Meet our team and welcome to The Pool

Julie is the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations at Forest Hills Public Schools, and past Chair of The Pool. She is passionate about providing her employees quality insurance at an affordable price, and appreciates that her employees are provided with support and guidance through The Pool. Julie loves nature and enjoys watching the owls visit the owl box in her yard.

Serving as The Pool's Chair, Dennis is the Superintendent at Spring Lake Public Schools. In his experience with The Pool, Dennis shares that "there aren't many instances when I've been able to say, 'this is the BEST option for my employees, hands down' but The Pool is all that." Dennis is a self-described "deadhead" having seen the Grateful Dead in seven states after attending his first concert in 1985.

Matt is the Associate Superintendent for Wyoming Public Schools, the former chair of the Pool's Value Committee, and a one-time member of the Pool's long-defunct (but highly acclaimed) Health Cost Management Committee. The Pool's commitments to transparency, customer service, and unwavering pursuit of added value keep Matt energized to work in service to the organization. In his free time, Matt enjoys outdoor activities, concerts, and traveling, with his wife (a teacher) and two children (both in middle school). You might also find him covered in sawdust, turning whatever photo his wife found on Pinterest into reality.

Abby Lloyd, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations at Allegan Area ESA, serves as the Pool’s secretary and prior to, served on the Member Experience Committee for several years. What Abby appreciates most about the Pool is that “it provides staff multiple plan options to meet their individual needs while at the same time having second to none customer service”. When not being an Uber driver for her kids to athletic activities, she enjoys hiking with her family and has loved spending time exploring Isle Royale, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks.

Chris serves as The Pool's Treasurer and is the Assistant Superintendent at Thornapple Kellogg Schools. He's passionate about providing employees high-quality insurance options at a cost that isn't financially detrimental, and appreciates the education opportunities The Pool provides its members. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and three daughters, taking in sporting events and concerts, and even some light mechanic work on the side.

Susan, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Ingham Intermediate School District, chairs The Pool’s Value Committee. Faced with skyrocketing premiums, Ingham ISD’s Healthcare Cost Containment Committee was looking for other insurance options and were very pleased when The Pool expanded to their area of the state. Since 2016, The Pool has provided their staff with great options and many value adds that weren’t available to them in the past. Outside of work, Susan enjoys spending time with family, including her two adult daughters and her two Daisy Dogs.

Kristi is the Assistance Vice President for Human Resources at Mott Community College and The Pool's Member Experience Committee Chair (MEC). Prior to her role as the MEC chair, Kristi served on the Pool's BRAVE committee. What she appreciates most about The Pool is the value and stability it brings to the employees of Mott Community College, as well as the excellent customer service provided. When she's not attending one of the various sports her three boys participate in, she enjoys camping and relaxing with her family and two crazy dogs.

Tim is the City Manager at the City of Zeeland, and currently serving as the Interim Chair of the B.R.A.V.E Committee. When the City joined as The Pool's first municipal member in 2012, they were looking for the best plans and the best price. They found what they were looking for in The Pool. Tim loves that his employees receive "white glove" service and that their organization has a voice in The Pool's decisions. An avid golfer, Tim is proud of his Hole-in-One that won him a car!

Mike leads the Gallagher service team in execution of strategic plan and capitalizing on growth opportunities. He joined the Gallagher team after serving 20 years in public school finance, and is now a key strategist for The Pool in the areas of claims analytics, investments, and membership growth/retention. Mike lives in a perpetual vacation, living in Saugatuck near the shores of Lake Michigan with his family.

Chris joined Gallagher after 15 years in government affairs where he advocated on behalf of public schools at the state and federal level. Chris supports membership growth and retention while monitoring legislative activity impacting members of The Pool. He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Sarah and three young boys. When he's not busy with the family, you can find him chasing a golf ball or cheering on the Spartans.

Leslie has been a Gallagher employee for almost 30 years and loves her role supporting The Pool in its mission to be the top choice for public sector healthcare in Michigan. She leads the team in managing all vendor relationships and developing overall service and delivery strategy for The Pool. Leslie is an MSU grad, avid Spartan fan, and mother to two Spartan alum!

Ashley supports Pool member groups beginning with their initial transition and continuing through each annual enrollment, providing guidance and clarity to all things benefits along the way. She partners with The Pool's Member Experience Committee on projects like the Annual Membership Summit, communications, and new trustee onboarding. Ashley is working on a "world tour" of high teas, having attended one in both Scotland and Vancouver.

Mike helps Pool employers better understand their physical and financial health. He is an expert in leveraging data analytics to provide Pool members with detailed and personalized reporting, aiding in strategy development, communication, and plan design. Working closely with the Value Committee, Mike supports the team by delivering data insights in a highly digestible, user-friendly format. When he is not performing excel wizardry, Mike and his wife love discovering new games or solving puzzles together and are always available for a game of chess or monopoly.

Lottie joined the Gallagher Team to fully support The Pool's marketing and communications initiatives. She provides strategic, personalized communications to engage and educate both members and employees while keeping The Pool's values top of mind. In her free time, you can find her exploring new trails with her dog Zeus and attending anything that involves live music or comedy around Grand Rapids.

Tim assists Pool member groups with their day-to-day tasks and partners in finding solutions that best fit their needs. A thorough grounding in sales and customer service give him the capacity to call an automated phone service and explore the gray area between patience and tolerance, all so Pool members don’t have to. Tim loves learning random facts and is on an eternal quest to find the best "dad joke".

Beth specializes in providing benefits and HR consulting services to Pool members. With experience as a Benefits Manager in a prior role, she brings a focus of client service, vendor interface, implementation, and benefit communications to Pool groups. She is a graduate from Central Michigan University (Go Chips!) and loves spending time with her husband of 25 years along with their two sons. When the weather allows, you can find her kayaking or roasting s’mores over a bonfire.

Mary serves the needs of The Pool with a variety of experience, from financial analyses to client service. Her skills enable her to provide industry knowledge and an analytical perspective. With a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a curious nature, she enjoys finding strategic solutions. Mary loves traveling and will be spending her free time at many different Michigan campgrounds this summer.

Carrie is the Client Associate dedicated to providing support and consultation to group administrators and Pool employees. She has 18 years of benefit and insurance experience that allow her to provide an excellent level of assistance to Pool members. Outside of assisting Pool groups, Carrie enjoys wine tasting and dreams of retiring in Traverse City someday.

Melody serves The Pool by assisting with the day to day administration of their benefit plans. With years of benefits experience under her belt, she works to educate and advocate for Pool members. In her free time, you can find her trying out new restaurants around Grand Rapids, or planning her next travel adventures out of the country.

Amanda brings extensive leadership experience in the service industry to The Pool as Client Manager. Combining her experience, education, and passion in health and wellness, she understands that support looks different for everyone. Amanda thrives on problem solving and clear communication to ensure members feel seen and heard. In her free time, she's spending time with family (two boys and two pups) being active outside, finding holistic approaches to improve mental health, completing DIY projects, and planning her next adventure!

Carley serves The Pool as a Client Associate, supporting the Service team with administrative tasks and special projects. With HR experience in the public sector, she understands the challenges Pool members face and is always eager to find the best solution for their needs. In her personal life, Carley's goal is to visit every European country - 11 down, only 33 left to go!

Renee joined The Pool as a Client Associate with 10 years of experience in various levels of benefits administration. She supports the Service Team with their day-to-day tasks and assists with providing excellent service to members in The Pool. She may not be front and center, but she’s always there, willing to help or tap into available resources. During her downtime, she loves curling up with a good book or catching up on the latest true crime documentaries.

Christine brings her extensive leadership experience in the education and public sector to The Pool as a Senior Client Manager. As a former Executive Director of Human Resources, she pulls from her passion for relationship building, administration, and strategy to support Pool members with their benefits needs. When not working, she enjoys tennis, traveling, and spending time with her husband, Ryan and three boys, Davis, Graham, and Asher.