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2015 Women to Watch: Mary Beth Sanford

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2015 Women to Watch: Mary Beth Sanford

Mary Beth Sanford

Managing director and senior vice president

Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc.

Dublin, Ohio

Age: 52

A background in gymnastics gave Mary Beth Sanford the determination to become one of the leading executives at Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc.

As a managing director and senior vice president, Ms. Sanford, who works in Sedgwick's Dublin, Ohio, office, oversees the third-party administrator's Ohio workers compensation claims handling business and helped lead the creation of Sedgwick's national bill review operations. She is responsible for about $150 million in account revenue — about $100 million of which comes from bill reviews — and her areas of oversight include about 700 Sedgwick employees.

As a former competitive gymnast and gymnastics coach, Ms. Sanford said she developed the strength and focus needed to become a successful leader in Sedgwick. “You really learn a lot of self-discipline, hard work and focus,” said Ms. Sanford, who also credits her parents with teaching her to have a positive attitude and strong work ethic.

Ms. Sanford helped implement policies that she believes have helped support Sedgwick's largely female workforce in its Dublin office. That includes allowing employees to work from home at times, installing lactation rooms at the office for nursing mothers, and promoting mentorship programs that help all Sedgwick employees who aspire to leadership roles within the company.

“I've seen a lot of the women, and men as well, come into the organization,” she said. “Watching them progress and take advantage of these opportunities and get promoted has been really gratifying.”

Stephanie McCloud, Dublin-based senior vice president and government and industry relations counsel for Sedgwick, said Ms. Sanford has business acumen, political know-how and a high degree of emotional intelligence.

“Mary Beth is one of the smartest, quickest, savviest people I know,” said Ms. McCloud, who has worked with Ms. Sanford for eight years.

While Ms. Sanford said she takes pride in growing Sedgwick's business, she said she especially enjoys mentoring junior staff members and helping them grow within the company. She hopes her guidance will create a tradition of leadership within the company.

“Our job is to accomplish things while we're here, but then leave a legacy of people who can do that after we're gone,” Ms. Sanford said.

Ms. Sanford said she sees herself in the future as an “awesome grandma” who will still be working with Sedgwick for the long term. “I really love what I do,” she said. “I want to keep doing it.”


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