Our Leadership
Board of Trustees
A board of 16 trustees governs Portico Benefit Services and the administration of its assets. As stewards to the ELCA, trustees share their financial and managerial expertise, professional integrity, and dedication to God and this church. Trustees are elected to serve a three-year term, with up to two consecutive re-elections, at the ELCA’s triennial Churchwide Assembly – this church’s highest legislative authority.
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Trustees
- The Rev. Hans E. Becklin
Pastor, Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kissel Hill
Lititz, PA
Term 2022 – 2025 - Angela M. Dejene (Secretary)
President
Dejene Communications
Plymouth, MN
Term 2019 – 2025 - Krista Marie Harris
Chief Financial Officer
Bethany College
Lindsborg, KS
Term 2022 – 2025 - Lori A. Lewis (Chair)
Management Consultant
Kirkland-Jones
Colfax, WI
Term 2017 – 2025 - Jennifer L. McGinnis
Chief Actuary
Farmers New World Life
Bellevue, WA
Term 2017 – 2025 - The Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich
Chief Spiritual Officer
Advocate Aurora Health
Downers Grove, IL
Term 2019 – 2025 - Vincent P. Brown (Vice Chair)
Retired Deputy Treasurer
Office of the California State Treasurer
Sacramento, CA
Term 2019 – 2025 - Marjorie B. Ellis
Life & Health Chief
Ohio Department of Insurance
Columbus, OH
Term 2022 – 2025 - John R. Hoffman
Partner, EVP National Consulting Group
VisionPoint Advisory Group
St. Louis Park, MN
Term 2015 – 2025 - Todd J. Maloy
Chief Investment Officer
Edward Jones Trust Company
St. Louis, MO
Term 2021 – 2025 - Frank A. Roth
General Counsel & Secretary,
Board of Trustees, Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
Term 2016 – 2025 - The Rev. Elizabeth-Ann (Becky) Swanson
Pastor
Garrison, MN
Term 2016 – 2025 - Catharine C. Burkett
Vice President, Director of Private Investments
LCG Associates
Atlanta, GA
Term 2019 – 2025 - Ted W. Goins
President/CEO
Lutheran Services Carolinas
Salisbury, NC
Term 2022 – 2025 - Brett A. Kraemer
Director, Global Health Care Compliance
3M Company
San Antonio, TX
Term 2022 – 2025 - Félix D. Mercado De Jesús
Special Advisor to the Executive Director
The Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority
San Juan, PR
Term 2022 – 2025 - The Rev. Dr. Thomas P. Schlotterback
Vice President of Mission Advancement
St. John’s United
Billings, MT
Term 2019 – 2025
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Trustees
Pastor, Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kissel Hill
Lititz, PA
Term 2022 – 2025
Vincent P. Brown (Vice Chair)
Retired Deputy Treasurer
Office of the California State Treasurer
Sacramento, CA
Term 2019 – 2025
Catharine C. Burkett
Vice President, Director of Private Investments
LCG Associates
Atlanta, GA
Term 2019 – 2025
Angela M. Dejene (Secretary)
President
Dejene Communications
Corcoran, MN
Term 2019 – 2025
Marjorie B. Ellis
Life & Health Chief
Ohio Department of Insurance
Columbus, OH
Term 2022 – 2025
Ted W. Goins
President/CEO
Lutheran Services Carolinas
Salisbury, NC
Term 2022 – 2025
Krista Marie Harris
Chief Financial Officer
Bethany College
Lindsborg, KS
Term 2022 – 2025
John R. Hoffman
SVP of National Advisory Group
VisionPoint Advisory Group
Minnetonka, MN
Term 2015 – 2025
Brett A. Kraemer
Director, Global Health Care Compliance
3M Company
San Antonio, TX
Term 2022 – 2025
Lori A. Lewis (Chair)
Management Consultant
Kirkland-Jones
Colfax, WI
Term 2017 – 2025
Todd J. Maloy
Chief Investment Officer
Edward Jones Trust Company
St. Louis, MO
Term 2021 – 2025
Jennifer L. McGinnis
Chief Actuary
Farmers New World Life
Bellevue, WA
Term 2017 – 2025
Félix D. Mercado De Jesús
Special Advisor to the Executive Director
The Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority
San Juan, PR
Term 2022 – 2025
Frank A. Roth
General Counsel & Secretary,
Board of Trustees, Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
Term 2016 – 2025
The Rev. Dr. Thomas P. Schlotterback
Vice President of Mission Advancement
St. John’s United
Billings, MT
Term 2019 – 2025
The Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich
Chief Spiritual Officer
Advocate Aurora Health
Downers Grove, IL
Term 2019 – 2025
The Rev. Elizabeth-Ann (Becky) Swanson
Pastor
Garrison, MN
Term 2016 – 2025
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Meeting Schedule
2023 – 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule
Our Board of Trustees meets three times each year.
| 2023 | |
|---|---|
| February 23 – 24 | Online |
| August 3 – 4 | Minneapolis |
| November 2 – 3 | Minneapolis |
| 2024 | |
| February 22 – 23 | Chicago – Lutheran Center |
| August 1 – 2 | Minneapolis |
| November 7 – 8 | Minneapolis |
| 2025 | |
| March 6 – 7 | Online |
| July 24 – 25 | Minneapolis |
| November 6 – 7 | Minneapolis |
Executive Team
Our executive leaders guide Portico’s business strategy and goals with a strong commitment to serving members with integrity, excellence, and respect.
The Rev. Jeffrey D. Thiemann
President and Chief Executive Officer
Stacy A. Kruse
Chief Operating and Financial Officer
David Quello
Chief Investment Officer
Key Staff
Our employees dedicate themselves to the Portico Benefit Services mission. Here’s information on key staff members.
Ross Eichelberger
Vice President of Business Development
Will Stensrud
Business Development Manager
Christine Vitelli
Business Development Manager
Christina Womack
Relationship Manager
Andrew Feller
Benefit Specialist
Regional Reps
Portico regional representatives serve as the front-line contacts for ELCA regions, synods, and new or potential employers. Regional representatives are available as resources for events and benefit information. Learn more about ELCA regions and synods on the ELCA website
The Rev. Shelley Cunningham
Andrea L. Arey
REGIONS:
The Rev. Cathy Schibler
REGIONS:
The Rev. Tim Schroeder
REGIONS:
Jennifer L. Prinz
REGIONS: 
The Rev. Tara Lynn
Region 4 is connected with regional representatives as follows
Region 4
Nebraska Synod
Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod
Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod
Southwestern Texas Synod
Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod
Jennifer Prinz
Central States Synod
Strive Team
Our company-supported STRIVE employee team (Stewards That Respect Inclusion and Value Equity) leads initiatives to help us uphold and build workplace culture.