Board of Directors
We are grateful for the service of our dedicated volunteer board of directors and community advisors.
Meet the Board of Directors
Michael Cropp, M.D.
President
Michael Cropp, M.D., M.B.A. is the president and chief executive officer at Independent Health. Under his leadership, the organization delivers products and services that improve the health of more than 380,000 customers – and has been consistently recognized nationally for excellence in quality, service and innovation. Dr. Cropp is a board-certified family physician with more than two decades of experience practicing medicine and working as a physician leader. He has a long and distinguished career in public health service: he was an associate medical director and family physician for three managed care organizations, and also served as medical director for the Millard Fillmore Health System.
Dr. Cropp received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from Brown University and completed his residency in family practice at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, which is affiliated with Brown University. In addition to his medical education and training, Dr. Cropp earned an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Stuart AngertChairperson
Stuart Angert is the founder, and served as Chief Executive Officer, 1991-2006, of Remarketing Services of America, Inc. He is a past member of the Independent Health Board of Directors. He is actively involved in the community, serving on the board the Adirondack Park Institute. He also serves on the advisory boards of KeyBank, University at Buffalo Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Canisius College Richard J. Wehle School of Business. He was named as a Commissioner, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Niagara District.
Mr. Angert earned his BA from Colgate University and MBA with a concentration in International Business from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.
Dinorah Baines
Board Member
Dinorah E. Baines is the Digital Information Officer for the NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. She has almost a decade of experience working in communications, primarily focusing on digital communications, digital accessibility, strategic communications and crisis communications.
Mrs. Baines is a Buffalo native who grew up in West Buffalo, attended Buffalo Public Schools, and received a dual bachelor’s degree in Communications and Psychology from The State University at Buffalo. She has a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Walden University. Mrs. Baines is passionate about volunteerism and giving back to the community. She is on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Buffalo History Museum, a Board Director for the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, and A Council Member for the Communities of Giving Legacy Initiatives.
John Antkowiak, M.D.
Board Member
John Antkowiak, M.D., a Buffalo, N.Y. native, is a retired OB/GYN from the Buffalo Medical Group. He served as past Board Chair on the Independent Health Board of Directors. He also served on Kaleida Health’s ad hoc, steering and medical executive committees. Other boards he has served on include Community Women’s Health, the IPA of WNY (past President), the Assignment Specialty Pool OB/GYN at Independent Health (Chairman) and the Executive Committee of the Buffalo OB/GYN Society (past President). He is past recipient of the Vincent Capraro Teaching Award at SUNY Buffalo and the Buffalo News Bob Stedler Memorial Award.
Dr. Antkowiak attended Bishop Ryan High School, Canisius College and the State University of New York at Buffalo Medical School.
Karen Brim
Treasurer
Karen Brim has worked in the managed care field for thirty years, currently serving as a Clinical Pharmacist with Independent Health. She has been responsible for researching and evaluating new products and emerging therapeutic issues and in turn developing strategies to optimize their use. Karen provides clinical support to a number of Independent Health’s teams and programs which primarily involves evaluating pharmacy and medical claims data for appropriateness and efficiency. Other managed care activities for which she is an integral part of includes developing action plans to support, maintain and improve Independent Health’s Medicare Star Measures, pharmacy network and pharmaceutical manufacturer partnerships, provider, employer group and broker relations and physician engagement.
Community service and engagement are an important part of Ms. Brim’s life. She frequently represents and highlights the pharmacy profession at churches, community centers and forums throughout the area. She is an annual workshop leader for the Tech Savvy program, a national program that inspires middle school girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math through a day of fun hands-on workshops with real, approachable role models. Each spring at the University at Buffalo Karen comes up with an innovative and fun way to engage young women in an interactive workshop demonstrating how pharmacists save lives. Karen also proudly serves as a Dean’s Alumni Ambassador for the University at Buffalo’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Ann McCarthy
Secretary
Ann McCarthy is retired from her position as Consumer Affairs Manager for Wegmans Food Markets, where she spent more than 20 years managing the company’s media, community and customer relations in Western New York. An active community volunteer, she is a past chair of the United Way campaign, and served for many years on their board. Most recently she completed three terms as a trustee of the John R. Oishei Foundation and as a trustee and president of the Western New York Foundation. She is currently a member of the Independent Health Foundation board.
She has been the recipient of several distinguished honors, including from the Food Bank of Western NY, Leadership Buffalo, and her alma mater, St. Bonaventure University, which presented her with their Gaudete Award.
Ann also is founding trustee of Mt. Irenaeus, Franciscan Mountain Retreat. She, along with her husband, Robert, and their son, Daniel, edited: The Good Journey: 150 Years of History at St. Bonaventure University, which was published in June, 2011.
Pastor Richard D. Hague, Jr.
Board Member
Pastor Hague currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Mount Erie Baptist Church in Niagara Falls, NY. Originally from Toledo Ohio, was the lead applicant on the Board of Directors of the Niagara Charter School, a member of the Board of Directors for Community Mission Inc., Human Rights Commissioner of Niagara Falls, and involved with the Moving in Faith health initiative. He is also a founding member of: Niagara Falls Pastors Prayer Gathering, Concerned Minister Niagara Falls, and Voice Niagara.
He is a decorated Vietnam Veteran and received two purple hearts, Combat Medal of Honor, 25th infantry. He is married and has four sons and one daughter.
Oswaldo Mestre
Board Member
Oswaldo Mestre Jr. is the Chief Service Officer & Director of Citizen Services for the City of Buffalo. He plans, coordinates, and evaluates the implementation of citywide engagement programs and opportunities with a focus on engaging citizens in their communities, while also building the city’s capacity to address its most pressing challenges.
He serves on a number of boards including the executive committees of Buffalo & Erie County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) & Buffalo branch of the NAACP and is a member of the following boards: Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo; Buffalo State College Public Administration & Nonprofit Management Advisory Board; Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative®(CGLI) of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo; Prince Hall Temple Association and currently serves as the board President of the Belle Community Center. He also sits on the scholarship select committee of the John R. Oishei Foundation, an organization that awards full, four-year scholarships to economically disadvantaged youth who wish to attend one of the area’s private high schools.
Mr. Mestre is an active parishioner of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and received his undergraduate education from the University of Buffalo, where his major area of study was Architecture and Public Policy & Administration.
Yvonne Minor-Ragan, Ph.D.
Board Member
Yvonne Minor-Ragan, Ph.D, CEO/President of Y.M. Ragan Consulting, LLC, and co-partner of Ragan & Amos Consulting, is recognized for her expertise in strategic planning, policy development, educational planning, as well as Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice. She joined the Independent Health Board of Directors in September 2014. As former President of Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, Dr. Ragan played a major role in leading the efforts of a unique public/private partnership to improve educational and developmental outcomes of children primarily living on the Eastside of Buffalo. She has served on several boards, including Shea's Performing Arts, Buffalo Prep, Just Buffalo Literary Society, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens and Leadership Buffalo.
Dr. Ragan currently serves on the following Boards: Buffalo Urban League, the John R. Oishei Foundation, St. Bonaventure University and WNED/WBFO Public Broadcasting. Most recently, County Executive Poloncarz and Governor Cuomo honored Dr. Ragan with appointments to the Erie County Welfare Advisory Board and New York State Advisory Board for the Office of Children and Family Services, respectively. Dr. Ragan received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Roosevelt University, Masters of Science in Education from Chicago State University, Certification in Administration and Supervision, Guidance and Counseling from Chicago State University, Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Illinois at Chicago and School District Administrator's Certification from New York State.
Board Member
Magdalena Nichols (Maggie) is the Chief Operating Officer at Jericho Road Community Health Center where she has been serving now for the last five years. Previously she served as the Assistant Vice President of Primary Care & Development at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC). Born in Kinshasa, Congo in Africa, Maggie is the fifth of seven children born to her mother Niyonteze Rushishri, and the late Lessa Lessan.
Maggie earned a Master’s of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration from D’Youville College and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership with a focus in Nonprofits from Eastern University. Maggie is currently planning to complete her dissertation on Ethical leadership.
In 2019 Maggie was a recipient of Buffalo Business First’s 40 Under 40 award. Maggie is married to Johnathan Nichols and has three sons.
Vice Chairperson
As chief operating officer at Indepedent Health, John R. Rodgers is responsible for overseeing all business operations within the organization, including Sales, Product Development, Information Technology, Office of Strategy Management, and Independent Health’s ancillary businesses - Pharmacy Benefit Dimensions®, Nova Healthcare Administrators, Inc.® and Reliance Rx.®
Rodgers is active in many professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacists, American Pharmaceutical Association, Pharmacists Association of Western New York (PAWNY) and the Pharmaceutical Society of the State of New York. He is currently the president of the board of trustees for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Western and Central New York Chapter and has chaired the organization’s Diamond Ball several times, most recently in 2015. He is also a member of the Child & Family Services board of directors.
Rodgers has a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he has been an adjunct professor in the University’s School of Pharmacy. He serves on the Dean of the School of Pharmacy’s National Industry Advisory Committee. Rodgers also has an active pharmacy license and practices as a retail pharmacist on a part-time basis, providing him a multi-dimensional view within the health care industry.
Patricia Clabeaux
Board Member
Patricia Clabeaux oversees the Human Resources department, including the Learning Center. She is responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s workforce strategy, and for sustaining an engaged workforce and positive organizational culture to enable the company to achieve its strategic goals. Clabeaux oversees all aspects of the company’s workforce strategy, including organizational development, change management, benefits and compensation, associate development, talent acquisition and retention, rewards and recognition, associate relations, human resources technology and compliance.
Ms. Clabeaux is an active member of the community and has served on many non-profit organization boards in various positions, including board chair. Currently, amongst other community involvement activities, Clabeaux is the board chair for the American Lung Association Buffalo Leadership Board, and sits on the board of MusicalFare. She earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in human resource management from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Tanya Staples
Board Member
Tanya Staples is the Senior Director of the Strong Community School initiative for Say Yes Buffalo, a partnership with Buffalo Public Schools to strengthen the Western New York economy by investing in the education of Buffalo’s future workforce. In her role, Tanya oversees strategies to elevate academic achievement of students in the City of Buffalo.
Prior to joining the Say Yes Buffalo team, Tanya held roles as the former Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA of Western New York, Commissioner of Community Services and Recreational Programming for the City of Buffalo, and Director of Community Affairs for M & T Bank/Westminster Foundation Buffalo Promise Neighborhood.
Tanya resides in the city of Buffalo with her husband, Jonathan and their two daughters, Cydney and Taylor. She is a member of First Shiloh Baptist Church where her husband is Senior Pastor.
Stephen Tucker, MBA
Board Member
Stephen Tucker is the inaugural President & CEO of Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC), the signature workforce strategy under New York State’s Buffalo Billion initiative. In this role, Mr. Tucker is responsible for the management, oversight, and day to day operations of the new 90,000 square foot state of the art facility focused on training and preparing Western New Yorkers for careers in advanced manufacturing and clean energy. Mr. Tucker was appointed to the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council in 2018 and received the Arthur O. Eve Award for Economic Opportunity presented by the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators in 2020. Mr. Tucker also serves on the Boards of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo Urban League, Leadership Buffalo, and Insyte Consulting.
His educational achievements include an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Wilberforce University. Mr. Tucker is a Murano Fellow as a graduate of Aspen Institutes’ Sector Skills Academy and a 2018 graduate of Leadership Buffalo.
Board Member
John (Jack) Walsh, III, Chairman of Walsh Duffield Companies, Inc., previously served as a member of the Independent Health Board of Directors. Mr. Walsh is a former board president and chaired the capital campaign of the Martin House Restoration Corporation. Other committee, board and foundation commitments include the Aspire Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Formerly he chaired the boards of the American Red Cross, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Nichols School, NCCJ, AAA, Western New York Foundation and Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Mr. Walsh was a past board member at Niagara Envelope, Marine Midland/HSBC Banks, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and Kaleida Foundation. He has chaired multiple nonprofit campaigns and community search committees. He is an emeritus member of the UB Council, UB Foundation and Buffalo Philharmonic boards.
Mr. Walsh received a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School. He is a graduate of Buffalo’s Nichols School.