About MCRA
Our mission is to bring together managed care leaders and organizations to connect, collaborate, and learn through shared insight and real-world perspectives.
A Collaborative Forum for Managed Care Leaders
The Managed Care Resource Alliance (MCRA) is the premier consortium for managed care leaders and organizations seeking real-time health plan intelligence, strategic peer collaboration, and actionable insights. Members gain access to timely health plan priorities, facilitated discussions on shared challenges, and opportunities to share expertise—while building meaningful connections that drive real-world impact.
MCRA brings together industry leaders and subject matter experts who collaborate to exchange insight, strengthen relationships, and tackle complex managed care challenges—turning shared knowledge into collective impact.
MCRA Leadership
The MCRA leadership team brings deep managed care expertise and a shared commitment to meaningful collaboration.
Gary Bolnick
Founder & CEO
Gary is the Founder and CEO of the Managed Care Resource Alliance (MCRA) and CEO of Command Direct. For over 30 years, Gary has focused on a consultative approach for the over 70 health plans that Command Direct serves, and his organization has developed adaptive solutions that improve the quality, security and efficiency of member communications. Relationships are core to his approach, and Command Direct has implemented a broad range of flexible solutions across all lines of business in the Managed Care industry.
For MCRA, Gary brings a vendor perspective and focuses on leveraging partnerships and collaboration among members to solve specific health plan challenges
Desiree Vuocolo
Director of Programs & Partnerships
Desiree is a healthcare transformation leader, and serves as the Director of Programs and Partnerships for the Managed Care Resource Alliance (MCRA), where she builds communities that bring solutions companies and healthcare leaders together to connect, listen, and learn. Her work strengthens collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem by helping organizations translate complex industry challenges into practical insights and shared solutions.
Desiree’s career spans payer strategy, provider alignment, and complex program deployment. Before joining MCRA, she founded Bridgespan Strategy, a consulting firm supporting healthcare innovators in driving strategy and execution while guiding health plans in operationalizing innovation. She previously spent several years with Highmark Health as Director of Provider Deployment and Strategy, where she led enterprise-wide provider transformation initiatives, advanced value-based care readiness, and built operating structures that supported long-term clinical and organizational alignment.
Earlier in her career, she held roles at GEHA, Argus Health Systems, and DST Systems, specializing in business process improvement, audit, and operational excellence.
She holds the Certified Health Insurance Executive (CHIE) designation from AHIP’s Executive Leadership Program, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas, and is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Desiree is known for bringing clarity to complex problems, fostering trust among stakeholders, and building the collaborative environments required to move organizations toward meaningful, mission-aligned outcomes.
Rebecca Preslar
Director of Member Experience
Rebecca has supported the Managed Care Resource Alliance (MCRA) since the organization’s founding in 2021. She brings more than 25 years of experience in brand strategy, growth, and client engagement to the Alliance, shaping how MCRA shows up in the market and how Members experience the organization.
In her role as Director of Member Experience, Rebecca partners closely with MCRA Members and leadership to design meaningful programming, plan and execute meetings and events, and foster an engaged, collaborative community—ensuring MCRA delivers consistent value and a strong, trusted presence within the managed care industry.
Katie Barone
Member Engagement & Communications Specialist
Katie supports the Managed Care Resource Alliance (MCRA) as Member Engagement & Communications Specialist, helping ensure Members have a seamless and engaging experience with the organization.
She coordinates meetings and events, manages communications, and partners with Members and leadership to support active participation and collaboration. Katie plays a central role in keeping the MCRA community informed, connected, and engaged.
Strategic Advisors
MCRA's Strategic Advisors are managed care leaders and health plan executives who provide guidance to MCRA Members, shape strategic discussions, and share insights that drive meaningful impact across the managed care industry.
Purpose of MCRA Strategic Advisors:
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Inform Collaboration: Share operational perspectives to guide member discussions and initiatives
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Maximize Member Value: Ensure MCRA members engage at the highest strategic level and deliver meaningful solutions for health plans
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Provide Strategic Insight: Offer perspective on emerging trends and industry developments that shape managed care
Andrew Biernat
Managed Care Business Advisor
Andrew Biernat has had a successful 27-year career as a health insurance and risk management consultant, entrepreneur/business owner and business association leader.
Currently, Biernat serves as Vice President/Strategic Business Advisor for Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy in New Hartford New York, where he works with large complex organizations, municipal governments, school districts, military contractors, manufacturers, business associations and labor unions and for profit/not for profit enterprises throughout the United States helping to identify, categorize, prioritize risks and opportunities for growth and cost containment.
Biernat is former President of both the New York State Association of Health Underwriters (Now NABIP New York Chapter) and the Greater Central New York Association of Health Underwriters and currently serves on the board of directors for GPO Federal Credit Union, and the National Association of Benefit and Insurance Professionals - New York State, where he serves as Membership and Media Chairman.
Biernat has also served as the chairman of the Employer Working Group for the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP) in Washington D.C. and currently serves on the legislative council representing region one, which comprises New York and the New England States. Biernat also serves on BIG I New York’s legislative advisory council.
Michael DeVincent
Vendor Growth & Market Strategy Advisor
Michael DeVincent has over 32 years of healthcare industry experience working in sales, management, network development, network operations, contracting, credentialing, marketing, and business development. He’s worked with Medicare Advantage, Commercial, Medicaid, Medicare Supplement plans, TPAs, ACOs, and employers. Michael’s expertise in understanding the issues facing payer organizations, collaboratively working to solve those issues, and passion for developing long-term business relationships with clients is what has driven his success over the years. His background of network development and credentialing combined with his payer sales experience gives him a unique perspective on payer market dynamics. As MCRA’s Vendor Growth and Market Strategy Advisor, his deep understanding of the managed care marketplace positions him to help MCRA Members strengthen their go-to-market strategies, refine their approaches, and maximize their value to health plans.
MCRA Partners
MCRA partners with leading organizations to provide Members with exclusive resources, insights, and opportunities that enhance expertise, strengthen industry positioning, and drive meaningful impact. Through our industry partnerships, MCRA amplifies Member access to premier conferences, industry insights, targeted engagement opportunities, and market-leading thought leadership—collectively advancing expertise, visibility, and strategic growth across the managed care ecosystem.
Managed Healthcare Executive (MHE)
MHE is the leading resource for payer decision-makers, providing industry news, market trends and peer-inspired insights about improving outcomes, enhancing the patient experience and lowering the cost of care. MHE sources timely, accurate information about value-based care, cost-effectiveness research, population health, pharmacy benefit management and drugs in late-stage development.
RISE Health
RISE Health offers in-depth events focused on sophisticated topics, access to key opinion leaders, and ample networking opportunities for professionals of all levels. RISE events are tailored for established and emerging leaders that work for health plans, provider organizations, government agencies, health care technology brands, consulting and service vendors, and community-based organizations.
Strategic Solutions Network (SSN)
Strategic Solutions Network (SSN) is an event organizer in the government health care space with several large executive conferences specializing in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and Managed Care. SSN creates innovative events to deliver actionable information, solutions you can implement today, and unmatched networking with peers and industry experts.