Valley Preferred, a provider-owned organization aligned with Lehigh Valley Health Network, has appointed Laura J. Mertz, CBC, of Emmaus as General Manager.

Mertz is responsible for the management of business activity, development of network relationships, accountable care initiatives and Valley Preferred's internal operations.

Mertz, with more than two decades of health-care experience, most recently was Vice President and General Manager for AllOne Health Management Solutions, Wilkes-Barre.

Prior to this, Mertz was General Manager, Valley Preferred from 2006 - '11, and was Director of Sales and Marketing since 1993 when the organization was founded.

Mertz received a Bachelor's in Communications from the University of Scranton.

She is credentialed as a Chartered Benefit Consultant (CBC), licensed in Accident and Health, and was a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters.

Mertz is on the Board of the Lehigh Valley Velodrome Velo Fund, serving the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. She is also a member of The Leonard Pool Society.