Press releases
Press release
Ascension Collegiate Solutions Hires Dr. James Yankech
Walnut Creek, Calif., June 1st, 2016 – Ascension Insurance, Inc., is pleased to announce James Yankech, PhD, has joined the leadership team within Ascension Collegiate Solutions (ACS), in the role of Senior Vice President, Client Relations. Jim will be reporting to ACS President, Neil Majors. In his new role, Jim will be directing the account management team to strengthen relationships with clients by offering more consultative value and expertise.
Jim most recently served as the Senior Associate Director and Director of Operations and Human Resources for the University Health Center at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where he administered the University’s five‐campus student insurance program and oversaw a staff of 30 employees. He has extensive experience working at the University of Nebraska, holding positions such as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Acting Director of the Multicultural Affairs Office, as well as roles within Human Resources including Employee Relations Specialist and Employee Assistance Program Counselor.
Jim was instrumental in working with the ACS team, in cooperation with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, to implement a new student health insurance program for all the University of Nebraska campuses.
“We’ve been happy to get to know Jim through our work with the University of Nebraska and are excited to have him join Ascension,” said Neil Majors. “We know that his experience and understanding of the issues facing campuses, student health programs, and human resources will allow him to add significantly to our team’s thought leadership and strengthen the value we can offer our Collegiate Solutions clients.”
Joe Tatum, Chief Executive Officer of Ascension, added, “We are delighted whenever we bring on a new executive with such an extensive experience and level of expertise. Our clients will benefit from Jim’s vast knowledge and years of experience working on the client side. He will truly be an advocate for our clients’ needs, and whenever we can be of greater service to our clients, it’s a huge win for us.”
“I’m really looking forward to adding value to what the Collegiate Solutions team is already doing well,” remarked Yankech. “After having such a positive experience working with Ascension, I’m delighted to be joining the team.”
During his association with the University of Nebraska, Jim has successfully cultivated local, regional, and national networks and relationships. Jim has been affiliated with the Big 10 and Big 12 conferences and currently serves on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee. He has several professional affiliations with organizations such as EDUCAUSE, Medical Group Management Association, American College Health Association, College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA‐HR), and the Association for Collaborative Leadership. He has been a presenter at several professional conferences, most recently providing a joint presentation with Columbia University at the American College Health Association annual conference on the subject of “Merging Student Health Insurance Plans Across Campuses: Lessons Learned – Tales from Two Universities.”
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About Ascension Insurance, Inc.
Ascension Insurance, Inc., is a premier insurance agency that offers superior risk management and benefits consulting services. It has more than 400 employees in 32 locations nationwide. Ascension is a privately held corporation; together with its private equity partners, Parthenon Capital and Century Capital Management, the company expects to continue its strong trajectory through additional acquisitions and organic growth.