NINA GRIFFIN
Employee Benefits Professional
ngriffin1@verizon.net
(972) 693-7274
Summary
Over 10 years of experience implementing, designing, and administering fully insured and selffunded health, welfare, 401(k), and pension benefit plans in various companies with multiple
locations. Bachelor of Business Science in Economics.
Areas of Expertise
Communication - Educate employees through written materials, presentations, and webcasts
Analysis – Audit data, analyze trends, and recommend changes
Compliance - Research laws and regulations and prepare required documents in compliance
with ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, HIPAA, and PPACA; qualify Domestic Relations Orders and
Medical Child Support Orders
Plan management - Manage vendors, brokers, consultants, third party administrators, record
keepers, and actuaries to ensure plans are administered according to the contracts and
resolve issues
Project Management – Lead large projects such as open enrollment, system implementations,
and sending out RFPs
Customer Service – Partner with internal departments and external resources to address and
resolve employee issues
Computer Skills - Proficient in Microsoft Office applications creating Word documents, Excel
spreadsheets using vlookup, advanced formulas, mail merge, and pivot tables, and
Powerpoint presentations; Implement online open enrollment systems; Experience with
ADP, Lawson, and Peoplesoft HRIS
Professional Experience
Employee Benefits Analyst (contract positions)
7/2013 – 12/2014
D R Horton, Fort Worth, TX
Performed Peoplesoft functional implementation testing
Southwest Airlines, Dallas, TX
Recognized by management for excellent customer service assisting employees navigating the
online open enrollment system
Dean Foods, Dallas, TX
Administered health, welfare, 401(k), and pension benefit plans for 20,000 employees in union
and non-union plans across the country
Audited data and analyzed processes, created procedures, and recommended changes to
decrease processing time
Partnered with benefits third party administrator (TPA) and record keeper to resolve benefit
issues
Identified missing company contributions for acquired union and non-union employees and
collaborated with HRIS to correct participant accounts
Maintained benefit records using ADP HRIS
Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX
6/2012 - 12/2012
Sr. Benefits Analyst
Administered 401(k) plan for over 3,500 employees
Reconciled 401(k) loan discrepancies to automate deeming loans saving $400 per year; Audited
401(k) plan employer and employee contributions for the past 2 years and developed
processes; Identified 2011 missed 401(k) earnings and calculated 401(k) deferrals and
match owed
Qualified 401(k) and pension plan Domestic Relations Orders (DROs)
Evaluated benefit Request for Proposal (RFP) and selected Medicare Advantage Plan vendor
Decreased time to audit and transmit weekly 401(k) retirement plan contributions by 90%
Audited and paid monthly medical and life insurance benefits invoices
Delivered benefit open enrollment presentations and counseled employees
Calculated pension benefits and counseled employees
Managed OPEB claims
Completed benefits surveys to monitor market competitiveness
Conducted annual HIPAA training for HR department
Maintained records using Lawson HRIS
Employee Benefits Analyst (contract positions)
1/2010 – 6/2012
Mercer, Dallas, TX
Calculated pension benefits for employees of American Airlines
Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Dallas, TX
Administered 401(k) plan for 12,000 employees in multiple locations
Investment Committee member
Decreased time spent on 401(k) plan data transmission by 90% saving $6,200 per year
Saved $30,000 each year by selecting and transferring 401(k) plan to new record keeper
Maintained records using Peoplesoft HRIS
GuideStone Financial Resources, Dallas, TX
Decreased time by 50% preparing Forms 5300 and 5307 determination letter filings
Apex Global Partners, Inc. (now MHBT), Dallas, TX
7/2006 – 8/2009
Consultant
Conducted 401(k) plan record keeper searches for clients, analyzed Requests for Proposals
(RFPs), presented results to the client, and facilitated implementation
Generated $66,000 in revenue annually preparing Forms 5300 and 5500, determining
qualification of Medical Child Support Orders (MCSOs), and creating health and welfare
benefit plan wrap documents
Merged four 401(k) plans into 1 plan
Researched benefit legislation to maintain compliance with laws and regulations
DFW International Airport Board, DFW Airport, TX
3/2005 – 3/2006
Senior Compensation and Benefits Analyst
Administered daily operation of health, welfare, 401(k) and pension benefit plans for 2,300
employees and retirees; managed service awards program; calculated pension benefits;
determined qualification of Domestic Relations Orders (DROs)
Developed communication materials for benefits open enrollment, conducted meetings, and
communicated with vendors
Tested implementation of PeopleSoft HRIS online benefits enrollment system decreasing
processing time by 80 hours
Team Health Anesthesia Management Services, Inc., San Diego, CA
9/2003 – 6/2004
Manager of Pension and Insurance Plans
Managed team administering health, welfare, and 401(k) plans for 16 clients in multiple states
Evaluated annual benefit renewals, delivered presentations, and advised clients on plan
selection and cost sharing
Prepared census data for vendor quotes
Wrote quarterly newsletter articles on benefits
General Atomics, San Diego, CA
5/2000 – 8/2003
Benefits Manager
Managed team administering health, welfare, pension, and 401(k) benefit plans for 2,000
employees and retirees in multiple states
Managed fitness center
Created benefits open enrollment communication materials and delivered presentations
Maintained relationships with vendors, brokers, consultants, and record keeper to ensure
benefit plans were administered according to the contract and resolve issues
Presented benefit renewal options to senior management for approval
Implemented online benefits enrollment system in 6 weeks saving 180 hours of employee time
and open enrollment being completed in 3 weeks
Implemented HMO plan in Mexico
Implemented new medical plan vendor in 3 days
Managed the Department of Labor (DOL) audit of the pension plan resulting in no penalties
Prepared census data for vendor quotes
Managed tuition reimbursement plan and saved $4,000 in fraudulent claim
Determined qualification of Domestic Relations Orders (DROs)
Created HIPAA procedures
Education
Bachelor of Business Science in Economics - Oklahoma City University
Associations
Dallas Human Resource Management Association, Inc.
Volunteer Organizations
Church – member of Personnel Committee and Audit Committee