America's Benefit Specialist June 2023

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Longtime member Dave Racer —who is also a researcher, writer, speaker and teacher—was recently surprised with an honor by FOX 9 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Racer was named a Top Teacher on the last day of in-person classes at Mid-Metro Academy, a

With more than two decades of experience in the insurance and healthcare fields, Steinhoff’s accomplishments include leading diverse, high-performing teams and building two successful group insurance businesses from the ground up. Her leadership was critical in launching group products and benefit portfolios, which included life, disability, absence man agement, dental and vision coverage. Steinhoff holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She is licensed in Florida as a mental health counselor.

school that offers in-person classes once a week to homes chooled students. Racer is in his 25th year of teaching Ameri can Civics and realizing some of his students’ families nomi nated him to be a FOX 9 Top Teacher brought out some tears. Racer is better known as “Governor Racer” to his students because he models one of his classes to be a student-run Senate. As a FOX 9 Top Teacher, Racer received $1,000 from Royal Credit Union for classroom supplies. Papa Murphy’s also provided him with a pizza party for up to 30 people. “I’m grateful because this is a little bit different way of teach ing,” said Racer. “And just amazing students through the years. And nothing pleases me more than to watch them change.” Racer has authored, co-authored or edited 22 books on U.S. healthcare, has served as the legislative research director for MN AHU, and has presented C.E. courses across the country. He earned a Master of Letters Degree from Oxford Graduate School, with a thesis on comprehensive healthcare reform. He also has degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, University of Minnesota and Macalaster College. Visit www.fox9.com/news/top-teacher-mr-dave-racer-or should-we-say-governor-gets-honored to watch the segment on Racer’s award.

Benefit Advisors Network has named Bobbi Kloss as vice president of human capital management. With more than 25 years of human resource generalist and executive-level human capital management experience, Bobbi will continue to oversee all HR-related functions for BAN internal practices. With a deep understanding of the increasingly

complex and diverse HR industry, Bobbi also provides her expertise to BAN’s employee benefit brokerage members as well as their employer clients. Initiating proactive, strategic compliance practices helps limit their organizational exposure to potential liabilities. With both groups, Kloss will establish and/or support the culture of the company through attraction and retention initiatives. AdminaHealth, a provider of employee benefits billing solu tions for the healthcare, insurance and voluntary benefits mar ketplace, has announced the promotion of Grace Brueckner to the position of vice president of sales. Brueckner has been an integral part of AdminaHealth since joining the company as a technical sales executive in 2021. With over 20 years of combined experience in the insurance and technology industries, Brueckner has a deep understand ing of the complexities and challenges that brokers, carriers, employers and third-party administrators face when it comes to managing their benefits programs. Brueckner will continue to partner with clients, in the mid-market and enterprise level, to understand their needs and provide customized digital solutions to meet their unique premium billing requirements. Alliant Insurance Services has announced two appointments: Frank Verdi has as vice president within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Boston, Verdi will focus on designing, imple menting and managing strategic employee benefits solutions to clients throughout the Northeast. For more than 35 years, Verdi has helped organizations drive growth through compre-

Bill Gould has joined Trustmark in the newly created role of president and chief operating officer, reporting directly to CEO Kevin Slawin. Gould joins Trustmark after nearly three decades at Securian Financial Group, a mutual holding company with revenue of $6.2 billion. He will relocate from Minneapolis to the Lake Forest area.

Gould earned his MBA and BS degrees from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

Renaissance, which specializes in dental, vision, life and disability insurance, recently announced the appointment of Diana Steinhoff, LMHC, as president and CEO. Steinhoff brings a unique combination of building successful insurance businesses and a mental health counseling background to her new position at Renaissance.

16 ABS | benefitspecialistmagazine.com