Engaging With the Executive: Roc Via, Assistant Vice President for Jurisdiction B Durable Medical Equipment With CGS Administrators
Each issue of Communiqué will highlight an executive in one of our lines of business. We hope you will get to know the executives a little better, both professionally and personally.
This month, we introduce you to Roc Via. He is the assistant vice president for Jurisdiction B durable medical equipment with CGS® Administrators. He has been with the company for 26 years.
1. Tell us about your first job.
When I was a junior in high school, my folks asked me to get a summer job. My grandparents owned a hardware store and general contracting business in a neighboring town. My grandfather asked me to work for him during the summer. My thought was “Sweet! I get to work for my loving grandparents in the hardware store in an air-conditioned environment.” Well, I misinterpreted what they had in mind for me.
My first day of employment, my grandfather took me to a jobsite and explained the intricacies of carrying bricks to the bricklayers, all day long, in 90-degree temperatures. At the end of the week, my grandfather brought me my negligible paycheck, which I could barely accept, as my hands and arms were so sore that I could barely drive. His next questions were about my plans for college, with those plans becoming much firmer that summer.
Ironically, I voluntarily worked for my grandparents for the next several summers. I finally moved up to work in the hardware store. However, I did so while going to college. What a great lesson my grandfather taught me that first summer!
2. Describe some of your hobbies or interests outside of work.
I’ve always enjoyed doing things outside: hiking, kayaking and traveling to the national parks. When my daughter decided to attend Auburn University, my wife and I decided that we would become Auburn football fans. We are empty nesters and wanted to hang out in an environment with young, bright and ambitious folks. So, we have now completed our second season rooting for a mediocre football team. (I’m sure everyone in Columbia can relate.) We even broke down and bought a townhome in Auburn. Of course, my daughter refuses to live there, as that would save me money, but that’s another story that I don’t need to go into. I’m hoping that the upcoming football season will be better than the last two.
3. What’s your favorite food? If it’s from a restaurant, which one?
As a lot of us do, I’ve been more focused on a healthy diet now that I’m getting older. I particularly like the Mediterranean style of eating. If you’ve ever done any research on the blue zones, geographic locations where folks have an unusually long life span and high quality of life, the Mediterranean diet seems to be of benefit. The great thing about the Mediterranean diet is that it’s simple. It’s basically a lot of fresh vegetables, great fish, a bit of pasta and some awesome spices. I’ve been working on modifying the spices and coming up with great dishes.
4. What’s your favorite movie, and why?
“Top Gun 2: Maverick” has to be my favorite movie. Hardly ever is a sequel as good as the original. But “Top Gun 2” accomplished that difficult feat. The first time I watched it, there were several times I thought “Well, this is the ending.” Then followed more movie with suspense building. What a great ending to an enjoyable, action-packed movie!
5. What’s your favorite book, and why?
Growing up, I read a lot of Hemingway and would consider several of his books among my favorites. Hemingway’s development of characters in his novels was next level. You could feel the pains and struggles his characters were going through. The novels were set in exotic, unique settings, which was exciting for a kid growing up in rural, middle Tennessee. I still read a lot of fiction, but I now try to alternate between a self-help or leadership book and a fun-to-read novel.
6. Tell us about your favorite sports team.
You would think that, living in Nashville, I would like the Tennessee Titans, but they are horrible. With our only daughter at Auburn, we have jumped on the Auburn bandwagon. While sports have been up and down at Auburn, we’ve had a lot of fun. We got to storm the field last football season after beating the Texas A&M Aggies, a ranked Southeastern Conference team. We’ve also had a blast following men’s basketball the last couple of years.
7. Describe one or more of your pet peeves.
One of my pet peeves is not being plugged in. While we all have times when we need to and should multitask, there are times when all parties need to be plugged in and working on a solution. In most meetings, I encourage folks to be on camera. This is a simple way to figure out if someone is plugged in.
8. Based on your experience, what are three keys to success for employees early in their careers?
- Show up. While it sounds simple, the first thing folks need to do is to show up for the job or task and be ready to go. If you can’t be relied upon to be present, you can’t be relied upon to do the important work.
- Be hungry. Some folks have a natural appetite to learn and get things done. When presented with a problem or objective, the person figures out (versus being told) what needs to be done, and they execute the solution. That appetite is the definition of “being hungry.”
- Learn and grow. If you are early in your career, look for opportunities and roles that grow your knowledge base. Once you have a solid understanding of that area, move on to the next area or set of skills. After a few years, you will have a much better understanding of how the business works, you will be attractive to future bosses due to your level of knowledge, and you will have the skills necessary to continue to move up in the organization.
9. Whom do you admire most, and why?
As we progress through life, the ones we admire and the reasons we admire them change as our knowledge of what it takes to succeed develops. My mom was always the sanity and the glue in our family. She was also the fun one in the household while still being the one making sure that we all kept moving forward and in the right direction. My dad was always the breadwinner and the one engaging my brother and me in sports and all kinds of other activities.
While all families have their issues, all in all, my family was great. But one thing I’ve learned as I’ve aged and raised a daughter is that mental health is something that should never be overlooked for anyone at any age. I’ve seen good friends go down dark paths, some of whom were never able to get back on the right one. Both of my parents had parents who suffered from some degree of mental health issues. It’s easy for those traits to be passed down and affect later generations. My parents, both for their separate reasons, spent more time with my brother and me discussing and focusing on good mental health than most families. As a kid, I understood coping techniques, mindful practices, benefit of diet and exercise, and many of the things we regularly discuss now regarding mental health. These early learnings have served me well. And for those reasons, it’s a tie for most admired.
10. Tell us about your greatest achievement.
Marrying my wife and raising a great daughter has truly been my greatest achievement. Keep in mind that their greatest achievement has been putting up with me. From a work perspective, my greatest achievement has been helping CGS grow and retain government contracts for more than two decades and counting. My goal has been to make sure that the wonderful folks who work there have the opportunity to work for CGS for many years to come.
Doing Good Works Day Successes!
On Saturday, April 26, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina employees opened their hearts, gave of their time and put on their work gloves during Doing Good Works Day. In an amazing display of kindness, more than 500 employees spent the day helping 39 local nonprofit organizations with service projects. This marks this year’s event as BlueCross’ largest service day yet.
Formerly known as Day of Service, this event was renamed to match the employee volunteer program called Doing Good Works. The goal of Doing Good Works Day is to empower employees to volunteer with new causes and to give back year-round through the Doing Good Works program.
In addition to in-person volunteer service, more than 100 employees volunteered remotely. Remote volunteer projects were a new opportunity this year. Remote volunteers wrote more than 100 letters to soldiers and veterans with Soldiers’ Angels, made lasagnas for neighbors in need with Lasagna Love, and knitted blankets for Children’s Cancer Partners.
Lori Hair, executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Corporate Finance was the leader of this year’s Doing Good Works Day. She said “Volunteerism is an important part of our culture at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. For five years, Doing Good Works Day has been a fun and exciting way to show our commitment to the communities where we work and live. Our employees show up year after year, ready to give back and make a difference. Thank you for giving your time to make our communities stronger.”
Employees donated their time to nonprofit groups in Columbia, Greenville, Florence and Charleston:
- Big Red Barn Retreat
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands
- Camp Cole
- Children’s Cancer Partners
- City Year Columbia
- Cola Town Bike Collective
- EdVenture Children’s Museum
- Epworth Children’s Home
- Fisher House Foundation
- FoodShare South Carolina
- Growing Home Southeast
- Habitat for Humanity
- Help4Kids (Florence)
- Historic Columbia
- Home Works of America
- Killingsworth Home
- Lasagna Love
- MIRCI
- Mission Lexington
- NAMI Mid-Carolina
- Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS)
- Palmetto Place
- Pawmetto Lifeline
- Public Education Partners (Greenville)
- Ronald McDonald House
- South Carolina Youth Advocate Program (Charleston)
- Sesquicentennial State Park
- Soldiers’ Angels
- Special Olympics South Carolina
- The Babcock Center
- The Cooperative Ministry
- The Free Medical Clinic
- The Hive Community Circle
- The Lourie Center/Senior Resources
- The Salvation Army
- Town Theatre
- Transitions Homeless Center
- Trustus Theatre
- USO South Carolina
Thank you to all who volunteered!
May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness*, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. Sadly, there has long been a stigma around mental health and treatment of it. While things are changing, many people still don’t seek help or even talk about things with loved ones for fear of being judged. If we get hurt, treatment helps us feel better. It is the same with mental health.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It began as a way to increase awareness of mental health and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. Today, it’s a celebration of mental health, but it’s also an opportunity for an open, honest discussion about it. It’s a chance to erase the stigma and understand that what’s bothering you might not be your fault. It’s about turning awareness into action in our lives.
Ways to take part in Mental Health Awareness Month include:
- Taking care of yourself. Life is full of ups and downs. When your mental health needs support, seek the right treatment and focus on getting better.
- Taking care of your loved ones. Check up on your friends and family. Sometimes, all people need is a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. Support and encourage them if they are being treated for any mental health concerns.
- Talking about mental health. Talk about mental health with your peers. The more you talk about it, the more normalized it will become. This is one of the aims of the month, as the stigma attached to mental health has led to countless delays in treatment and research on the matter.
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina employees and their household members have access to First Sun EAP*. This employee assistance program provides an array of resources to help manage well-being such as:
- Counseling.
- Crisis intervention support.
- Stress management support.
- Healthy living resources.
All mental health journeys are unique, but the strength found in them is universal. The 2025 theme for Mental Health Awareness Month, “In Every Story, There’s Strength,” highlights the resilience and diverse experiences that shape mental health journeys within our communities.
This is the time to turn struggle into strength. Break the silence. Build hope. Ignite change.
*These links lead to third-party websites. The National Alliance on Mental Illness and First Sun EAP are responsible for the content and privacy policies on their sites.
From the BlueCross Blog: Impact Story: Fisher House Foundation
Army veteran Particia Sherrod-Elliott lost her son in 2021 after a years-long battle with a rare genetic condition. Her story is a powerful example of why BlueCross proudly gives to the Fisher House Foundation. The Fisher House Foundation builds homes where military and veteran families can stay while a loved one is in the hospital.
Learn more about Fisher House Foundation and its Columbia location — the 94th Fisher house and one of the country’s newest, here!
Monthly Health: Back Care
Power Up Your Posture
Nothing can ruin your day like persistent back pain. A sore back can make it difficult to work, play and do household chores. Luckily, there are simple ways to prevent back problems before they start so you can continue to enjoy your normal activities.
Straighten Up
Our parents and teachers always said, “Straighten up; don’t slouch!” As it turns out, they were right. Good posture takes the stress off your back muscles. Keep your back straight and aim for a neutral pelvic position by lining up your pelvis and spine.
If you must stand for a long time, reduce the strain on your lower back by placing one foot on a low stool. Switch feet periodically.
Protect Your Back
We’ve all heard the advice, “Lift with your legs.” If you have to pick up something heavy, tap into the power of your strong leg muscles. Keep your back straight and bend at the knees. You should feel the burn in your legs. Ask for help with extremely heavy or awkward items. Don’t risk injuring your back!
Be Choosy About Your Chair
If you have an office job, you probably spend most of your day seated at your desk. Make yourself comfortable and protect your back by choosing a chair that supports your lower back. A small pillow or rolled towel can add comfort and help to maintain the normal curve of the small of your back. Switch positions at least every 30 minutes.
Don’t Carry Extra Pounds
There are many health benefits to keeping off extra pounds, including a healthy back. Added weight can strain your back muscles. As part of your exercise program, target the muscles around your trunk and pelvis that make up your core. A strong core can help prevent back problems and injuries and boost your balance and stability for improved athletic performance. Exercises such as planks will strengthen the muscles in your pelvis, abdomen, hips and lower back.
Getting “Back” to Normal
Back pain is a common complaint. It’s one of the top causes for doctor visits or missed work. The good news: It typically improves on its own within a few weeks. In the meantime, over-the-counter pain medications, a heating pad or an ice pack can help. However, you should contact your doctor if your back pain:
- Lasts longer than a few weeks.
- Is severe and doesn’t get better with rest.
- Causes pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Is accompanied by unexplained weight loss.
If no other symptoms are present, it’s usually not necessary to perform imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs or CT scans. Talk to your doctor about the best diagnostic option for you.
Support your back today. In turn, it will support you for years into the future.
