Our Board of Directors is made up of member employers who actively work to shape initiatives and oversee organizational performance.
The board is made up of a diverse group of professionals from various industries. Their active engagement and leadership are central to our approach and vital to guiding our growth.
Sarah Alpert
Director of Total Rewards
MetroHealth
Sarah Alpert is an accomplished Total Rewards professional with over 22 years of extensive experience in designing and managing comprehensive benefits programs. Currently serving as the Director of Total Rewards at MetroHealth, Sarah has demonstrated strategic leadership by growing her team in size and depth of responsibilities. Her innovative approach has led to significant savings and enhanced employee benefits, including the introduction of paid parental leave, implementing "workperks" and expanding wellness programs. Prior to MetroHealth, Sarah held key roles at First Brands Group, Marsh MMC, and Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, where she successfully managed large-scale benefits programs and achieved 98% client retention. In addition to employee benefits, Sarah's expertise spans across various facets of HR, including mergers and acquisitions, payroll, and employee relations. She holds a BA in Organizational Communication from The University of Akron.
Amy Capitena-DuFour
Director, Global Total Rewards
Swagelok
Amy Capitena-DuFour has experience working in the industrial manufacturing industry. She is skilled in Global compensation, Sales Incentive Plan Design, Corporate Tax Preparation, Internal Audit, and Tax Incentives.
Christina Elliott
Deputy Executive Director | Chief Benefits Officer
STRS Ohio
Christina Elliott serves as the Deputy Executive Director for Benefits and Administration at the Ohio State Teachers' Retirement System. With nearly two decades of expertise in strategic planning, healthcare policy, financial management, and organizational leadership, Christina has made significant contributions within some of the world's largest public pension systems. On weekends, she and her husband, Travis, are often found cheering on their two daughters at the soccer fields. An outdoor enthusiast, Christina also enjoys walking her dog, Milo, along the scenic nature trails near their home in Plain City, Ohio. She holds a bachelor's degree from California State University, Sacramento, and a master's degree from the University of Southern California.
David Janak
Director of Employee Benefits and Risk Management
Boulder Valley School District
David Janak is the Director of Employee Benefits and Risk Management at Boulder Valley School District. He and his team ensure that the proper benefits systems are in place, including health insurance, the Employee Assistance Program and Workers’ Compensation, for employees and staff when they need them. Prior to joining the BVSD, he served as Chief Financial Officer at Mapleton Public Schools for four years.
David earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of South Dakota and a Master of Science in Education, School Business Leadership at Wilkes University.
Cassie Leiby
Senior Director, Global Benefits
The Lubrizol Corporation
Cassie is skilled in benefits design and strategy, governance, compliance, project management, communications, wellness, business process improvement, and human resources information systems. At Lubrizol, Cassie’s key accountability is to ensure the benefit programs are cost-effective, compliant, and competitive to support the recruitment and retention of global employees.
Jolee Perez
Director of Employee Benefits
City of McAllen
Jolee Perez, CEBS, serves as the Director of Employee Benefits at the City of McAllen, TX, where she leads the tactical administration of all benefit programs and policies and actively researches innovative approaches to reduce healthcare spend for 4,000+ members. Prior to joining the City of McAllen, she served as Association Executive of the Greater McAllen Association of REALTORS as well as the Human Resources Manager at The Home Depot.
Jolee obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity International University and earned a Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) from the University of Phoenix.
Ethan Rush
Director of US Medical Benefits
Eaton
Ethan Rush is the Director of U.S. Medical Benefits at Eaton Corporation where he is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and strategy of Eaton’s U.S. Medical health and welfare plans. Prior to joining Eaton in 2021, he spent seven years with Willis Towers Watson in their Health and Benefits Consulting practice assisting a multitude of clients with developing their benefits strategy.