Management Team
Beverly White Freedman
President and Chairperson of the Board
Beverly White Freedman, founder of The Assist Group, is a former neonatal intensive care nurse and public health nurse. Freedman held several senior management positions in finance and sales management before establishing The Assist Group in 1999. In the mid-90s, she started the insurance brokerage, HealthAssist, with a focus on serving the reinsurance and the stop loss managed care arenas. Freedman graduated with honors from Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, and graduated with honors from USC School of Business with an MBA in Finance.
Larry Gray
Chief Executive Officer
Larry Gray joined The Assist Group in March, 2011 and serves as the Chief Executive Officer and a Director on the Company’s Board. Larry has an extensive background in health insurance, health technology and health services. Larry began his career in hospital and medical center administration, and then transitioned to managing health plans. He was the former President and CEO of CareAmerica Health Plan, Health Visions Corporation, and FHP of California. Larry also served as the Chief Operating Officer for U.S. Oncology. Larry holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Boston University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Management from the University of Maryland.
Sam Francis
Vice President - Sales
Sam Francis has seventeen years of experience working primarily with mid-market companies in a variety of markets including medical devices, technology and software. He has also held senior financial management positions at other privately held technology companies where he co-led global M&A efforts, multiple equity raises and oversight of day to day operational and accounting departments. Sam received a B.A. in Economics and an M.S. in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Boulder and Denver respectively.
Edward Karotkin, MD
Chief Medical Officer
In addition to serving as The Assist Group's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Edward Karotkin is the attending neonatologist for a 50+ bed NICU and Medical Director of the Neonatal- Perinatal Outreach Center of Virginia and North Carolina, as well as the Center's Director of Community Outreach Education. Dr. Karotkin, who joined The Assist Group in 2005, is also Professor of Pediatrics at the Eastern Virginia Medical School and The Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. As the volunteer Chief Medical Officer of Physicians For Peace, Dr. Karotkin evaluates proposals for medical missions throughout the world. Co-author of Assisted Ventilation of the Neonate, currently in its fourth printing, he is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is board certified in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.
Linda Casey
Vice President - Operations
Linda Casey is an accomplished operations professional with over 20 years in the health-care arena. She joined The Assist Group in May of 2010 after 13 years with McKesson Health Solutions. While at McKesson, Ms. Casey was responsible for the operation of a 24X7 telephonic triage and disease management virtual call center with 800+ agents spanning six time zones. Her expertise in the field of telework can be cited in numerous periodicals, books and professional journals, and she has received several awards relating to her success in this area. Prior to McKesson, she was employed with Medical Group Management Association in various capacities for eight years. Ms. Casey obtained her undergraduate business degree from Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Sam Trenka
Human Resources Director
Sam Trenka joined The Assist Group in November 2010. She has more than 20 years experience as an organizational consultant and as a personal success and leadership development coach. Her ability to creative effective people strategies which align with the business to realize maximum results has earned her the reputation as an effective, insightful strategic business partner. She has held various roles, corporate and line, within large and medium corporations; as well, she has owned and managed her own business. Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master's Degree in Education, A Juris Doctorate, and is a certified coach.
Julie Buckles
Controller
Julie Buckles joined the Assist Group in May 2010 and serves as Controller. Julie is a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of experience in Accounting and Finance, working in various industries including distribution, manufacturing and entertainment. Julie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Redlands and worked at Coopers & Lybrand as an Audit Supervisor.