25 Years

Team Reflections

John VerMeulen (Co-Founder)

What made Optisave “Great” was our Modest Beginning “The Early Years” that created a “Winning Business Strategy and Team”!



• Evan Katzman & Dirk Vermeulen developed the business model when they worked together at Arbros, a start-up telecommunications company, and they put their ideas into action.
• Our first office was in the basement on Lake Drive in Grand Rapids, MI, outfitted with modular furniture from Kentwood Office Supply. Evan worked from home in Chantilly, VA.
• Kim Kordecki was our first employee who worked in the basement with Dirk and John. Jay was one of our next additions.
• Later came Jerry Sanscrainte, a Microsoft expert who was a referral from BSI which broadened our service offering.
• Our second office was on Monroe Street in downtown Grand Rapids, which was sublet from BDO, one of our first referral partners. Our neighbor was Founders Brewery, another startup.
• Our first client, Universal Forest Products, helped prove our business model. We saved them over $1M and were introduced to both BDO & BSI as a result.
• One of our other early clients, Perrigo, a referral from BDO, is still an active client today.

Evan Katzman (Co-Founder)

While working at Arbros Communications, we realized that many Health System IT and financial decision makers were not equipped with the mindset and benchmarking knowledge to effectively purchase IT services. They often focused solely on price, versus utilization and value, substantially influenced by vendor salespeople. Seldom did they come to the negotiation table prepared with pertinent marketing intelligence. Optisave filled that niche – IT supply chain experts, including former CIOs, who could share best practices and benchmarks with hospital decision makers.

So grateful for the significant impact we’ve had on major health systems, and nationwide banks and manufacturing companies… and especially – proud of the strong and dedicated team we’ve built.

Highlighting one project I’ve long been dedicated to: As consultants for a global leader in self-care products, we deliver specialized telecom expense management services. Our scope includes verifying monthly telecom invoices for accuracy, identifying any discrepancies, and facilitating prompt approvals through management. This collaboration enhances operational efficiency by minimizing administrative burdens and enabling staff to concentrate on strategic initiatives. With 25 years of experience, we continue to find meaning in our work through a strong sense of purpose and valuable relationships developed over time.

Steve McGrane

What I’ve learned is successful cost control isn't just about spreadsheets and PowerPoints, but also about understanding daily workflows, workload, and staff needs. For instance, analyzing workflows to eliminate waste can also reduce patient wait times, and targeted AI tech can reduce provider burnout.

By translating complex IT issues and opportunities into concise, financially driven business rationale, I've helped organizations make strategic decisions that align technology spending with hospital goals. I'm proud of my ability to bridge the gap between technical IT teams and business stakeholders.

Some of my proudest moments have come from turning around skeptical clients. When a client initially sees me as someone trying to cut budgets, I’ve built trust by seeing who they are (been there, done that), proving my background and recommendations also enhance patient care by freeing up dollars to chase the highest ROI.



I appreciate my colleagues for their diverse perspectives and expertise. By leveraging a multidisciplinary team, we've been able to approach complex problems from multiple angles, leading to more effective solutions. Great work is never done in isolation.

Having worked with Optisave, I can confidently say they represent the best of what consulting partnerships should be. Their team approaches every challenge with professionalism, collaboration, and a genuine drive to create value. What truly sets Optisave apart is its ability to solve unusual problems by thinking outside the box, crafting innovative, sustainable solutions that deliver lasting impact. Their partnership at a major faith-based health care system in the Biomed area is a great example, demonstrating how their forward-thinking approach can streamline operations, reduce costs, and build sustainable success across even the most complex Biomed programs.

Bob Nerz

I joined Optisave as a telecom consultant in 2022 after two decades as a solo telecom consultant, after an introduction by someone I knew and respected from a prior engagement. From the start, I’ve been quite impressed with the depth of professional experience and industry knowledge that the entire team brings to produce excellent results for clients across the entire spectrum of healthcare IT. In my mind, Optisave consultants’ expertise and results surpass those of other expense management firms – with deep knowledge in IT optimization, an often over-looked and potentially high impact area.

For 25 years, our focus has been working with clients to reduce IT costs and maximize operational efficiencies. Two prime examples:

Client #1: For a prominent, large Mid-Atlantic based client, we came in as they were about to refresh their laptops. Examination showed unnecessary purchases of extended warranties, and full set of computer accessories including bag, mouse and keyboard, which we learned were just stacked up in closets, unused. Result: 

1. We negotiated a substantial IT cost reduction
2. Eliminated accessory bundling
3. After analysis showed significant cost savings, convinced client to maintain small inventory of extra laptops versus purchasing extended warranties for all. 

Client #2: While reviewing software agreements and renewals for a large New England client, we discovered inefficiencies related to a contract based on 750 concurrent users. Utilization analysis concluded substantially fewer actual concurrent users – only 150. 

Result: Negotiated contract for maximum 200 concurrent users, saving considerable money. 

Kate VerMeulen

My four years with Optisave has shaped me profoundly as a young professional. Being surrounded by true subject-matter experts has given me exposure to knowledge and perspectives I could never have gained on my own. Working directly with major healthcare systems across the United States has deepened my understanding of the industry and taught me how to navigate complex, high-impact challenges. The mentorship and guidance I’ve received have strengthened my confidence and sharpened my problem-solving skills. Through these experiences, I’ve grown immensely both personally and professionally. Most importantly, they’ve helped me develop into the project manager I am today—more capable, more curious, and more prepared for what’s ahead.

Gary Weiner

Optisave takes a disciplined, enterprise-level approach to cost savings, operational efficiency, staffing, and technology strategy. Our assessments quickly identify high-value opportunities—eliminating redundant systems, modernizing platforms, and aligning technology investments with organizational goals. We review workflows, staffing, applications, infrastructure, and governance to deliver a clear current-state view and a prioritized roadmap for improvement.

Drawing on our experiences as former CIO, CTO, and technology leaders we bring practical, real-world insight into where inefficiencies hide and how to address them without disrupting care. Optisave combines this leadership perspective with proven methodologies to provide actionable recommendations, realistic staffing models, and a technology strategy that supports sustained performance.