Board of Directors
Richard Allen, RPh
Chief Executive Officer/President
Rick Allen has served Paragon Healthcare, Inc. as President, CEO, & Chairman of the Board since its inception in September 2002 as Paragon Infusion Care Inc. Prior to forming Paragon he served as vice president of Infusion Operations for Park Pharmacy Corporation’s offices in Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston until February 2002. He also founded and served as clinical infusion director for DHI, a home infusion company in Dallas, Texas. Rick is past pharmacy director of Option Care, a nationally based home infusion company and previous owner/CEO of North Star Pharmacy, Inc. Rick received his degree in pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and has over forty years experience in retail and home infusion pharmacy. He is a national speaker on oncology, pain management, multiple therapies and computer generated care plans/interventions. He has served as an Advisory faculty member for Amgen, a global biotechnology company. Rick also served as founding director of Texas Heritage Savings & Loan, Rowlett, Texas; director of First Federal Savings Bank, Denton, Texas; and director of Jefferson Heritage Bank, St. Louis, Missouri. He also served on the board of directors of Park Pharmacy Corporation until July, 2002. He currently serves as an executive director of Premier Bancshares, Inc., on the board of directors of Synergy Bank, Garland, Texas, and on the Board of Advisors for NICA (National Infusion Center Association).
Rick is active in the Dallas community and has been involved with a number of philanthropic organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Family Compass (Child Abuse Prevention Center), Community Hospices, and currently serves on Executive Leadership Committee for the American Heart Association.
Joe Brayton, CPA, CMA, CISA
Chief Strategy Officer/Executive Vice President
Joe Brayton has spent over 30 years as a Senior Executive in various industries. He has served as Chief Financial Officer and Director for Paragon Healthcare, Inc. or its predecessor Paragon Infusion Care, Inc. since September 2002. Joe also serves as Manager and Chief Financial Officer for various subsidiaries of Paragon Healthcare, Inc.
Prior to joining Paragon, Joe served as Chief Operating Officer for Rx-Pro.Com, Inc. and Chief Technology Officer for Park Pharmacy Corporation from April 2000 through September 2002. He also served as Acting CFO for Park Pharmacy from January through May 2002. From 1999 until joining Rx-Pro, He served as a consultant to Rx-Pro.Com, Inc. and was instrumental in the development of the company’s Internet-based healthcare systems. From 1995 to 1999, Joe served as Senior Vice President of technology for jASCorp, a pharmacy software company. From 1982 to 1995, Joe was founder and CEO of Flagship Technology, Inc., a technology and consulting company which developed and supported accounting, point-of-sale and inventory control systems for various industries.
Joe Brayton holds a BBA in accounting and computer science from the University of Texas – Dallas. Joe has also earned accreditation as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Information Systems Auditor. He is active in the community and has served on several non-profit Boards. He currently lives in Southlake, Texas with his wife Patti.
Keith Rusk
Board of Directors
Keith Rusk has served on the Board of Directors for Paragon Healthcare since its inception as well as Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Rusk also served as a managing member for all subsidiaries of PHI.
Prior to Paragon Healthcare, Keith was involved in the document management industry starting with Uarco Inc. (Chicago) then moved to the private sector management team at DDI Inc. (Omaha) where they successfully sold to Corporate Express (Broomfield). After ten years of double digit growth, CEXP had contracted relationships with 90% of the Fortune 500.
Staples Inc. (Boston) tendered an offer for all CEXP operations in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and upon merger Rusk assumed duties for Staples North America as Director of Sales for Southern Region.
Keith is a graduate of The University of Texas (Austin) in Political Science/Business. He has been involved in a number of philanthropic organizations as well as community service serving as President of McKinney Park Board and Chairman of the Collin County Open Space Board. Keith is a Dallas native and currently lives there with his wife Dana. They have three grown children and are enjoying their new grandchildren.
Joe Williams
Board of Directors, Corporate Secretary
Joe L. Williams serves as a member of the Board of Directors, and Audit Committee Chairman of the Company. Williams has served in the banking industry for 38 years recently retiring as President and Chief Executive Officer of Synergy Bank and Premier Bancshares, Inc. Williams incorporated Premier in October 2002 after serving for six years with Jefferson Heritage Bank as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Williams continues to serve on the Board of Directors of Premier Bancshares, Inc. and Synergy Bank as well as several other non-banking companies.
Williams, a native of Mineola, TX, graduated from the University of North Texas in 1973 with post graduate work at The University of Houston, The University of Texas, Texas Tech University, and the University of Massachusetts.
Bruce McAnally, RPh
Board of Directors
Bruce McAnally has served as a director of Paragon HealthCare, Inc since its formation, McAnally also owns and operates a small chain of retail pharmacies in North Texas that he began in 1980, and for which he currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. From 1992 through 1998, McAnally served on the board of directors of Legends Pharmacies Southwest, and during this period, served a term as Interim Executive Director. McAnally has served two terms as Secretary/Treasurer to the Texas Pharmacy Association and has also served as the former Chair of the Texas Academy of Independent Pharmacies. McAnally currently serves on the Board of Directors of Premier Bancshares, Inc., a Texas bank holding company, and is Chair of its subsidiary, Synergy Bank. McAnally is a native of Bonham, Texas, and was a 1977 Honor Graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University School of Pharmacy. He currently lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Tina, and they have three grown children and two grandchildren.
Bryan Sandlin
Board of Directors
Bryan Sandlin has served as a member of the Board since its formation. In addition he serves as Chairman of the Asset Quality Committee. He is also involved in the company’s HOPE Program.
Sandlin served in the Real Estate Banking industry for over 20 years and most recently served as the Chief Lending Officer for Synergy Bank and Premier Bancshares, Inc. While at Synergy and previous employer, Sandlin managed a real estate lending department, which originated and serviced over $300 million in annual production throughout 7 states. Sandlin continues to serve on the Board of Directors of Premier and Synergy.
Sandlin is a native of Dallas, TX and currently resides in Rockwall, TX with his wife Melissa. They have 4 grown children. Sandlin is active in the community and has served in various non-profit and philanthropic organizations.
Senior Management
Chris Jones
Chief Sales Officer/Senior Vice President
Chris Jones was the first employee hired at Paragon and has held various roles within the organization including his current role as Chief Sales Officer.
Chris received his B.S. from Northwestern University. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Cornerstone Ranch, a 501c(3) organization in Dallas where they serve the needs of adults with special needs. Chris lives in Frisco, TX with his wife Jeffie and their three very active little boys.
Tony Finazzo
Chief Financial Officer/Senior Vice President
Tony Finazzo has over 10 years’ experience serving in accounting and finance roles with public and private companies. Prior to joining Paragon, Finazzo served as VP of Finance for a publicly traded healthcare company, Titanium Healthcare. Prior to that, Tony served in Corporate Controller roles for private and public companies Jani-King International, Inc. and Tandy Brands Accessories, Inc. Prior to Tandy Brands, Finazzo worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP for over five years, where he performed audits for numerous public and private companies.
Tony received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Masters in Finance from Texas A&M University, and has been a CPA since 2005. He currently resides in Carrollton with his wife Brandi and their two daughters.
Fred Shepard
Chief Administrative Officer/Senior Vice President
Fred Shepard has spent more than 25 years at all levels of finance and accounting for a variety of companies and industries. He has overseen restructurings and software implementations for multi-million dollar companies. Shepard joined Paragon in June of 2013. Prior to joining Paragon, Shepard served as Chief Financial Officer of Christiansen Davis Bullock LLC and Chief Financial Officer for ePartners Incorporated. While at ePartners, Shepard integrated several acquisitions, and finally facilitated the successful sale and integration of ePartners to Tribridge Holdings LLC. Shepard graduated from Stephen F Austin State University with a degree in Accounting. Shepard has sung with the Dallas Symphony Chorus, and is active in his church.
