Management Profiles
Chris Akerley | Owner and President
From sophisticated rate quoting engines to advanced trading platforms to the latest in Electronic Health Record systems, Chris has evaluated and implemented innovative technology solutions for some of the largest financial service and behavioral health organizations in the country. With a client roster that includes Thresholds, the Washtenaw Community Health Organization, Valley Mental Health, and Functional Assessment Systems, Citadel Investment Group, National City Mortgage, and Allstate Insurance, and experience working with teams distributed across the country and across the globe, Chris has developed strategies to get results in any environment. His attention is now squarely focused on improving public healthcare by bridging the wide technology gap between financial services and public health. He started Afia to reach his vision of a world where quality, integrated healthcare is easier to get than a fast food burger.
Jeremy Nelson | Owner and CEO
As the CEO of Afia Inc., Jeremy has worked closely with leading behavioral health organizations to create long term IT strategic plans and implement health information technology solutions. He earned a degree in computer engineering from the University of Michigan and has over 10 years of experience in behavioral health, 6 of those years as the CIO for Washtenaw Community Health Organization. Jeremy presented at the 2010 National Council for Community Behavioral Health annual conference and has presented multiple times at Mental Health Corporation of America conferences. Specializing in data sharing and EHRs, Jeremy has been working with the National Council on Integrated Health initiatives with behavioral health and primary care organizations. Jeremy is committed to improving the lives of consumers, and his passion is to change the face of healthcare in this country.
Matt Hoffman | Director of Business Development
Matt has been involved in the healthcare industry for over ten years, founding and developing a wellness center based on improving health conditions with a focus on chronic disease management. He has also received a Master’s in Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. During his time with Afia, Matt has worked with organizations such as Community Healthcore, North Central Behavioral Healthcare Systems, Harbor, and Lubbock Regional MHMRC to create comprehensive strategies to proactively manage their IT investments. He has also managed the full assessment and vendor selection process for Harbor’s Electronic Health Record System. Matt joined Afia to help improve health outcomes and clinical delivery processes with healthcare organizations throughout the country.
Ben Leonard | Director of Healthcare Technologies
Ben earned a Computer Engineering degree from the University of Michigan, and subsequently worked on customizing data collection and process analysis software for clients such as Ford, GM, and Chrysler. With over ten years of experience, Ben brings a strong technology background to Afia. His previous work took him global, leading projects in Italy and Japan, which gave Ben an opportunity to hone his communication skills. Over the last 2 years with Afia, Ben has worked on EHR vendor selections and IT Strategies for behavioral health care organizations of various sizes, with a focus on billing and claims processing. Ben’s work with Afia has also included EHR implementation and General IT support for multiple specialty care offices. From problem solving to programming, Ben is committed to finding solutions that are cost effective and efficient. Ben is thrilled to be part of a team committed to improving health through technology.
