Name: Michael A. Gold
Age: 50
Position: Exec. V.P., chief operating officer, Hawaii Medical Services Association
First job: Newsboy
Favorite pastimes: Golf, reading
Michael A. Gold is leading efforts at the nonprofit Hawaii Medical Services Association to deal with the complexity of many new health plans. Tackling complexity at HMSA
"We're trying to be customer focused and make it easier for the employer group to do business with us and access information," Gold said. He said HMSA has a five-year plan to improve its technology with computers and communication systems.
Gold remains president of Benefit Services of Hawaii Inc., the for-profit subsidiary of HMSA that provides workers compensation and other insurance.
He joined HMSA in 1974. Gold is a member of the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act Advisory Council and the Long Term Care Financing Advisory Board.
He was a Vietnamese language specialist during his four years in the U.S. Air Force. Gold earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Hawaii.
By Jerry Tune, Star-Bulletin