Mercer Human Resource Consulting

Ms. Ferracone is a Worldwide Partner at Mercer Human Resource Consulting. She has over 20 years of consulting experience in the areas of value management, performance measurement, human capital strategy, and compensation design, both on a domestic and international level. She is published widely, has appeared on NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, has testified before a U.S. Congressional sub-committee on Presidential pay, and is a frequent presenter for such organizations as The Conference Board, WorldatWork, the CFO Business Week Forum, The National Center for Employee Ownership, and National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. In 2003, WorldatWork honored her with the Distinguished Service Award. Ms. Ferracone has an MBA from the Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar, and a BA, summa cum laude, in management science and economics from Duke University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She serves on a number of corporate and charitable boards.

ANN REARDON is a Senior Associate at Mercer Human Resource Consulting, a global leader for HR and related financial advice, products, and services. Prior to working with Mercer she worked as a consultant at Hewitt Associates. She received her Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University and is a licensed Insurance Agent in the State of Illinois. Ann has also worked at the following organizations; National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation and the Council Against Domestic Abuse.

Debbie has been a member of Sweet Adelines International since 1974 and started her directing career with the Lexington Chorus, in Lexington, KY, winning the Novice Director Award in 1979 at the East Central Region 4 regional competition. Deb also served as the Assistant Director of the Falls of the Ohio, Kentuckiana, and Derby City Choruses. From there, Debbie started directing the newly formed Pride of Kentucky chorus and has served as its first and only director since its inception in 1983. In fact, Pride of Kentucky Chorus has finished among the top five in every regional competition while under Debbie's leadership, including five First Place Regional Championships. She credits her good friend and one of barbershop's legends, Mr. Barbershop himself, Jim Miller, for teaching her much of what she has mastered over the years. And speaking of masters, after having completed all the necessary requirements, Debbie achieved Sweet Adelines International's highest recognition as a Director when she was named a Master Director in the Chorus Director Certification program. Debbie is an active coach of choruses and quartets both in and out of the Region 4 area. In addition to her skills as a director and coach, Debbie is an accomplished singer, having sung tenor for 17 years with the four-time Regional Champion and six-time International finalist quartet, the Harmony Highlights. In her spare time Debbie works in Human Resources for Mercer Human Resource Consulting and is quite the landscaper and woodworker!

Ms. Epperson serves as a Senior Associate for Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Health & Benefits in Newport Beach. She has more than seventeen years of experience in the employee benefits field. Ms. Epperson began her career as a sales and marketing representative for both regional and national third party administrators consulting with clients on the financial, plan design and administrative aspects of self-funded group health and welfare plans. Her experience includes consulting in the areas of managed healthcare plan design and cost analysis, contribution strategy, fringe benefits, regulatory compliance, competitive bidding, renewal negotiations and employee benefits technology. Ms. Epperson is an Associated Risk Manager (ARM) Candidate. She has served the Orange County United Way's mission through her role as Vice-Chair for the 2004 Orange County United Way Capitol Campaign and with the Leadership Society in 2006. She serves on the National Human Resources Board (Orange County Affiliate) as the Professional Development Co-Chair. And is the Executive Vice President, Growth Business Unit for the National Human Resources Board of Directors. A native of Upstate New York Ms. Epperson lives with her husband and two children in Huntington Beach.

Mark Abate is a Principal of Strategic Benefit Advisors, Inc. He specializes in the design, funding and administration of group medical, dental, life and disability programs. Mark's eighteen year career in this field includes two years as a group underwriter at Hartford Life Insurance Company and fifteen years as a consultant at Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Mark has recently advised many of the area's well-known employers, including The Gillette Company, Tufts-New England Medical Center and Brown University. For the past several years, Mark has spent considerable time with his Boston-area clients to understand their business processes and objectives and has developed health and welfare benefit strategies to meet his clients' unique demands. Mark has served in the role as the lead strategist for many large-scale engagements for area companies. He also has an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of employer health and welfare benefit programs, including proven cost management techniques, benefit design, compliance issues, vendor marketplace and plan funding and administration. Mark is locally recognized as an expert in his field. He has been quoted in the Boston Globe, Boston Business Journal and Providence Business Journal, he has been interviewed by WBZ Radio and NPR and he has been published in the Handbook of Business Strategy. Mark is also an active speaker on the topic of health care and cost management; and has spoken to many local groups on this subject as well as for the New England Employee Benefits Council, the Maine Benefits Council, and the New Hampshire Council on Wellness. Mark received a B.A. in Economics from Bates College in 1985.

Two-time chairman, attorney Pat McElhone has been committed to Boys? Haven?s mission since he was recruited to join the Board of Trustees in 1982. ?Boys? Haven has been my primary volunteer focus. It?s a great place?The kids have a great opportunity here,? he says. Mr. McElhone is legal counsel for the Louisville office of Mercer Human Resource Consulting. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he received his undergraduate degree in Education, and the University of Louisville, where he received his Master?s Degree in History and his Juris Doctorate, with honors. He also has studied at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. He is admitted to the Kentucky Bar and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association and the Louisville Bar Association. He is also a member of the Louisville Employee Benefits Council (where he previously served as President and member of the executive committee), the Southern Employee Benefits Conference, the ERISA Industry Committee, the Employers? Council on Flexible Compensation and the American Benefits Council, where he is a member of the retirement policy committee. Mr. McElhone is also Kentucky State Chair for the American Benefits Council.

Stephanie is a Senior Graphic Designer for Mercer Human Resource Consulting and has been with the firm for over 15 years. She is a Louisville native and has been actively involved with YPAL for over four years. She recently finished a term as President of the Louisville Graphic Design Association.