Leadership

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John Buffa

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

John Buffa serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board for the Austin Major Group. With more than twenty-five years of proven business success in the healthcare staffing industry, Buffa has lead innovative workforce management strategies to help clients gain operational efficiencies, enhance staffing quality, help lower patient out-migration and positively impact the bottom line. He drives meaningful client solutions by leveraging his company's expertise with labor management and cost containment. Buffa's objective is to build Austin Major Group into a premier healthcare staffing company with a focus on Locum Tenens and five core values: Truth, Growth, Innovation, Accountability and Results. Buffa oversees operations, finance, corporate strategy and business development. With his healthcare staffing expertise, Buffa is frequently called upon to speak on a multitude of healthcare staffing topics by trade publications and industry associations.

Buffa began his career in healthcare placement services at one of the largest healthcare staffing companies in the nation. Where he served as the Vice President of the Nursing and Allied division. In 1999, Buffa founded Martin Fletcher & Associates and was the Chief Executive Officer for more than fifteen years. He established Martin Fletcher as one of the largest permanent placement Nursing, Allied and Locum Tenens staffing firms in the nation. In 2012, Martin Fletcher & Associates was acquired by one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems, Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA). In 2015, Buffa founded Austin Major Group which has become one of the fastest growing companies in the industry.

Buffa attended Texas Tech University.

Gabriel Heckt

President and Chief Operating Officer / Board of Director

Gabe serves as President and Chief Operating Officer for the Austin Major Group. Gabe is responsible for strategic planning, evaluating market changes and special operations regarding reimbursement, licensure as well as corporate guidelines to ensure best practice for our clients and candidates. He is also responsible for financial and business strategy.

Previously, Gabe served as Executive Vice President at Martin, Fletcher & Associates. As Executive Vice President, Gabe led both Martin Fletcher Locums division and the Permanent Placement business unit. Gabe’s areas of expertise include Locum Tenens, Physician Recruiting, Nursing and Allied Health. During his thirteen-year tenure at Martin Fletcher, his corporate expertise and professional guidance led to the acquisition by Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA) in 2012. In 2015, Gabe founded Austin Major Group which has become one of the fastest growing companies in the industry.

Throughout his eighteen years in healthcare staffing, Gabe has gained a wide range of business experience in all areas of healthcare. Gabe’s expertise on healthcare staffing, physician staffing trends, physician compensation and recruiting has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Modern Healthcare, Monster.com, and Military.com among other publications.

Gabe holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas State University. 

Dianne Horst

Chief Financial Officer

Dianne Horst joined Austin Major in 2016 and serves as its Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, Dianne plays an integral role in directing Austin Major’s finances and financial reporting, as well as overseeing all of accounting, administrative and human resource functions. Dianne provides the Leadership Team and the Board of Directors with timely detail financial statements, data analysis, cash flow forecasting and key performance indicators necessary to manage the Company’s organizational goals.

Dianne brings to the Leadership Team of Austin Major more than 23 years of accounting and financial management experience. Her accounting and financial management experience includes the areas of SEC and financial reporting, strategic business planning, financial planning and analysis, cash flow management and forecasting, design, and implementation of accounting reporting systems as well as revenue recognition and initial public offerings. Dianne has worked in a diverse set of industries including a small healthcare company, start-up battery technology companies, government contract management and international healthcare finance company.

Dianne received her degree from Walsh College.

Fabiana Gower

Chief Information Officer and Director of Business Analytics

Fabi is currently Chief Information Officer and Director of Business Analytics for the Austin Major Group. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic implementation and support of information technology services, applications and processes for Austin Major Group’s clients and candidates. Fabi is also responsible for evaluating the internal and external key metrics. Fabi has more than thirty years of IT experience including IT strategic consulting, systems strategy development, teaching and leadership.

Previously, Fabi was Vice President of Information Systems at Martin, Fletcher and Associates for fifteen years. While in this position she was responsible for managing and directing the voice and data networks. This included evaluating and coordinating the information and technology system needs; managing multiple information and communications systems and designing, developing and implementing user training programs. She was also responsible for building the Key Performance Indicator and Business Analytic Metrics.

Fabi earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Texas Women’s University and a Master of Science Degree in Information Systems from Tarleton State University. She is also a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert. 

Casey Ramage 

Vice President of Operations   

Casey currently holds the role of Vice President of Operations for Austin Major Group where he is focused on helping the company grow by providing leadership and serving facilities and providers in a professional manner.   

Casey has 14+ years of experience in the Locum Tenens industry. He has helped businesses grow to over $100 million in revenue and held multiple leadership roles. 

Casey is a proud father of 4 with a grandchild that keeps him busy.  In his leisure time, he enjoys coaching basketball and serves as a communicator at his local church. 

Mason McDrew 

Vice President of Operations 

Mason leads the Business Development team which helped increase revenue by 400%. His focus and attention to detail allows him to get ahead of market trends. His patient leadership built a winning team.

Mason has over 12 years’ experience achieving all set revenue goals and budgets. He brings invaluable experience as well as expertise to the company. He is proud to be part of the Austin Major Group family.

In his spare time, he enjoys sports, working out, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.