About

Steve Mason brings more than 30 years of healthcare experience to Avanza, with 20-plus years directly related to system operations, practice administration, hospital management, payer reimbursement, and professional services contracting. As President of Avanza, he oversees all company operations, driving strategic initiatives that enhance efficiency and operational excellence. Steve also serves as Chief Operating Officer at MedHQ, parent company to Avanza.

Steve’s healthcare background includes extensive experience in anesthesia operations, revenue cycle management, payer audits, healthcare data analytics, hospital and practice administration, healthcare consulting, physician contracting, and hospital professional services contracting. Prior to joining Avanza, Steve held leadership positions with PhyMed Healthcare Group, Managed Care Advisory Group, Anesthesiology Consultants of Toledo, King Systems Corp., and the Toledo Hospital and ProMedica Health System. He also spent over a decade overseeing practice administration for more than 150 healthcare providers across multiple Midwest states and served in administrative roles within complex, multi-specialty physician practices.

Steve holds a master’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in healthcare, from the University of Dallas.

Lisa Austin, RN, CASC, has been an RN for almost 40 years and in ambulatory care for the majority of those years. Lisa’s extensive operational development, management and consulting experience provides clients with expertise in facility administration, budget development, regulatory compliance, staff recruitment and retention, equipment procurement, policy and procedure development and implementation, and organizational interfacing. Lisa’s national ASC and hospital department development and management expertise affords clients who are opening new facilities unparalleled success.

Lisa has developed numerous surgery centers working in concert with investors, corporations, hospitals, architects, builders and equipment manufactures/distributors through all phases of surgery center development and management.

Lisa has achieved CASC, the credential that connotes expertise in ASC administration. She is a current board officer of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, (ASCA) and past board member of the Colorado Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (CASCA), where she also served as president. Lisa also served multiple state and national committees to further the advancement of the ASC industry.

Lisa is involved in several non-profit organizations in her community and enjoys volunteering when possible.

Trevin Hunt brings more than 30 years of clinical and operational experience to the Avanza team. This includes 25 years in the surgical services industry, including working in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), main operating rooms and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).

Prior to joining Avanza, Trevin served as CEO/administrator of multiple health system/physician joint ventures. He has assisted with the development, design, construction and Medicare certification of multiple centers. In his surgery center roles, he was responsible for achieving and maintaining Medicare certification and AAAHC accreditation, along with coordinating activities with health system partners. Trevin has also worked with Epic (EHR), completing the build and implementation of Epic OpTime in the ASC setting.

In 2017, Trevin completed Rona Consulting Group’s Lean Operations Program and is a certified workshop leader. He has participated in workshops in hospital, clinic and ASC settings, helping incorporate lean concepts to improve workflow, reduce waste and improve patient satisfaction.

In addition to his healthcare experience, Trevin has worked as a consultant, with a focus on marketing and business development. He holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a nursing degree from Pacific Union College.

Wes Battiste has dedicated 40 years to the healthcare industry, beginning his career at just 18 years old while studying at Emory University. Over the past three decades, he has built a distinguished track record in the development, operations, strategy, and growth of ASCs and anesthesia services. His advisory contributions extend to major healthcare systems and international vendors.

Wes possesses a comprehensive, first-hand understanding of ASC operations, spanning clinical pathways, facility design, construction management, and efficiency optimization. For more than 20 years, he has successfully maximized revenue while ensuring a safe, high-quality, and cost-effective patient experience.

A recognized leader in healthcare, Wes has played a pivotal role in numerous mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures involving ASCs, anesthesia services, and real estate. Since developing his first ASC in 1998, he has led multiple ASC projects from inception to operation, overseeing every aspect — including land acquisition, financing, syndication, project management, capital equipment procurement, licensure, accreditation, and long-term management. In addition to his work in ASCs, Wes founded and operated a successful anesthesia practice, which later partnered with a national company.

Wes has been consistently recognized for his exceptional leadership, earning multiple USPI CEO of the Year awards and Press Ganey Pinnacle of Excellence Awards for his commitment to excellence in healthcare operations. His expertise has been instrumental in ASC development, acquisitions, and turnarounds, working alongside USPI, independent organizations, and hospital systems.

Wes earned his bachelor’s degree with highest honors and a master’s degree in medical science in anesthesia, both from Emory University.

Matt Lau, MBA, is a seasoned financial executive with over 25 years of experience in healthcare finance. Known for transforming complex financial operations into efficient, results-driven systems, Matt has helped guide numerous organizations through periods of rapid change and growth.

His background includes executive roles such as chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance at Regent Surgical, where he led ownership restructures, budgeting, and compliance efforts. He has successfully managed financial operations for more than 20 ambulatory surgery centers, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring financial stability through unprecedented challenges.

Matt’s areas of expertise include financial planning and analysis, revenue optimization, workflow improvement, and strategic execution. He’s also committed to education and mentorship, having developed training programs to help clinical teams understand financial concepts and onboard new staff during organizational expansion.

A collaborative leader, Matt builds strong relationships with stakeholders and promotes transparency and operational integrity. He has implemented automation solutions that significantly reduced costs and improved efficiency, always with an eye toward quality and long-term sustainability.

In addition to his advisory work with Avanza, Matt currently serves as senior vice president of client accounting and financial services at Avanza parent company MedHQ, where he leads financial strategy and oversees a full suite of back-office services for outpatient care providers.

Matt holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business.

Vicki Dekker brings more than 25 years of healthcare management experience to assisting Avanza’s clients with business office operations process. Her background includes extensive work with ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient academic facilities, private practices and other facility types.

Vicki has worked as a director of business office operations for an ASC management company; billing manager for neurosurgery, neurology, and ENT departments at an outpatient academic facility; and as a business office manager in a large neurology private practice.

She has demonstrated success in building and retaining high performance teams by hiring, developing and motivating skilled professionals. Vicki’s focus is on business office process improvements, with an emphasis on maximizing revenue cycle reimbursement with efficient processes.

Vicki has been named a great woman leader in the ASC industry by Becker’s ASC Review multiple times. She is an avid volunteer, donating her time to help a local soup kitchen and baking skills to help her church.

Zachary Phillips has dedicated his career to healthcare operations, bringing a wealth of leadership experience across multi-state and private equity-backed organizations. He has focused on anesthesia and healthcare services, holding key roles that span operations management, contract negotiations, and financial performance improvement. Zachary’s expertise includes overseeing large-scale teams, streamlining processes, driving efficiency, and improving EBITDA, giving him a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in high-performing healthcare organizations.

Zachary has successfully led large, multi-disciplinary teams at U.S. Anesthesia Partners and PhyMed Healthcare Group, where he was responsible for significant P&L oversight. He has enhanced clinical and corporate operations, negotiated major contract gains, and implemented initiatives that delivered substantial cost savings. His leadership extends beyond day-to-day operations with experience driving strategic growth, managing facility transitions, navigating collective bargaining efforts, and advancing quality improvement initiatives across a wide range of healthcare organizations.

Zachary drives value and strengthens teams through an analytical approach to problem-solving, while fostering a workplace culture built on trust and inclusion.

He holds a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Mississippi and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Union University.