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News and events
January 31, 2012
Change Healthcare Closes Series C with Support from Blue Cross Blue Shield Venture Partners
READ MORE >October 26, 2011
BlueCross BlueShield Joins in $70M Essence Round
READ MORE >Who we are
Meet the Team
Paul Brown
Paul Brown is Managing Director of BCBSVP and Sandbox Industries. He designed and raised the capital for the Fund and now manages it in a unique partnership with Sandbox Industries and senior executives from the participating Blue Plans. Paul is a member of the board of directors of Phreesia, Capson and Nexidia, BCBSVP Portfolio Companies. He was previously on the board of Bloom and a board observer of Initiate Systems, Inc. In addition to managing the Fund, Paul is also the Vice President of Venturing of BlueCross BlueShield Association (BCBSA) and a member of the Board of Trustees of Plan Investment Fund, Inc. Prior to joining BCBSA in 2002 Paul was a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis, LLP. He is a graduate of The University of Utah and The Northwestern University School of Law.
Paul Brown is Managing Director of BCBSVP and Sandbox Industries. He designed and raised the capital for the Fund and now manages it in a unique partnership with Sandbox Industries and senior executives from the participating Blue Plans. Paul is a member of the board of directors of Phreesia, Capson and Nexidia, BCBSVP Portfolio Companies. He was previously on the board of Bloom and a board observer of Initiate Systems, Inc. In addition to managing the Fund, Paul is also the Vice President of Venturing of BlueCross BlueShield Association (BCBSA) and a member of the Board of Trustees of Plan Investment Fund, Inc. Prior to joining BCBSA in 2002 Paul was a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis, LLP. He is a graduate of The University of Utah and The Northwestern University School of Law.
Matt Downs
Matt Downs is Managing Director of Sandbox Industries. Matt is a member of the board of directors of Essence Group and Myca, portfolio companies of BCBSVP. Previously Matt was a member of the board of Bloom and Phreesia. Previously, Matt was the CEO of Sandbox incubated company, Orggit. Prior to joining Sandbox, Matt was an Associate with the Boston-based venture capital firm, Highland Capital Partners, and served as an Analyst for Morgan Stanley in the M&A group in New York. He has worked as a senior advisor with multiple privately-held companies, providing them financing and business development counsel. Matt holds a BA from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Matt Downs is Managing Director of Sandbox Industries. Matt is a member of the board of directors of Essence Group and Myca, portfolio companies of BCBSVP. Previously Matt was a member of the board of Bloom and Phreesia. Previously, Matt was the CEO of Sandbox incubated company, Orggit. Prior to joining Sandbox, Matt was an Associate with the Boston-based venture capital firm, Highland Capital Partners, and served as an Analyst for Morgan Stanley in the M&A group in New York. He has worked as a senior advisor with multiple privately-held companies, providing them financing and business development counsel. Matt holds a BA from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Drew Turitz
Drew Turitz is a Managing Director of Sandbox Industries. Drew is a member of the board of InVivoLink and ZeOmega, BCBSVP Portfolio Companies. Prior to joining Sandbox, Drew was a Vice President at Bank of America in New York. He worked in the Healthcare Mergers and Acquisitions group, and executed numerous healthcare services, life sciences, and medical device transactions. Drew was also a Strategy Consultant for USWeb / CKS and Manager of Strategy and Business Development for Fluid, a web development firm, both in San Francisco. Drew has a BA from Stanford University and a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Drew Turitz is a Managing Director of Sandbox Industries. Drew is a member of the board of InVivoLink and ZeOmega, BCBSVP Portfolio Companies. Prior to joining Sandbox, Drew was a Vice President at Bank of America in New York. He worked in the Healthcare Mergers and Acquisitions group, and executed numerous healthcare services, life sciences, and medical device transactions. Drew was also a Strategy Consultant for USWeb / CKS and Manager of Strategy and Business Development for Fluid, a web development firm, both in San Francisco. Drew has a BA from Stanford University and a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Tom Hawes, M.D.
Tom Hawes is a Managing Director of Sandbox Industries. Tom is a board observer for WellSpring a BCBSVP portfolio company. Before joining Sandbox, Tom matched at Yale School of Medicine for residency and completed his first year of medical training at Greenwich Hospital. During his medical training he worked on clinical studies at the ISK Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and on outcomes research at the National Cancer Institute and NYMC’s Cardiothoracic Surgery Department. Tom is on the National Advisory Board for the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation and is a Kauffman Fellow. Tom holds a BA from Brigham Young University, an M.D. from New York Medical College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Tom Hawes is a Managing Director of Sandbox Industries. Tom is a board observer for WellSpring a BCBSVP portfolio company. Before joining Sandbox, Tom matched at Yale School of Medicine for residency and completed his first year of medical training at Greenwich Hospital. During his medical training he worked on clinical studies at the ISK Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and on outcomes research at the National Cancer Institute and NYMC’s Cardiothoracic Surgery Department. Tom is on the National Advisory Board for the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation and is a Kauffman Fellow. Tom holds a BA from Brigham Young University, an M.D. from New York Medical College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Anna Haghgooie
Anna Haghgooie is a Managing Director of Sandbox Industries. Before joining Sandbox, Anna was the General Manager at an integrative healthcare start-up where she helped the company streamline operations and prepare for growth. Previously she held positions as an Associate Director of Corporate Finance at Fitch Ratings covering the Healthcare Sector and as a member of the Financial Management Program at General Electric. Anna holds a BBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and an MBA with Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Anna Haghgooie is a Managing Director of Sandbox Industries. Before joining Sandbox, Anna was the General Manager at an integrative healthcare start-up where she helped the company streamline operations and prepare for growth. Previously she held positions as an Associate Director of Corporate Finance at Fitch Ratings covering the Healthcare Sector and as a member of the Financial Management Program at General Electric. Anna holds a BBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and an MBA with Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Kerry Byler
Kerry Byler is a Managing Director of BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners. Previously, Kerry was with Batterson Venture Partners, where he focused on healthcare services and information technology companies. He was also with Lehman Brothers’ Global Private Equity Group and The Sprout Group, the venture capital affiliate of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette/Credit Suisse. Kerry was a founding angel investor in Nexity Financial Corporation which went public in 2005 and he has founded a number of successful start-ups. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with Honors and holds an M.B.A. in Analytic Finance, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Kerry Byler is a Managing Director of BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners. Previously, Kerry was with Batterson Venture Partners, where he focused on healthcare services and information technology companies. He was also with Lehman Brothers’ Global Private Equity Group and The Sprout Group, the venture capital affiliate of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette/Credit Suisse. Kerry was a founding angel investor in Nexity Financial Corporation which went public in 2005 and he has founded a number of successful start-ups. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with Honors and holds an M.B.A. in Analytic Finance, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Jeffrey Ries
Jeffrey Ries is an Associate at Sandbox Industries where he works with the BCBSVP team. Prior to joining Sandbox, Jeffrey was a Senior Financial Analyst in the Acquisitions Group at LaSalle Investment Management where he focused on real estate investments located throughout North America. Jeffrey holds a BA from Northwestern University with Honors.
Jeffrey Ries is an Associate at Sandbox Industries where he works with the BCBSVP team. Prior to joining Sandbox, Jeffrey was a Senior Financial Analyst in the Acquisitions Group at LaSalle Investment Management where he focused on real estate investments located throughout North America. Jeffrey holds a BA from Northwestern University with Honors.
