Michael Gerrish

Michael Gerrish has a diverse work experience spanning over two decades. Michael most recently served as the Chief Marketing and Experience Officer (CMXO) at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas since September 2020. Prior to that, they held various leadership positions at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, including Vice President of Marketing, Vice President of Customer Experience and Marketing, Vice President of Corporate and Marketing Communications, and Director of Marketing Communications. Throughout their tenure at Wellmark, they were responsible for strategic direction, leadership, and implementation of marketing and communication strategies, as well as overseeing brand promotion, internal communications, advertising, public relations, sponsorships, and social media efforts. Before joining Wellmark, Michael worked at Collective Brands, Inc. as a Store Communications Manager and at Discover Financial Services as a Director of Internal Communications, Senior Manager, Communications Manager, and Project Manager. Michael also gained experience at Discover Network as a Project Manager and Senior Marketing Associate/Editor, as well as at Discover Card as a Marketing Associate. Michael began their career as a Teaching Assistant at Western Illinois University and as a Computer Graphic Designer at Mediacall Marketing and Advertising. Throughout their career, they have achieved notable accomplishments in areas such as creating advertising campaigns, establishing strategic communication teams, and developing online platforms and social media functions to enhance brand awareness.

Michael Gerrish received their Master of Science degree in Customer Experience Management from Michigan State University, completing their studies from 2022 to 2025. Prior to that, from 1997 to 1999, they pursued a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Communication at Western Illinois University. Their undergraduate education was also at Western Illinois University, where they earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Communication and Human Relations from 1993 to 1997. In terms of additional certifications, Michael obtained a Lean for Leaders certification from Kansas State University in January 2023.