Mario Franco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 Follow Mario Franco on Twitter @MFranco1029

Mario Franco, PMP, CDFM, COR, FM, is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for The Center for Health Affairs and its subsidiaries CHAMPS Group Purchasing and The Essentials Group.

In this role, Franco is responsible for the overall operational platform for the organization which includes managing the internal and external functions of the corporations that comprise The Center for Health Affairs, working to safeguard the organization’s assets, and ensuring organization’s efforts are aligned with the current strategic plan and goals. Franco helps the organization achieve operational success by serving on the CHA board, the investment committee, as well as the budget and finance committee. He also serves on the Esperanza board.

Franco brings more than 20 years of experience in operational efficiencies, analyzing financial data and driving effective organizational leadership toward a common cause or direction. His background includes organizational leadership, operations, financial management, leadership development, program management, procurement and acquisition, legal – contract reviews, cash management, curriculum development and public speaking. He has extensive experience in program management initiatives, both in the United States and other countries. These economic restructuring and educational platform initiatives have accounted for more than $50 billion dollars. Prior to his current role at The Center, Franco served as a commanding officer, executive officer, legal administrator, controller, budget officer, finance officer, training officer, program manager and as an operations officer.

Franco received his undergraduate degree from Cal State San Marcos and graduate degree(s) from National University. He is an alumni of Stanford University Graduate School of Business (Executive Education) with certification in Corporate Innovation and has a Leading with Finance certificate from Harvard Business School, a Certificate of Accountancy from National University, and a Project Management and Contracting certificate from Defense Acquisition University. He is currently a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, American Society of Military Comptrollers, Healthcare Financial Management Association, Disabled American Veterans Charity and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He has spoken at numerous professional venues, both stateside and foreign, on a variety of different topics ranging from organizational leadership, operational efficiencies, financial accountability, appropriated dollars, joint service agreements, team building efforts, fiscal law and effective leadership. He also served 20 years as an active duty United States Marine.

Franco’s areas of expertise and speaking topics include:

• Business Operations Efficiencies 
• Organizational Leadership
• Finance & Accounting
• Program Management
• Strategic Planning
• Contracting
• Fiscal Law
• Team Building

For more information or to contact Mario Franco, please call 800.362.2628 or contact us.