Knowledgeable employee benefit entrepreneur with years of experience who built a highly regarded consulting firm and administration from a startup company to a firm with 350+ high profile employers. Attentive and goal-focused bringing successful approach to cultivating complex best practices to meet organizational and regulatory expectations. Detail-oriented focus on achieving expected outcomes. Enthusiastic hard worker with expertise in cultivating client relationships and implementing better processes and procedures.
Work History
President
EB Compliance Strategies, LLC
Grand Rapids, MI
01.2014 - Current
Responsible for the overall management of firm and client consulting projects.
Assisted clients with open enrollment process by providing guidance on plan selection and eligibility rules.
Provided ongoing support services to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies related to employee benefits programs.
Conducted research to identify current industry trends and best practices in employee benefits consulting.
Analyzed client needs and recommended specific plan designs that fit their objectives.
Coordinated communications between employers and insurance carriers regarding claims processing issues.
Performed audits of existing benefit plans against established criteria.
Researched new technology solutions that could improve efficiency of processes within the organization's benefit department.
Presented talks to human resources professionals and C-level executives about available services and benefits of different plans.
Met with clients to develop employee cost-sharing strategies.
Evaluated vendor performance metrics against contractual agreements related to service delivery standards .
Negotiated with providers to secure competitive rates for clients' benefit plans.
President of bswift Grand Rapids
bswift, LLC
Grand Rapids, MI
03.2012 - 11.2013
Responsible for managing the bswift Grand Rapids division including: all financial transactions, integration of technology systems, business planning for COBRA, FSA, and benefit outsourcing departments, and managed 40+ team members
Worked closely with bswift executives to identify new business opportunities
Responsible for developing new prospects and clients through marketing materials development, training of bswift sales team, direct sales presentations, CRM management, and new client implementations.
President
Corporate Benefit Strategies, Inc.
Grand Rapids, MI
03.1997 - 02.2012
Established start up consulting firm which generated $3,000,000 in fee-based annual revenue and had 350+ high profile employer clients, including Spectrum Health, Gordon Foods, Kalamazoo County, and Mercantile Bank
Constantly gained excellent client survey results
Responsible for the overall management of firm including, marketing, sales, implementations, administration work flows and documentation, sales, implementations, and administration for ERISA Consulting, COBRA, FSA, and Employee Benefit Outsourcing
Responsible for technology/administrative system acquisitions and data security audits, including SAS 70 and SSAE audits.
Vice President
Flex Administrators, Inc.
Grand Rapids, MI
12.1987 - 02.1997
Established started up third-party administrator focusing on FSA administration
Responsible for marketing, sales, TPA administrative systems, participant communications and administrative work flows.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration - Management and Finance
Western Michigan University
01.1983
Skills
Employee Benefit Consulting and Administration
Employee Benefit Technology Outsourcing
Self-Funded Medical and Prescription Drug Management
Cafeteria Plans/Flexible Spending Accounts
Vendor RFP and Contract Negotiations
ERISA Compliance Consulting
Participant Communications
Contract Management/Administration
Provider Relationship Management
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
President
EB Compliance Strategies, LLC
01.2014 - Current
President of bswift Grand Rapids
bswift, LLC
03.2012 - 11.2013
President
Corporate Benefit Strategies, Inc.
03.1997 - 02.2012
Vice President
Flex Administrators, Inc.
12.1987 - 02.1997
Bachelor of Business Administration - Management and Finance
Western Michigan University
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