OUR TEAM

Leslie A. Schneider
Leslie is the Managing Partner at VCG. She has more than 25 years of consulting experience working with organizations of all sizes to develop competitive HR strategies that advance business goals. Leslie consults in the following areas:

• HR strategy
• Employee benefits
• Benefits compliance
• Health care reform
• HR policies and procedures

During her 25 years in consulting, Leslie has managed full-spectrum practices for multi-national benefits consulting firms. She has been quoted in numerous publications, including CFO Magazine and U.S. News and World Report, and has testified as a key Congressional witness on cafeteria benefits for federal employees.

Leslie graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Insurance from the University of Georgia and also holds a Master of Business Administration in Actuarial Science from the University of Michigan. She currently sits on the advisory councils for CIGNA and Aetna.

Jennifer L. Doucette
Jennifer is an employee benefits consultant with experience in both health and welfare benefits and retirement benefits. She consults in the following areas:

• Benefit cost reporting and trend analysis
• Budgeting and forecasting benefit costs
• Enrollment analysis
• Preparation of Form 5500s, Form 990s and related schedules
• Nondiscrimination testing

Prior to joining VCG, Jennifer worked for a Fortune 50 financial institution where she provided consulting to employers of various sizes. Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Actuarial Science from Georgia State University.

Chris D. Holton
Chris’ health and welfare experience is grounded in benefits strategy and financial cost analysis. His main areas of consultation are:

• Benefit cost reporting
• Health and Welfare strategy
• Employee benefits design and pricing
• Labor negotiations support

Prior to joining VCG, Chris worked in Corporate HR for an international packaging company tracking their health and welfare financials as well as providing union negotiations support. Chris has also worked for an international consulting organization and was a financial underwriter for a national health care company.

Chris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Covenant College and is currently pursuing his CEBS designation.

Kathi McMullan
Kathi has 20 years of experience developing and executing employee communications and talent development strategies to advance organizational objectives. She consults in the following areas:

• HR strategy
• Employee communications
• Employment branding
• Talent development
• Wellness programs

Prior to joining VCG, Kathi worked for a mid-sized public company and two Fortune 100 companies, where she held leadership positions in communications and talent development. Kathi also has international experience, having led the training and organizational development organization for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region of a Fortune 100 telecommunications company.

Kathi graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. She currently serves as Vice-Director of Professional Development for the SHRM Georgia State Council.

Virginia H. Means
Virginia Means joined VCG after two decades of senior Human Capital leadership and consulting experience on behalf of global and domestic organizations. She aligns people solutions with business strategy by evaluating, designing, and implementing optimal Human Resource partnerships and service delivery models. Her expertise and experience includes:

• Human Resource Strategy
• Organizational development and effectiveness
• Workforce optimization models
• Multidimensional performance management tools
• Talent acquisition, retention, optimal performance and engagement
• Acquisition and divestiture strategy and integration

She is a board advisor for the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), has received the national Pinnacle Award for innovation and was nominated for the Wall Street Journal's "Women to Watch." She has helped companies achieve placement on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For, Top 100 Training Organizations, and Working Woman's Top 100, as well as receive the Catalyst Award for the advancement and development of women.

Virginia attended the Wharton HR Business School. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources.

Eric J. Okerblad
Eric has more than 25 years of experience developing and executing health care strategies for organizations of various sizes – from mid-market to multi-national companies. Eric consults in the following areas:

• Employee benefits design and pricing
• Health care/ancillary benefits strategy
• Benefits compliance
• Health care reform
• Benefits policies and procedures

During his career, Eric has advised commercial, educational, and health care employers in the employee benefits arena. He has extensive experience helping organizations design benefits that meet their recruitment, employee retention, and financial goals. Eric has done considerable work in the areas of funding alternatives, multiple benefit plan/network designs, consumer-driven health plans and ancillary plans.

Prior to his insurance career, Eric served as Executive Director for a prominent non-profit organization. Eric received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Biology from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Debbie Owens
Debbie has 28 years of experience in the accounting and data analysis fields and 10 years of experience in employee benefits. She consults in the areas of:

• Benefits compliance audits and testing
• Administration of Qualified Medical Child Support Orders (QMCSOs) and National Medical Support Notices (NMSNs)
• Administration of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)
• Retirement and health and welfare analyses
• On-site retirement and severance administration

Prior to joining VCG, Debbie worked for Fortune 500 companies in the accounting/finance areas. She has experience in accounts receivable, accounts payable, credit, titling, commission calculations and reporting, and consolidation. Debbie holds an associate degree in computer science from Phillips College in Atlanta.

Cindy Rhodes
Cindy has more than 20 years of experience in employee benefits. Over the course of her career, she has provided a wide range of benefit consulting services to companies of various sizes and has also worked on the employer side, where she has had responsibility for managing benefits as part of the Human Resources team. Cindy consults in the areas of:

• Health and welfare plan design
• Benefit plan marketing and renewal
• Plan implementation
• Cafeteria plan compliance
• Benefits administration

Before she became a consultant, Cindy administered benefits for a mid-sized non-profit organization and a national restaurant group. She received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northern Illinois University, is a member of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS), and served on the Board of the Georgia Chapter of the ISCEBS for several years.