75th Birthday Video

Thank you for celebrating with us.

We’re 75 this year! And we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than to make this party all about you. You’re the reason we’re still here today, working on our mission to provide the best value in health insurance and improve the quality of life for Arizonans.

Throughout 2014, we’ll be highlighting different decades in Arizona and what these times in history meant for you, for us, and for our state. Check back regularly as we add more fun facts, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter to participate in some Arizona trivia games or post a birthday wish!

Rich Boals

A special message from our CEO, Rich Boals

It's a big year for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. We're taking 12 months to celebrate our first 75 years, reflecting on the successes and challenges that have created our story over three quarters of a century.

We have been part of the Arizona fabric since 1939. During those years, we saw the Great Depression, World War II, manned space travel, the Beatles, the civil rights movement, the World Wide Web – and so much more. However, by working together, staying true to our customers and our core beliefs, we have continued to be a successful and vibrant organization.

But we couldn’t have 75 successful years without you!

I would like to say ‘Thank You’ to all the Arizonans and local businesses which have supported BCBSAZ over the years. That support has been important to us and our local communities.

Our commitment has always been, and will continue to be, the same - to improve the lives and health of our members, as well as all Arizonans. That is why we care about the relationships formed with customers and why we want each of you to feel you’re part of our family.

Thank you to our employees

Throughout the past 75 years, our employees have played a critical role in BCBSAZ’s long history of providing the best value in health insurance. I offer my respect and gratitude to those who have ceaselessly continued their efforts to better our organization.

Please join us

Please join us all year throughout Arizona in celebrating this historic milestone. During this time, you will be able to learn more about our history in Arizona and, more important, to get a glimpse of our future.

Thank you,

Richard Boals

President and Chief Executive Officer

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Helen Siordian and Diana Seymour

Meet some of our longest-standing employees

Over the past 75 years, our BCBSAZ family has grown tremendously – from 94 employees in the 1960s to more than 1,300 today. Our staff spans the state, operating in Flagstaff, Tucson, Chandler and Phoenix.

We’ve worked hard to be a great place to work and more than 11 percent of our employees have remained with us for at least 25 years. Our staff is passionate about what they do and who they serve. They are BCBSAZ.  Meet some of our longest-standing employees:

Helen Siordian, Executive Administrative Assistant – 39 years

Helen was 19 years old when she started working at BCBSAZ in cost accounting.  At the time, the Arizona native received two job offers in the same week. Not sure what to do, “I asked my mother for her advice,” Helen says. “(My mother) said, ‘Healthcare is the future; you will need it down the road.’ So I took the BCBSAZ job.” She recalls the small department consisting of five people—and a man named Rich Boals, her manager. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Rich Boals later became the current CEO of BCBSAZ.  Over the years, Helen says many of her colleagues became like family to her. “When people are hired at BCBSAZ, they stay for a long time,” she says. “I still enjoy coming into work every day and the variety each day brings.”

Diana Seymour, Business Analyst Lead – 32 years

When Diana first moved to Phoenix from Texas, she recalls driving past the BCBSAZ office one day with her mom. “(My mom) told me that BCBSAZ is the place where I needed to work, that she knew it was a great company,” Diana says. After several years living in Phoenix, Diana finally applied and scored a job here in the Claims Division. Over the 32 years she’s worked at BCBSAZ, she says she grew fond of the team environment, the support from her management, and the opportunities to learn and grow professionally. “BCBSAZ values us (the employees) and it shows,” she says. “I can say that BCBSAZ has been and continues to be a great place to work.”


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Arizona shout-outs!

Want to wish a friend or family member at BCBSAZ a happy 75th birthday?

Want to give us a shout-out, or share a special memory?

Send your story or birthday wish to [email protected], and we may post it below. Make sure to include your full name, phone number, e-mail, whether you’re a BCBSAZ member, and permission for us to post your comment on our website or social media.* In the meantime, read what others are saying:

“Happy Birthday to our friends at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona! For being Chamber members since 1946 and helping keep Arizonans healthy since 1939, we salute and thank you!”

–Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce

“Local First Arizona has partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona for many, many years. Our birthday wish is that every family in Arizona could receive the kind of care and support that we have experienced from the wonderful folks at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.”

–Local First Arizona

"Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona wishes BCBSAZ a very happy 75th! From one mature organization to another, we commend you for championing corporate initiatives that have a tremendous impact on our communities."

–Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona


*We reserve the right to edit your submission for grammar, inappropriate content, personal health information, accuracy, and to assure compliance with any applicable legal requirements and BCBS Association licensing requirements.

 
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