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At ClaimsBridge, we’re committed to fostering a supportive, family-oriented environment, empowering our team members to thrive both personally and professionally. Today, we’re excited to highlight Jessica Picarde, our Director of Finance, whose journey reflects the very heart of our company’s values. Jessica joined ClaimsBridge from a demanding career in investment banking, seeking balance and flexibility for her growing family. Over her tenure, she’s worn many hats—streamlining processes, implementing operational foundations, and significantly enhancing our financial efficiency. Jessica’s dedication to realizing the original vision of ClaimsBridge has been instrumental in our growth, and her leadership continues to make a meaningful impact for both clients and colleagues alike.

“What kept me was the drive to see my dad’s vision come to life. Today, we’re larger, stronger, and closer to that goal than ever.”

What initially attracted you to join ClaimsBridge, and what’s made you stay?

My background was in investment banking, working intense 80-hour weeks at Wells Fargo. My dad, Bob Schmidt, approached me just after I got engaged and said, “I need a finance person. I can’t pay you much, but you’ll have flexible hours for family life.” Honestly, that was it—I wanted balance for my future family, so I took the leap. 

That sounds like a very intentional decision.

Absolutely. Maybe not glamorous, but that’s why I did it.

And what’s kept you at ClaimsBridge?

When I started, it was just Bob, Jack, and me in a tiny office, all pitching in wherever needed—finance, mailroom, client care, everything. What kept me was the drive to see my dad’s vision come to life. Over time, we grew, brought on Jason and others, and it’s been fulfilling seeing the company finally match that original vision. Today, we’re larger, stronger, and closer to that goal than ever.

That’s a wonderful story. How would you describe work-life balance at ClaimsBridge?

Coming from investment banking, where constant long hours were standard, ClaimsBridge has been amazing. The company offers flexibility tailored to each employee’s unique needs. There’s genuine attention to ensuring people don’t feel overwhelmed or undervalued. It’s very individualized—balanced, supportive, and respectful of everyone’s life outside of work.

Are there specific supports or resources you’ve received to maintain your personal work-life balance?

My husband travels frequently, so during the week, I effectively manage as a single mom. ClaimsBridge provides me tremendous flexibility. I often leave work early to handle family responsibilities and then return in the evening to finish my tasks. That adaptability is invaluable to me.

Can you share your most significant achievement at ClaimsBridge and its impact?

Early on, I implemented foundational operational processes. But more recently, my biggest accomplishment has been streamlining and enhancing our financial operations. We’ve significantly improved efficiency—billing, AR/AP, real-time financial reporting—and we’ve managed this growth effectively without expanding our department beyond myself and one other person. It’s rewarding to support the company’s growth this way.

How has your role evolved over the years, and how have you adapted?

I’ve done almost every role here, from mailroom duties and client implementation to HR management. As the company grew and we brought on new team members, I transitioned those responsibilities to others—many who remain with us today. Now, I focus solely on finance, which was always my passion. That evolution let me dive deeper into what I genuinely love, while still understanding every facet of the business.

How do ClaimsBridge’s culture and values influence your work and decisions?

Kevin’s leadership has greatly shaped our culture. Before him, we didn’t even have an employee handbook! He fosters open communication, transparency, and genuine care for each employee’s unique situation. Even though we’ve grown, ClaimsBridge still feels like a family-run, mom-and-pop business. Decisions are made thoughtfully, always keeping employees’ wellbeing at the forefront. Kevin truly makes sure everyone feels valued, creating a supportive environment where people are comfortable approaching management with any concerns or ideas.

Anything else you’d like to add?

We’ve expanded quickly, yet we’ve preserved our core culture—one where leadership genuinely cares about each person here. Despite growth, ClaimsBridge remains committed to the supportive, family-oriented environment that has defined us from the start.

At ClaimsBridge, we believe that our greatest strength lies in our people—their passion, dedication, and commitment to making a difference in healthcare. In this interview, we spoke with a long-time team member who has been with ClaimsBridge since 2012. She shares her journey from first discovering our company to playing a pivotal role in expanding our provider network. Her story highlights not only professional growth but also the culture of support, innovation, and teamwork that defines ClaimsBridge.

” The work-life balance at ClaimsBridge is unmatched. Leadership genuinely cares about the well-being of employees and their families, making it a place where you can grow your career without sacrificing what matters most.”

What initially attracted you to join our company, and what has made you stay?

I started with the company in 2012.  ClaimsBridge was a vendor with my previous employer, and I met Bob and Jessica through the implementation process.  I thoroughly enjoyed working with them and recognized that their products and services were crucial to the healthcare industry.  A few months later, ClaimsBridge was in the process of acquiring part of my previous employer’s business, and as a result, I was offered a job.  I knew Bob led a wonderful team of employees and created and utilized cutting-edge technology, so it was a natural transition for me to work for ClaimsBridge and continue to grow in my role and responsibilities.

How would you describe the work-life balance at our company? What support or resources have you received to help maintain that balance?

The work-life balance at ClaimsBridge is unmatched.   My family grew after I started with the company, and I was fortunate to experience our “family first” culture.  The leadership team genuinely cares about the well-being of all employees and their families.  I appreciate that ClaimsBridge operates under an “open-door policy”.  It’s comforting to know that employees can always talk to someone if needed, whether it’s work-related or personal.

Can you describe your most significant achievement or project during your time at the company and how it impacted the organization?

When I first started at ClaimsBridge, I was responsible for building a large provider network in Delaware and Maryland, which involved contracting with over 5,000 providers for more than 30 employer groups.  It was a huge undertaking!  I had numerous meetings with our I.T team, who did an outstanding job of enhancing our system to accommodate the provider contracts.  This included automating complex rate structures and adding a provider directory website for each employer, amongst other enhancements.  Once the network was in production, I not only managed the entire network, but I also helped answer member questions and provided customer service to clients as well.

Since then, we have been able to leverage the same platform to expand our business into other areas, such as pricing claims for other networks, and RBP pricing.

How has your role evolved since you joined the company, and what steps have you taken to adapt to those changes?

Great question!  My initial role was a provider network contractor/claims analyst, and now I am in a broader role of network account management, while still entering complicated provider contracts and reviewing high-dollar claims.  I am also involved in the implementation of new clients, which includes entering provider contracts and rates, as well as testing the claims to confirm they are pricing correctly before going into production.  Post-implementation, I ensure all claims continue to price accurately, as well as update provider contracts with annual rate increases, and handle any issues/questions that arise in the meantime.

I have been pulled into numerous projects over the years and participate wherever they need me.  I’ve attended open enrollment/benefit fairs for multiple clients to help explain our products and provider network to their employees; I have also attended industry conferences to represent ClaimsBridge and tell others about who we are and what we do.

How do you think our company’s culture and values impact the way we work and make decisions?

Leadership consistently demonstrates respect for everyone, and that is truly felt throughout the company as a whole.  Employees often step in to provide extra help when needed, and we all support one another by covering for colleagues when someone is out of the office.

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Jason Werner, CIO and  a key member of the leadership team at ClaimsBridge to uncover their unique journey with the company and explore what makes ClaimsBridge an exceptional place to work. Their story is one of dedication and growth, supported by a company culture that values stability, family, and personal development, all within the framework of a thriving and dynamic work environment.

You’ve been with the company for a long time.  Tell us a little bit about what it was like in the early days and how the company has evolved since then.

In the early days, we operated paycheck to paycheck like many young companies. Jak, Bob, Melissa, and Jessica were here before me.   We scrutinized every expense, ensuring each project or client relationship was worth it. Bob often shared stories of driving to collect checks to make payroll.

For years, our main challenge was managing limited cash flow without incurring debt. Despite this, we grew organically and steadily, never retreating. I occasionally read that once a company hits a certain financial threshold, such as $200,000 in the bank, growth accelerates. Initially, our 10-30% growth was consumed by expenses. It took time before our growth translated into significant profits.

The first decade was tougher because every penny earned was reinvested. Today we have grown to the point where this is still in the back of our mind, but we have more flexibility overall.  This financial stability is the biggest change.

What hasn’t changed is our family-oriented culture. We’re supportive of employees with new children and prioritize their needs without pressuring productivity. This support, initiated by Bob, remains a core value at ClaimsBridge, even as we grow.

What has made you stay with ClaimsBridge?

Before joining ClaimsBridge, I worked for a consulting company where I traveled extensively. I spent a year in Oklahoma City, three years in California and Chicago, and was slated to go to Albany.  My wife and I were starting a family and moving to Annapolis, so I needed to find something different.

Coming here I found a local job that offered growth opportunities. It allowed me to do things I only got to do briefly in consulting, where you come in, do a job, and then leave. This job gave me long-term experience in IT and the chance to be involved in different aspects of the business.

When I joined the company, I started as a programmer. Although I had extensive programming experience, it wasn’t in the language we used here. I had worked a lot with MUMPS in VA hospitals, where most programmers were much older. I wanted to learn a more marketable language, and Jak Eskinazi hired me, saying he could teach me what I needed to know.

I started by learning the new programming language and evolved from there. As we grew, I took on more supervisory and managerial roles, though managing isn’t my strongest skill. My style is more consultative—I expect people to do their jobs and move on. Now, I run the IT department and am involved in business decisions. I try to stay away from some decisions to avoid conflicts, but my job is to keep everything running smoothly and advance our capabilities.

I don’t program as much as I used to and am more specialized in what I do, but I still code daily. One thing that hasn’t changed, which I’d like to change, is my involvement in customer support. Many customers reach out to me directly for issues, and I spend a lot of time troubleshooting and fixing problems. Being a hands-on company is important to us, and maintaining that during growth is one of our biggest challenges.

Can you describe your most significant achievement or project during your time at the company and how it impacted the organization?

About five or six years ago, before our new leadership team came onboard, and the new team joined us, Bob and I received a call from a long-term client, the Loomis Company, a TPA subcontracted through Bright Health Group for their commercial operations. They needed help with pricing claims, and we told them, “That’s what we do.”

This project was a significant revenue boost for us. I handled all the coding, logic, and pricing, integrating our system with their complex, hospital-based pricing rules. These were challenging tasks, representing the difficult 10% of the work that takes most of the time.

Over that year, we successfully implemented the system and supported them for three years until Bright Health moved on from that business.  Despite this, the project was a major success for us, both personally and as a company.

The revenue from this project allowed us to hire Kevin Gibson – CEO, Mike Tosti – EVP Sales, and our current sales team, which has driven our growth. This project was our “hockey stick” moment, accelerating our success significantly.

“From an employee perspective, we’ve consistently taken care of everyone, prioritizing their well-being over the company’s bottom line. This approach hasn’t changed.”

Where do you see ClaimsBridge heading in the future?

Looking ahead, from a business and investor perspective, we’re focusing on substantial growth. We plan to continue expanding, potentially by acquiring or partnering with like-minded or complementary businesses. There’s also the possibility that someone might see value in us and want to invest further.

Overall, the company is on solid footing for long-term growth and continued industry support.

How do you think ClaimsBridge’s culture and values impact the way you work as a team and how you make decisions with a company?

That’s a great question. From an employee perspective, we’ve consistently taken care of everyone, prioritizing their well-being over the company’s bottom line. This approach hasn’t changed.

From a management perspective, growth has made things more challenging. With more employees, there’s a greater responsibility to ensure everyone gets paid. When the company was smaller, decisions were easier and risks were manageable. Now, with around 25 employees, there’s more at stake, which affects our decision-making structure.

Despite the growth and changes we remain heavily client focused.  Keeping our clients happy is key to enabling us to continue to grow.  This is something I take great personal pride in.

Anything Else you’d like to add?

This is a great place to grow, especially in the tech sector. We’re an IT company providing valuable services to our clients, but without our IT backbone, we wouldn’t have much to offer. The company’s growth potential is enormous in terms of client product offerings, and both business and personal development.

You often hear we’re a 20-year-old startup because, for the first 16-17 years, we operated with minimal resources. Now, we’re fixing things we should have done from the beginning. We’ve achieved SOC 2 compliance, moved our hosting to an Azure cloud environment, and added new tools to stay current with the evolving tech landscape.

Our modernization efforts mean new employees can find their niche and grow. I’m happy to delegate tasks because I can’t manage everything like I did a decade ago. When new hires express interest in areas like cybersecurity, we can support them in those roles.

From a growth standpoint, it’s like my adult soccer team where everyone wants to play offense. We need balance, hiring people for specific positions we need, even though we have many roles to fill.

There are many opportunities and a lot of fun in the process. It’s a great place for hiring and future growth.