(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – As the new President of Highmark Western and Northeastern New York, which includes oversight of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in the Western New York Market (the only Union-represented Health Care Provider in the region) and Highmark Blue Shield in the Northeastern New York Market, Jessica Cox has a deep appreciation of Organized Labor - and not necessarily from the fact that as much as around 40% of Highmark’s overall business here in Western New York is Labor-driven.

Her belief in the Labor Movement and what it does for its Members comes from her own personal background of being in a family of Union-represented New York State Correctional Officers, many of whom worked at the Elmira Correctional Facility.

“My Dad (who passed away seven years ago) was a Correctional Officer for (38) years, my Uncle was a Correctional Officer and my Brother too - all at the State Correctional Facility in Elmira.  And, I have two Cousins who are also Officers,” Cox (Pictured Above/Highmark Photo) told WNYLaborToday.com during a recently held interview inside Highmark’s new digs on the upper floors of the Seneca One Tower in Downtown Buffalo.

“This was ‘very personal for me because it gave me a history of understanding’ (what the Unions did for its Members),” she continued.  “Especially when my Dad was out on Strike in the (1970s), ‘not going to work and how this was all very important for our family, to provide them (health) benefits.’  ‘You need them, especially when there’s a crisis and someone is sick or someone is having a baby.’  ‘It is all so expensive.’”

Cox, described by Highmark as a seasoned Health Care Executive with more than two decades of experience in the New York market, was appointed to her current role in August.

Most recently, Cox served as Senior Vice President for Corporate Development and Strategy and Chief Risk Officer.

She previously served as Regional President for the Southern Tier Region for Highmark.

She began her career as a Medical Technologist, received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Upstate Medical University, an Associate of Science Degree from Alfred State College and completed an Executive Education Program from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Executive Education.

Overall, Cox brings 23 years’ experience from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, where she held various leadership roles across commercial sales, provider relations and corporate development.

That extensive experience, as well as a deep understanding of the New York Health Care landscape and commitment to driving positive change - and fostering strong partnerships, positions her to lead Highmark Western and Northeastern New York into a successful future, the company said when it announced her hiring.

On the Labor front - over the years, Highmark has stepped up to sponsor and underwrite a number of events, from the massive picnic in Cazenovia Park that’s held after the annual Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council’s Labor Day Parade in South Buffalo to Labor’s Night At The Races, an annual Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council fundraising event held at Ransomville Raceway in Niagara County that has worked to raise more than $250,000 over 15 years and funds a variety of community programs through the United Way of Greater Niagara.

Although Cox has only been in the job for the past 90 days (succeeding Michael Edbauer in the position), she hit the ground running when it comes to introducing herself to the local Labor Community and getting a better handle on who they are and what they need.

“‘Labor is a vital part of our community and they are negotiating benefits (for their Members) in a fair approach and I am lucky to have had that’ (myself through her Father’s time as a Union-Represented Corrections Officer),” she said.

“(Highmark) has a ‘very large number’ of Unions (it serves - including the Communications Workers of America, 1199 Service Employees International Union, the United Auto Workers, the United Steelworkers, to name just a few), so I’ve sat down with (Buffalo Labor Council President) Denise Abbott and (Niagara-Orleans Labor Council President) Jim Briggs - and am going to be meeting with (Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation President) Peter DeJesus (in the coming weeks).  During my meetings with Denise and Jim, I was ‘pleasantly surprised to learn of their admiration for Highmark and the value they have’ (for the Health Care Provider).  ‘I felt the partnership we talked about, overall, was great to hear.’  ‘We talked about their concerns and challenges - including more affordability and access to care,’” she told WNYLaborToday.com.

Cox said she also plans to sit down at length with Union Leadership at Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153, which represents around 500 Highmark Employees. 

“(The Company’s Union Employees) ‘are doing a great job,’” she said of the company’s Union-represented Workers.  “In fact, we’ve added (40) new hires.”

On yet another front, Cox is working with a new Highmark Senior Labor Affairs Consultant - former Niagara-Orleans Labor Council/United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison Bill Jakobi, who, she said, “is going to help how Highmark brings its ‘Labor Voice’ out into the community.”

“He’s ‘fantastic,’” Cox said of Jakobi.  “(His nearly 40 years of) education and knowledge (that he provides) ‘is absolutely critical’ for our Staff and Department Managers as our team gets out into the (Labor) Community.  Bill ‘is always being asked questions and he is spot on with his answers with the rapport and data he has on local Labor.’  (His) ‘breath and scope is really large.’”

In the meantime, Cox is asking Labor Leaders to invite Highmark to their table when it comes to discussing what issues and services are best for their Members.

“‘And in turn, we will continue to have that same open-door policy,’” she promised.