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
- Vincent P. Brown
Retired Deputy Treasurer
Office of the California State Treasurer
Sacramento, CA
Term 2019 – 2022 - Catharine C. Burkett
Vice President, Director of Private Investments
LCG Associates
Atlanta, GA
Term 2019 – 2022 - Angela M. Dejene
President
Dejene Communications
Corcoran, MN
Term 2019 – 2022 - Dr. Helen I. Doerpinghaus
Retired Professor of Finance
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Term 2018 – 2022 - Peter J. Enko
Partner
Husch Blackwell
Kansas City, MO
Term 2013 – 2022 - Diana G. Haywood
Retired Director of Data Administration
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC
Term 2012 – 2022 - John R. Hoffman
SVP of National Advisory Group
VisionPoint Advisory Group
Minnetonka, MN
Term 2015 – 2022 - Dr. Bruce E. Johnson
Retired Professor of Medicine
Virginia Tech Carilion
School of Medicine
Roanoke, VA
Term 2013 – 2022 - Morris L. Larson
Director, Operations
Trinity Lutheran Church
Town & Country, MO
Term 2017 – 2022 - Lori A. Lewis
Management Consultant
Kirkland-Jones
Byron, MN
Term 2017 – 2022 - Jennifer L. McGinnis
Chief Actuary
Farmers New World Life
Bellevue, WA
Term 2017 – 2022 - Frank A. Roth
General Counsel & Secretary,
Board of Trustees, Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
Term 2016 – 2022 - The Rev. Dr. Thomas P. Schlotterback
Vice President of Mission Advancement
St. John’s Lutheran Ministries
Billings, MT
Term 2019 – 2022 - Leon J. Schwartz (Chair)
President and CEO
Black Lion Consulting
Greenfield, IA
Term 2013 – 2022 - The Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich
Chief Spiritual Officer
Advocate Aurora Health
Downers Grove, IL
Term 2019 – 2022 - The Rev. Elizabeth-Ann (Becky) Swanson (Secretary)
Pastor, Advent Lutheran Church
Morton, IL
Term 2016 – 2022
Advisory Members
Advisory members serve according to the Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA, and have a voice but not a vote.
The Rev. James S. Dunlop, Bishop, Lower Susquehanna Synod
Lori S. Fedyk, ELCA Treasurer
Deacon Sue E. Rothmeyer, ELCA Secretary
Meeting Schedule
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Meeting Schedule
2020 – 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule
Our Board of Trustees meets three times each year.
2020 | |
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Feb. 27 – 28 | Chicago – Lutheran Center |
Aug. 6 – 7 | Minneapolis |
Nov. 5 – 6 | Minneapolis |
2021 | |
Feb. 25 – 26 | Minneapolis |
Aug. 5 – 6 | Minneapolis |
Nov. 4 – 5 | Minneapolis |
2022 | |
Feb. 24 – 25 | Minneapolis |
Aug. 4 – 5 | Minneapolis |
Nov. 3 – 4 | 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.

Will Stensrud
Business Development Manager

Christina Womack
Relationship Manager

Andrew Feller
Customer Care Resolution Analyst
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

Shelley Cunningham

Andrea L. Arey
REGIONS:

The Rev. Cathy Schibler
REGIONS:

Deacon Terri Endres
REGIONS:

Jennifer L. Prinz
REGIONS:

Barbara L. Debski
REGIONS:
Regions 4, 7, and 9 are connected with regional representatives as follows
Region 4
Deacon Terri Endres
Nebraska Synod
Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod
Southwest Texas Synod
Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod
Jennifer Prinz
Central States Synod
Barbara Debski
Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod
Region 7
The Rev. Cathy Schibler
Upstate New York Synod
Metropolitan New York Synod
Slovak Zion Synod
New England Synod
Barbara Debski
Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod
New Jersey Synod
Region 9
The Rev. Cathy Schibler
North Carolina Synod
South Carolina Synod
Florida-Bahamas Synod
Barbara Debski
Virginia Synod
Southeastern Synod
Caribbean Synod