Management Team

James M. Pennington
President & Chief Executive Officer

Jim Pennington serves as President & CEO of ppoNEXT. Soon after joining the organization in early 2004, as Chief Operating Officer, Pennington assumed expanded responsibilities including the leadership and growth of NEXT care management, a subsidiary of ppoNEXT. Mr. Pennington was promoted to Executive Vice President and elected to the ppoNEXT Board of Directors in June of 2005.

Mr. Pennington's career has included key executive positions at leading third party administration and multi-product employee benefits companies. Most recently, he was the President & CEO of USI Administrators, Inc., a national third party administrator headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Prior to his tenure at USIA, Pennington served as President and CEO of Medex International, Inc., a division of Houston Casualty Company, and Acordia National, Inc. Pennington holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Master's degree in Safety Management from West Virginia University. Mr. Pennington also attended the Young Executive Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Charles E. Busch
Chief Marketing & Sales Officer

Charles Busch serves as Chief Marketing & Sales Officer for ppoNEXT. Charles is responsible for leading ppoNEXT’s Sales and Marketing activities. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Charles adds considerable expertise to the ppoNEXT team in both sales and management.

Prior to joining ppoNEXT, Charles held key executive leadership positions of increasing responsibility at leading managed care and insurance companies. Most recently, he was the Vice President of National Sales for Beech Street Corporation, a national PPO and healthcare management company. Over the past 20 years, Charles has enjoyed a highly successful national sales and sales leadership career. Charles holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from California State University Fullerton.

Jim Iwanaga
Acting Chief Financial Officer

As Acting Chief Financial Officer of ppoNEXT, Jim Iwanaga leads and manages the Finance and Accounting Team in their duties to perform the financial planning, budgeting and financial analysis activities for the company. Iwanaga has more than 25 years of corporate accounting and internal auditing experience, primarily in the healthcare and insurance industries. Prior to joining ppoNEXT, Iwanaga was Director of Financial Accounting with Maxicare Health Plans, Inc., a multistate healthcare maintenance organization (HMO). Iwanaga had similar positions with PacifiCare Life & Health Insurance and FHP Life Insurance Company. Iwanaga received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge.

Gary Evans
Director,
Claims

Gary Evans is has served as Director of Claims for ppoNEXT for the past 5 years. Evans is responsible for all claims and mailroom functions as well as provider data entry production.

Prior to joining ppoNEXT, Evans held key management positions with Mutual of Omaha. Evans received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

Lynn Littleton
Vice President,
Network Development

Lynn Littleton is Vice President of Network Development for ppoNEXT. She leads network expansion initiatives and has oversight of daily network operations. Littleton joined ppoNEXT in March 2002, with over 12 years network experience.

Prior to joining ppoNEXT, Littleton held key management positions with ProAmerica, United HealthCare and the Oklahoma State Insurance Board. She has led the execution of numerous strategic initiatives; including the successful integration of four regional network acquisitions into a national network. Her experience with the commercial and government sectors have included Carriers, Third Party Administrators, Children's Health Insurance Programs and State & Education Employees Programs. Ms. Littleton has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Florida State University.

Aaron A Means III
Vice President,
Customer Care and Account Management

As Vice President of Customer Care and Account Management, Aaron Means is responsible for the client experience with ppoNEXT, as well as the development of critical and strategic relationships with our vast client base.

Means possess more than 20 years experience in the customer service, operations and account management functions. Before joining ppoNEXT, Means held key management positions with such companies as FedEx, CareMark, and Budget Rent a Car. Means majored in Business Administration at Memphis State University, in Memphis Tennessee.