DMI has brought together a team with a variety of private sector and healthcare marketing, business, clinical and operational backgrounds. These individuals have been responsible for clinical and department operations, executive management, finance and business development. This experience provides us with the knowledge and understanding needed to assist clients in developing and implementing successful solutions.

We are widely recognized for our “hands on” expertise, and are featured regularly as faculty for many national organizations, including the American College of Healthcare Executives.



Ronald J. Schmidt is a Principal of DMI Transitions. Ron is an experienced healthcare executive with over twenty years of experience in operations management, long-range financial/strategic planning, business plan preparation and implementation. Ron is recognized for his expertise in cardiovascular, orthopedic and surgical services and has strong organizational, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

Prior to joining DMI, Ron served as Vice President for a national cardiac consulting firm, preparing strategic and operational business plans and overseeing the implementation of heart centers and cath labs. As Senior Director for Cardiovascular and Surgical Services at Parma Community General Hospital from 1996 to 2000, Ron wrote the business plan and helped implement a successful Cardiac Surgery / Heart Center project that opened in April 1999.

From 1990 to 1995 Ron was the administrator of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s (CCF) orthopedic service line. From 1984 to 1987, he was the Clinic’s financial manager for seven departments and fifty-eight cost centers. Ron managed the CCF - Admitting Department from 1987 to 1989. Ron also created the business plan for the Clinic’s first satellite operation and implemented the first phase of a strategic outreach program to capture orthopedic market share.

Ron earned an accounting degree from Kent State University and has completed the Executive Program for Practice Management for Health Care at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. Ron is a member of the American Academy of Medical Administrators, the American Academy of Cardiovascular Administrators, and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Mary C. Reed, M.B.A. is a Principal of DMI Transitions. Ms. Reed is recognized for her expertise in managed care, physician integration, strategic and business planning, and project management.

Mary’s background includes both the private and public sectors, spanning such fields as pharmaceutical marketing, banking, retail management, and healthcare. In the healthcare field, she has specialized in departmental turnarounds and clinical service line development. Clinical service lines in which Mary has extensive experience include Behavioral Health, Occupational Medicine, Cardiology, Vascular Medicine, Ambulatory Surgery and Oncology. As the first network director of managed care for a large Columbia Health System Network, she developed managed care contracting policies and procedures, directed all contracting activities, coordinated contracting with medical staffs and initiated managed care strategies including physician hospital arrangements and direct contracting.

Mary has extensive experience in developing clinical institutes, enterprise strategies, and joint ventures between health care providers to maximize market potential, to be responsive to payer trends, and to contribute to operational efficiencies. Mary has been involved in numerous large projects as the project manager, assuring project team members and tasks are coordinated and client deliverables are achieved.

Mary earned her undergraduate degree in English and Business from Ohio Dominican College in Columbus, Ohio, and her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Dayton. Mary is published in the field of Practice Operations and Managed Care and has been a speaker for such organizations as the Alliance for Healthcare Strategy and Marketing, Medical Group Management Association, Managed Care Congress, Employee Assistance Programs Association, and American Association of Health Care Plans.




Mary Ann Crawford, Ph.D., RN is a Principal of DMI Transitions. Mary Ann’s practice focuses on operations including implementing new clinical services (e.g., Heart Surgery), department turnarounds, providing management support and hands-on assistance to reduce costs. Her approach involves working with management and staff to evaluate functions; work redesign, improve quality and lower costs. She has managed projects in a variety of settings including hospitals, physician groups, urgent and ambulatory care centers and long-term care facilities.

Mary Ann’s insight into the working relationship between clinical and operational departments coupled with her leadership skills motivates staff to reach beyond their present paradigms to realize their full potential in achieving successful operations.

Prior to DMI Transitions, Mary Ann held positions as Senior Vice President/COO of Timken Mercy Medical Center and Vice President, Clinical Services at Akron General Medical Center, both 500-bed teaching hospitals. She has 30 years experience in the healthcare field and has managed both nursing and clinical service areas. Mary Ann is recognized for her expertise in work redesign and gain sharing, she has taught and published in the labor relations area. She is a former faculty member of the University of Akron College of Nursing and has taught at the Northeastern Ohio University's College of Medicine.

Mary Ann holds two degrees in nursing, a Bachelors degree from St. John College and a Masters degree from Kent State University. She has a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Kent State University.

Ray Kolar is Vice President of DMI. Ray has over 25 years experience in the healthcare industry serving as a consultant and educator for medical clinicians and management. Ray is recognized for his expertise in disease states, pharmaceuticals, recruiting and training of medical teams, as well as having strong organizational and presentation skills. Ray has managed physician relationship initiatives across the country. In addition he has assisted numerous health systems develop retail medical clinics.

Prior to joining DMI, Ray served as a Business Development Manager overseeing Operations for a marketing firm. Utilizing skills from his previous healthcare industry experience, Ray helped corporations find solutions to better enhance image, exposure and overall acceptance.

Ray served as Senior Pharmaceutical Manager from 1977 to 1997 for Roche Laboratories of Nutley, New Jersey. While there, Ray was recognized as a President Achievement performer for his impact and relationship building with over 200 physicians and hospitals in the Midwest, working with HMO’s, nursing homes, hospital continuing education departments, as well as establishing Roche Clinical Lab Service in Ohio.

Ray served as a member of the PMA National Speaker’s Bureau and is a faculty speaker for healthcare organizations such as the Ohio Hospital Association, the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Ray earned a marketing degree from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.