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Norm Varin -
Douglas Fry -
Joanna Ramer -
Dan Ripley
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Sean White -
Ellen Harrington -
Lydia Aguirre -
Jennifer Pike
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Executive Board
Norm Varin
- BOARD POSITION: Chairman
- COMPANY: PacificSource Health Plans/Idaho Physicians Network
- www.ipnmd.com
- ACTIVE SINCE: Member since 2012
As Director of Government Relations for PacificSource, Norm Varin works with government officials and internal colleagues to support review, implementation and compliance with state and federal laws. Previously as Manager of Underwriting, Norm was responsible for matching appropriate rates to existing and predicted risks. Norm joined Primary Health in 2007, later acquired by PacificSource in 2009. Prior to joining Primary Health, Norm worked for Regence BlueShield of Idaho for 15 years. He has more than 17 years of experience in all aspects of Underwriting and Actuarial activities. For two years Norm held the position of Manager of Field Marketing responsible for addressing market opportunities and challenges relating to product, price, network, and channel. He is Vice Chair of State of Idaho Reinsurance Board, Vice Chair of the Idaho Immunization Assessment Board, Chair of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI) legislative committee and current Chairman of the Employers Health Coalition of Idaho. Norm is also Chair of the Compass Public Charter School board. Norm graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor of science in applied mathematics and a master of science in statistics.
Douglas Fry
- BOARD POSITION: Vice Chair & Marketing/Membership Outreach Committee
- COMPANY: Pinnacle Benefits Solutions
- pbs-usa.com
- ACTIVE SINCE: Member since 2010
Douglas has spent much of his time in Idaho working for two health carriers in Idaho, Pacific Source Health Plans and Primary health. He managed a third party administrator that specialized in claims for large self-funded employers and ran his own multi-line insurance agency in the Treasure Valley. Douglas is active in the National Association of Health Underwriters. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. Douglas has been in Idaho since 2000 and enjoys spending time with his children.
Joanna Ramer
- BOARD POSITION: Secretary
- COMPANY: Delta Dental of Idaho
- www.deltadentalid.com
- ACTIVE SINCE: Member since 2016
As a Senior Sales Account Executive for Delta Dental of Idaho, Joanna Ramer is a dental insurance industry veteran. With two decades of experience, she actively works with prospective group clients and manages large, key accounts throughout Idaho. Being well-versed on the importance of dental benefits has helped Joanna educate and empower Idahoans to improve their oral health. Her thought leadership on oral disease prevention, work productivity and cost savings ensures long term commitment with her clients and the subscribers in which Delta Dental of Idaho serves.
Prior to sales and account management, Joanna was instrumental in building two of the largest dental provider networks in Idaho. As the previous Provider Relations Specialist at a local competitor and subsequently at Delta Dental of Idaho, Joanna was instrumental in building the PPO dental networks in the Idaho marketplace. Her accomplishments can be attributed to her focus on relationship-building with stakeholders across the dental community resulting in Delta Dental offering one of the largest provider networks to date.
Joanna is licensed in Idaho as a Disability (Health & Life) insurance agent and has been a longtime member of the Idaho Association of Health Underwriters.
Dan Ripley
- BOARD POSITION: Treasurer
- COMPANY: St. Luke’s Health System
- stlukes.com
- ACTIVE SINCE: Member since 2012
Dan has been with St. Luke’s Health System as a Sr. Benefits Analyst for 9 years. Prior to joining the St. Luke’s benefits department he was a Benefits manager for both Albertsons Inc. and Supervalu for 16 years managing both health and welfare and retirement plans. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Finance through the College of Idaho and Masters in Business Administration from Northwest Nazarene University.
Leadership Team
Jennifer Pike
- BOARD POSITION: Member at Large Communications and Website
- COMPANY: State of Idaho
- ogi.idaho.gov
- ACTIVE SINCE: Member since 2017
Jennifer Pike has served as the Administrator of the State of Idaho's Office of Group Insurance for the past seven years. In her role she oversees the medical, dental, life, disability and flexible spending for all State employees, some political subdivisions and some school districts.
Jennifer has worked for the State of Idaho for 15+ years, previously serving in a public information role. She sits on the board of the State's Certified Public Manager Program and the Emergency Medical Services Sustainability Task Force.
Jennifer is a graduate of Boise State University and enjoys shuttling her two kids to all of their activities.
Sean White
- BOARD POSITION: Speaker Chair
- COMPANY: Alliant Employee Benefits
- alliantbenefits.com
- ACTIVE SINCE: Member since 2016
Sean is a senior consultant in Alliant's Boise office and a member of Alliant’s Pacific Northwest Team. Sean provides ongoing health and welfare benefits consulting as well as leads and participates on strategic client assignments. He has over 22 years of experience in the design, pricing and administration of health and welfare programs, with a focus on financial analysis and consulting, including self-insured plan cost projections, trend analysis, plan performance, contribution strategy and design, plan design review, benchmarking & redesign, and IBNR development.
Sean has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Business Administration from Seattle University.
Ellen Harrington
- BOARD POSITION: Legislative Co-Chair
- COMPANY: Milliman Incorporated
- Milliman.com
- ACTIVE SINCE: Member since 2012
Ellen is a consulting actuary with the Boise office of Milliman. She joined the firm in 2013.
Ellen works with a variety of corporate, public and multi-employer clients. She works primarily with self-funded health benefit plans, and her work includes plan design pricing and analysis, experience analysis, setting funding and COBRA rates, estimation of liabilities and reserves, including IBNR, and reporting required by state insurance departments as part of actuarial certifications of self-funded health plans. She consults on reporting and compliance requirements for both state and federal mandates. She works with vendors and carriers on behalf of clients.
Prior to joining Milliman, Ellen had 12 years of actuarial consulting experience.
Lydia Aguirre
- BOARD POSITION: At Large
- COMPANY: Human Capital Solutions, LLC
- www.ihfa.org
- ACTIVE SINCE: Member since 2004
Lydia is the owner of Human Capital Solutions, LLC. Lydia was formerly with Idaho Housing and Finance Association for 20+ years, as Director of Human Resources, and is also Director of HR for The Housing Company, directing all HR and payroll activities for both organizations. She has been an HR Generalist for a variety of industry types. Current certifications are SPHR (Senior Professional in HR), CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) and SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional). Prior to IHFA, Lydia worked in the private sector for large corporations such as Micron Technology, Boise Cascade Corp., and Ore-Ida Foods (subsidiary of Heinz USA). Lydia continues to serve on several HR related Boards. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Boise State University, and completed graduate studies at BSU. Prior to entering the corporate world, she was a teacher certified to teach K-12.
