MCIT Staff by Specialty

To contact the MCIT staff noted below, dial either:
• Toll-free: 1.866.547.6516, plus extension
• Local: 651.209.(extension)

ADMINISTRATION

Robyn Sykes, Executive Director (ext. 6408), rsykes@mcit.org
Steve Nelson, Deputy Director (ext. 6411), snelson@mcit.org

• Program oversight
• Program governance
• Board operations
• Reinsurance
• Contract administration

COMMUNICATIONS

Heather Larson-Blakestad, Communications Manager (ext. 6430), hblakestad@mcit.org

• Publications
• Training
• Website

COVERAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE

Gary Severson, Underwriting Manager (ext. 6410), gseverson@mcit.org

• Coverage Document issuance
• Renewal notices
• Schedule change notification
• Workers’ compensation payroll audits
• Specialized coverage placement

FACILITY USE

Jenny Aschenbrener, Receptionist (ext. 6400), info@mcit.org

• Meeting room arrangements

FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING

Cheri Donovan, Finance Manager (ext. 6415), cdonovan@mcit.org

• Accounts payable
• Accounts receivable
• Training registration
• Independent audit report

GENERAL GOVERNMENT/RESEARCH

Robyn Sykes, Executive Director (ext. 6408), rsykes@mcit.org
Karen Clayton Ebert, Senior Staff Counsel for Risk Control (ext. 6456), kebert@mcit.org
Jen Wolf, Senior Staff Counsel for Risk Control (ext. 6442), jwolf@mcit.org
Sonya Guggemos, Senior Staff Counsel for Risk Control (ext. 6418), sguggemos@mcit.org

LOSS CONTROL/RISK MANAGEMENT

Kevin Balfanz, Director of Field Services (ext. 6446), kbalfanz@mcit.org

• OSHA citations
• Property surveys
• Safety committees
• Coverage issues
• Contract review
• New member applications

MCIT OFFICE OPERATIONS

Linda Podritz, Director of Internal Services (ext. 6421), lpodritz@mcit.org

• Auto cab cards
• Defensive driving training registration
• EAP brochures and wallet cards
• General MCIT office administration

PROPERTY/CASUALTY CLAIMS

Jim Lass, Property/Casualty Claims Manager (ext. 6432), jlass@mcit.org
Joe Rieder, Director of Claims (ext. 6412), jrieder@mcit.org

• Property/casualty claims administration

TECHNOLOGY

Jeff Kulas, Information Technology Manager (ext. 6420), jkulas@mcit.org

• Electronic communication
• Hardware/software
• Website administration

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS

Carol Frank, Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager (ext. 6413), cfrank@mcit.org
Joe Rieder, Director of Claims (ext. 6412), jrieder@mcit.org 

• Workers’ compensation claims administration