PLANSPONSOR - November - December 2023 - 26

AWARDS | 2023 PLANSPONSOR SERVICE STARS
Team Service Stars
Bryan Cichon and
Justin Romero
RECORDKEEPER: Bank of America
CLIENT COMPANY: Blackbaud Inc.
COMPANY INDUSTRY: Technology/Computers/Software
CLIENT HEADQUARTERS: Charleston, South Carolina
PLAN ASSETS/PARTICIPANTS: $200mm - $500mm/1,000 - 4,999
M
aKeva McDaniel, director of global benefits for Blackbaud
Inc., a software provider for nonprofits, says her company
" has a pretty expansive benefits offering. We try to make sure
we're focused on [improving employees' overall] well-being. "
In that effort, McDaniel and Bank of America Senior
Relationship Manager Bryan Cichon (left), who has served BofA
for 24 years and Blackbaud for 13, and Senior Engagement
Manager Justin Romero (right), who has served BofA for nine
years and Blackbaud for two-and-a-half, study enrollment data and
participant behavior, then brainstorm methods.
After noticing an increase in hardship withdrawals, the three
created an engagement strategy to show employees alternatives,
such as building an emergency fund through Bank of America,
and provided personal finance coaching.
A financial wellness specialist earlier in his career, Romero
says he applies that experience when he and Cichon create participant
programs. They produce a quarterly Financial Fitness curriculum
and special events-e.g., programs for affinity groups-
specifically for Blackbaud.
" What Blackbaud has asked for has not only helped Blackbaud,
but we've applied it to other plans, " Romero says. -KL
Cathy Boyan and
Daniel Smolinski
RECORDKEEPER: Empower
CLIENT COMPANY: Berry Petroleum
Company, LLC
COMPANY INDUSTRY: Oil and Gas/Energy
CLIENT HEADQUARTERS: Bakersfield, California
PLAN ASSETS/PARTICIPANTS: $50mm - $100mm/1,000 - 4,999
S
enior Relationship Manager Cathy Boyan (left) and Senior
Client Service manager Daniel Smolinski (right), with
Empower for 36 and 15 years, respectively, have both served Berry
Petroleum Company since 2019. The team faced a challenge when
Berry acquired oil drilling company C&J Well Services in 2021.
26 PLANSPONSOR.COM November - December 2023
" Berry had to fully transition 950 employees, which was
three times our original size, in only 30 days, " says Marisol
Ramirez, vice president of human resources for Berry.
" This was the first time they'd acquired another company, "
Smolinski says. The transition required substantial communication
upfront, particularly about the retirement plan, he notes.
Bringing the additional workers into the 401(k) plan was challenging
because the acquired company had no 401(k). Berry uses
automatic enrollment and wanted to provide education about that
and the plan's benefits. But most of the new employees worked in
the oil fields without computer access.
So Boyan and Smolinski brought the information to them,
conducting seminars in trailers before work and during the day.
The transition was completed in 60 days. " My team and
Empower made it pretty seamless, " Boyan says. -KL
Karen Coito, Jon Joss
and Adam Witte
RECORDKEEPER: Fidelity Investments
CLIENT COMPANY: Kiewit Corporation
COMPANY INDUSTRY: Engineering; Chemicals/Mining; Oil
and Gas/Energy; Building/Construction/Contracting
CLIENT HEADQUARTERS: Omaha, Nebraska
PLAN ASSETS/PARTICIPANTS: >$1b/10,000 - 19,999
K
iewit Corporation, a privately held construction company
founded in 1894, has 29,000 employees working
throughout North America. Approximately 19,000 are in the
Fidelity Investments 401(k), in either of two classifications: staff
or nonunion craft, which have different matching programs.
Client Service Manager Karen Coito (left), Managing
Director Jon Joss (top right) and Client Service Administrator
Adam Witte (bottom), with Fidelity for 22, 17 and 11 years,
respectively, started working with Kiewit in 2019.
Plan administration and communication can be complicated
because participants are spread over the various job sites,
get moved around frequently and lack easy computer access, says
Sandy Otto, Kiewit's assistant benefits manager.
So the team set up plan messaging and education through
email and printed copy, in-person meetings and via Microsoft
Teams. It also ensured that the Fidelity call center offered bilingual
support for Kiewit's many Spanish speakers. " We want their
point of view of what's going to be the easiest for them, " Coito says.
Otto has regular partnership calls with the Fidelity team,
and each member brings special expertise. -KL
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PLANSPONSOR - November - December 2023

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