Vikie Spulak is a seasoned healthcare executive and a founding employee of Carenet Health, where she has been instrumental in shaping the company’s direction and long-term success for more than 20 years. A key architect of Carenet’s growth, she has served in multiple executive leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Client Officer, and currently, Executive Vice President of Strategic Accounts.

Over the course of her tenure, Vikie has led critical functions across operations, client services, and strategic account management—driving operational excellence, client satisfaction, and business innovation. Her leadership has been foundational in positioning Carenet as a trusted partner in healthcare engagement, delivering forward-thinking solutions that adapt to the evolving needs of clients across the industry.

How did you get started in healthcare? Have you always been passionate about this area, or did it happen by chance?

Throughout my career, I’ve been deeply immersed in the consumer engagement space. Before joining Carenet, I spent eight years at West Business Services, a leading B2B consumer engagement company. During that time, I had the privilege of being part of an extraordinary growth journey, helping scale a startup division into a thriving organization of over 10,000 employees. We partnered with some of the most recognized household names — AT&T, BellSouth, Citibank, and Allstate — serving nearly every major industry except healthcare.

When the opportunity arose to join Carenet, I quickly realized the potential to make a more meaningful impact. In healthcare, every interaction matters in deeply personal ways. Having a job with purpose gives me a profound sense of fulfillment because I know the effort I put in each day contributes to something larger than myself.

You’ve been with Carenet since it was founded. What moment or decision stands out to you most from your journey helping build the company from the ground up?

From the very beginning, our leadership team was intentional about building a strong, values-driven culture. We weren’t just building a business, we were creating something special. We wanted to be the kind of organization where people would wait for the next job opening, because they believed in what we stood for and wanted to be part of it.

It all started with having the right people — those who shared our values, our passion, and our vision. We knew that if we invested early in building a solid foundation, our culture wouldn’t just survive as we scaled, it would thrive. And it has. As we’ve grown, that shared sense of purpose and commitment has only become stronger.

For someone in your role, building trusted relationships is key. What are your tactics for keeping your network strong and engaged over time?

Being a relationship person is my strength, especially in environments where trust, retention, and long-term value matter more than quick wins. I focus on building genuine connections, actively listening, and understanding what truly matters to people. My approach is rooted in finding meaningful ways to help, because I believe that when you lead with value and empathy, results naturally follow.

Personally or professionally, what might the WBL network be surprised to know about you?

I didn’t grow up with pets, and with a hectic job and two kids, the last thing I wanted was a pet in the house, let alone a puppy. But when my kids were 12 and 14, I was completely outvoted by them and my husband. Before I knew it, we were bringing home two Australian Shepherd puppies.

That first year was very rough. Between chewed furniture, sleepless nights, and a level of chaos I couldn’t control, I questioned everything. But we went to dog training as a family, enlisted a best friend-turned-dog nanny, and somehow… we survived.

Then something unexpected happened. About a year in, I realized that life without these dogs had left a hole I never knew was there. Seven years later, the kids are off at college — and my husband and I? We’re now proud, devoted dog parents.