Jo Abernathy

Jo Abernathy joined Catalyst’s advisory board in 2024. Abernathy brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in technology, including a distinguished tenure as Chief Information Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).

At BCBSNC, Abernathy was responsible for technology strategy and operations, leading an IT team of 900 full-time employees and 800 contractors. She managed a $320 million operating budget and spearheaded initiatives that enhanced productivity through AI, improved customer experience, and advanced health outcomes through predictive analytics. Under her leadership, she transformed BCBSNC's infrastructure, established a hybrid cloud environment, and created an Innovation Garage for rapid prototyping. Her IT organization was named ComputerWorld's 100 Best Places to Work in IT for eight consecutive years, reaching the #1 spot among large companies in 2023. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she has contributed to industry publications and has spoken at technology events. She has served on multiple boards, including the North Carolina Governor's IT Strategy Board and SustainableIT.org, and has been an advisor to the NC Tech Association and Blue Venture Fund.

In her role at Catalyst Solutions, Jo will focus on leveraging her expertise to enhance Catalyst's digital capabilities and foster a culture of technology enabled continuous improvement and excellence.

She has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics & Industrial Relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.