Executive Leadership

Home / Executive Leadership

Human Understanding® is more than a job to the associates of NRC Health. Find out why it’s a passion for our team.

Chief Executive Officer

Michael D. Hays

FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Mike Hays has served as Chief Executive Officer, and as a director since he founded NRC Health (National Research Corporation) in 1981. In his four-decades as CEO, Mike has led the charge to personalize healthcare, and support organizations in their understanding of each unique individual they serve. His successful tenure as CEO demonstrates consistency in providing direction and vision for the company today. Mike and his wife Karen both grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. They have a wonderful daughter, Ashley, and three amazing grandchildren. Their most recent family addition is a puppy named Coco. Mike enjoys travel, art, cars, and IndyCar racing – solely as a spectator!

“We’re championing a way of thinking that’s less about scores and more about insight. Less after-the-fact and more in-the-moment.”

Chief Experience Officer

Jennifer Baron

CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Jennifer Baron is NRC Health’s first Chief Experience Officer. In her 30+ years in the healthcare industry, she has developed a passion for working to improve access and design experiences for patients, families, and clinicians. Her previous healthcare leadership roles include Chief Experience Officer at UC Davis Health and Executive Director, Experience Design at Indiana University Health. Jennifer holds a degree in communications from Ball State University and is a Certified Patient Experience Professional. Jennifer loves books, movies, and music of most genres. She enjoys spending time hiking, doing yoga, and exploring unfamiliar places with family and friends. She lives in California with her husband, sons, and two feline fur babies.

“I am passionate about playing a role in evolving the healthcare industry at large for generations to come. Our industry is at a tipping point and, as consumers, we expect more. By understanding the human experience in healthcare today, we can challenge ourselves to re-imagine what is possible in partnership with patients, care teams, and consumers. I am excited walk alongside our client partners to support this evolution and connect employee and patient experiences to advance the healthcare landscape.”

Chief Revenue Officer

Jason Hahn

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

Jason Hahn serves as NRC Health’s Chief Revenue Officer. He joins NRC Health after leading multiple global revenue organizations with a focus on patient, employee, and financial experience. He previously held senior leadership positions at Press Ganey, Perceptyx and Kaufman Hall/Axiom. Jason holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a B.S. in Marketing from Ball State University. In addition to Jason’s passion for building customer centric go-to-market teams, Jason enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Chrissy and sons Gannon and Evan – where the family enjoys golfing, skiing, and fishing. Jason is also an avid reader of history and is active in his local community and the March of Dimes.

“In healthcare, the heartbeat of success lies in the unification of patient, consumer, and employee experiences. By prioritizing these experiences, we not only heal and empower individuals but also cultivate a culture of excellence that resonates across the entire healthcare ecosystem.”

Chief Operating Officer

Helen Hrdy

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

During her tenure, Helen Hrdy has helped hundreds of healthcare organizations better know each person they serve through the power of Human Understanding. She has developed and led multidisciplinary teams with a primary focus on partner relationships. In her expanded role from Chief Growth Officer to Chief Operating Officer, Helen brings a passion for supporting NRC Health’s customer strategy, delivery and thought leadership teams, to help them embody service excellence and a partner-centric mindset. Helen lives in Lincoln with her husband, Paul, and spoiled cat, Precious. She loves traveling, walking, cooking and entertaining friends and family in her home.

“The work we do with our partners in pursuit of Human Understanding will improve healthcare—the way it’s designed and delivered—but more importantly, it will improve lives.”

Chief Product & Technology Officer

Christophe Louvion

CHIEF PRODUCT & TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Christophe Louvion brings decades of executive leadership skills to his role as Chief Product and Technology Officer at NRC Health. He has more than 20 years of experience scaling mid-market B2C and B2B technology companies in the healthcare, streaming, advertising, and e-commerce industries. His previous roles include Chief Product and Technology Officer at Episource, and CTO at PatientPop where he enabled a 400% ARR growth in under 4 years. Christophe serves on the board of early-stage startups, and advises on go-to-market strategy, product development, organization design for global teams, and fundraising. He has a Master Degree with majors in Computer Science and Business. In his free time, Christophe enjoys unplugging from technology and spending time cooking and traveling.

“Technology in healthcare is at its best when it bridges the gap between data and empathy, enabling us to better understand and cater to the unique journeys of each patient.”

Chief Corporate Development Officer

Andy Monnich

CHIEF CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Andy Monnich serves as Chief Corporate Development Officer for NRC Health. Before joining NRC Health, Andy served as Chief Strategy Officer at Practicing Excellence. Over the past 20 years, Andy has worked in product and corporate development roles across the healthcare, financial services, and education industries. During his career, he has held consulting and leadership positions at Practicing Excellence, NRC Health, Connect, AEGON, and The Gallup Organization. Andy lives in Lincoln, NE with his wife Melissa, and two sons, Michael, and Matthew. Andy enjoys cooking, traveling, mountain biking, and going on family backpacking trips.

“We have the privilege to be a strategic partner to innovative healthcare organizations, helping them improve the experience of their communities, consumers, patients, and employees.”

Chief Product Officer

Vinitha Ramnathan, Chief Product Officer, NRC Health

Vinitha Ramnathan

CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER

Vinitha Ramnathan serves as Chief Product Officer for NRC Health. She is a healthcare product leader with more than 20 years of experience in defining, developing, and bringing many innovative products and services to market. She earned her Master’s degree from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, and has a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications engineering from India. She started her career in product management, innovation, and healthcare at Optum and has spent a significant amount of time in the past decade in small to mid-size companies. She lives in Lexington, MA with her husband Vijay, her sports and anime-loving 14-year-old son Dhruv, and an adorable mini-Australian labradoodle Noori.

“Empathy and Human Understanding are at the heart of healthcare, and product innovations and solutions built upon these principles will generate better outcomes for everyone in the ecosystem. ”

Michael D. Hays

FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Mike Hays has served as Chief Executive Officer, and as a director since he founded NRC Health (National Research Corporation) in 1981. In his four-decades as CEO, Mike has led the charge to personalize healthcare, and support organizations in their understanding of each unique individual they serve. His successful tenure as CEO demonstrates consistency in providing direction and vision for the company today. Mike and his wife Karen both grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. They have a wonderful daughter, Ashley, and three amazing grandchildren. Their most recent family addition is a puppy named Coco. Mike enjoys travel, art, cars, and IndyCar racing – solely as a spectator!

“We’re championing a way of thinking that’s less about scores and more about insight. Less after-the-fact and more in-the-moment.”

Jennifer Baron

CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Jennifer Baron is NRC Health’s first Chief Experience Officer. In her 30+ years in the healthcare industry, she has developed a passion for working to improve access and design experiences for patients, families, and clinicians. Her previous healthcare leadership roles include Chief Experience Officer at UC Davis Health and Executive Director, Experience Design at Indiana University Health. Jennifer holds a degree in communications from Ball State University and is a Certified Patient Experience Professional. Jennifer loves books, movies, and music of most genres. She enjoys spending time hiking, doing yoga, and exploring unfamiliar places with family and friends. She lives in California with her husband, sons, and two feline fur babies.

“I am passionate about playing a role in evolving the healthcare industry at large for generations to come. Our industry is at a tipping point and, as consumers, we expect more. By understanding the human experience in healthcare today, we can challenge ourselves to re-imagine what is possible in partnership with patients, care teams, and consumers. I am excited walk alongside our client partners to support this evolution and connect employee and patient experiences to advance the healthcare landscape.”

Jason Hahn

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

Jason Hahn serves as NRC Health’s Chief Revenue Officer. He joins NRC Health after leading multiple global revenue organizations with a focus on patient, employee, and financial experience. He previously held senior leadership positions at Press Ganey, Perceptyx and Kaufman Hall/Axiom. Jason holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a B.S. in Marketing from Ball State University. In addition to Jason’s passion for building customer centric go-to-market teams, Jason enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Chrissy and sons Gannon and Evan – where the family enjoys golfing, skiing, and fishing. Jason is also an avid reader of history and is active in his local community and the March of Dimes.

“In healthcare, the heartbeat of success lies in the unification of patient, consumer, and employee experiences. By prioritizing these experiences, we not only heal and empower individuals but also cultivate a culture of excellence that resonates across the entire healthcare ecosystem.”

Helen Hrdy

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

During her tenure, Helen Hrdy has helped hundreds of healthcare organizations better know each person they serve through the power of Human Understanding. She has developed and led multidisciplinary teams with a primary focus on partner relationships. In her expanded role from Chief Growth Officer to Chief Operating Officer, Helen brings a passion for supporting NRC Health’s customer strategy, delivery and thought leadership teams, to help them embody service excellence and a partner-centric mindset. Helen lives in Lincoln with her husband, Paul, and spoiled cat, Precious. She loves traveling, walking, cooking and entertaining friends and family in her home.

“The work we do with our partners in pursuit of Human Understanding will improve healthcare—the way it’s designed and delivered—but more importantly, it will improve lives.”

Christophe Louvion

CHIEF PRODUCT & TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Christophe Louvion brings decades of executive leadership skills to his role as Chief Product and Technology Officer at NRC Health. He has more than 20 years of experience scaling mid-market B2C and B2B technology companies in the healthcare, streaming, advertising, and e-commerce industries. His previous roles include Chief Product and Technology Officer at Episource, and CTO at PatientPop where he enabled a 400% ARR growth in under 4 years. Christophe serves on the board of early-stage startups, and advises on go-to-market strategy, product development, organization design for global teams, and fundraising. He has a Master Degree with majors in Computer Science and Business. In his free time, Christophe enjoys unplugging from technology and spending time cooking and traveling.

“Technology in healthcare is at its best when it bridges the gap between data and empathy, enabling us to better understand and cater to the unique journeys of each patient.”

Andy Monnich

CHIEF CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Andy Monnich serves as Chief Corporate Development Officer for NRC Health. Before joining NRC Health, Andy served as Chief Strategy Officer at Practicing Excellence. Over the past 20 years, Andy has worked in product and corporate development roles across the healthcare, financial services, and education industries. During his career, he has held consulting and leadership positions at Practicing Excellence, NRC Health, Connect, AEGON, and The Gallup Organization. Andy lives in Lincoln, NE with his wife Melissa, and two sons, Michael, and Matthew. Andy enjoys cooking, traveling, mountain biking, and going on family backpacking trips.

“We have the privilege to be a strategic partner to innovative healthcare organizations, helping them improve the experience of their communities, consumers, patients, and employees.”

Vinitha Ramnathan, Chief Product Officer, NRC Health

Vinitha Ramnathan

CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER

Vinitha Ramnathan serves as Chief Product Officer for NRC Health. She is a healthcare product leader with more than 20 years of experience in defining, developing, and bringing many innovative products and services to market. She earned her Master’s degree from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, and has a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications engineering from India. She started her career in product management, innovation, and healthcare at Optum and has spent a significant amount of time in the past decade in small to mid-size companies. She lives in Lexington, MA with her husband Vijay, her sports and anime-loving 14-year-old son Dhruv, and an adorable mini-Australian labradoodle Noori.

“Empathy and Human Understanding are at the heart of healthcare, and product innovations and solutions built upon these principles will generate better outcomes for everyone in the ecosystem. ”