Katy Kobbe, Cbp Email & Phone Number

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

I provide solutions to improve processes, solve problems, and cut costs for my clients. Able to make significant contributions through innovative thinking and positive motivation. ♦ Provided “A” rated service to Medtronic, H.B. Fuller, RAYUS Radiology, Entrust Corporation, Allina Health, Merrill Corp, Equiniti, and Stratasys, Inc.♦ Completed HIPAA Privacy & Security Refresh for a client who last reviewed their HIPAA documents in 2013. Work included a customized HIPAA Privacy Manual… Show more I provide solutions to improve processes, solve problems, and cut costs for my clients. Able to make significant contributions through innovative thinking and positive motivation. ♦ Provided “A” rated service to Medtronic, H.B. Fuller, RAYUS Radiology, Entrust Corporation, Allina Health, Merrill Corp, Equiniti, and Stratasys, Inc.♦ Completed HIPAA Privacy & Security Refresh for a client who last reviewed their HIPAA documents in 2013. Work included a customized HIPAA Privacy Manual, Privacy & Security Job Descriptions, 55-page Privacy & Security Training PPT, an easy to understand HIPAA Privacy Notice, and much of the Security Compliance tasks to create the Security Manual.♦ Implemented a Welfare Wrap Plan so a client could reduce multiple annual 5500 filings done each year down to one filing. Amended health and welfare benefit plans updating ERISA pages to include the new ERISA Plan Number, Plan Name, and other Plan nuances.♦ An international employer divesting the majority of business units to another company while maintaining one-fourth of existing business and employees. Prepared a comprehensive comparative assessment of the seller’s self-insured health & welfare plan and Safe Harbor 401(k) plan against the buyer’s fully-insured health & welfare plan and 401(k) plan for Canadian and US employees to establish competitive benefit strategies. Identified legal compliance issues and made recommendations to merge existing plans and go to market strategy for new plans.♦ A UK company acquiring a division of Wells Fargo, with a commitment to preserve existing Wells Fargo plans to the extent possible to minimize turnover and increase employee satisfaction, defined and implemented entire health & welfare, and 401(k) plans. Executed 52-page Benefits Enrollment Guide, reviewed and influenced employee-facing benefit presentations; tested and launched an enrollment portal in 2.5 weeks of benefits receiving final approval with high-quality results. Show less

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Providing strategic and complex analysis as well as tactical and non-complex roll up my sleeves services to clients ranging in size from 600 to 100,000 employees. ♦ Provided “A” rated service to Ferguson, Ecolab, ACPI Wood Products, Lifetime Fitness, Thrivent Financial, Restaurant Technologies, Inc. Capella, Dougherty Financial & Best Buy.♦ Led a complete review of all HR business practices, recommending solutions for higher efficiencies, consistency, and to meet regulatory compliance… Show more Providing strategic and complex analysis as well as tactical and non-complex roll up my sleeves services to clients ranging in size from 600 to 100,000 employees. ♦ Provided “A” rated service to Ferguson, Ecolab, ACPI Wood Products, Lifetime Fitness, Thrivent Financial, Restaurant Technologies, Inc. Capella, Dougherty Financial & Best Buy.♦ Led a complete review of all HR business practices, recommending solutions for higher efficiencies, consistency, and to meet regulatory compliance. ♦ Mediated complex employee relations concerns; conducted effective and thorough investigations using current policies, strategic solutions, and a coaching format. ♦ Acted as Interim Benefits Manager, developing several recently promoted direct reports by identifying significant manual administration inherited from predecessors, identifying administrative process improvements, cost savings, and aligned the team for success. ♦ Led full benefits conversion with only two months to “live” date. Built current year benefit logic and new-year AE set-up/logic; outsourced benefits admin and leave of absences to ADP.♦ Authored all leave of absence cover letters and procedures (FMLA, Non-FMLA and multiple states) to provide clear instructions for employees taking a leave; greatly reduced confusion with the leave process, and significantly reduced employee calls to the HR Service Center by 95%.♦ Interpreted history of multiple active and frozen pension plans for organization whose Benefits Director was retiring after 40-years of service; who maintained the majority of knowledge in his head. Organization continues to use documentation I created as their main knowledge resource.♦ Developed and published communication strategies at the employee, manager, senior leaders and board member’s level. Designed the tools and delivered the messages. Show less

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Managed qualified Health & Welfare and Retirement plan benefits for 1500 employees in 26 states. BENEFITS LEADERSHIP♦ Provided leadership, strategic direction, and guidance for compliance of a MEWA benefit plan.♦ Authored and implemented policies, procedures, and materials to meet regulatory compliance with operations of HR benefit plan practices and administration.♦ Managed benefit vendors, recordkeepers, brokers, and outside legal counsel relationships.♦ Processed… Show more Managed qualified Health & Welfare and Retirement plan benefits for 1500 employees in 26 states. BENEFITS LEADERSHIP♦ Provided leadership, strategic direction, and guidance for compliance of a MEWA benefit plan.♦ Authored and implemented policies, procedures, and materials to meet regulatory compliance with operations of HR benefit plan practices and administration.♦ Managed benefit vendors, recordkeepers, brokers, and outside legal counsel relationships.♦ Processed layoffs and severance packages during a reduction in force (RIF).BENEFITS VENDOR TRANSITIONS♦ Championed successful transition of MinuteClinic benefits to CVS Caremark benefit carriers for Medical, Dental, 401(k), Flex Plans, and EAP, aligning benefit plan designs with CVS Caremark designs.♦ Managed a cross-functional team of Senior Leaders, Finance, Payroll, and HRIS through Retirement Plan vendor selection and implementation process. ♦ Played lead Benefits role in transition of HRIS/Payroll software from ADP’s HRB/PCPW software to ADP’s Enterprise bundled software.BENEFITS COMPLIANCE♦ Built business case to amend Dependent Care Flex Plan, allowing nurses access to deposited Dependent Care funds when transferring from state to state clinics within plan year. Based on the business case, CVS agreed to amend MinuteClinic’s Dependent Care Plan, plus the CVS and Caremark Dependent Care Plans.♦ Managed cross-functional team of outside ERISA Counsel and CVS Caremark Senior Leaders through a 401(k) Voluntary Correction Program (VCP) submission to the IRS, resulting in IRS approval of recommended corrections and written desk procedures.BENEFITS ARTICULATE COMMUNICATOR – WRITTEN & VERBAL♦ Developed communications to improve employee understanding of benefits.♦ Led Annual Enrollment for Health and Welfare Benefit Plans.♦ Prepared and/or reviewed all plan documentation including Plan Documents, SPDs, SMMs, SARs, Safe Harbor and QDIA Notices, 5500’s, and, Carrier contractual documents. Show less

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Managed the qualified welfare and retirement plan benefits for 600 non-union employees and 200 union employees by designing and implementing cost-effective programs that aligned with corporate goals, employee needs, and regulatory compliance.LEADERSHIP♦ Provided leadership, strategic direction, and guidance for all aspects of benefit plan compliance.♦ Authored and implemented processes, procedures, and materials to meet regulatory compliance with benefit administration.♦… Show more Managed the qualified welfare and retirement plan benefits for 600 non-union employees and 200 union employees by designing and implementing cost-effective programs that aligned with corporate goals, employee needs, and regulatory compliance.LEADERSHIP♦ Provided leadership, strategic direction, and guidance for all aspects of benefit plan compliance.♦ Authored and implemented processes, procedures, and materials to meet regulatory compliance with benefit administration.♦ Managed benefit vendors, recordkeepers, brokers, and outside legal counsel relationships.COMPLIANCE♦ Orchestrated a thorough review of all Non-Union and Union health & welfare and retirement plan documents, policies, contracts, and certificates. Amended documents to streamline inconsistencies and meet regulatory compliance. ♦ Member of the Retirement Plan Fiduciary Committee.COST SAVINGS♦ Audited, identified and reconciled inconsistencies in participant benefits and carrier records, generating a savings of over $75KSUCCESSFUL VENDOR TRANSITIONS♦ Managed an outside legal counsel, welfare benefits broker, and retirement plan consultant review, selection and implementation process. Show less

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Managed US payroll, HRIS, health & welfare, and 401(k) plan benefits for 600 employees in multiple states ensuring compliance with all state and federal applicable laws.LEADERSHIP♦ Provided leadership, strategic direction, and guidance for all aspects of benefit plan compliance.♦ Authored and implemented processes, procedures, and materials to meet regulatory compliance with benefits administration.♦ Managed benefit vendors, recordkeepers, brokers, and outside legal counsel… Show more Managed US payroll, HRIS, health & welfare, and 401(k) plan benefits for 600 employees in multiple states ensuring compliance with all state and federal applicable laws.LEADERSHIP♦ Provided leadership, strategic direction, and guidance for all aspects of benefit plan compliance.♦ Authored and implemented processes, procedures, and materials to meet regulatory compliance with benefits administration.♦ Managed benefit vendors, recordkeepers, brokers, and outside legal counsel relationships.COST SAVINGS and SUCCESSFUL VENDOR TRANSITIONS♦ Led Health & Welfare benefits broker review and selection, reducing annual broker fees by over $150K through broker consolidation and streamlining benefits of all U.S. locations.♦ Managed Retirement Plan vendor selection and implementation process by bundling plan administration and improving employee investment options. Realized a $235K cost savings for participants. ♦ Led in the implementation of a Payroll/HRMS (Ultimate Software) project, implementing the system ahead of schedule and under budget.COMPLIANCE♦ Achieved HIPAA Privacy compliance on time (April 2004), under budget, with high-quality results.♦ Managed workers’ compensation claims and participated on Safety Committee.♦ Member of the Retirement Plan Fiduciary Committee.ARTICULATE COMMUNICATOR – WRITTEN & VERBAL♦ Championed a Wellness Team in 2005 with 50% of employee population participating in the program: 78% of survey respondents believed their health status has improved as a result of the program, and 74% indicated the program positively impacted the workplace morale♦ Developed communications that improve employee understanding of benefits.♦ Led Annual Enrollment for Health and Welfare Benefit Plans. Show less

General Studies

General Studies