Her Story
About Melissa "Missy"
Missy is a passionate, trusted, and innovative leader in Medicare Advantage growth and product with over 27-years’ experience setting and exceeding sales goals, strengthening product performance with strategic market-driven approaches, successful recruitment & retention efforts, and building and preserving integral relationships with community and distribution leaders. Missy prides herself on her eagerness to help others while delivering exceptional outcomes and focusing on the communities she serves.
Missy proudly joined Peak Health as Director of Medicare in April 2024, leading its Medicare Advantage Plan based in Morgantown, West Virgina. Her current responsibilities include growth, which has already increased by ~300%, and retention around Peak’s Medicare Advantage Portfolio of Products to help West Virginians and Pennsylvanians live healthier and fuller lives. Missy has achieved results by building an effective sales & operational team and recently service team, to tackle each day with decisive nature, operations expertise and a member and community focus.
Previously, Missy worked at UnitedHealthcare for 20 years where she led Medicare Advantage growth in different roles during her tenure there earning recognition for her efforts as MVP and Eagle’s Club recipient. Missy also managed Medicare Advantage Sales & Outreach at Gateway Health Plan, now Highmark Wholecare, along with a stint as the Executive Director of Sales at Aetna.
Missy’s work has also been recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance with the Reaching Out Award along with the Women of Integrity Award by Pittsburgh Women’s Business Association.
Missy is a graduate of the Bradford School of Business with honors and holds a certificate in Social Work from Pitt University. Missy is also active in her community and currently sits on the boards at Veteran Angels as President & Foster Grandparents of SWPA, where she was acknowledged with the “Good Neighbor” award.
Missy is happily married to her husband, Blaize, and has 4 rescue doggie kiddos which are truly the love & heart of the Bazzo family household.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melissa "Missy"
01What do you attribute your success to?
I have to say it's both a mix of my mom and dad. I was an only child, and even though they were there for me, I had to be as independent on my own as possible. I pride myself on being an independent person, and I'd have to say most of it is because my parents had trust in me. My father was always an influence from both work and personal, I have a lot of his traits for accomplishments, but also just a big heart with many things. And then my mom as well, she's an independent woman, and she's great at work success as well, but she can sometimes be a little forward, which is okay. The independence and determination from both of them, my father's drive for accomplishments and big heart, and my mom's independence and strength. I have callout 4 solid professional mentors that have had and still do have a strong impact. Not to mention names, but 3 are from my career path at UnitedHealthcare and my current leader at PeakHealth - I Thank You all! Lastly, my husband Blaize. He helps me looks at things in a different lense and has helped me to look at all angles and just go out and make an impact - biggest cheerleader!
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to be true to yourself, and to take any feedback that you don't feel is positive and turn it into a positive growth step. I take pride in what I do each day, and you have to ensure that when someone gives you feedback, you listen to it and value the time they took to share it with you. They just want you to be as successful as you want to be. It's not to put you down, it's to make you grow so you can take it to that next level. So even when feedback feels negative, I've learned to see it as an opportunity for growth rather than criticism.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't doubt yourself. Look at what you want to do and don't second-guess yourself - I've done that before, and still sometimes do it now. Find what your passion is, and don't follow in other people's footsteps. If you feel that you have an idea, execute on it, because it could really make a difference. Even a silly, small idea can really become bigger than what you think. Put yourself in other people's shoes, because one day you may be there. My advice is to find out what your differentiator is that makes you stand out, can help out and execute on it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
This is a hard one. As every challenge I don't really consider a challenge but a way to fix, learn and make an impact. The Medicare industry changes every year, and you always need to be ready for what is coming either in that moment or for the future.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Trust is the big part in everybody's circle, right? Trust and integrity. And passion. I have to say that those are my first three words, and that would be for both personal and work. But then also, too, team. I think that following those four words each day for both personal and work just makes it a successful day each day. Trust, integrity, passion, and team - these values guide everything I do, whether I'm at work or in my personal life, and they're what I believe make the difference between just getting through the day and having a truly successful day.
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