Joan McCusker: Executive Vice President of Operations and Corporate Strategy | Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
Joan McCusker: Executive Vice President of Operations and Corporate Strategy | Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
Joan McCusker, Executive Vice President of Operations and Corporate Strategy at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND), has been named one of the nine recipients of the 2025 Prairie Business Leaders & Legacies Award. The award, presented by Prairie Business magazine, honors executives from the Upper Midwest for leadership and significant contributions to their organizations and communities.
McCusker joined BCBSND in 2017 and has served in various executive positions, including Senior Vice President of HR and Risk Management, Executive Vice President of Operations and Risk, and her current role. During her tenure, she focused on aligning the company's mission with its strategic planning process. She also emphasized integrating talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement into business strategies while strengthening links between internal operations and customer experience.
Dan Conrad, President and CEO of BCBSND, said: “Joan’s influence can be seen not only in the systems she’s built, but in the leaders she’s mentored and the culture she’s helped shape.”
Outside her work at BCBSND, McCusker has contributed to several community organizations by serving on boards such as the National Kidney Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health and Wellbeing. She is a founding member of Healthcare Women Executives group supporting women leaders across the Upper Midwest.
McCusker plans to retire this August after a career marked by a focus on purpose-driven leadership.
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