Tom Ferry in 1999 demonstrated the vision to found Curaspan and today generates the strategic direction that guides the company. It was a family emergency — a hospitalized relative awaiting discharge — that served as the catalyst for Tom's commitment to creating technology that can help manage patient transitions. Responsible for the overall management of the company, Tom blends his entrepreneurial expertise with extensive corporate experience. Before founding Curaspan, he led several acquisitions as vice president of business development for American Hearing Centers. At a subsidiary of Thermo Electron Corporation, Tom also served in a senior business-development role, assessing the commercial potential for new technologies. While running a division of Monsanto, Tom led the international sales team, generating substantial revenue growth. He earned a BA from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
A versatile executive, Ken Manning was the first person founder Tom Ferry turned to when establishing Curaspan. Ken's ability to balance big-picture goals while attending to never-ending details is the hallmark of his leadership of the company's business operations, technology, service and support groups. His accomplishments in solving complex process and technology problems are noteworthy. Ken led a major turnaround program for the U.S. division of a global merchant bank facing operational issues after a poorly executed merger; for another financial-services company, he built a world-class insurance backroom. Formerly with CSC Index and Deloitte & Touche, Ken has also authored articles for the Journal of Business Strategy and Management Accounting. At Duke University, Ken earned a BS in electrical engineering and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business.
Ensuring that the Curaspan story is told well is Lisa Allen's responsibility. With a background that spans marketing, media and technology, Lisa leads the company's branding, marketing PR and communications activities. She gained diverse experience as an executive at Fidelity Investments companies; an analyst at Forrester Research; and online content pioneer at Microsoft Sidewalk and AT&T Interchange. While in broadcast and cable TV, she won two of her three Emmy Awards for medical reporting. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Lisa received a BA summa cum laude from Tufts University and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law.
As a former director of discharge planning, clinical nurse specialist and critical-care instructor, Jackie Birmingham has provided input to the development of Curaspan products since the company was created. A popular speaker and author, Jackie serves on the editorial board of Professional Case Management, the journal of the Case Management Society of America, and on the legislative and advocacy committee of the American Case Management Association. Honored by numerous organizations, Jackie earned advanced certification in continuity of care and case management administrator certification. She has a BS in nursing from Niagara University College of Nursing and an MS in administration and supervision from the University of Hartford.
A 25-year veteran of selling in the health-care industry, Monte Bye is responsible for leading the Curaspan national sales team and generating new business. He leads a team of sales executives nationwide as well as an inside sales organization and manages OEM partnerships. Based in Atlanta, Monte provides deep experience built from positions of increasing responsibility at leading companies. Before joining Curaspan, he was senior vice president of sales at Picis and held leadership positions for several years at McKesson. Iameter, Informedics and Berchtold also benefited from Monte's expertise. He holds a BS from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Combining his clinical background and management acumen, Alan Cudney oversees the national team of registered nurses and licensed social workers who serve as Curaspan clinical account executives. He is well-suited for this role, with experience in technology, consulting and case management at McKesson, Healthways, Premier and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a certified project management professional and a certified professional in healthcare quality, Alan earned an associate's degree in nursing from Gulf Coast Community College; a BS from Florida State University; and an MBA and master of health science from the University of Florida.