Joan Henneberry

Joan Henneberry spent over 30 years in a career focused on improving access to and quality of health and healthcare at the local, state, and national levels. She worked at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for 13 years before she and husband Mark took a detour from Colorado to Washington, DC where she held several positions, including Director of Health Policy at the National Governors Association. During her tenure at NGA, she assisted states with implementation of the state children’s health insurance program, and provided consultation and technical assistance to governors and their staffs translating policy goals into operational success.

After returning to Colorado, Joan served on the cabinet of Gov. Bill Ritter as the head of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, the state Medicaid agency, where she led efforts to expand eligibility for Medicaid and implemented various components of the governor’s health reform agenda, including the creation of the Center for Improving Value in Healthcare. Joan retired in 2018 after almost seven years as a consultant and Vice President with Health Management Associates, a national healthcare research and consulting firm.

Joan continues to support and serve on non-profit, healthcare, and policy-focused boards and committees. She has a degree in sociology and secondary education, and a master’s degree in management from Regis University.