San Diego-based American Specialty Health, which administers company health benefits, has opened an office in Southlake for an expansion and for backup in case an emergency affects its Southern California operations.
"Our new location will afford us more opportunities to grow and better serve our customers," said George DeVries, the company's chairman and CEO.The company has leased 50,000 square feet at Texas 114 and Carroll Avenue. The office opened Monday with more than 25 employees. About a dozen were hired locally, and the rest transferred from San Diego, DeVries said.DeVries said the company plans to have 100 employees by the end of the year and 200 by the end of 2013. Positions range from customer service representatives and claims processors to systems programmers and health coaches. The job openings are listed on the company's website."We're taking it one step at a time," DeVries said.The office is headed by Kirk Hartman, associate vice president. North Texas was selected because of its central U.S. location and because the Texas business environment is appealing, DeVries said. He also said he considered Dallas-Fort Worth after his daughter started attending Southern Methodist University a few years ago.American Specialty Health provides healthcare management programs, fitness and exercise programs, and total population health and prevention/wellness programs for health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds.The company works with about 120 health plans nationwide, DeVries said. It has 900 employees in San Diego and serves nearly 30 million members. Its subsidiaries include American Specialty Health Insurance Co., American Specialty Health Group and Healthyroads.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727Twitter: @SandraBakerFWSTHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
