The Edmond Sun

Business

Related Photos

  • PHOTO PROVIDED Allison Garrett, executive vice president of academic affairs at OC, Bryce Williams, OC's 2011 Business Leader Award Recipient and Phil Lewis, dean of the college of professional studies, stand together during the OC School of Business Awards Banquet.

    OC biz leader.jpg

Discussion

May 20, 2011

OC gives Business Leader award to health care entrepreneur

Special to The Sun

EDMOND — Oklahoma Christian University recently awarded its Business Leader of the Year Award to health care entrepreneur Bryce Williams. Previous recipients include Walmart CEO Mike Duke and Devon Energy co-founder Larry Nichols. The award recognizes a business leader who has demonstrated excellence in the business community and dedication to faith.

Williams is co-founder, president and CEO of Extend Health Inc., in San Mateo, Calif. Last year the company was the 94th fastest-growing, privately held company in the country, according to Inc. magazine. In the past three years, the company’s revenues have grown more than 2,500 percent. Williams also has been named as a semi-finalist for Ernst & Young’s 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Phil Lewis, dean of the college of professional studies at Oklahoma Christian, attended college with Williams’ father. In addition, Allison Garrett, executive vice president of academic affairs, met Williams when she served as vice president of benefits for Walmart Inc.

“I have been following his company’s progress over the years and have been privileged to stay in contact with him,” Garrett said. “In his speech to students, he offered very insightful and practical advice that reinforces what our faculty teach to our business students.”

Williams spoke at the School of Business Awards Banquet, where he received his award.

“He did a great job in his talk to students,” Lewis said. “He presented wonderful information about entrepreneurship and success in life.”

Williams is a graduate of Baylor University and The George Washington University Law School. He joined a health care start-up in 1993, which was later bought by the CVSCaremark family of companies. After working with two more health care start-ups, he co-founded Extend Health, which pioneered and built the largest Medicare plan exchange in the country.

According to Williams, the company has saved its 130-plus clients more than $1 billion in the past five years. Extend Health serves all three major U.S. auto manufacturers. In 1997, the Wall Street Journal estimated that Extend Health saved Ford Motor Company $85 million a year by creating a Medicare exchange for its retirees.

Text Only
Business
Stocks