Mark Manquen, CPA, MST

Founder of Manquen Vance
Manquen Vance and RDS Services

For more than two decades, Mark has provided direction to both large and small clients to assist them in managing their group benefit plans.  Mark’s expertise includes insurance, employee benefits administration, healthcare reform and legislative and regulatory analysis.  As a knowledgeable resource, Mark is often called upon by insurance companies and other stakeholders in the healthcare industry to provide advice and insight on new and pending legislation, especially relating to Health Care Reform.  Mark consults with clients to provide innovative solutions including healthcare cost containment, plan design solutions and readiness for legislative market changes.

Mark’s focus is on the overall strategic direction of the Manquen Vance accounts.  As a “thought leader” in the Municipal market, Mark has developed very specific “service” specialties to address the unique needs of this market covering such topics as Tracking Variable Hour Employees under Health Care Reform, Retiree Drug Subsidy, Collective Bargaining support, GASB consulting and Medicare audit services.

Mark is a graduate from the University of Michigan, BBA in Finance/Accounting; Walsh College, Masters Degree in Taxation; Certified Public Accountant (MI). In 2008 Mark was one of Corp! Magazine’s Honorees for Entrepreneurs of Distinction for the “service model” developed for the CMS Retiree Drug Subsidy program.

Mark is responsible for total account direction, including strategic planning, total plan process management, plan design and financial analysis.

John Vance

Principal | Practice Leader
Manquen Vance and RDS Services

John has an extensive financial background and more than 20 years of experience in the benefits consulting industry.  John’s background as the manager of the Manquen Vance financial analysis department gives him unique insight into how municipalities operate and the nature of municipal healthcare finances.  John has extensive experience assisting with collective bargaining for public sector groups and has worked closely with key management and labor attorneys to establish and implement collective bargaining strategies.  John also has a thorough understanding of the Medicare market and the offerings available to employers with Medicare retirees.  John has provided support and testimony in mediation’s, unfair labor practice hearings, and 312 arbitrations. John received his BS in Business Management from Oakland University. His focus is on the strategic direction of new and existing accounts.

Fun Facts About John:
John states it’s a good thing that he’s an experienced healthcare consultant because he may be the least handy person on earth! When John was 13 years old he was lucky enough to travel to Japan where he stayed with host families and played baseball against their junior team. Also, if the movie Ocean’s Eleven is on, he’ll stop everything to watch it.

George Fox

National Sales Director
Manquen Vance and RDS Services

George’s role is to develop markets for Manquen Vance and act as the sales liaison providing support to prospects and clients. He has a proven track record of managing relationships with c-suite managers and producers in the B2B sales environment. His technical skills in the insurance field range from RDS to individual market products, Medicare and large group benefits that include, but are not limited to, Request for Proposal (RFP) process with analytics of self-funded plan design, plan renewals that include development of cost saving measures while maintaining benefits, strong self-funded experience and compliance with Human Resource Information Systems. His 25 plus years of management experience combined with years of working in various roles from sales, telemarketing, data base management, personal management and underwriting have given him the ability to develop strategic relationships that lead to multi-year, co-marketing sales engagements.

George received an AAS in Business from State University of New York, NY, May 1991; Certified Financial Planner (CFP), College of Financial Planning, Denver, CO, June 1996. Human Relation BA candidate for 2018. Mr. Fox was elected to the Governing Council for the City University of New York in 2017. Other Accomplishments include authoring the book, Medicare Entitlements Exposed, published by Outskirts Press, 2013. He is also carries the following licenses: Health, Accident and Life (LA) License in all 50 states; Property Casualty, Brokers (BR) License, New York; Public Adjuster (PA) License, New York; Series Seven Securities License (Series 7-63).

Kim Kulas

Kimberly Kulas

Account Director

Kimberly has more than 20 years of experience in the industry.  She has a broad and in-depth knowledge of all group benefit arrangements.  She also has expertise in the wide range of compliance and regulatory issues affecting welfare benefit plans.  She has a thorough understanding of healthcare reform and how new legislation will impact the municipal and government markets.  Kimberly has exceptional practice standards that guide our service commitment and ongoing industry developments.  Kimberly has worked at Manquen Vance for over three years.  Kimberly holds an active Life and Health license and is active in the local professional community.

Tessa Ernst

Controller

Tessa has more than 17 years’ experience working in finance and business operations. She earned her degree from Michigan State University and holds an active Life and Health license with the State of Michigan. She is also active in her community, assisting with multiple non-profit fundraising events throughout the year.

Fun Facts:
Tessa enjoys spending time with family and friends, swimming and boating on Lake Huron during the summer, and skiing during the winter.

Craig Kuenzer

Senior Plan Analyst

Craig is responsible for the creation of financial analysis of health and welfare plans for mid to large sized municipalities. Craig’s responsibilities include cost reporting, financial projections, bid procurement and analysis, financial modeling, and PA analysis (54, 106, & 152). Given the large union make-up of most municipal clients, Craig often prepares reports and analyses in preparation for collective bargaining, testimony, and for benchmark/survey reporting.  Craig is the lead member of our analyst team and has been with Manquen Vance since 2009.  Craig received his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Business Management from Hope College.

Fun Facts About Craig:
Craig is an avid sports fan. In his free time he enjoys playing golf and spending time in Northern Michigan, where he grew up.

John Kowalski

John Kowalski

Senior Plan Analyst

John is responsible for the creation of financial analysis of health and welfare plans for mid to large sized municipalities. His responsibilities include cost reporting, financial projections, bid procurement and analysis, financial modeling, and PA analysis. John prepares reports and analyses in preparation for collective bargaining, testimony, and for benchmark/survey reporting. He has been working in employee benefits for over seven years. John earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Oakland University and is licensed in Life, Accident and Health.

Sean Thomas

Plan Analyst

Sean works in benefit renewal and PA analysis, projections and cost reporting for our clients. Sean brings us experience in actuarial, insurance, pensions and RDS administration. He holds a BS in Physics from Wayne State University.

Fun Facts About Sean:
Sean loves movies, history and traveling to northern Michigan, where much of his family is. He’s found a silver lining of the Covid years has been visiting Michigan destinations he otherwise wouldn’t have known about!

DKolen

Denise Kolen

Sr. Account Manager

Denise Kolen, Senior Account Manager, has over 25 years of experience in the industry, including all aspects of Employee Benefits.  Denise has worked in Corporate Human Resources where she was responsible for Health and Welfare Benefits and Compliance. She has also worked on the Carrier side as a Key Account Manager.  In addition to her experience, Denise holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Wayne State University and Master degree in Human Resources from Central Michigan University.  She is also a member of Impact 100 Macomb.

Fun Facts About Denise:
Denise likes to spend most of her summers in Lake Leelanau, and loves to be on the Pontoon boat all day and go wine 🍷 tasting!

Shawna Cook

Sr. Account Manager

Shawna has been an account manager in the employee benefits industry for over 20 years. She holds an active Life and Health license with the State of Michigan and also possesses a REBC designation – Registered Employee Benefit Consultant. Shawna has a passion for employee benefits and loves to assist her clients and their employees. She is a diligent, proactive and supportive member of her account team – her experience in the industry contributes to her quick, strategic brain storming and problem solving.

Fun facts about Shawna:
Outside of the office Shawna enjoys spending time with her family and traveling!

Steve Brown

Sr. Account Manager

Steve has over 20 years of experience in both the insurance industry and benefits industry. He started his career in pension administration before moving into the world of insurance. During his time in the insurance industry, Steve has filled a variety of roles from analytical to service and compliance to strategic. He has a wide range of experience in both public and private sectors. As a seasoned insurance professional, Steve’s expertise includes: in-depth compliance knowledge of both federal and state benefit regulations, employee communications, financial analytics, complex issue resolution, as well as strategic development and execution.

Kelley Lang

Sr. Account Manager

Kelley has 25+ years of experience including all aspects surrounding employee benefits plans, compliance and wellness. Her ability to demonstrate resourcefulness and ingenuity has fostered her continued success in the ever-evolving area of group health and welfare employee benefits administration. Kelley holds an active Life and Health license with the State of Michigan.

Fun Facts:
Kelley enjoys spending the weekends up north with her family, exploring the beauty that Michigan has to offer.

Trinie E. Allen

Group Benefits Coordinator

Trinie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Systems Administration from Ferris State University with experience in various areas such as Customer Service, Human Resources, Employee Benefits, Recruitment, Training & Development and Health Insurance Eligibility and Verification.

Kim Brinker

Group Benefits Coordinator

Kim has 20+ years of experience in the benefits industry.  Her experience spans from working at a third-party administrator to working for a PEO (Professional Employer Organization).  Her background includes administering all aspects of employee benefits which entails FSA, HSA, COBRA along with direct and consolidated billing, in addition to reconciliation.

Fun Facts About Kim:
Kim’s favorite thing to do is spending time with her Kiddos!  She likes the outdoors, camping, gardening with cooking at the top of her list (along with bicycling and reading when time allows). She loves watching baseball; Detroit Tigers being her favorite team since her dad was a huge Tigers fan.  She is a problem/puzzle solver and enjoys jigsaw puzzles, she has approximately 25 completed and framed hanging throughout her home!

Rita Williams

Group Benefits Coordinator

Rita has over 15 years experience in health benefits administration. She is the former Benefits Manager for Wayne County. She has experience administering medical, dental and vision benefits for active and retired employees, as well as FSA, HSA, RMSA, Voluntary Benefits, life insurance, COBRA. She has a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Fun facts about Rita:
Rita is an avid football fan and lifelong Detroit Lions fan.

Regina Hall

Regina Hall, MCSE

RDS Operations Manager
RDS Services

Regina brings 25+ years of experience in the IT arena as well as 15+ years of experience in healthcare data management arena.  As RDS Operations Manager, her main focus is to ensure that the analytical portion of the RDS reopening engagements are completed within prescribed metrics and timeframes.  She oversees the RDS Analyst Team and is well versed in CMS/RDS regulations and CMS/RDS gross cost reporting rules.

Regina holds a life insurance license as well as Series 6/63 license.  She is also a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.  She earned a Bachelor Arts in French Language and Literature from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration in Computer Systems from Baruch College City University of New York.

Fun Facts About Regina:
Regina enjoys experiencing other cultures.  Her past travels have included working and living in London, Paris and Toronto as well as frequent traveling to Western European countries.  Other travel destinations have included Mexico and the Caribbean.  During her junior high through graduate school years Regina was a trained gymnast and dancer.  Regina is active in her church and is a member of the Music Department and the Sanctuary Choir.  Her favorite TV shows are Law & Order, Law & Order SVU as well as shows that air on LMN and HGTV.

Paul Caddy

Paul Caddy

Business Analyst
RDS Services

Paul is responsible for the import, translation, and analysis of eligibility and claim data with the purpose of identifying opportunities for additional Retiree Drug Subsidy funds.

Paul spent 20 years in IT as a programmer/analyst for a third-party benefits administrator before joining RDS Services. He graduated from Spring Arbor University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in both Mathematics and Literature, and has Computer Programming certification from Control Data Institute.

Jennifer Whited

Jennifer Whited

Account Manager
RDS Services

Jennifer is responsible for supporting clients with the completion of all tasks related to their RDS applications. This includes submitting Applications, Payment Requests, and Reconciliations in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website.

Jennifer joined the RDS team with over 10 years of sales and customer service experience. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jennifer also attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and participated in a study abroad program in Paris, France.

Gabrielle Mauricio

Account Manager

Gabrielle provides over ten years of customer service experience. Gabrielle manages and supports clients obtain Retiree Drug Subsidy. She communicates amongst Plan Sponsors, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’, data analysts, as well as pharmacy vendors. Gabrielle has an extensive knowledge of Health Insurance and Insurance Verification including employee health benefits, COBRA, Veteran Affair Benefits, and Medicare. Gabrielle graduated from Grand Valley State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Information Management. Gabrielle is also a Registered Health Information Administrator.

Fun Facts:
Gabi loves traveling & spending time with her friends and family.

Joshua Major

Joshua Major

Junior Programmer/Business Analyst
RDS Services

Joshua joined the RDS team to do a combination of utilizing various software to maximize efficiency and performance of reporting along with using the RDS program to analyze and maximize subsidy from claims data. He has over 8 years of experience in Information Technology. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.S. degree in Computer Science.

Fun Facts About Josh:
Josh enjoys biking, bowling, swimming, basketball, and traveling. His greatest traveling experience was when he went to Spain and Italy in 2018. Josh belongs to an improv group that he joined years ago for fun. He also appreciates a wide range of music from rock, pop to country.

Yagna Patel

Yagna Patel

Data Analyst
RDS Services

Yagna joined the RDS team as Data Analyst in October, 2022 and is responsible for data integrity, data scrubbing and ad hoc reporting. Her duties include validating and analyzing prescription and medical claims data to maximize subsidy. Yagna has experience in SQL development, Reporting and Data Analytics. She is a graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a M.S. degree in Information Technology Administration & Security. Yagna received her B.S. degree in Information Technology & Informatics from Rutgers University.

Fun Facts About Yagna:

Yagna loves cooking various cuisines as well as learning new recipes. In addition, Yagna is an amateur painter (Gond Art, Kalamkari, Warli, Madhubani). She also loves travelling and exploring new places, playing badminton and listening to music. She can speak three languages – English, Hindi, & Gujarati.

John Zyski

John Zyski

Data Analyst
RDS Services

John has spent over 20 years in IT with the last 7 in Data Analytics.  Using these skills, along with skills from studying Media And Communication Arts at Macomb Community College, John focuses on the presentation and communication of data.

With RDS, John’s duties are the import, translation, and analysis of eligibility and claim data with the purpose of identifying opportunities for additional Retiree Drug Subsidy funds.

Fun facts about John:

John has created a videogame, had short movies played at many local theaters, is a published artist, and once thrown a perfect 12 in a caber toss (On the second throw, don’t ask about the first throw.).


In memory of Nicole Giddings

It is with great personal sadness that Manquen Vance announce the passing of Nicole Giddings, a friend and colleague. Nicole passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2020. She has been part of the Manquen Vance family since 2012, and part of the insurance community much of her career, and will be deeply missed. Her devotion and hard work helped us build our agency to what it is today.

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view our current job openings found on our Careers Page.

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