News Release -- April 1998

BBT 1998 Employee Dinner

As part of the spring BBT board meeting, employees and staff gathered for an annual board/employee dinner. Ray Donadio, a board member from Greenville, Ohio, served as Master of Ceremonies. Steve Engle and puppet pals Dusty and Company performed for the dinner guests. Steve and his friends "Buzz, Dusty, and Hildy" flew in from his home in Alexandria, Pennsylvania, especially for the BBT event and added performances at the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren and the Elgin Public Library to round out his visit. Audience members unanimously agreed, "We're all glad Steve made the trip." Also during this years BBT dinner three employees were recognized and presented with the following citations for their years of service.

15 Years - Tribute to Wil Nolen

Picture this: a distance runner on a snowy morning, an animated song leader in a crowded meeting room, one of many voices in a community Christmas chorus, a helpful counselor in a casual moment, an intense administrator on a busy day, a respected national officer of the Church Pensions Conference. These represent a few of the many faces of Wil Nolen.

For 15 years, Wil has been executive of the Pension Board, now the Brethren Benefit Trust. During those years pension and medical plans have experienced significant growth and significant changes.

Under Wil's leadership:

• the pension plan shifted to market value accounting,
• the medical plan established adequate reserves to survive high claim years,
• the church’s retiree assistance ministry was strengthened with the creation of the Retired Church Workers Fund, and
• the Brethren Foundation was established.

The changes continue as Wil’s vision for the future unfolds.

People who work with Wil describe him as a “sympathetic, sensitive supervisor,” an “astute, able administrator,” and a demanding but supportive leader. He is an articulate advocate for the programs and missions of the Brethren Benefit Trust.

Wil is passionate about golf, music, art, running, and helping people.

Wil, for your administrative leadership, for dedication and faithful service to the BBT, its staff and board, we are pleased to recognize your 15 years of outstanding performance.

15 Years - Tribute to Connie Sjolin

Connie Sjolin has been employed as a medical claims processor since April 26, 1982 and in 1995 was officially given the added responsibilities of lead medical claims processor. She works together with Veronica and Peggy to ensure timely, accurate handling of the medical claims for our twenty-one employer groups.

As lead medical claims processor Connie’s duties are many. In addition to researching and analyzing claims, she:

• coordinates medical necessity reviews with consultants,
• acts as a liaison with utilization review specialists,
• works with case managers to better manage large claims,
• serves as a reference person for all medical claims processors,
• is responsible for updating the procedures manual, and
• consults with Donna and Jeff on issues of policy and procedure.

Connie also:

• handles claims corrections,
• resolves issues about coding for usual and customary charges, and
• requests prompt payment discounts from providers for large claims.

Ever ready to take on a heavier load, Connie:

• maintains employer benefit abstracts on the computer system,
• monitors the workload of the claims staff, and
• acts as a customer service person to our members.

Whatever her workload, Connie is always willing to help resolve a problem or question. She will drop whatever she is doing to help a colleague whenever the need arises. Connie has that ability to juggle many tasks simultaneously without losing any one of them in the process. Much of Connie’s time is spent on the telephone or in dialogue with other staff. She is frequently seen bustling back and forth to the fax machine in an effort to accommodate a request or resolve an issue. She works hard and goes about her business in an efficient, enthusiastic, dedicated manner.

Outside of work Connie has many interests. She is very involved in the lives of her extended family. Especially fond of her nieces and nephews, she spends as much time as possible with them. She also visits her grandmother regularly (at least once a week).

Recently, Connie began collecting “Beanie Babies.” Her menagerie, currently totaling eighty one, is expected to continue to grow rapidly. She also has a complete set of ten “Teenie Beanie Babies” and has been known to spend hours after work helping friends and relatives search for these elusive little critters.

Connie has a doll collection that she hopes to put on display some day. She also enjoys making quilts and cooking and baking. However, the hobby Connie really loves best is her work with ceramics. She attends a ceramics class every week and has spent many hours honing her skills at this craft.

Connie, for over fifteen years of serving the members of the Brethren Medical Plan, for your support, for your friendship, and for all the contributions you have made, we extend our appreciation and congratulations.

10 Years - Tribute to Peggy Bruell

Peggy Bruell has been employed as a medical claims processor since October 14, 1987. She works together with Connie and Veronica to ensure timely, accurate handling of medical claims for our ministers group and over 20 employer groups.

As a medical claims processor Peggy is responsible for a constant stream of work. She is specifically responsible for the claims generated by 11 employer groups and half of the ministers. Her current duties include:

• researching and analyzing medical claims,
• gathering necessary information from participants, medical providers, and other contact persons,
• accurately entering data on the computer system,
• consulting with Connie, Donna, or Jeff about difficult or unusual claims,
• responding to plan member questions, and
• annual purging of medical claim files.

Over the years Peggy has been responsible for performing many other tasks. Some of these include:

• handling claim corrections,
• maintaining employer benefit abstracts on the computer system,
• requesting prompt payment discounts from providers for large claims, and
• consulting with utilization review specialists.

Peggy is a fast worker. She has often processed more than 100 claims in a day; one time she handled a grand total of 200. In addition to being quick, she also exhibits a high degree of accuracy. Peggy takes pride in her ability to turn out large amounts of excellent work and still be responsive to the requests of plan members, coworkers, and others who need her attention.

Peggy is a very reliable employee. It is a rare occurrence indeed when illness prevents her from coming to work. Peggy likes to get an early start, and is usually at her desk each morning when the rest of the staff come in. Although she works quietly most of the day with her headphones on, listening to her favorite radio station, Peggy is always happy to be interrupted to share a laugh or answer a question.

Peggy has many interests outside of work. She is an avid reader who likes to spend free time immersed in a good book. In fact, she is known to make frequent stops at the library on her way to or from the office.

Over the years, Peggy has spent a good deal of time volunteering work at Sherman Hospital in Elgin. She enjoys giving her time to help others. Peggy’s cheerful demeanor and friendly personality make her a tremendous asset in the hectic, sterile atmosphere of a busy hospital setting.

Peggy and her husband, Don, have a “getaway” refuge in their condominium near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Peggy and Don spend as much time as they can relaxing and enjoying their haven. It affords a beautiful sanctuary that they can escape to in only about an hour’s travel.

However, next to her family, Peggy’s greatest enjoyment may come from cats. She presently has only one of her own, but is also taking care of another whose owner is currently unable to provide a home. Peggy is the consummate “cat person.” It seems not a day goes by that she does not wear a necklace, broach, or pin in the form of a cat. Peggy can often be seen with a sweater or shirt that depicts a cat. She has a cat calendar, a cat coffee mug, and a number of cat pictures at her desk. She simply loves cats of any kind.

Peggy, for over ten years of serving the members of the Brethren Medical Plan, for your hard work and dedication, for your support, for your friendship, and for all you have done, we offer our congratulations and our thanks.