Health Plan CEO Challenges College of Business and Public Management Grads to Rise Above Their Fears
Jarrod McNaughton, CEO of Inland Empire Health Plan and an alumnus of the University of La Verne, dared new graduates of the College of Business and Public Management to acknowledge their fears, rise above them, and embrace new adventures.
McNaughton delivered the charge during a pair of keynote addresses at Winter Commencement Ceremonies for the college on Feb. 1 in the Sports Science and Athletics Pavilion.
“You cannot succeed without the risk of failure,” he said. “You cannot have a voice without the risk of criticism. You cannot have love without the potential of loss. You must believe that when one door closes another will open.”
McNaughton, who earned his MBA at the University of La Verne’s Bakersfield campus, oversees one of the 10 largest Medicaid health plans and the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid Plan in the United States.
He cultivates the organization’s relationships with providers, hospitals, and community partners to deliver whole-person care to more than 1.2 million members and stewards IEHP’s more than $5.4 billion operational budget.
Amelia Gutierrez, who received her bachelor’s degree in business administration, served as the student speaker at the morning ceremony for College of Business and Public Management bachelor’s degree graduates.
Ashlien Savage, who received her master’s degree in leadership and management, served as the student speaker at the afternoon ceremony for the college’s master’s degree graduates.
University of La Vern Winter Commencement 2/1 9:30am from Star Way Productions on Vimeo.
