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The Hall of Fame recognizes CEBS graduates who have shared their time and talents to further the education and professional expertise of those working in the employee benefits field and championed the CEBS designation. Each person in this exceptional group has played a unique role in the growth and development of CEBS and the Society through ongoing support and contributions to the profession.

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Society President Michelle Oram, CEBS, (second from left) honors Hall of Fame inductees David Repko (2020) and Sandy Wood, Bob Jones and Steven Grieb from the Class of 2023 at the 2023 Symposium.

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The 2022 Hall of Fame inductees are honored at the Symposium by ISCEBS President Ryan Siemers, CEBS.

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Wayne Murphy, CEBS is honored at the 2019 Symposium by ISCEBS President Sam Henson, CEBS.

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The 2018 Hall of Fame inductees are honored at the Symposium by ISCEBS President Lisa Kaiser, CEBS.

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Class of 2018

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What his peers say:

Mike has been an incredible contributor to the CEBS program and to the International Society. He has served as a mentor to countless individuals pursuing a career in benefits, many of whom have earned the CEBS designation. He has attended every Symposium and, even more remarkably, every session (except for one). He epitomizes what a true benefits professional should be—ethical, approachable and knowledgeable. He conveys an interest in every individu-al he encounters and has a tremendous sense of humor.

Michael Dooley, CEBS

Retired​​
Chesterfield, Missouri​​​​

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Society President—1991
  • Strategic Planning Committee
    (then known as the Long Range Planning Committee)
  • Symposium Education Committee
    (then known as the Symposium Planning Committee)
  • Education Committee
  • St. Louis Chapter leadership
  • Symposium speaker
  • Attended every Symposium
  • ISCEBS Fellow​​​
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • CEBS Committee
  • Continuing Education Committee
  • Benefits Peer Network
  • CEBS-compliant status​​​​​​​​
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What her peers say:

From early Society leadership, tireless promotion of CEBS and continued dedication to the education of CEBS graduates, nobody matches Katherine’s contribution. Not only has she attended every Symposium since its beginning, but she presents the annual U.S. Legal Update and followup workshop. Following each session, she is engulfed with questions, and she takes time to courteously answer each one.

Most incredibly, given her extensive workload, she has always made time for her friends and associates.

Katherine Hesse, CEBS

Partner
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey, & Lehane, LLP 

Boston, Massachusetts

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Society President—1985
  • Strategic Planning Committee
    (then the Long Range Planning Committee)
  • Greater Boston Chapter president
  • Benefits Quarterly Legal Update editor
  • ISCEBS Fellow
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • Board of Directors
  • CEBS Committee
  • Government Liaison Committee
  • Financial Review Committee
  • Attorneys Committee
  • Attended every Symposium and presents the U.S. Legal Update session
  • Speaker for numerous International Foundation education conferences
  • CEBS-compliant status​​​
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What his peers say:

John was one of the most selfless people I have ever known. He was always willing to give time and talent to his industry, school and community—not just as a member, but as an active participant.

His selfless sharing of his deep knowledge embodies the CEBS program. His contributions to ISCEBS are numerous but are perhaps best exemplified in how much he shared on the ISCEBS Listserv. It seemed that no matter the topic, you could count on John to pitch in with a thorough, thoughtful and insightful response—a response that usually left you in awe. John was also a warm and supportive colleague who always energized me whenever I would run into him at the Symposium or other events.

John Garner, CEBS

Chief Compliance Officer
Bolton Partners
Pasadena, California
(Passed away, 2018)

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Governing Council member and 2004 Society vice president
  • Symposium Education Committee
  • Los Angeles Chapter president
  • Symposium speaker
    (for the annual session “Ask the U.S. Health Care Expert”)
  • ISCEBS Fellow
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • CEBS Committee
  • Contributing editor of Self-Funding Health Benefit Plans
  • CEBS-compliant status​​​​​
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What her peers say:

Mary has been so engaged in the CEBS program since its early days. She has been a great teacher to many of us in the chapter and to even more around the country as an online instructor. She holds herself and all of us to very high standards of excellence and integrity and makes us all better professionals and people as a result of her passion and commitment to the industry.

Mary is a well-known benefits expert and resource for her clients and the rest of us in the benefits community. She is often my first call for help if I have a question or want to bounce an idea off someone. I often see people come up to her locally and at the Symposium to say ‘You were my instructor’ and tell her how much they appreciated her teaching and the impact on their careers. She helps make complex benefits ideas more manageable and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm.

Mary Komornicka, CEBS

Attorney
Larkin Hoffman
Minneapolis, Minnesota

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Society President—2003
  • Strategic Planning Committee
  • Professional Development Committee
    (then known as the Publications Committee)
  • Twin Cities Chapter president
  • Symposium speaker
  • Online class instructor for the U.S. Retirement track of the ISCEBS Fellowship course
  • ISCEBS Fellow
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • CEBS Committee
  • Online class instructor for U.S. CEBS courses
  • CEBS-compliant status​​​​​​​​​
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Class of 2019

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What his peers say:

Wayne has spent most of his career in the benefits field and has dedicated significant time, effort and energy to ISCEBS, the International Foundation and the Toronto Chapter. He is a true champion of our profession and one of the greatest advocates for the program. His enthusiasm for all things International Foundation, ISCEBS and CEBS education are unmatched!

Wayne Murphy, CEBS
CEBS Compliant

Senior Manager, Corporate Services
Prudent Benefits Administration Services, Inc.
Toronto, Ontario

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Society president, 2014
  • Strategic Planning Committee
  • Toronto Chapter president
  • Symposium Education Committee
  • Professional Development Committee
  • Symposium discussion leader, facilitator and moderator
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • CEBS Committee chair​​​​​
  • Corporate Board liaison​​​​​
  • Subject matter expert for CEBS courses​​​​​​​​​​
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Class of 2020

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What his peers say:

He has been a passionate advocate of the CEBS designation and the Society for his entire career. He encouraged many people to pursue the designation and become involved in the Society, including me.

Dave has been a thought leader and an innovator in the employee benefits field. His accomplishments include a number of notable early adoptions of ground breaking benefit changes. One notable accomplishment during his year as president of the ISCEBS is the special recognition luncheon and gift for ISCEBS Fellows at the Symposium. This was done to encourage ISCEBS members to focus on continuous learning in the benefits field. Dave currently maintains his Fellowship status, in part, as a role model for others.

David Repko, CEBS,
CEBS Compliant,
ISCEBS Fellow

Consultant
Solon, Ohio​​​​

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Society president, 2005
  • Northeast Ohio chapter past president
  • Symposium Education committee
  • Professional Development committee
  • Symposium speaker and facilitator ​​​
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • Corporate Board chair
  • Board of Directors
  • Resource Group member
  • Educational program speaker and facilitator
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What her peers say:

She is a true champion of the CEBS program and promotes the Twin Cities educational luncheons to at least 100 clients every month. Deb has been a terrific resource and help to me (and others) always responsive and eager to assist.

Deb has been involved with the Twin Cities Chapter since its inception. And by "involved" I mean in every sense of the word. She did not reduce her involvement after her formal time on the Board, which unfortunately is often the case. Instead she has chaired the Board's Education Committee, whose responsibility it is to coordinate monthly educational luncheons, for many years. She routinely volunteers to take on additional tasks and projects, and always provides thoughtful guidance to board members. The most important thing to know about Deb is that she doesn't do these things because her employer asked her to, because she thinks it will look good on her resume, or because it's another bucket list item to be checked. She does it because she truly cares.

Debra Rosenberg, CEBS,
CEBS Compliant

Retired
Edina, Minnesota

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Governing Council member
  • Twin Cities chapter past president and education chair
  • Fellowship Retirement track online class instructor
  • Symposium speaker and facilitator
  • Professional Development committee
  • Membership & Chapter Development committee
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • Webcast speaker
  • E-learning subject matter expert
  • CEBS class instructor
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Class of 2021

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Leonard Comberiate, CEBS
CEBS Compliant

Assistant Associate Professor
New York University, School of Professional Studies

Global Benefits Consultant
Open Society Foundations, Ossining, New York

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Symposium speaker
  • NewsBriefs author
  • New York Metro chapter member, speaker and volunteer​​

What his peers say:

His role as an ISCEBS Fellow since 1988 has impacted the benefits profession and ISCEBS while serving as a mentor for HR and benefit professionals at various organizations and events.

He has played a major role in motivating and educating hundreds of employees to earn their designations. He has championed the CEBS designation for nearly 40 years.

Len has truly shared his time and talents with the benefits community, and with all whom he has come in contact with.

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Class of 2022

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What her peers say:

Janis has been a tireless champion of the educational mission of ISCEBS. My studies had stalled for years and Janis energized and challenged me to make the time to finish my designation and even achieve Fellowship. She has dedicated so much to our local chapter making it one of the most successful and well respected industry organizations in our community. She is a role model and mentor to so many people in our benefits community. She leads by example and has inspired me personally to stretch and grow. She mentors early career hires at her firm. Janis is a consummate professional who is a leader in our industry.

Janis Koltun, CEBS
CEBS Compliant

Senior Account Executive

CBIZ
Minneapolis, Minnesota

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Governing Council member
  • Professional Development committee member
  • Membership & Chapter Development committee member
  • Symposium Education committee member
  • Twin Cities past president and board member
  • Symposium speaker and moderator
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • CEBS Committee member
  • Virtual conference moderator
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What his peers say:

Tim always seeks to encourage participation of other CEBS designees and has inspired numerous individuals to apply for committee assignments, get involved with their local chapter and attend the Chapter Volunteer Forum. During his time on the IFEBP Board and Public Employees Board, Tim has sought to highlight and promote ISCEBS and the CEBS designation with his IFEBP colleagues. Tim is a champion for the CEBS program and looks for ways to access new channels and new audiences to introduce to the CEBS program. This has included outreach and promotion with outside benefit organizations and colleges and universities to build relationships and promote CEBS.

Tim Valencia, CEBS,
CEBS Compliant

WA Law Enforcement Officers & Fire Fighters Plan 2 Retirement Board
Tumwater, Washington

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Chapter Webcast Committee chair
  • Professional Development committee member
  • Membership & Chapter Development committee member
  • Symposium moderator and facilitator
  • Pacific Northwest chapter past president and presenter
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • IFEBP Board of Directors
  • Public Employees Board vice-chair
  • Educational program speaker, moderator and panelist
  • Benefits Peer Network participant







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Class of 2023

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What his peers say:

Steven is the definition of involved. He is one of the people who has inspired me to be more and do more in this organization. He has exceled in educating benefit professionals at the highest level of integrity. He was among the first people I met at my first Symposium and he was quick to include me, educate me, and make sure I was having a good experience. Since then I've seen him do the same with many others including encouraging their involvement in committees and governance. He is always visible and engaging people. That takes a lot of effort to be that involved in that many places, but he does it well and is a shining example to everyone else.

Steven Grieb, CEBS

Senior Compliance Counsel

Gallagher
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Society President – 2011
  • Strategic Planning committee
  • Milwaukee chapter president
  • Membership & Chapter Development committee
  • Symposium Education committee
  • Symposium speaker and moderator
  • NewsBriefs author
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • Benefits Magazine author
  • CEBS committee
  • Corporate Board
  • Speaker, instructor and panelist
  • Plans & Trusts Editorial Advisory Panel
  • Benefits Magazine Editorial Advisory Panel
  • CEBS Compliant
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What his peers say:

Bob is a human dynamo. In the early years of CEBS and the Society, Bob was the most energetic and enthusiastic supporter, cheerleader, initiator, attendee– for years he never missed a chapter meeting or the Symposium, serving as a speaker, author, officer, and so much more. He played a major role in geting the Pittsburgh Chapter off the ground and running. He worked tirelessly to create interest in the designation, to get the chapter organized, to find great speakers and topics, to create some of the best networking opportunities for benefits professionals – soon Pittsburgh became of the top models for exemplifying what the ISCEBS could do and should do to support its members and its chapters. Even when his professional duties changed, he has continued to mentor and help make connections for dozens and dozens of Society members over the years.

Robert Jones, CEBS

CEO
Innovative Benefits and Compensation Concepts

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Society President – 1984
  • Long Range Planning committee
  • Pittsburgh chapter leadership
  • Symposium speaker, discussion leader and moderator
  • Benefits Quarterly author
  • Benefits Quarterly Editorial Advisory Panel
  • Local Chapter committee
  • Publications committee
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • CEBS committee
  • Continuing Education committee
  • Accountants committee
  • Financial Review committee
  • Interns committee
  • Educational Programs committee
  • Benefits Peer Network participant
  • CEBS instructor
  • Speaker, instructor, moderator, author
  • Founder, Jerry Rosenbloom CEBS Scholarship
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What her peers say:

Donna is an amazing ambassador for the CEBS community! One would think that being on the Governing Council is dedicating yourself enough, but not Donna! I began pursuing the CEBS designation as a mid-career professional and Donna supported me every step of the way! She has been a wonderful mentor and she has also encouraged other colleagues within her organization to pursue the designation for professional development. Donna is also a walking billboard for the CEBS designation. She is always educating new members about the value of obtaining the designation and the prestige it brings to those professionals. Her enthusiasm for benefits, compensation and wellness is contagious

Donna Pierson, CEBS

Director, Compensation, Benefits and Payroll (Retired 2023)
Milwaukee Center for Independence
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Governing Council member
  • Milwaukee chapter president, board member, and education chair
  • Symposium discussion leader and moderator
  • Membership & Chapter Development committee
  • Professional Development committee
  • Symposium Education committee
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What her peers say:

Sandy is a rockstar in the local benefits community and one of the leaders in developing the delivery of virtual content. Her efforts paved the way for the ISCEBS Chapter Webcast commitee. She created an administrative structure and processes for the local chapter which has helped it to thrive over the last decade. She is actively involved in other local organizations and brings visibility to the CEBS designation. She engages at social events to recruit for the Chapter and the Board. She has consistently given full effort and passion to making the program and organization better. Sandy has been a relentless champion for reaching out designation "completers" and promoting the CEBS designation. Sandy has dedicated more time and effort to the local chapter than any other person I know.

Sandra Wood, CEBS

Chief Benefits Consultant
The Benefits Academy
Seattle, Washington

ISCEBS contributions and accomplishments

  • Society President – 2012
  • Strategic Planning committee
  • Membership & Chapter Development committee
  • Symposium Education commitee
  • Professional Development committee
  • Pacific Northwest chapter president
  • Chapter Webcast coalition
  • Symposium speaker, moderator and facilitator
  • NewsBriefs author
  • Benefits Quarterly author
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International Foundation contributions and accomplishments

  • CEBS committee
  • Content Resource Groups contributor
  • Corporate Board
  • E-learning courses subject matter expert
  • CEBS Compliant




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