Executive Team

The members of Intercare’s senior team average more than 20 years of experience in the insurance brokerage industry.  Their specialties cover a wide range of areas, including cost containment, various funding mechanisms, designing value-based benefit plans, designing and managing employee wellness programs, actuarial services, international benefits guidance, retirement planning services and risk management services.

Mike Barone, President & CEO

Mike has nearly 20 years of experience in various sectors of the insurance industry, with particular expertise in management, finance, marketing, and technical benefit administration systems.  In addition to day-to-day management of the firm, Mike directs all strategic planning relationships with Intercare’s clients. Mike’s firm conviction – that the brokerage industry is ripe for a transformation – is what drives the company and attracts many of the best and brightest to the Intercare team.  He has held multiple executive positions throughout the insurance industry, including vice president of sales for Health Net and global vice president of ChannelPoint, an enterprise benefits administration software corporation.  Mike currently sits on several Broker Advisory boards for regional and national carriers.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Cornell University.  Mike is a recipient of Risk and Insurance Magazine’s Power Broker Award for 2008 and has been featured on the cover of Employee Benefit Advisor.  He is a member of the San Diego Chapter of Young Presidents’ Organization, is a soccer and baseball coach, and is active in the San Diego chapter of the YMCA Adventure Guides.

John Kahle, Senior Vice President, Chief Wellness Officer

John has 35 years of experience in the insurance industry and has implemented more than 50 successful corporate wellness programs that have saved sponsor companies millions of dollars.  In his role as senior vice president and chief wellness officer, he leads the design and implementation of wellness programs and funding options that effectively control benefits costs while supporting a more value-based approach to employee benefits.  Prior to joining the Intercare organization, John was founder and president for SFG Benefit Insurance Services.  Intercare and SFG merged in early 2007.  John is a member of the Pfizer and Abbot Labs corporate advisory panels and sits on the board of the Center for Health Value Innovation.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Heidelberg College, where he was recently inducted into the athletic hall of fame as a member of the varsity basketball team.  John enjoys playing tennis and spending time with his family.  In 2008, he was named Employee Benefits Adviser of the Year by Employee Benefit Adviser magazine.

Dr. Lee Rice, Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Lee Rice is the chief medical officer of Intercare Insurance Solutions and the first industry CMO in the San Diego region.  Considered one of the premier medical experts on wellness in the United States, Rice brings more than 30 years of experience in primary care sports medicine and family practice to Intercare.Rice plays a key role in fostering Intercare’s forward-thinking approach of delivering comprehensive wellness plans to its clients, encouraging them to treat healthcare as an investment rather than a cost.  He hosts a monthly webinar entitled “Just What the Doctor Ordered” that tackles relevant health and wellness topics, heads Intercare’s executive wellness program, and counsels Intercare clients on companywide changes that can improve employee health and productivity.  Rice is a clinical professor at Western University of Health Sciences, the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, and San Diego State University.  Dr. Rice earned his doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine.  

Linda Keller, Senior Vice President, Consulting and Account Management

Linda Keller is a senior vice president of Intercare Insurance Solutions and a member of Intercare’s leadership team. She has a reputation in the industry as an exceptional strategic advisor and client advocate. With proven leadership and thirty years experience in the design and implementation of strategic health and benefits programs and funding alternatives, Linda serves the diverse needs of clients. She leads Intercare’s account management teams, helping clients develop both short and long term strategies that incorporate innovative wellness and benefits program design ensuring they achieve optimum return on their investment. Prior to joining Intercare, Linda was Executive Vice President and Employee Benefits Practice Leader at Willis HRH where she was responsible for overseeing all client-facing colleagues as well as developing programs that increased client retention. Prior to Willis HRH, Linda was a World Wide Partner and the Western Region Employee Benefits Practice Leader with both Marsh and Mercer. Linda earned her degree in Journalism and Political Science from California State University, Northridge.

Lane Caruso, Senior Vice President, Benefit Administration and Services

Lane Caruso is senior vice president, benefits administration and services for Intercare Insurance Solutions. As a former benefits executive, Lane has a keen understanding of what clients need to ensure their benefit plans run effectively and are administered properly. She is responsible for the creation and implementation of Intercare’s benefits administration services, the strategic direction of new programs and services, the operation of Intercare’s wellness division and oversees Intercare’s client communication projects and collaterals. Lane delivers ongoing leadership to the organization and ensures new service initiatives align with client needs and that Intercare is continuing to bring state of the art, innovative, meaningful value added services to our clients. Lane brings 21 years of corporate benefits management experience with Fortune 500 organizations to Intercare and their clients. Most recently, Lane was a Senior Vice President with Bank of America where she held positions in Health and Welfare Benefits as Benefits Consultant, Strategy and Design Manager and Service Delivery Manager. While at Bank of America, Lane led the development and implementation of new health care strategies and programs, including a health advocate program. She managed outsourced administration and annual enrollment for the bank’s 185,000 associates and 50,000 retirees.Lane holds a B.S. in Industrial Relations and Psychology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC and a M.B.A degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

Maggie Osburn, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Marketing

With more than 20 years of sales, training and consulting experience in human resources across a variety of industries, Maggie spearheads Intercare’s business development, marketing and public relations activities for the firm.  Her previous experience as an HR advisor gives her added skills to effectively consult with major employers and design custom plans targeted to their individual needs, strategies, and objectives. Maggie previously served as senior vice president of global accounts at Lee Hecht Harrison, where she successfully developed and implemented customized career management and leadership consulting solutions for Fortune 500 companies.  She is skilled at examining the big picture for clients, then distilling large quantities of information down to the crucial pieces and making a strong recommendation that results in cost savings and increased benefit levels. Maggie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University.  She currently sits on the Board of the San Diego Chapter of National Human Resources Association and is active in the San Diego Compensation and Benefits Association.

Charu Verma, Chief Financial Officer

Charu is the Chief Financial Officer of Intercare Insurance Solutions, Inc. With over 14 years of progressive and in-depth financial management experience in the insurance industry, she is responsible for the overall financial management of the company, which includes financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, internal and external financial reporting, audits, development and implementation of policies and procedures necessary for proper internal control and treasury management. In addition, she oversees the human resources, information technology and legal operations of the company. Prior to joining Intercare, Charu held various financial positions with HCC Insurance Holdings, KBR, Galtney Enterprises and IHI, Inc. Charu graduated from the University of Houston in 1995 with a B.B.A. in Accounting. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of CPA’s. .

David P. Duenas, Senior Vice President, Employee Benefit & Retirement Services Consultant

David has more than 20 years of industry experience and specializes in statistical plan analytics as the foundation of effective benefit strategy.  He develops and maintains Intercare’s group benefit products, service offerings, and leads the Intercare Key Accounts Team, which is dedicated to the firm’s larger clients.  David’s experience advising larger clients has been key to Intercare’s growth strategy: to provide high-level counsel to mid-sized companies, helping them save money on benefits costs while actually increasing benefit levels.  Previously, David founded Benefits Consulting Group (BCG), a retirement and benefits consulting firm that worked with large public and private corporations to provide strategic benefit and retirement programs. He has served on the advisory councils of several insurance companies.  David earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from San Diego State University and is active in his school’s alumni association.

Tina Wrotenbery, Senior Vice President, Employee Benefit Consultant 

Tina leads Intercare’s Houston office where she is responsible for new business development and client consulting.  Tina’s 16 years in the industry include employee benefits business experience with both health plan providers and brokerages.  This gives her a valuable perspective that helps her clients in the growing Houston market understand Intercare’s focus on managing wellness instead of treating disease.  Before joining the Intercare team, Tina held leadership roles at Bowen, Miclette & Britt, TLH Consultants, Advantage Health Plan, and Humana Health Care Plan.  Her expertise includes working with self-funded accounts and designing wellness initiatives to improve employee health and productivity. Tina holds a video arts and science degree from Florida Metropolitan University. She also served five years of active duty in the United States Air Force Intelligence Field.  Tina is involved with the Houston Wellness Association and HR Houston.

Julie Beacock, Senior Vice President, Employee Benefit Consultant

Julie brings over 20 years of demonstrated success in employee benefits consulting to Intercare.  Julie has experience with both domestic and international clients and specializes in mid-sized and large companies with complex funding arrangements.  As a senior vice president Julie provides sales leadership while driving the growth of company revenue and improving team performance. Prior to joining Intercare, Julie served as Senior Client Executive for Barney & Barney, where she was selected as the International Benefits delegate for the 2007 Assurex Global International Benefits Summit. Julie has also held executive positions at Marsh and USI. Julie has been actively involved on a variety of boards and steering committees, including American Electronics Association, The University Club, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Deloitte and Touche’s Fast Fifty Award, the SDSIC Investment Conference and is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management, locally and nationally. Julie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a double minor in Finance and Marketing, from California State University, Bakersfield. 

Adrian Atilano, Executive Risk Practice Leader President, Intercare Risk Solutions

As President of Intercare Risk Solutions, a subsidiary of Intercare Insurance Solutions, Adrian leads the Executive Risk Practice. He is well-versed in the complex issues facing both public and private companies in the realm of Executive Risk, strategically advising clients on a broad spectrum of management liability coverages, including directors and officers liability and errors & omissions programs. Adrian understands the stakes are higher now more than ever for his clients. He and his team take a forward-looking view of each client’s unique risk profile ensuring that not only the right coverages are put in place, but that corporate governance issues are also incorporated. Adrian has several years of experience managing executive liability programs for companies ranging from mid-sized to Fortune 500. Prior to joining Intercare, Adrian served as Practice Leader of the Marsh San Diego Financial & Professional Products (FINPRO) department where he focused on directors & officers liability, professional liability, employment practices liability, and related coverages for both public and private companies in a territory that spanned mainly throughout Southern California. Prior to Marsh, Adrian gained an “insider’s” perspective of executive liability issues as Territory Manager for Chubb’s Executive Protection department in San Diego and Los Angeles. Adrian is affiliated with Corporate Directors Forum, BIOCOM, San Diego Venture Group, and FEI. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles.

Bev Gregory, Senior Vice President

With more than 26 years of demonstrated insurance experience, Bev is a keen strategist, relationship manager and client advocate ensuring each client receives exceptional service and personalized representation. She plays a key role in the development of new business and expansion of existing client opportunities in the areas of Employee Benefits, Executive Risk and Property & Casualty. Bev has worked with a wide variety of companies primarily in the Life Science sector but her experience also includes not-for-profits and general industries. Prior to joining Intercare, Bev was Senior Vice President at Marsh San Diego serving as a Client Executive responsible for leading client teams, managing resources and services for clients. She served on Marsh’s National Producer Advisor Council. After attending the College of Saint Benedicts, Bev began her career with Aetna in the employee benefits division with an emphasis on managed care, mergers & acquisitions and underwriting & actuarial services. Bev is active in a number of local organizations such as Junior Achievement, San Diego Opera, BIOCOM, Connect, Corporate Directors Forum, San Diego Venture Group, UCSD Adjunct Professor.