Tag: Meet the Team

This month, Erica Pickens, Senior Underwriter, describes her team’s role at BCS, what she likes about her job, and more.

Q: Describe you/your team’s role at BCS.

A: Our main role is to evaluate each group risk and ensure that the risks are appropriate and consistent with underwriting guidelines and state regulations. We also review large or ongoing claim concerns and adjust rates appropriately. We are actively involved with testing new rating, underwriting and front-end systems and analyzing statistical data. We work with all internal departments to continue to manage our risk.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I really enjoy being able to use my problem-solving skills.

Q: What skills does someone need to succeed in your role?

A: Be able to make sound financial and risk assessments, advanced analytical skills, problem-solving skills, the ability to multi-task and collaborate.

Q: How long have you been with the company? What’s kept you at BCS?

A: I have been with BCS for 12 years and have really valued being able to mix up my time on a variety of different projects. This includes being a member of our Culture Team and the leader of the Event Planning Team (EPal).

Q: What’s your idea of the perfect day?

A: My perfect day is hanging out with my daughter.

Wendy Present, Associate Counsel, gives us insights to her job in Legal and her unique journey with BCS.

Q: What does a typical day at BCS look like for you?

A: One of the things I like about my job is that there is no “typical” day. My primary responsibilities involve contract drafting, review, and negotiation. However, I review such a wide range of contracts that every day brings a new challenge and opportunity for learning.

Q: Tell us about a project you are working on.

A: I am currently working, along with other team members, to roll out a new automated contract management system and to ensure that the new system will produce enhanced efficiency and improved processes for our contract creation, review, approval, execution, and storage. I am proud to take part in a project that is so innovative and impactful to our organization.

Q: What skills does someone need to succeed in your role?

A: In addition to a law degree, law license, and a specialization in contract law, the person serving in this role needs to possess solid organization and time management skills in order to manage competing priorities, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and great attention to detail.

Q: How long have you been with the company?

A: I have had an interesting and unique journey with BCS. I first began working for BCS right out of law school. Although my career and personal life took me in different directions for a time, I happily returned to BCS last year! My combined years of service now total about 7 ½ years. What drew me to BCS initially is what drew me back here again—the culture and the people. It is a collaborative, professional, and team-oriented group of people who truly seem to care about the work we do, our customers, and each other.

Q: Where is your favorite place in the world?

A: My favorite place in the world is wherever my family is (even better if my family happens to be in Santorini, Greece, or Lanai’, Hawaii).

Q: What is one thing on your bucket list?

A: I would love to experience a safari in Africa one day.

Hear from Jonathan Jimenez about his Compliance Analyst role, and the skills needed to succeed at BCS.

Q: What does a typical day at BCS look like for you?
A: On Mondays I work from home in my pajamas so that’s nice. Besides that though, everyday consists of issuing policies, whether it be Limited Benefits (LB), Accident Indemnity (AI), Hospital Indemnity (HI), and/or Critical Illness (CI)  products. I’ve recently taken on the mantle of CODE Commander, so it’s been interesting steering BCS into a new way to handle our regulatory obligations. Beyond that, I take on whatever is asked of me by my teammates, or the Wellness Committee.

Q: What skills does someone need to succeed in your role?
A: Focus, Memory, and Flexibility. I deal with lots of repetitive tasks that can vary wildly from group to group and product to product, so focus and memory go hand in hand with issuing policies. Having a good memory and remaining focused on the task at hand is imperative to maintaining a low-error, high volume output. Flexibility has come into play more recently now that I’m under the Operations & Services department; since we all share in each other workloads, we have to be prepared to step in when needed. In the past, I was only exposed to issuing Limited Benefit policies; now I am included in many differing projects, which I enjoy. You never know what the day will bring so you must stay ready for the unexpected.

Q: Describe your department in three words.
A: (1) Fluid – because we are constantly reshaping ourselves to fit the needs of the company. (2) Resolute – despite the challenges we face, we remain committed to getting the job done, and done with precision. (3) Funny – we all have a good sense of humor, and we aren’t afraid to share our lives with one another, even the embarrassing moments (who accidentally cuts their eyeball with a toothbrush?!).

Q: What’s the biggest risk you have taken?
A: Showing my wife Sasha my Pokemon card collection way too early in our relationship.

Q: In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, would you rather find a pot of gold or find a four-leaf clover that will bring you good luck?
A: Right in front of my house, I found two 4-leaf clovers in a span of 10 minutes. I got zero luck from them. So definitely the pot of gold. Not sure how I’d explain it to my bank or the IRS, but I’m willing to cross that bridge when I get there.

This month, we feature Assistant Vice President, Risk Management, Tim Medema. Read on for a day-in-the-life of the Enterprise Risk Management team.

Q: Describe your/your team’s role at BCS.

A: The Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) team is responsible for performing the risk assessment for BCS, monitoring the results and controls to ensure that the Company is prepared for each new challenge. We are also responsible for the company’s Quality Assurance (QA) / Internal Audit (IA) functions. In our QA/IA role we primarily monitor Compliance, Claims, Underwriting and Policy Administration activities at our outside business partners to provide support and insight to strengthen their operations. The ERM team also has many other responsibilities including several of our annual external audits, providing support in due diligence activities, and vendor management.

Q: What does a typical day at BCS look like for you? 

A: Different – No day is the same because we interact with all functional areas within BCS. As you can imagine, the diverse range of responsibilities require quick thinking, collaboration, and an opportunity to make a difference.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The fact that each day is truly different. I have a team of three direct reports who are dedicated, intelligent, and hard-working.  Because the team and I interact with so many people within BCS, we are not pigeon-holed and never get bored.

Q: What skills does someone need to succeed in your role?

A: Good written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, dedication, strong subject matter knowledge and a sense of humor.

Q: Describe your department in three words.

A: Dedicated, cohesive and flexible.

Q: You assess risk for a living. What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? 

A: I am generally a risk-averse person and while I may be on the slightly wild side of conservative, I would have to say driving up IL Rte. 83 to and from work each day is more that enough risk for me.

We are kicking off 2020 with a look into our Corporate Services Department. For many, Corporate Services Assistant, Carmen Maldonado is the first person they speak with when calling or coming into our office.

Q: Describe your/your team’s role at BCS.

A: My team’s role at BCS is to deliver the best service for all the company’s internal needs. This includes managing the front desk, answering phones, greeting guests, fulfilling print requests, ordering supplies, and so much more.

Q: Tell us about something new you are working on? 

A: To better assist my team members with print job orders I am currently training on how to run our printer/copier machine.

Q: What skills does someone need to succeed in your role?

A: The environment at the front desk can change from being extremely busy with guests checking in, incoming calls, lunch orders being delivered to being completely quiet. Skills I would say are most needed for my position in order to succeed would be to master the art of multitasking.

Q: How long have you been with BCS?

A: I have been at BCS for 6 years. What keeps me here is the inspiration I receive from my Supervisor Kevin Mitchell who encourages me to strengthen my skills and build confidence in my position.

Q: Did you make a New Years resolution?

A: My New Year’s resolution is start doing yoga.

Q: In your role, you wear a lot of different hats. What is your best advice for balancing a multitude of tasks? 

A: My best advice for my role is to have a positive and confident attitude. Being the face of the company is an important role to have which is why it is critical to greet everyone, not just outside guests, with a smile!