” Ms. DeVinney said. “Our management team and employees are exceptional; I’m confident that we can continue to bring value to our fellow Tennesseans’ health care needs.”
The BlueCross board of directors also elected Herb Hilliard as vice chairman. Mr. Hilliard, who was appointed to the Tennessee Regulatory Authority in 2012 by Governor Bill Haslam, served as the executive vice president and chief government relations officer for First Horizon National Corp., where he spent 43 years with the company. He has been a BlueCross board member since 1982, serving as chairman from 2001 to 2006.