In 2019, Oscar Montes was asked to lead Magellan Federal, an organization focused on the mental health, well-being and resilience of the nation’s military service members and families.
In 2020, within days of installation closures because of COVID-19, Magellan Federal continued performing its critical services by deploying the right infrastructure and training to its counselors, allowing them to perform their high-touch services remotely.
“This was a huge win for our country’s fighting forces, who have been hit particularly hard by the stresses of COVID-19,” Montes said. “Our swift and successful move to a telecounseling model is a testament to the dedication of our talented team.”
In the past 12 months, Magellan Federal has accelerated its transition to processes and technologies that match customers’ changing needs and expectations.
“We’ve set up virtual summer camps for military kids, added new family programs to help married service members and new parents and brought home new Employee Assistance Program contracts supporting Defense Department civil servants,” Montes said.
It helps that his team is composed of individuals with tremendous empathy for and affiliation with the nation’s armed forces.
“We’ve partnered with veteran and military spouse employment organizations for years to shape our team into what it is today,” Montes added.
Why Watch
Customers will remain Magellan Federal’s main focus, and Montes and his team will continue to adapt solutions to their evolving needs. This year, he’s seen a rising demand for resilience training, coaching and nonmedical counseling among those the company serves.
“Our Innovations Lab is keeping our team at the forefront of these trends through continuous evolution of our products and methods,” Montes explained. “It’s vitally important to engage service members and others in high-stress occupations early, well before the pressures they face manifest themselves as conditions requiring clinical interventions. I believe this is where we can do the most good for our government clients.”
Read the rest of the “Top 30 Public Sector Leaders to Watch in 2020” list here.