Mike Swearingen is Managing Director of Blackbriar LLC International Consulting Services. Mikes broad background in healthcare combines 30 years of management experience with increasing responsibilities at Eli Lilly and Company and Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Care Companies. Mike's leadership and analytical abilities have been demonstrated in strategic thinking across international healthcare advocacy, policy, and KOL identification and categorization. He has worked with KOLs, professional medical associations, grass roots organizations, elected officials, and government agencies to create enduring initiatives, such as diabetes awareness days, numerous national and international medical education conferences, advisory board meetings, state and federal advocacy training workshops, and national sales and management meetings. His global experience includes North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. In the US, Michael has catalyzed the passage of several state legislative measures to improve healthcare outcomes. He was instrumental in the passage of a state licensure requirement for diabetes educators in Kentucky and Indiana. Michael has been recognized as an honorary physician assistant in Indiana, and in 2014, Diabetes Care and Education (DCE), a practice group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, gave him the national DCE Champion Award.

Currently he is Vice Chairman of the board of directors for T-1 Today Inc. (d/b/a Children with Diabetes), and on the board of directors for the national Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition.

To contact Mike: Mike@blackbriar-llc.com

Sylvia Lion, from Paris France, graduated from the Pharmacy faculty of Nancy, France and a 3^rd cycle of the Business School, Institut Superieur de Gestion in Paris.  Sylvia’s background is in healthcare industry where she held several management  positions in marketing and corporate affairs and external relations.  Her experience covered OTC companies ( Aspro Nicholas), medical devices( Becton Dickinson, Johnson and Johnson), to prescription medications (Servier, Zyma/Novartis, and Eli Lilly), both at national and international levels.

The European focus extends to Asia, Middle East and Africa. Sylvia has served on the board of EURADIA, an alliance of NGOs and Private entities to promote Diabetes research to the EU Commission and as Vice President of SWEET, a pediatric group to improve quality of care in Children. While evolving in her professional positions, Sylvia co founded with a group of thought leaders the Diabetes Education Study Group of EASD, a pilot group in patient education. Co- author of articles around this subject, she gave conferences and organized workshops to educate and promote the concept. She is member of number of professional and patient organizations including  the European Association on the Study of Diabetes, the American Diabetes Association, and the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes

Her contribution to corporate liaison boards, International Diabetes Federation (IDF), International Diabetes Federation Europe( IDF Europe),  European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), Primary Care Diabetes Europe(PCDE), International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes, EURADIA, SWEET, Foundation of European Nurses in Diabetes ( FEND) and EASD study groups as well as Life for a Child, Insulin for Life.

Sylvia has received awards and medals from IDF and IDF Europe, and the EASD Albert Renold Medal for distinguished services.

Today Sylvia continues to support several NGO’s and her main focus is Strategic planning, Project management, Thought Leaders management, Advocacy, Education and events.

To contact Sylvia: sylion20@gmail.com

Larry K. Ellingson of Fountain Hills, Arizona, holds a BS in Pharmacy from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo, North Dakota, and an Executive MBA from Babson College in Babson Park, Massachusetts. Larry retired from Eli Lilly and Company in May 2001 after serving as leader of global diabetes for Lilly for more than half of his career. He held several other positions at Lilly including Director of Pharmaceutical New Product Planning for gastrointestinal, skeletal, endocrine, infectious diseases, and any additional marketed products in those areas in the late 1980’s.

Larry continues to remain active with committee work and board positions for a multitude of organizations. Among them are NDSU, Research Park, International Diabetes Federation, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Nurse Practitioners Healthcare Foundation, and the American Diabetes Association. His contributions to the Association have been abundant, far-reaching, and have spanned more than 20 years. Within the Association, Larry has been a member of the Industry Advisory, Strategic Marketing Task Force, Strategic Planning Task Force, Big Ticket Task Force, Pinnacle Society, and most recently, the Income Development Committee. He has been Chair/Vice Chair for an equally extensive list of bodies within the Association including the Board of Directors, Fundraising Committee, Executive Committee, and Nominating Committee. He has unquestionably been a positive force and integral to mission delivery.

Larry has been honored several times for achievements in his field. He was honored by being the first and only non–scientist to receive Eli Lilly’s President’s Award and the Lilly Research Award for contributions to diabetes research. In 2001, Eli Lilly created the Ellingson Legacy Award to honor those who provide outstanding service to the customer and Ellingson, himself, was the first recipient. NDSU awarded him the highest honor in 2007, naming him An Outstanding Alumni of the Year for his contributions to the field and to the university. The American Diabetes Association’s Indiana market office presented him with the J.K. Lilly award for his contributions and service in the cause to Stop Diabetes® in 2004, and the home office bestowed Larry with the Charles H. Best Medal for Outstanding Service for his exceptional contributions as Chair of the Board in 2006. Larry most recently received the Wendell Mayes Jr. Award for his extensive service to diabetes advocacy in November, 2013.

To contact Larry: larryellingson@gmail.com