Tracy Watts / Mercer
Excellence in Healthcare
Looking back on her 30-year Mercer career, Tracy Watts says she is most proud of consistently delivering results to clients, and supporting the development of so many colleagues at Mercer and then seeing them excel. She's also proud of the role Mercer has played in the health policy arena specifically as it relates to efforts to repeal the Cadillac tax.
"I knew we were making a difference when a Senator quoted Mercer data to our CEO!," Watts says. "I'm also proud of our "U.S Health News" blog. We were among the first at Mercer to blog, and four years later, we are still blogging, proud of the growth in our subscribers, and using it to help us learn about what our clients are interested in."
Watts is a Mercer Senior Partner and is Mercer's U.S. Leader for Healthcare Reform. A consultant with Mercer for more than 30 years, Tracy specializes in health care cost management, assisting employers in the design, evaluation, and ongoing management of health and group benefit plans for active and retired employees.
In addition to blogging, Watts and her team just completed a white paper—Leading the Way: Employer Innovations in Health Coverage—in partnership with the American Benefits Council. "It came about because I was shocked to learn that lawmakers and staffers on Capitol Hill were unaware of employers' efforts to manage health care costs and the role they have played in health care innovation," she says. "We have been meeting with lawmakers and staffers to share the paper and findings and are pleased with their responses."
Ask her what she enjoys most about the consulting profession and she'll point to three things: "One, there is nothing better than getting a call and hearing 'we've decided to award our business to Mercer.' Two, when you can tell a client 'we've saved you X million dollars,' and three, but not least, when a colleague comes running into my office and says 'I figured it out!'," she says. "On those days, I definitely wrap up the day with a fist pump, a high five, and a woo-hoo!"
Watts says she's been fortunate to have had great mentors and great opportunities at Mercer. The biggest, and most challenging opportunity, was when she was asked to lead the firm's efforts in the area of U.S. Health Care Reform just before the ACA was passed. "I think this shows that Mercer's culture enables people like me to achieve success in such a high profile area," Watts says. "I am very driven. I always want to be my best and be on the best team. My entire life, my father always told me, 'Turn your A-game on.' "
Q&A: What does winning the Top 25 award mean to you, your firm and your clients?
Watts: "Everything we work on at Mercer is bigger than one person. I am privileged to work with great people. I joined the firm more than 31 years ago in a very entry-level position. I have had great opportunities and have worked hard to expand and grow from there. This award is a huge honor that I share with my colleagues. As far as our clients, it is as much about them as about us. But having said that, I do think they work with Mercer because they want to work with the best!"
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.