Blues leader named among Metro Detroit’s 10 most powerful women in business
The new issue of dbusiness, a Detroit business journal, has named Sue Barkell as one of Metro Detroit’s 10 most powerful women in business. Barkell is the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan senior vice president of Health Care Value and is responsible for many of the company’s health care provider service areas, after assuming new duties earlier this year.

Barkell launched her career in health care provider relations at the Michigan Osteopathic Association and then moved to the Blues in 1996. Her current role includes overseeing BCBSM’s hospital and facility contracting, utilization management, provider relations, reimbursement and pharmacy areas.

Readers of dbusiness selected Barkell for the magazine’s honor. They were asked to nominate female business leaders in the five-county metro region who they felt were "moving their respective companies, industries and communities forward," according to the magazine’s July-August issue.

Other honorees included Nancy Schlichting, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health System; Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Michigan; Marian Ilitch, vice chairwoman, Ilitch Holdings; and Florine Mark, chairman, CEO and president, the Weight Watchers Group Inc.

The article noted Barkell’s “recipe for success centers on collaboration” and quotes her as saying, “Our principles of operation include a broad provider network that works collaboratively to provide input as we develop programs and policies. This ultimately allows us to develop better products and have more satisfied providers. In turn, customers experience better outcomes.”

In response to the article, Barkell said, "I'm humbled by the recognition and am proud to be a part of an organization that has provided me with such tremendous opportunity."