Executive Leadership

Introducing Sanderson Firm’s Executive Leadership Team.

They are more than experts in creating Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) legal solutions. They are your future partners in achieving excellence in MSP compliance. Get to know our executive leaders and discover how their expertise can drive your organization's success in MSP compliance.

  • Heather Schwartz Sanderson holds the distinction as one of the foremost nationally recognized legal experts on Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Compliance. An awarded blogger and sought-after national speaker, Heather is known for her cutting-edge legal expertise, practical analysis of complex topics, expert technical guidance, and passionate industry advocacy.

    For more than 15 years, Heather Schwartz Sanderson, Esq. has been devoted to providing simple and straightforward MSP compliance solutions, including legal guidance, support, and strategies, as well as MSP education to the Property & Casualty Insurance market as well as the legal communities.

    In January 2021, Heather founded Sanderson Firm PLLC, a law firm committed to providing expert MSP compliance solutions and first-in-class service commensurate with the skills, principles, and values that Heather has spent her career cultivating.  

    Prior to launching Sanderson Firm PLLC, Heather served as Chief Legal Officer for Franco Signor for 6 years, a leading national MSP services provider, until its ultimate acquisition by ISO CP in 2020. Prior to her tenure as CLO at Franco Signor, Heather previously served as both Corporate Counsel for Optum as well as Staff Counsel for ExamWorks Compliance Solutions.

    Heather’s vast array of legal experience and advocacy in MSP compliance includes serving as an MSP expert both in Federal class action litigation as well as in litigated matters at the state level and participating as an active proponent in Washington D.C. for MSP legislative reform since 2011. Heather is proud of the industry’s accomplishment of the passage of both the SMART Act (2013) and PAID Act (2020).

    Heather was recently appointed as a Committee Member of the MSP Task Force which sits within The Center for Law and Public Policy for DRI (the Voice of the national defense bar association) and additionally serves as an Ambassador for the Women to Watch Foundation, a 501(c)(3) entity serving humanitarian initiatives for women.

    A recipient of a 2018 Business Insurance Break Out Award, Heather’s articles have been featured in well-known industry publications such as Risk & Insurance, Workerscompensation.com, Defense Research Institute (DRI), and Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance Magazine.

    Heather can be reached via email at Heather@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 101.

  • Leesa joined Sanderson Firm in 2022 and brings with her over 30 years of insurance industry experience, including a rare and invaluable mixture of claims experience as well as service provider experience with more than 12 years specializing in the complex and dynamic field of Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Compliance.

    Leesa began her career as a claims assistant for North Carolina Farm Bureau, later becoming a Sr. Claims Representative for The Hartford capping off a decade-long tenure in claims. In 2001, Leesa shifted from the claims desk to the service provider side and joined an Investigations company, where she started her 20-year journey of building lifelong relationships and becoming one of the most trusted service provider partners in the industry. Leesa joined Gould and Lamb in 2008 where her passion for Medicare Compliance was born. Leesa truly enjoyed the consultative nature of MSP compliance as well as being a crucial resource for this critical regulatory requirement. Leesa has perfected the art of creating and implementing customized and comprehensive programs, based on specific client needs, requirements, and risk tolerance.

    Leesa is extremely adept in consultation, communication, and program management and is committed to ensuring results are delivered to her clients. Trust & Integrity are paramount to Leesa and these principles drive her in her daily actions.

    Leesa is a Certified Medicare Secondary Payer (CMSP) Professional and brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and skill to Sanderson Firm. Leesa is eager to continue to expand Sanderson Firm’s expert Medicare Secondary Payer solutions to new and existing clients in the Property & Casualty market.

    Leesa can be reached via email at Leesa@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 104.

  • Brendon joined Sanderson Firm in 2021 after previously serving as an in-house compliance counsel for one of the nation’s largest providers of Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance services. A licensed attorney, as well as a Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional (CMSP), Brendon advises clients on a variety of MSP legal compliance issues ranging from lien resolution of complex, multi-defendant asbestosis settlements to litigation defense against aggressive Medicare Advantage Plan organizations.

    Brendon has experience arguing cases before Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) regarding conditional payment disputes, and he has used his advocacy to pitch proposed legislation (particularly, the PAID Act) on behalf of industry stakeholders to congressional staff members in the United States Capitol.

    Prior to joining Sanderson Firm PLLC, Brendon was an insurance and re-insurance attorney at an international law firm. While in law school, Brendon served as a senior member of the Stetson Law Review. During his third year in law school, he served as the judicial extern for the Honorable Charlene E. Honeywell of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Brendon has a Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Central Florida.

    Brendon can be reached via email at Brendon@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 102.

  • Kathy has been in the insurance claims industry for over 30 years.   She has worked for both carriers and third-party administrators.  She has been in the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) field since 2017.  She works with clients on Medicare compliance in reviewing data and providing training. 

    Kathy has handled all aspects of liability and no-fault claims.  She handled litigated claims, supervised a team of liability adjusters, and was the assistant claim manager for a large TPA overseeing workers’ compensation and liability claims for a national client.   Kathy obtained her CPCU in 2012 and holds several other designations and state adjuster licenses.   Kathy has served as a faculty member for the CLM claim college workers’ compensation level two for the past several years and as a presenter on several national Medicare webinars.

    Kathy can be reached via email at Kathy@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 109.

  • Marci’s expertise in Medicare Secondary Compliance spans almost two decades having started with the one of the largest MSP providers at that time, Gould and Lamb, in 2006. Marci has excelled in numerous roles throughout her career in Operations Management, Sales & Account Management, and Legal Compliance. Marci has a proven track record of success in managing Operations through her exceptional analytical skills, attention to detail and communication skills, and has made significant impacts on system development, process restructuring, project management and implementation, and operational growth initiatives. She joined Sanderson Firm in 2022 and lends her many years of expertise to this rapidly growing organization. Marci’s operational style is a perfect fit for the firm as she seamlessly marries efficiency with high level deliverables that cultivate and promote the Sanderson Firm culture of true partnerships with our clients.

    Marci can be reached via email at marci@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 116.

  • Mark started his career in Workers Compensation in 1999 where he worked in various customer service and client service roles at PMSI. This was just the beginning of his career as a multifaceted Business Development Professional. Mark has held multiple Regional and National Sales and Account Management positions with some of the industry’s leading organizations such as Intracorp, TechHealth, and Franco Signor. Most recently, Mark spent 5+ years as a National Sales Executives with VGM HOMELINK, a National Ancillary Provider.

    Along with a robust Ancillary and Case Management background, Mark spent a great deal of his career in the Medicare Secondary Payer space as an Account Executive at Crowe Paradis Services Corporation (Verisk ). He also excelled as Regional Account Manager and was later promoted to Director of Account Management at Franco Signor, where he served and led the Regional Sales and Account Management team on the east coast.

    Mark is a natural leader, and he builds genuine and long-lasting relationships and friendships. His focus is always a consultative approach to identifying the right solution for his valued customers and their injured workers. This is why Mark has had a very successful career in Business Development and has maintained and grown strong relationships and friendships with key decision-makers and industry contacts.

    Mark can be reached via email at mark@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 119.

  • Kayla joined Sanderson Firm in January 2023 as the Recovery Department Director, bringing several years of expertise in Conditional payment handling to the Firm.

    Kayla began her career in Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance in 2016, as part of the internal Medicare Set-Aside unit at Liberty Mutual Insurance. This position sparked her passion for MSP compliance, and she soon carved out her niche in the Conditional Payment Space. Kayla’s vast Conditional Payment experience includes but is not limited to:

    1st-level contractor disputes and appeals, Department of Treasury liens, 3rd-level Medicare appeals, and Section 111 reporting.

    In addition to her direct experience/handling of conditional payment matters, Kayla has spent more than 2 years acting as a Senior Technical Assistant which included mentoring and training a staff of 20 to understand all facets and nuances of conditional payment handling, providing operational oversight and quality assurance reviews, and developing initiatives and processes that helped drive exceptional conditional payment outcomes.

    At Liberty Mutual, Kayla was awarded the Customer Experience All-Star Award in March 2022, and in May 2022, Kayla graduated from Syracuse University College of Law with her J.D. She recently passed the bar and is now a fully licensed attorney! Kayla plans to continue her career in MSP Compliance with a primary focus in Conditional Payment Services, however, broaden her experience to all legal aspects of MSP.   

    Kayla can be reached via email at Kayla@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 121

  • Gerardo has been in the insurance claims industry for over 22 years. He has managed large multi-state operations in both liability and no-fault claims including litigation. He has been in the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) field since 2010 and has managed MSP Recovery and Medicare Section 111 reporting compliance for a large carrier for over 12 years.

    Gerardo brings extensive knowledge in claims system integrations, having worked in several integrations with Guidewire ClaimCenter. He also brings a strong background in developing and conducting training in the US and internationally in Latin America and Europe.

    Gerardo recently served as the Chair for the Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (MARC) which is a national coalition advocating for improvement in the MSP program.

    Gerardo can be reached via email at gerardo@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 142

  • Deanna joined Sanderson Firm in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in the Workers’ Compensation industry. She began allocating various types of files and has advanced to Supervisor of Clinical Services. During her career in the industry, she has overseen multiple clinical departments, provided employee trainings and education workshops for clients, assisted with sales and marketing, as well as a clinical point of contact for complex files and high-profile cases. Deanna is known for her attention to detail and lifelong passion for helping others. She values the importance of quality work and enjoys working with her team to ensure superior products.

    Deanna is a licensed nurse and a Medicare Set-Aside Certified Consultant (MSCC). She is grateful to work with some of the most talented people in the industry. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, boating, and gardening.

    Deanna can be reached via email at deanna@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 117.

  • Cory has worked in the IT industry for over 25 years with a strong emphasis on development and architecture platforms for data-driven applications. Recently she specialized in the back-end creation and development for a high-volume insurance claim data processing system, including data consumption and processes for Paid Act. She has a deep understanding of insurance claim data and worked extensively training other IT personnel on the understanding and principles of claim data procedures.

    Cory brings a diverse background of IT knowledge. She was responsible for an internal website for a Fortune 500 company. Additionally, she has worked with payroll companies on application development and secure data transmission for the State of North Carolina.

    Cory holds a B.S. degree from the University of Maryland and a computer science certification from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her hobbies include fitness, sports, travel, and home improvement projects.

    Cory can be reached via email at clozon@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 150.

Meet Our Experts

Discover the experienced professionals at Sanderson Firm.

Our team specializes in creating Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) legal solutions. They are here to support you in achieving the highest standards of MSP compliance. Learn more about our team members and their commitment to helping your organization thrive in this complex landscape.

  • With over 15 years of Accounting and Human Resources experience, Jennifer brought her knowledge to Sanderson Firm in 2022 as the Accounting and Human Resources Director. Jennifer works with our vendors, clients, and internal staff to create accounting and HR efficiencies across our organization. Jennifer is an innovative accounting professional proficient in extracting financial data from various reporting systems along with helping develop system processes and procedures from startup businesses to streamlining and updating them in seasoned companies. Jennifer is a strong believer in positive reinforcement and encouragement every day to those around her. In her free time, Jennifer loves to spend time with her daughter, friends, and their two furry puppies.

    Jennifer can be reached via email at Jennifer@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 120.

  • Kristina joined Sanderson Firm in 2022, with several years of experience in different areas of MSP compliance. She began her career in Medicare Compliance in 2016 working as an attorney for one of the largest MSP compliance providers. She went on to manage the quality assurance and CMS submission teams at Franco Signor and later served as a director overseeing a team of attorneys and paralegals at Verisk.

    Kristina is a licensed attorney as well as a Medicare Set-Aside Certified Consultant (MSCC) and advises clients on a variety of MSP compliance issues, with many years of experience in dealing with the CMS submission process, re-reviews, and amended reviews. Kristina has a Juris Doctor from New England Law Boston and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Florida.

    Kristina can be reached via email at Kristina@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 111

  • Neha has a comprehensive background in Medicare Secondary Payer compliance, Workers’ Compensation, and client relations. She is a licensed attorney and a Medicare Set-Aside Certified Consultant.

    Neha established her legal career in the compliance field in 2010. Prior to joining Sanderson Firm, she served as Assistant Director of MSA Services at Verisk Analytics. Neha possesses a propensity for truly understanding her clients’ varying needs and strives to deliver the best claim outcomes.

    Neha earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Connecticut and her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, graduating cum laude. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar. Neha is motivated daily by her husband and their two young children. Recreationally, she enjoys running, skiing, and yoga.

    Neha can be reached via email at neha@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 125

  • Rachel entered the workers’ compensation industry in 2006 after honorably serving a 4-year term in the United States Air Force. Her career in the Medicare Compliance space began with Gould & Lamb, one of the largest MSP providers at that time. Rachel has held several positions in National, Corporate and Regional Account Management, as well as Operations. Additionally, she has spent over 13 years solely dedicated to Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance. Rachel also holds her (CMSP) Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional designation.

    Rachel joined the Sanderson Firm team in October of 2022. Prior to joining Sanderson Firm, Rachel worked for GENEX, a clinical management leader throughout North America.

    Rachel has a dedication and passion to serve her clients, with the goal of being a dedicated subject matter expert when it comes to Medicare Compliance. Her motivation is to be a true consultant and advocate to the claim’s community and for the injured workers and claimants that they serve.

    Rachel looks forward to managing high level programs, growing existing relationships, and educating our clients and prospective clients on all MSP matter as she serves as a National Account Manager at Sanderson Firm.

    Rachel can be reached via email at rachel@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 115.

  • Holly is a seasoned professional experienced in both claims as well as Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance. Prior to joining Sanderson Firm, Holly was the Senior Manager of Medicare Compliance at a large Third Party Administrator (TPA) for the past seven years.

    Holly holds both the Medicare Set-Aside Consultant (MSCC) and Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional (CMSP) certifications. In addition to her extensive MSP experience, Holly boasts a robust background in claims management, adding another layer of depth to her skill set.

    Holly is enthusiastic about taking the helm in overseeing high-level programs, nurturing and expanding existing relationships, and serving as an invaluable source of education for our clients and prospective clients on all matters related to MSP as she assumes the role of National Account Manager at Sanderson Firm.

    Holly can be reached via email at holly@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 135.

  • Kelly started with Sanderson Firm in March 2023. Prior to joining Sanderson Firm Kelly spent 19 years in the insurance industry earning multiple insurance designations, including the CPCU, AIC, AIAF, FLMI, and AIS designations. In 2019, after almost 15 years in accounting, her career advanced into Medicare Secondary Payor Compliance (MSP) when Federated Insurance created an internal Medicare Compliance Reporting Unit. Her attention to detail, analytical skills, and passion for learning were an asset in developing the MSP unit.

    During her time in the MSP department, Kelly was involved in Medicare reporting, CMS appeals and disputes, training claims adjusters on Medicare Compliance and requesting MSA’s from vendors, as well as working with management to implement new company processes regarding Medicare Compliance. Kelly has always enjoyed helping others and is here to bring her MSP and claims industry knowledge to our clients.

    Kelly can be reached via email at kelly@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 127.

  • Heather started with Sanderson Firm in September 2023 as a Client Services Director, bringing with her 20 years of collective experience and expertise in both Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance (MSP) and Section 111 Mandatory Insurer Reporting (MIR).

    Heather started her career with ExamWorks Compliance Solutions, Formerly Gould & Lamb, LLC in 2003. Heather’s attention to detail, understanding specific roles as well as the “big picture” and passion for exceptional customer service, allowed her to quickly excel within the organization. In her years as Client Services Manager, Heather played a key role in mentoring and managing personnel, building client relations, system development, training programs, implementing and streamlining processes, and creating roles within the organization to ensure continued growth and customer satisfaction, both internally and externally.

    In 2013, Heather shifted from Client Services Manager to Senior MMSEA Compliance Manager, where she gained a wealth of knowledge and experience with Section 111 Mandatory Insurer Reporting. Combining all MSP fundamentals, she has developed a mass understanding of Non-Group Health Plans (NGHP), various claim systems, the layers between Carriers and TPA’s, the dynamics of an ever evolving industry and the overall process of a claim from beginning to end.

    Heather is passionate about growing and maintaining genuine relationships. She specializes in identifying individual client needs so that she can tailor and implement programs/trainings specific to the client while ensuring overall compliance by following company and CMS guidelines.

    Heather can be reached via email at htraxler@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 134.

  • Tarah began her career in Medicare Secondary Payer(MSP) compliance in 2014 at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Tarah joined the internal Medicare Set-Aside unit and later was instrumental in the centralization of their CMS submission process. Throughout her career Tarah has taken lead training both aspiring MSP experts and adjusters alike. She takes pride in the consultative case review she has provided throughout her career advising attorneys and case handlers on the best approach to Medicare compliance to both facilitate settlement and protect all parties.

    In addition to the vast experience Tarah has garnered over her career she also holds a CMSP certification. She obtained her undergrad from The University of New Hampshire and acquired her MBA from Southern New Hampshire University in 2023.

    Tarah can be reached via email at tarah@sandersoncomp.com or directly by phone at 941-479-9877 Ext. 143.