Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia President Morgan Kendrick Selected for Leadership Post with Georgia Chapter of CEOs Against Cancer

Senior Executive to Steer American Cancer Society’s CEO-led Initiative Helping Companies and Organizations Create Healthier, More Productive Workforces

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Cancer Society today announced the appointment of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia’s (BCBSGa) President Morgan Kendrick as the chairman of the Georgia Chapter of the Society’s CEOs Against Cancer committee.

“His active involvement will be instrumental in the Society’s outreach to Georgia’s top companies and organizations to help create a healthier workforce, which will, in turn, fortify our quest for a world with less cancer and more birthdays.”

The ACS volunteer forum of CEOs, which Kendrick will lead, represents Georgia-headquartered Fortune 1,000 companies and organizations with 1,000 or more employees and has a goal of improving the health of employees, organizations and surrounding communities by raising awareness about how to stay well, get well, find cures and fight back against cancer.

As president of BCBSGa, Kendrick brings a wealth of leadership experience in the insurance industry to the position. He is responsible for strategy, sales and operations of the company, as well as leading the firm’s efforts to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of Georgia’s local communities.

“We have a real problem here in Georgia – and across the nation – surrounding the rising costs of health care,” said Kendrick. “As employers, we have an obligation to foster a healthy workforce by providing information and programs that help to educate and empower our employees. The early detection of cancer, through preventive screenings increases survival rates and minimizes long-term risks. Lifestyle-related cancers – such as sun exposure and diet – require a commitment to change habits and can be addressed through education. Knowledge is power. This group of like-minded CEOs is committed to finding ways to make a difference in their employees’ lives – and hopefully, save lives in the process.”

“We are delighted that Morgan Kendrick will spearhead our Georgia CEOs Against Cancer leadership team and provide guidance on strategic trends and innovative business practices as we focus on the chief executive’s role in employee health and wellness,” said American Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer Dr. John Seffrin. “His active involvement will be instrumental in the Society’s outreach to Georgia’s top companies and organizations to help create a healthier workforce, which will, in turn, fortify our quest for a world with less cancer and more birthdays.”

Joining Kendrick are founding vice chairs Peter Canalichio, chief executive officer, Licensing Brands, Inc.; John Dewberry, founder and chief executive officer, Dewberry Capital, Inc.; Dillon Schickli, chief executive officer, DS Waters of America, Inc.; and Lizanne Thomas, partner in charge, Jones Day.

Kendrick and his CEOs Against Cancer colleagues will collaborate on a variety of issues facing working professionals from diverse industries across the state. He will direct the chapter in aggregating unique insights to address cancer’s impact on the workforce, while working to improve employee health and workplace productivity and to reduce organizational health care costs.

Corporate leaders interested in joining CEOs Against Cancer should contact Tarsha Calloway at 404-949-6413 or [e-mail].

About CEOs Against Cancer

Founded in 2003 in Chicago, the American Cancer Society CEOs Against Cancer initiative has 15 chartered state chapters and has grown to include more than 220 CEOs nationwide who help create a healthy corporate culture by – regularly sharing frontline ideas that address diverse cancer fighting solutions among their workforces; ensuring that employees facing cancer have access to accurate, up-to-date information to make informed decisions; developing a culture of shared responsibility for creating healthy lifestyles among employees and families; and encouraging employees to join the more than three million grassroots volunteers nationwide who work tirelessly to support people facing cancer and their families through their cancer experience.

About The American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest nongovernmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association^®. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is available at www.bcbsga.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BCBSGaPR, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinInBCBSGa, visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin or check out the Our Health Connects Us campaign site at http://connects.bcbsga.com/.