President:

Spencer Brown

Spence serves as our new Association president after three previous terms as vice president and two terms as president. He also is the Association's representative on the BCBSM Senior Advisory Council.  Born and reared in New York State, Spence came west to attend Wayne State University and major in economics. He and his wife Marion have raised five sons and are blessed with six grandchildren. At BCBSM, Spence started in research and then moved to provider appeals. When BCBSM moved into managed care, his area became responsible for contracting with providers. His hobbies include tennis and gardening. He lives along the Rouge River in Farmington Hills and is working with residents to preserve this major tributary. Spence enjoys the Association's activities and feels the Mississippi River Cruise was our best event so far (yes, he obviously loves rivers).

Raymond Newak

Ray begins his first term as vice president after four years of service on the Retiree Association Planning Committee, the last year as co-chairperson.  He retired in 2005 after 34 years of service as a senior project manager in the Operational Effectiveness unit.  After graduating from Wayne State University, Ray worked as a programmer for the IRS Data Center in Detroit.  He started at BCBSM writing procedures for handling write offs for the new Model A Medicare system in 1970.  Ray and his wife, Delores, who also retired from BCBSM, enjoy traveling to visit nieces and nephews, all of whom live out of state.  Rays hobbies include reading, photography and gardening.  He and his wife are also heavily involved in their church where he serves as president of the church board.
 

Joyce Obenhoff

Joyce is now serving in her second year as treasurer.  She retired from BCBSM in January 2008 after 41 years of service.  She worked in what is now known as Facility Reimbursement for all of that time.  She is enjoying her office as treasurer and her fellow board members.  She is also active in many church organizations and has held a series of offices.  Her hobbies are stitching, knitting, and boating.

Marie Bjerke

Marie begins her third 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 37 years and they have two daughters.  One works for BCBSM as a nurse auditor and the other is a teacher in Portage, Mich.  They also have three grandchildren.  Marie indicates she is still adjusting to retirement and enjoys reading, knitting and spending time with her grandchildren.