Your Executive Board Officers

President:

Karen Stecher
Karen has been elected President of the BCBSM Retiree Association after two terms as Vice President. Karen has been our Operations Committee chairperson and has previously served as Social Committee chairperson as well as being a key member of our Golf Planning Committee. She retired in 1996 after 26 years in BCBSM Human Resources. Karen grew up and attended school in Iowa. Her only daughter lives in Chicago. She is a devoted traveler and a member of Nomads. With her recent trip to Antarctica, she has now visited all seven continents. Karen is also an avid golfer and includes bowling, knitting, choir, being a Red Hat Society member and a volunteer for several service organizations in her busy schedule. She is obviously enjoying her retirement.

Vice President:

Open Position
 

Treasurer:

Marcel St. Germain
Marcel St. Germain - Marcel is now serving his eleventh year as the chief account manager of our organization.  He now has served as an officer on our Board longer than any other retiree - past or present.  He does an excellent job seeing that our monies are handled efficiently.  He is married to the lovely Monique (also an accountant) and they have had three boys. Marcel’s early years were spent in the Canadian Air Force as a radar operator.  Then it was work in Montreal and Windsor Canada as a cost accountant before BCBSM enticed him across the border.  He started in Internal Audit and moved up to senior auditor in Provider Audit (Flint, Lansing & Detroit) before his retirement.  Marcel has a strong interest in collecting classic cars (Buick’s), stamps and coins.

Secretary:

(Click for a larger image)

Marie Bjerke
Marie begins her first term as an Officer of our Retiree Association.  She retired in January, 2006 after 35 years in BCBSM Human Resources.  At the time of her retirement she was Director of Employee / Labor relations.  Her entire BCBSM career was in the Human Resources area.  Marie started in 1971 as a temporary employee after graduating from college and ended up making BCBSM her total career choice.  She and her husband Lee have been married for 36 years and they have two daughters.  One works for BCBSM as a Nurse Auditor and the other is a teacher in Portage, Michigan.  They also have three grandchildren.  Marie indicates she is still adjusting to retirement and enjoys reading, knitting and spending time with her grandchildren.

Immediate Past President:

Ralph Shefferly
Ralph continues his officer duties as Immediate Past President after multiple terms as President, Vice President and Secretary. He hired in at Michigan Blue Cross as a systems analyst for Hospital Computer Services. The department established a shared computer system for hospital billing and other financial applications. As a hospital consultant he trained hospital personnel on the installation, implementation and use of the financial applications. Ralph is the father of six children and has eleven grandchildren. He enjoys family activities. Hobbies include woodcraft projects and services as a volunteer for several organizations. He and his wife Gail like to travel whenever they have the opportunity. He has assisted the social committee with the Christmas party and the golf activities.