We employ a team approach to support clients in the administration of their benefit plans. Our philosophy is to create a strong sense of commitment and accountability on the part of our staff, and at the same time, provide a reliable point of contact for our clients to draw upon.

Our commitment to our clients is a reflection of the dedication of our staff. Our claims and client services staff has an average of 15 years of industry experience and we provide regular, on-going training. We maintain a policy of promoting from within the company whenever possible, encourage and facilitate continuing education, and encourage employee feedback. Our staff is highly skilled and represented by the OPEIU Local 11.

Jennifer Schmidt - Owner
President & CEO

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Jennifer Schmidt is responsible for long term strategic planning, business operations and the growth of A&I Benefit Plan Administrators, Inc.

Jennifer joined A&I in 1985 and has served in many capacities over the years, including operations, project management, labor relations and marketing. In 1996, she left the company to take some time off with her new husband and then joined Mercer Human Resource Consulting for a year, before returning to A&I in 1998 to participate in the development of new services and offerings designed specifically for self funded clients. Jennifer progressed from office manager to chief operating officer, and eventually became president and chief executive officer in 2002.

To ensure the overall operational success of the company, Jennifer works with the management team in virtually every aspect of the business to develop solutions that meet the needs of our clients and to further strengthen A&I’s unique position in the TPA marketplace.

Jennifer currently serves on the board of directors of Girls Inc. of Northwest Oregon, an affiliate of the national Girls Incorporated, the nation’s leading voice for girls. She is also on the finance committee for Friends of the Children - Portland, a non-profit organization that provides Portland's most at-risk children with intensive and long-term mentors. Jennifer has been a volunteer with Dress for Success Oregon since 2004 and previously served as secretary on the board of directors for Acey's Closet, a non profit organization committed to developing resources for non profit agencies that help low income women enter the workforce and retain employment. She is also a member of The Link for Women, Portlandia Club and the Executive Women’s Golf Association.

Jennifer is also actively involved in industry organizations. She serves as a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators and the Self-Insurance Institute of America.

Lee Centrone - Owner
Senior Vice President & Trust Administrator

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Lee Centrone is responsible for A&I’s Taft-Hartley division. She joined A&I in 1997, following a diverse career. Lee graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in business administration from Pepperdine University in 1992. After completing the Navy ROTC program at UCLA, she spent the next four years as a Naval Special Operations officer, specializing in deep sea diving. Lee was only one of just a handful of women in the country to earn this distinction. Following her tour of duty, Lee worked at MassMutual as a registered representative, obtaining a Health, Life & Disability insurance license and knowledge of employee benefits.

Lee is actively involved with the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. She is currently on the Administrators Committee and served one year as chair of the Benefits Communication & Technology Committee, and was a committee member for three years. She speaks frequently on a variety of employee benefit topics at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Annual Conference, as well as the Trustees & Administrators Institute. Lee has been a member of the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators for the past 10 years.

In March of 2008, Lee was recognized as a "Forty Under 40" recipient by the Portland Business Journal. This award is extended to 40 business professionals under the age of 40, who make an impact on our community in the areas of professional accomplishment, community involvement and professional recognition.

Of great significance is Lee’s involvement with Health Bridges International, a non profit organization committed to improving public health by creating medical and social service partnerships between healthcare workers and organizations in the United States and those in developing nations. Lee, who currently serves as treasurer on the board of directors, was very involved in the founding of the organization, along with her husband, Dr. Wayne Centrone. They both spend several weeks each year in Peru, and Lee volunteers her time organizing medical and social outreach missions to help those in need.

David Corbelli
Controller

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David Corbelli joined A&I in 2001 and has over 17 years of financial and operations management experience in the private sector and six years in public accounting. David began his career as a tax consultant with Deloitte & Touche. In 1990, he joined Beck, Kudlich & Swartman, an insurance and employee benefits consulting firm, acquired by Aon Risk Services in 1998. He is the controller for A&I and maintains ongoing banking and investment management relationships.

David earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Hawaii and a master of business administration degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu, and obtained his CPA license. David is a member of Financial Executives International.

Throughout his career, David has been successful in the implementation of systems and procedures to increase efficiencies and improve quality. He has developed and conducted training programs and served as a regional trainer for PeopleSoft, an enterprise application software program.

Rich Crook
Account Manager

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Rich Crook joined A&I in 2004 and is responsible for directly serving A&I’s Taft-Hartley clients.

Rich has served as a Project Coordinator and a Senior Benefits Specialist for a large Taft-Hartley client while at A&I. In both positions, Rich has worked closely with Trustees, plan professionals and vendors, and constantly focused on providing for exceptional internal and external customer service. He approaches third party administration from the unique position of having served as a Health and Welfare Trustee while a graduate teaching fellow at the University of Oregon.

Rich holds a master of science degree in political science, with a focus on health care policy, from the University of Oregon, and a bachelor of arts degree in broadcast journalism from Southern Methodist University.

Susan Gentry
Financial Services Manager

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Susan Gentry joined A&I in January 2008 and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of A&I’s financial services department.

Susan came to A&I from a financial reporting software company, where she spent nine years advancing from implementation consultant to senior consulting manager, managing a team of financial consultants. Susan’s prior experience was with a large international information technology company as a production analyst and a financial analyst. 

Susan earned a bachelor of science at The Ohio State University and a second bachelor of science, summa cum laude, in accounting at Franklin University in 1993. She obtained her CPA license in 1994 and earned a certification in management accounting (CMA) in 1996. Susan is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants. Her management, financial and technical acumen provides the expertise our clients require.

Liz Halvorson
Account Manager

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Liz Halvorson joined A&I in May of 2001 and is responsible for directly serving A&I’s corporate and Taft-Hartley clients. She ensures client satisfaction, solicits customer feedback and incorporates strategic solutions to enhance the A&I experience for our customers.

With 13 years of industry experience, Liz previously served as a Claims Supervisor at A&I. In her role, she worked closely with the Claims Director on strategic planning for the Claims department, and developed and executed operational enhancements. Liz has also been a resource to our clients, consultants, vendors and internal team members for reporting, product development and enhanced customer service. She has experience working on new client implementations, system development projects, technology upgrades, operational improvement projects, large case management and reinsurance. Liz also served as administrator for WLT, A&I’s claims software program, and chaired the WLT Client Roundtable Meeting at the annual WLT User’s Conference in 2005 and 2006.

Liz attended Santa Rosa Junior College and obtained a Human Resource Management Certificate from Sonoma State University in 1997. She also earned a Medical Terminology Certificate in 1998 and was honored as A&I’s Employee of the Year in 2002. Liz is a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators. With her deep technology and industry knowledge, Liz is a great benefit to our clients and is committed to providing exceptional customer service.

Darby Thiessen, PHR
Compliance & Administrative Manager

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Darby Thiessen joined A&I in July of 2003. She is responsible for maintaining an effective compliance program to meet the rules and regulations of HIPAA, COBRA, ERISA, and other mandates for Group Health Plans. She ensures continuous compliance for A&I and our clients, and is responsible for the supervision of A&I's support services department and office facilities.

Darby's background as a human resource generalist, along with her education, make her a strong asset to A&I. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in human resource management from George Fox University and a master of arts degree in organizational management from University of Phoenix.

Darby earned a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) designation from HRCI, the credentialing organization for human resource professionals. This certification signifies that Darby possesses theoretical knowledge and practical experience in human resource management and demonstrates a mastery of the body of knowledge of the human resource field. Darby is an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world's largest organization which promotes the establishment of professional standards and recognizes professionals who meet those standards. She is a also member of PHRMA, the Portland Human Resource Management Association, and the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators.

Darby has spoken on numerous compliance topics since joining A&I. She has a strong commitment to supporting A&I, our clients, business partners and employees.

Steve Voiles
Claims Manager

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Steve Voiles joined A&I in 2010 and is responsible for overseeing A&I’s claims operations.

Steve brings with him over 17 years of leadership and experience. He has diverse experience working in call center environments and previously worked in the consumer electronics industry. He has spent the past seven years leading teams at insurance companies.

A native Oregonian, Steve began his career in the US Army, and then earned a bachelor of science from Portland State University with a focus in management and human resources. He has a track record of bringing out the best in people, has a strong technology orientation and encourages people to work smarter, not harder. Steve brings to A&I his keen eye for process improvement and attention to detail, as well as a unique, strategic approach to leadership.

Julie Zola
Director of Marketing & Business Development

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Julie Zola joined A&I in November of 2006 and is responsible for overseeing the company’s strategic marketing direction, focusing on business development and implementing marketing programs.

With over 20 years of marketing experience, Julie previously served as director of client relations and marketing for the law firm of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt P.C. Julie earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Arizona and completed studies towards a master of mass communications at Arizona State University. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Northwest Association of Administrators, and previously served as a board member of Congregation Neveh Shalom and the Seattle chapter of the Legal Marketing Association, as well as a member of the Multnomah Bar Association Communications Task Force and the Oregon Public Broadcasting Business Partner Steering Committee.

Julie is a member of the Health Care Administrators Association (HCAA), the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. She has spoken on a variety of marketing topics and is the author of several articles focused on marketing. Julie is currently co-chair of the 2010 HCAA Executive Forum.