January 13, 2009 01:00 PM Eastern Time 

James Epolito Named Delta Dental of Michigan President

OKEMOS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--James C. Epolito will become president of Delta Dental of Michigan in early April. He is currently serving as president and chief executive officer of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

“Jim’s extensive background in health care, insurance and government make him an ideal choice for this important leadership position,” said Dr. Thomas J. Fleszar, CEO of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. “We are delighted he has agreed to join our enterprise.”

In addition to serving as Delta Dental of Michigan president, Epolito, of East Lansing, also will hold key leadership posts within Delta Dental’s parent corporation, including executive vice president of enterprise sales nationwide.

Epolito has been with MEDC, the state’s lead economic development agency, since 2005. In that capacity, he has been responsible for implementing the governor’s economic development plan for Michigan.

Prior to joining MEDC, Epolito was president and CEO of Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America and senior vice president of subsidiary operations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

A well-known community leader, Epolito received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University in 1998, the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Foundation in 2005, and the Community Service Award from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2006.

Delta Dental of Michigan, with its affiliates in Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, and Indiana is one of the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2008, the enterprise will pay nearly $2 billion for dental care for more than 7.6 million enrollees. Offices are located in Okemos and Farmington Hills, Mich.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Lisle, Ill.; Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis, Tenn.; and Indianapolis and Greenwood, Ind.