Meet our Staff
Craig A. Kennedy, MPH
President and CEO
Craig Kennedy joined MHPA in December of 2019 after more than two decades in non-profit association management and in leadership positions on Capitol Hill. He has management responsibility for all aspects of the Association and reports to the MHPA Board of Directors. Prior to joining MHPA, Craig was the Executive Director for the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU), where he led ACU to record growth over his six-year tenure and helped secure new federal grant funding for the organization.
Shannon Attanasio, MA
Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy
Shannon Attanasio is Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Policy and Advocacy at the Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA), the leading association representing Medicaid managed care organizations. In this role, Shannon is responsible for developing MHPA policy positions, and implementing and executing MHPA's federal legislative and regulatory strategy.
Patrick Corr, MBA
Vice President, Membership and Engagement
With over 15 years experience in association management, Patrick Corr brings broad expertise in membership advocacy and insurance in healthcare associations. Previously, Patrick was with the American College of Radiology, American Academy of Otolaryngology, and American Chiropractic Association serving in membership or insurance roles. Most recently, Patrick served as the Corporate Development Manager for the American Academy of Otolaryngology. He also is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events.
Michelle Proser, PhD, MPP
Vice President of Research, Quality and Performance
Michelle Proser brings more than 20 years of experience working at the intersection of healthcare research, policy, and practice to MHPA. She is responsible for developing, overseeing, and implementing MHPA’s research and analytics strategy to inform policy, deepen understanding of performance, and drive quality. Previously, Michelle worked at the Financial Health Network to align health and patient financial wellbeing, and as Director of Research at the National Association of Community Health Centers. She also served as project director for the PRAPARE social risk screening protocol.
Sean Garrity
Director, Federal Affairs
Sean Garrity joins MHPA with nearly a decade of experience in health care advocacy. Most recently he served as the Director of Advocacy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), where he led the organization’s political and grassroots advocacy efforts, including spearheading ACOG’s annual 700+ physician legislative conference, instituting a sweeping grassroots and grasstops advocacy program, and leveraging legislative and political relationships to achieve results for ob-gyns and the patients they serve.
Eric Hansen
Director, Partnership Engagement
Eric Hansen joined MHPA in January of 2022 with more than seven years of experience in member relations and development at non-profit associations. Most recently, he was the Specialist of Industry and Associate Relations at the Edison Electric Institute. Eric is a member of the American Society of Association Executives.
Cindy Martin
Director, Events
Cindy Martin has more than 30 years experience planning and managing conferences for associations and scientific societies. Cindy is responsible for the overall planning and execution of the MHPA Annual Conference, Advocacy Summit and other board, partner and member events.
Stephanie D. Myers, MAS
Director, State Affairs
Stephanie Myers joins MHPA with over fifteen years' experience in Medicaid managed care and State government. Her responsibilities include identifying, developing, and managing strategic relationships with states, state associations, and other relevant stakeholders to advance the Medicaid priorities of MHPA, our members MCOs, and the Medicaid managed care industry at the state level.
Jill Talley
Director, Communications
Jill Talley joined MHPA in March 2023, bringing more than 15 years of communications, public relations, and advocacy management experience within the association/non-profit sector, including time with a patient advocacy organization dedicated to increasing awareness and survival rates of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Jill is responsible for leading external communications activities for MHPA's policy positions and programs to the media, MHPA members, general public, and various other audiences.
Nicolas Wilhelm, JD
Director, Regulatory Affairs
Nicolas Wilhelm joins MHPA with over a decade of experience in health policy. Prior to joining MHPA, Nicolas analyzed and developed positions on federal Medicaid policy at AmeriHealth Caritas and Centene Corporation, two of MHPA’s member plans. Nicolas also served as an adjunct professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, and Penn State Abington, where he developed and taught courses focusing on drug policy. At MHPA, Nicolas is responsible for advancing the Medicaid priorities of MHPA and our member plans at the federal level, leading regulatory advocacy with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Jax Fontenot
Senior Accountant
Jax Fontenot joined MHPA in April 2022 with 14 years of accounting experience. She is responsible for overseeing the financial activities for MHPA under accordance with the GAAP & HIPPA along with the knowledge of medical billing and coding.
Channen Dunn
State Policy Analyst
Channen Dunn joins MHPA as a State Policy Analyst on the Advocacy team. Prior to joining MHPA, Channen worked at the U.S. Senate and was most recently a Consultant at FiscalNote where he specialized in policy tracking and research initiatives for a diverse array of healthcare clients at a State and Federal level. At MHPA, Channen is responsible for assisting the Director of State Affairs in the identification, development, and management of strategic state policy issues and relationships with state governments, state elected representatives, and state health plan associations, with the purpose of advancing the Medicaid and managed care priorities of MHPA and its member plans.
Susie Kapnas, MEET
Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist
Susie Kapnas is a versatile Digital Marketing & Communications Specialist at Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA), where she brings a wealth of experience from defense, academia, and healthcare sectors. Known for her strategic blend of innovative design and user experience, Susie enhances MHPA's user engagement and expands its digital footprint. With a proven background that includes crafting compelling narratives in dynamic environments, her work at MHPA builds on a strong foundation of creating impactful, informed communications across a variety of platforms. Susie holds a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Technology from Miami University.
Amber Bingham
Office Manager
Amber Bingham brings 20 years of office management, budget implementation, and customer service experience to the table. With a passion for fostering excellence, she has taken on roles of oversight, guiding teams through the intricacies of daily operations. Over the years, Amber has honed skills in managing diverse portfolios, ensuring efficiency, and nurturing a culture of stellar customer care. She has been a part of the MHPA team since March 11, 2024.