Novant Health names Rick Brajer senior vice president of business strategies

WINSTON-SALEM – Novant Health has named Rick Brajer , a member of former Gov. Pat McCrory’s Cabinet, as the senior vice president of business strategies for the health system.

Brajer was secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services from 2015 to 2016. In his new role at Novant, Brajer will support business imperatives and strategic acquisitions and partnerships.

“Rick brings significant experience to Novant Health, and I am pleased to welcome him to our organization,” said Jesse Cureton, chief consumer officer at Novant Health. “As the business of health care continues to shift, our duty is to create synergies between better access, the patient experience and affordability, while focusing on quality, safety, transparency and proactive thinking. Rick is known for emphasizing accountability, collaboration and service.”

He came to DHHS after two decades in leadership roles in health care and medical technology industries. He has experience with a broad variety of business challenges, including initial public offerings, growth stage, mergers, changes in business models and shifts from private to public company status.

Brajer has led health care service, diagnostic, medical device and technology-enabled businesses ranging from $24 million to $1.2 billion in revenue.

Brajer has a master’s degree in business administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in California. He has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University in Indiana.

Jayne Helms wins two awards

Jayne Helms, a real estate broker, won the 2016 Masters Ruby and the Quality Service Pinnacle Producer awards through the Century 21 System.

TenderHearted Home Care selected as Caring Star of 2017

TenderHearted Home Care LLC, 120 E. Council St., has been named a Caring Star of 2017 for excellence in in-home care service.

The home health care service was the only Caring Star agency in Rowan County and one of three agencies in the state. A total of 140 Caring Stars providers were recognized nationwide.

TenderHearted Home Care earned five-star customer ratings, the highest score possible, for the past year. It also had a high number of positive reviews and met other qualifying criteria.