Benefit Manager of the Year® chosen by independent panel

Business Insurance created the Benefit Manager of the Year^® award in 2005 to recognize excellence and innovation in employee benefits management.

In 2010, the magazine introduced the Benefit Management Honor Roll^®.

Honorees are selected by a panel of independent judges, which includes the previous year's winner and benefit experts.

Judges for the 2012 awards were:

WILLIAM CUSTER, associate professor and director of the Center for Health Services Research at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

JEFF LEONARD, managing director, retirement for Buck Consultants L.L.C. in Cincinnati.

DELIA VETTER, senior director of benefits and programs at EMC Corp. in Hopkinton, Mass., and the 2011 Business Insurance Benefit Manager of the Year^®.

LORI WORTHINGTON, senior vp, director of operations and technology at Lockton Cos. L.L.C. in Kansas City, Mo.

The judges scored each nominee on a scale of one to 10, according to how well he or she:

• Innovatively and effectively applied benefit programs to solve one or more major problems for his or her organization.

• Exhibited leadership in achieving change within his or her organization.

• Skillfully used technology to administer benefits programs and/or identify and address major problems such as health care cost drivers.

• Established and/or led an effective benefits communication strategy to effectively inform employees of benefit program changes.

• Developed in his or her career and promoted the advancement of the benefits profession.