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Proud to Serve.  Proud to Solve.

Zenith American Solutions, over 70 years of experience serving
nearly two million plan participants.​

Our Mission

 
Our mission, we boldly take the risks and actions necessary to serve our clients, employees and shareholders.
 

Our Vision & History

 
Our vision, to provide one in four multi-employer participants throughout the United States with superior customer service; leading innovation;
and more than just administration.

Zenith American Solutions' the combined company of American Benefit Plan Administrators and Zenith Administrators.  Zenith American is a national TPA with experience that dates back to the 1940’s.

Today, Zenith American is the largest Taft-Hartley third-party administrator in the United States and operates numerous offices nationwide, each one focused on serving clients and participants locally through an unrivaled depth of resources and wealth of professional expertise.
 
 

Zenith American Solutions' Family of Companies

 


Pacific Federal, LLC (PacFed) is one of California’s largest and most experienced employee benefits firms. Since 1990, PacFed has served as a trusted consultant and complete administrator of employee benefits via single-source, direct services. With ties to Taft-Hartley, PacFed harnesses group purchasing power.
 

Value Proposition

1. Personalized and accountable service


You could say “we get it.” We know that Trustees and plan members want caring, prompt and efficient service.  Using technology as a tool to provide 24/7 personal service and deliver easy-to-navigate online resources with relevant and understandable information, we lead the industry in performance metrics and service guarantees.

2. Flexible, cost effective and customized solutions


Our business model is classic TPA—focused on flexibility in administering many different plan designs, providing customized reporting, and coordinating with best-in-class partners who provide comprehensive PPO networks, stop loss insurance coverage, pharmacy benefit services, care management, wellness programs and access to value-added ancillary services. Our goal is to provide our clients with flexible yet integrated solutions.

3. Intelligent technology platform


It’s not just about simply administering your plan, it’s about partnering with our clients and their advisors to “effectively” administer the plan.  At Zenith American Solutions, we’ve developed advanced, data-driven systems to provide customized, on-demand reporting, allowing Trustees and their advisors to make better, informed decisions about their benefit plans.

4. Industry-specific understanding and solutions


At Zenith American Solutions, we leverage our insight and experience with specific industries to offer clients tailored approaches that work for their Trust Funds.  Our flexibility gives us the ability to customize administrative services and technology offerings to meet the unique needs of our customers regardless of the industry in which they operate.

Meet The Management Team

Art Schultz
Chief Executive Officer
The leader of the Zenith American Solutions family of companies, Art Schultz has spent more than 30 years in the insurance and managed care industry. He joined Consolidated Group (CGT) in 1986 and served in various capacities prior to his promotion to executive vice president and COO in 1992. One of the largest third-party administrators, CGT was acquired in 1996 by HealthPlan Services, where Art served as COO from 2001 to 2011.

In 2011, Art was promoted to the position of president/CEO of Zenith American, a division of HealthPlan Holdings, and is responsible for the largest Taft-Hartley administration in the industry.

As CEO, Art is proud to oversee Zenith American in providing superior service and solutions to nearly 2 million plan participants.
Garry Welsh
CPA
EVP, Chief Financial Officer,
Chief Administration Officer
Garry Welsh joined Zenith American Solutions in 2014. In his 30+ years career he has served in COO, CFO, or CEO capacities for a number of businesses including a global insurance company - Aviva, Barclays Bank, and the Human Resources outsourcing company Gevity HR. He has also served as an advisor to a number of healthcare related businesses.

Garry earned his MBA from Rollins College in Florida. At Zenith, in addition to overseeing financial management and support services, Garry focuses on acquisitions and developing new value-adding solutions for clients.
Tom Sciuto
Executive Vice President,
Chief Client Officer
Tom Sciuto joined Zenith American Solutions in 2015 with more than 30 years of healthcare industry experience, including serving as vice president, Large Group New Sales at ConnectiCare; vice president, Large Group Account Management at United Healthcare; and vice president, Large Group Account Management at Health Net.

Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences from the University of Connecticut and possesses extensive experience in new business development, benefits, client relationship management, mergers/acquisitions, organizational structure and resource optimization. These skills are critical to Zenith American’s personalized services that enable us to provide our clients with flexible yet integrated solutions, and to lead the industry in performance metrics and service guarantees.
Craig Steffen
Executive Vice President,
Chief Operating Officer
Part of Zenith American Solutions’ management team since 2015, Craig Steffen previously served in a CIO/COO role in the legal EDI and document processing space.

Craig’s approximately three decades of progressive healthcare management responsibilities include eight-plus years with Xerox Healthcare as senior vice president of Health Enterprise Operations. Craig assumed this position after Xerox acquired his own company, Adaptive Project Solutions, an IT integration and project management firm focused heavily on healthcare claims, cost and care management. He also has served as COO, vice president of Operations and employee owner of a health claims third-party administrator.

Craig earned bachelor’s degrees both in marketing and in decision sciences/computer statistical modeling. He plays a vital role at Zenith American to ensure we maximize efficiencies and most effectively serve our clients, employees, and shareholders.
Ivars Blums
Executive Vice President,
Chief Information Officer
Ivars Blums joined Zenith American Solutions as the CIO in 2016, bringing to the firm a 30-plus-year career in IT, with more than 15 years of that in the lead IT role for his employers.

Prior to joining Zenith American, Ivars served as the CIO for almost seven years at the largest health insurance company in Puerto Rico (MCS), and also held the same title at Dynamic Dental Partners Group.

A graduate of Control Data Institute, Ivars had a lengthy career in telecommunications before transitioning to healthcare. He spent over 12 years with GTE/Verizon and served as a founding member of its international team, with a primary focus on the Latin American market. Ivars also led the Information and Technology team for Centennial de Puerto Rico before ATT acquired it.

In his current role, Ivars oversees Zenith American’s use of IT best practices, ensuring we continue to utilize secure, leading-edge technology solutions.
Ben Pauley
CLU, CEBS
Executive VP, Business Development
Ben Pauley joined the Zenith American Solutions’ management team in 2013 as executive vice president and chief client relations officer, based in Indianapolis. Previously, Ben led the Taft-Hartley/Labor business development efforts for Anthem BlueCross BlueShield in eight of their 14 states. Prior to that, he led National Account Sales & Business Development in four of Anthem’s states.

Ben earned his Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation in 1993, and also received a bachelor’s degree in economics from DePauw University in Indiana. In addition, he served in the U.S. Navy.

Currently, Ben leads Zenith American’s Marketing and New Business Development teams nationwide, as we build on our steady growth and continuous success in the administration of employee benefit plans.
Katy O'Connor
SPHR
Senior Vice President,
Human Resources
Katy O’Connor joined the Zenith American Solutions management team in 2016, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in human resources and labor relations.

She began her career at Nordstrom in retail and moved up through the ranks into management, and then into buying positions on the West Coast. After that, she moved into human resources and focused on training and development, recruitment and employee/labor relations with retail giants Macy’s, Eddie Bauer and Verizon. Katy also served as a vice president for URM Stores in Spokane, as senior vice president of human resources for St. Charles Health System, and in leadership roles at Darigold and Colliers International Real Estate.

Katy holds a bachelor’s degree in pre-law and industrial organization from Pacific Lutheran University and studied for her master’s degree at Gonzaga University.

Her leadership extends Zenith American’s ability to take bold actions to serve our talented employees, who offer our clients a wealth of professional expertise.
Stephanie Edwards
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel, Legal
Stephanie Edwards joined Zenith American Solutions management team in 2018 to lead the internal legal team and support compliance.

Stephanie has 23 years of legal experience and an extensive understanding of ERISA, gained through previous roles at corporations including AT&T, Coca-Cola Company and BellSouth Corporation. These roles also provided extensive exposure to health & welfare, retirement and plan design and compliance, litigation support, and advising plan fiduciaries.

Stephanie holds a Juris Doctor degree from Emory University School of Law, and a Bachelors of Arts degree in English Language and Literature from Georgia Southern University.
Art Schultz
Chief Executive Officer
The leader of the Zenith American Solutions family of companies, Art Schultz has spent more than 30 years in the insurance and managed care industry. He joined Consolidated Group (CGT) in 1986 and served in various capacities prior to his promotion to executive vice president and COO in 1992. One of the largest third-party administrators, CGT was acquired in 1996 by HealthPlan Services, where Art served as COO from 2001 to 2011.

In 2011, Art was promoted to the position of president/CEO of Zenith American, a division of HealthPlan Holdings, and is responsible for the largest Taft-Hartley administration in the industry.

As CEO, Art is proud to oversee Zenith American in providing superior service and solutions to nearly 2 million plan participants.
Garry Welsh
CPA
EVP, Chief Financial Officer,
Chief Administration Officer
Garry Welsh joined Zenith American Solutions in 2014. In his 30+ years career he has served in COO, CFO, or CEO capacities for a number of businesses including a global insurance company - Aviva, Barclays Bank, and the Human Resources outsourcing company Gevity HR. He has also served as an advisor to a number of healthcare related businesses.

Garry earned his MBA from Rollins College in Florida. At Zenith, in addition to overseeing financial management and support services, Garry focuses on acquisitions and developing new value-adding solutions for clients.
Tom Sciuto
Executive Vice President,
Chief Client Officer
Tom Sciuto joined Zenith American Solutions in 2015 with more than 30 years of healthcare industry experience, including serving as vice president, Large Group New Sales at ConnectiCare; vice president, Large Group Account Management at United Healthcare; and vice president, Large Group Account Management at Health Net.

Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences from the University of Connecticut and possesses extensive experience in new business development, benefits, client relationship management, mergers/acquisitions, organizational structure and resource optimization. These skills are critical to Zenith American’s personalized services that enable us to provide our clients with flexible yet integrated solutions, and to lead the industry in performance metrics and service guarantees.
Craig Steffen
Executive Vice President,
Chief Operating Officer
Part of Zenith American Solutions’ management team since 2015, Craig Steffen previously served in a CIO/COO role in the legal EDI and document processing space.

Craig’s approximately three decades of progressive healthcare management responsibilities include eight-plus years with Xerox Healthcare as senior vice president of Health Enterprise Operations. Craig assumed this position after Xerox acquired his own company, Adaptive Project Solutions, an IT integration and project management firm focused heavily on healthcare claims, cost and care management. He also has served as COO, vice president of Operations and employee owner of a health claims third-party administrator.

Craig earned bachelor’s degrees both in marketing and in decision sciences/computer statistical modeling. He plays a vital role at Zenith American to ensure we maximize efficiencies and most effectively serve our clients, employees, and shareholders.
Ivars Blums
Executive Vice President,
Chief Information Officer
Ivars Blums joined Zenith American Solutions as the CIO in 2016, bringing to the firm a 30-plus-year career in IT, with more than 15 years of that in the lead IT role for his employers.

Prior to joining Zenith American, Ivars served as the CIO for almost seven years at the largest health insurance company in Puerto Rico (MCS), and also held the same title at Dynamic Dental Partners Group.

A graduate of Control Data Institute, Ivars had a lengthy career in telecommunications before transitioning to healthcare. He spent over 12 years with GTE/Verizon and served as a founding member of its international team, with a primary focus on the Latin American market. Ivars also led the Information and Technology team for Centennial de Puerto Rico before ATT acquired it.

In his current role, Ivars oversees Zenith American’s use of IT best practices, ensuring we continue to utilize secure, leading-edge technology solutions.
Ben Pauley
CLU, CEBS
Executive VP, Business Development
Ben Pauley joined the Zenith American Solutions’ management team in 2013 as executive vice president and chief client relations officer, based in Indianapolis. Previously, Ben led the Taft-Hartley/Labor business development efforts for Anthem BlueCross BlueShield in eight of their 14 states. Prior to that, he led National Account Sales & Business Development in four of Anthem’s states.

Ben earned his Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation in 1993, and also received a bachelor’s degree in economics from DePauw University in Indiana. In addition, he served in the U.S. Navy.

Currently, Ben leads Zenith American’s Marketing and New Business Development teams nationwide, as we build on our steady growth and continuous success in the administration of employee benefit plans.
Katy O'Connor
SPHR
Senior Vice President,
Human Resources
Katy O’Connor joined the Zenith American Solutions management team in 2016, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in human resources and labor relations.

She began her career at Nordstrom in retail and moved up through the ranks into management, and then into buying positions on the West Coast. After that, she moved into human resources and focused on training and development, recruitment and employee/labor relations with retail giants Macy’s, Eddie Bauer and Verizon. Katy also served as a vice president for URM Stores in Spokane, as senior vice president of human resources for St. Charles Health System, and in leadership roles at Darigold and Colliers International Real Estate.

Katy holds a bachelor’s degree in pre-law and industrial organization from Pacific Lutheran University and studied for her master’s degree at Gonzaga University.

Her leadership extends Zenith American’s ability to take bold actions to serve our talented employees, who offer our clients a wealth of professional expertise.
Stephanie Edwards
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel, Legal
Stephanie Edwards joined Zenith American Solutions management team in 2018 to lead the internal legal team and support compliance.

Stephanie has 23 years of legal experience and an extensive understanding of ERISA, gained through previous roles at corporations including AT&T, Coca-Cola Company and BellSouth Corporation. These roles also provided extensive exposure to health & welfare, retirement and plan design and compliance, litigation support, and advising plan fiduciaries.

Stephanie holds a Juris Doctor degree from Emory University School of Law, and a Bachelors of Arts degree in English Language and Literature from Georgia Southern University.

Get In Touch With Our New Business Development Team

Larry Bourland
Vice President,
New Business Development
Larry Bourland spent 9 years as the chief executive officer and owner of Insurance Programmers Inc. (IPI), prior to serving as the vice president of sales at Zenith American Solutions.

Notably during his time as CEO and owner of IPI, revenue increased approximately 40%. Larry’s experience leading IPI along with his Series 6 and securities license to sell mutual funds, variable annuities, and insurance have shaped his expertise in the world of third party administration.

Prior to the acquisition by Zenith American Solutions in 2017, IPI was a full service Third Party Administrator (TPA) in New England and Upstate New York, with the majority of funds being Taft-Hartley. Additionally, IPI served Municipal, Teacher and Police groups.

Larry received his BA in Political Science from the College of William and Mary, and Juris Doctorate from the University Of South Carolina School Of Law. He practiced as a trial lawyer in Maryland State Courts and United States Federal Courts for 13 years prior to entering the world of third-party administration and employee benefits.
Bonnie Payson
Vice President,
Business Development
A vice president with the Zenith American Solutions organization for more than 17 years, Bonnie Payson is our key sales executive for the Western United States.

Overall, Bonnie has more than 24 years of experience in Taft-Hartley fund administration and is well-versed in the many rules and regulations governing the funds. She also offers proven expertise in the employee benefit field and the third-party administrator industry, and previously worked in the behavioral health field.

Bonnie places a strong emphasis on client relations, client retention and client satisfaction as part of our value proposition of providing personalized and accountable service along with flexible, cost-effective and customized solutions.
Stacey Hofert
Vice President,
New Business Development
Stacey Hofert, with 25 years of sales consulting experience, is Zenith American Solutions’ key sales executive for the Eastern United States. She places a strong emphasis on client relations, client retention and client satisfaction, ensuring we meet the unique needs of our customers regardless of the industry in which they operate.

For the last several years, Stacey has worked directly with trustees on their self-administered trust funds. She understands the many intricacies involved within each fund and the complex structure it entails.

Stacey began her career in the Taft-Hartley market working with members through a union mortgage program, serving as an advocate to help members save their homes from default. At one time a laborer in the Southern Illinois steel mills, she continues her passion for union labor and for helping collectively bargained workers. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University in human resource management and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Client Service Leaders

Tom Rhodes
CPA, CEBS
Senior Vice President
Zenith American Solutions’ Client Services senior vice president, Tom Rhodes is a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with 33 years of experience with our firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Murray State University in Kentucky.

Prior to promoting to his current position, Tom served as the senior vice president of National Operations, overseeing our Pension, Contribution Accounting and Trust Accounting operational departments. He previously worked as regional vice president for the North Central Region, and as branch manager and client services manager in our St. Louis office. As branch manager, he was the account manager for approximately 15 funds.

Tom has extensive experience in new client conversions and with the administrative systems. In addition, he has worked to convert and improve the processes to ensure the best possible end result for both current and new Zenith American clients across our offices nationwide.
Mark Mead
Senior Vice President
Mark Mead is senior vice president of Zenith American Solutions, and fund manager of the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union-Industry Pension Fund (“National Pension Fund”).

In the latter role, Mark is responsible for the administration of the fund, which serves approximately 100,000 active participants covered by collective bargaining agreements between approximately 500 employers and approximately 60 UFCW Local Unions. It also provides monthly pension benefits to about 68,000 retirees and beneficiaries.

Mark has over 30 years of experience in the Taft-Hartley employee benefits field, bringing extensive value to Zenith American as the nation’s largest Taft-Hartley third-party administrator. He has worked with numerous funds and new groups in conjunction with their mergers into and new participation in the National Pension Fund. He also conducts pension benefit education seminars, and serves on the Administrators Committee of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Prior to joining Zenith American in 1990, Mark was a benefits consultant at a major actuarial consulting firm. He graduated from the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington.
Pati Piro-Bosley
Senior Vice President
Zenith American Solutions Senior Vice President Pati Piro-Bosley has more than 30 years of experience as a client services executive in Taft-Hartley fund administration. She is a dynamic leader in third-party administration, and has consistently managed the overall stability and success of the plans she serves in the Northwest.

As administrative services duties have become more sophisticated, demanding and complex, Pati has demonstrated her ability to manage the day-to-day operations of trust funds. An effective leader, she initiates and guides change to comply with the ever-evolving benefits administration environment.

Prior to joining Zenith American, Pati served as the executive vice president for ATPA’s Northwest Regional Office. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and serves as a trustee on a multi-employer pension trust.
Mary Laffey
Senior Vice President, Client Services
With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, Mary Laffey brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her position of vice president, Client Services at Zenith American Solutions. She previously worked in billing and eligibility, delinquency and claims before moving to Client Services, where she has stayed for 20 years.

Mary has serviced many different health and welfare, pension, vacation and apprenticeship funds. She also works on the Zenith American New Business Implementation team and manages our Client Services team in California.

Mary’s extensive experience in third-party administration, as well as her focus on quality customer service for her clients, continues to make her a highly valuable member of the California service team. She is dedicated to providing Zenith American clients with the highest quality of service and professionalism.
Mike Shea
Senior Vice President, Client Services
Mike Shea joined Zenith American Solutions in 2009, and currently serves as vice president, Client Services overseeing offices and clients in a number of states: Nevada (Las Vegas), Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas (Dallas and Houston), Atlanta, Alabama and Ohio. Prior to being promoted to his current position, Mike served as branch and operations manager for our Las Vegas office.

Mike has 12 years of experience managing Taft-Hartley trust funds, providing expertise that enables Zenith American to keep up with technology trends and innovations and continue providing best-in-class services to our clients and their members.

After serving our country on active duty for 20 years, Mike retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2004.
Simone L. Rockstroh
Senior Vice President, Client Services
Simone Rockstroh's career has been focused on all facets of the employee benefits industry. Prior to joining our team, she owned and operated a very successful Third Party Administrator. Simone is responsible for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Client Services Teams and is located in our Columbia Maryland office location.

Simone currently serves on the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), following her tenure as President and Chair in 2010. She has also served on their Executive Committee, Government Liaison Committee and Strategic Initiative Steering Committee as well as the Accountants, Administrators, Educational Program, Health Care Management and Coalition, and Research Committees; and she is a frequent speaker at IFEBP conferences.

Simone attended Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross in Washington D.C. and has received the designations of Emergency Medical Technician for the State of Maryland and Group Benefits Associate from the IFEBP.

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