BIP Winter 2024

Ongoing Education

Grace Meier’s passion for learning leads to REBC certification

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For Grace Meier, associate client consultant in benefits at Cottingham & Butler in Dubuque, Iowa, the path to employee benefits started with a last minute career pivot, but she quickly found herself drawn to the challenge of benefits consulting. Now, Meier thrives on helping clients in trucking, manufacturing and distribution achieve their goals. Recently, she earned her REBC designation. What got you into employee benefits? I graduated from college in three years because I had a full-time job offer in the manufacturing space. And then, a month before I graduated, they called me and said my position was eliminated. I remembered Cottingham & Butler from a college career fair and I reached out to them. After doing some job shadowing and interviews, it seemed very challenging, but that challenge is what drew me to employee benefits. Why did you pursue your REBC? I absolutely love to learn. I knew that by having my REBC, I would be not only more knowledgeable in my job but also able to serve my clients better. I’m already putting my knowledge to use. I’m able to answer more questions and connect more dots than I was before. I’m so glad I got my REBC, and I wonder what certification or license I can get next.

I knew that by having my REBC, I would be not only more knowledgeable in my job but also able to serve my clients better.

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How long did it take you to earn the designation? It took me two months. I dedicated my hour lunch breaks to it. I would read and study over my lunch hour and then stay late an hour or two after work and just do some reading and do some more studying. On Saturdays and Sundays, I would go to coffee shops and sit there

all day and just watch videos. I’m really proud of myself for knocking it out in two months.

How to Earn Your REBC The Registered Employee Benefits Consultant designation program analyzes group benefits for the ACA environ ment, contract provisions, marketing, underwriting, rate making, plan design, cost containment and alternative funding meth ods. The program covers group medical expense plans and electives on topics based on a broker’s client needs. Visit nabip. org/professional-devel opment/rebc-designation for more information.

Pete Allen Carson Bonino Nicole Brown Jerrica Broome Alexis Bruni Keisha Benoit Hannah Bowen Lisa Burkham JULY-OCT 2024 REBC GRADUATES

David Rodriguez Alexis Rettenberger

Katie Keil Jordan Martin Adriana Martin Ernesto Martinez Grace Meier Melanie McLaughlin Stacey Millheim Tamara Mijares Chris Ronnebaum

Alexandra Capin Amanda Clayton Erin Cooke Lori Crandall Matthew Davis Derek LaCosse Ellsworth Hulihee Maria Irwin

Monika Schroth Christopher Schneider

Audra Sullivan Krista Williams Ashley Willis Amanda Wilkinson

Matthew Johnson John Kanarr

46 bip magazine Winter 2024