Rachelle Cunningham

Rachelle Cunningham is the Strategic Communications Manager for Regence BlueShield in Washington. With extensive experience in the health care and health insurance industries, Rachelle has a deep understanding of the complex issues and changing industry dynamics, and the skills to effectively communicate them through a variety of channels. Based in Seattle, she is the company’s primary point of contact for journalists with a Washington focus, as well as national media.

Previously, she was regional communications director for Aetna. In that role, she managed media relations, strategic communications and marketing communications for the company’s west region, which included Arizona, California, Texas and Washington. While at Aetna, and in other earlier positions with health plans and hospital providers, Rachelle was able to build enduring relationships with national journalists as well as reporters in many local markets across the country who continue to regard her as a trusted source.

Rachelle started her career as a newspaper reporter in Southern California, where she wrote for both the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register. She holds a bachelor’s degree in newspaper journalism from California State University, Long Beach. She is active with Wonderland Developmental Center in Seattle, which works with children with developmental delays from birth to age 3.

Rachelle is an accomplished guitarist and chef who attended the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. She is the proud yet exhausted mother of three sons ranging in age from 3 to 22 who help her keep her sense of humor and perspective on the important things in life. Follow her on Twitter at @RachelleC.