Chief Equity Officer
As Chief Equity Officer, Bukata Hayes is responsible for the Blue Cross racial and health equity strategy. Hayes serves as an advisor and strategic leader across the organization to identify and implement initiatives that bring about improved health engagements and experiences, greater inclusiveness, representation and lasting systemic health ecosystem changes. He also oversees the work of the Center for Racial and Health Equity, which invests in community led solutions and advances public policy work to transform inequities and advance community health and wellbeing in population centers and rural areas throughout Minnesota.
Hayes’ work places an emphasis on enhancing policies and programs that can more effectively address the specific needs of underrepresented communities, including initiatives that can increase access to high quality medical care while lowering overall medical costs.
Hayes also serves as chair of the board of directors for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation. He first joined the board in 2015 and was named chair in 2021.
Hayes has more than 20 years of experience organizing and facilitating systemic change within large and small systems such as non-profit, K-12, higher education and rural communities. Prior to joining Blue Cross, Hayes spent 15 years as the executive director of the Greater Mankato Diversity Council. Before that, he served as the coordinator of the Multi Ethnic Center at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, the first-ever position of its kind at the college.
Hayes received a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota and a Master of Business Administration degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he is actively involved in numerous community-based organizations, including the MEDA Board of Directors, American Cancer Society (ACS), Minnesota Region Board of Directors, Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity (MBCRE) Advisory Committee, Minnesota Council of Health Plans, Health Equity Committee and the Blandin Foundation Board of Trustees.