About Us

Angela is the Benefits Director at Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. She has over 25 years of experience in plan administration, compliance, and management of both in-house and vendor plans. Angela began her career part-time in the Pension Department of G. Heileman Brewing Company during college. Before her current role, she was the Benefits Manager at the Star Tribune Media Company. Angela holds a B.S. degree in Finance and Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and earned her CEBS designation in 1994. She is also a past Fellow.

Stephanie Carter, CEBS, is the Director of Total Rewards at The Minnesota Star Tribune, overseeing benefits, payroll, and compensation since 2020. With over 25 years in human resources, she previously held leadership roles at Patterson Companies and Green Tree Servicing. Stephanie holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. She earned her CEBS designation in 2008.

Natalie Chandler, CEBS, is the Sr. Benefits Manager at Vessco Water, bringing nearly 10 years of comprehensive Human Resources and Total Rewards experience. She has been an active member of the Twin Cities Chapter since 2018 and has co chaired the Marketing and Membership Committee since January 2020. Natalie earned her CEBS designation in 2020.

Patti Oestreich has been the Benefits Manager at Midco since 2016, with over twenty years of experience in employee benefits across different sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management from Winona State University. In 2017, she obtained her CEBS certification.

Cheryl serves as the Director of Health and Welfare Programs at Mayo Clinic, bringing over 25 years of experience in benefits. In her previous roles, she focused on managing health care costs for employers. Cheryl holds an MBA in Marketing and Health Care Management and obtained her CEBS certification in 2018.

Bre Ostrom is the Director of Total Rewards at Vessco Water with a decade of experience in benefits and wellness. She previously worked as the Benefits Manager at Kraus-Anderson Companies. Bre holds a CEBS designation (2019), Minnesota Health and Property & Casualty insurance licenses, and a B.S. degree in Health and Human Performance from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.

Nicci LaValle joined the HealthEZ team as Regional Vice President in 2022. She strategizes with brokers and clients to find customized self-funded (and level-funded) medical solutions for their unique employee populations. Nicci has been in the employee benefit industry, working in the large group, self-funded market, for 25 years. She spent the first half of those years on the broker side of the business with two large brokerage houses in the twin cities. She spent five years with a local Fortune 200 in their employee benefits group. She has been on the medical carrier/TPA side of the business for the past seven years. Nicci holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Concordia University, St. Paul, and an MBA from St. Mary’s University Minnesota. Nicci received her GBA certification in 2016. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family which includes her husband and two grown sons. She also enjoys spending time training her two dogs.

Jared is an Account Executive at USI Insurance Services, where he joined in January 2020. He serves as a liaison between clients and insurance companies, assisting with the design and implementation of benefit programs, while coming up with strategies to manage his clients’ health care and ancillary benefit costs. Jared has worked in the insurance industry since 2000 and has experience in both property and casualty insurance and health insurance. He holds a BA degree from the University of Minnesota Morris, with majors in Statistics and minors in Biology and Math. He earned his CEBS designation in 2017. Besides his professional role, Jared is active in his community. He volunteers at church, helps coach his daughters’ softball teams, and he is a regular blood donor.