To commemorate Women’s History Month, Strauss Troy is proud to spotlight several exceptional female clients who have made significant strides in their respective careers and industries. These remarkable women have not only achieved success but have also graciously shared insights into the advice they’ve received and shared, the influential women who have inspired them, and their dedication to mentoring and motivating other women.
Today we are highlighting Julie Mueller. Julie is the President & CEO of Custom Design Benefits, a Third Party Administrator (TPA) of health care benefits based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Established in 1991, CDB is the only privately held and independent TPA in the Tri-State area and is known for offering creative cost containment solutions to employers while providing their members with high-touch customer service.
Ms. Mueller has served in the health care field throughout her career. Her early days began with MEDCO Peer Review, a corporation launched by physicians in the 1970s to manage Medicare cost, in one of the early forays into managed care. Then she was a team of four individuals who launched a TPA using similar cost containment strategies to help self-funded employers manage their health care costs. She spent twenty years as a senior executive growing this TPA to one of the nation’s largest. Since 2003, after joining Custom Design Benefits, Ms. Mueller and her team have created a dynamic, service-oriented organization specializing in the administration of self-funded health benefits, compliance services such as FMLA, COBRA and Consumer Driven Services.
Ms. Mueller and her husband, Rick, live in Northern Kentucky. They have one son, Zak. Zak and his wife Laura have just blessed Julie and Rick with their first grandchild, Russell David.
1. What does Women’s History Month mean to you and why is it important?
It’s a huge accomplishment that there is even a month set aside to recognize and honor women’s contributions in American history. When I began my career, many moons ago (before computers and the internet!), there really weren’t that many women business leaders. Now it is so exciting to see so many women taking the opportunity to follow their passions and take their rightful place in leadership. We still have quite a ways to go especially when you look at women of color, but very encouraging and is only growing.
2. How have you witnessed the roles of women change in society over the past decade(s) in your industry?
My industry is part of the “insurance” industry which is primarily dominated by white men. But over the past 10-20 years, you see more and more women owned TPAs (Third Party Administrators). I am on a national board for TPAs (Health Care Administrators Association) and 6 of the 11 members are C-Suite/Owner women. We get so much accomplished!
3. Tell me about an influential woman in your life and how they have impacted you.
I have two. My mother who went back to school after raising 6 children, obtained her associates degree and went on into a management role in the hospitality industry. My parents started out their life together as sharecroppers in Western Kentucky. She was driven to improve herself and encouraged all of her children to do the same. This is where I received my drive to work hard and never give up.
In my career, Vickie Buyniski Gluckman was my mentor from the early age of 20. I was working at MEDCO Peer Review and Vickie was brought in to run the organization that was part of a national network of physician-run peer review organizations that managed the inpatient medical necessity guidelines for Medicare and Medicaid. It was the foundation of the current precertification programs still in place for all health care plans today. At the time, Vickie was the youngest Executive Director in the entire United States. She saw something in me and taught me all I know about leadership and being a woman leader in a man’s world at the time. I worked with Vickie for over 25 years and am so very grateful for her mentorship and friendship.
4. What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received or like to give?
“God gave each of us a purpose and he will lead you to that purpose if you allow him.” So I always tell people to get to know themselves and find what they are passionate about. Then follow that passion. Do you love to teach, build things, create things, help people, solve problems, mentor others? What is it for you? Sometimes identifying your passion will take you in several directions but eventually you will clearly identify the one or two things that motivate you; then you will receive joy and peace in pursuing your purpose.
5. Is there anything you do to help mentor or motivate other women or young girls?
This is one of my passions! I love helping women develop their professional lives. At Custom Design Benefits, we invest a great deal in helping our employees, which happen to be 90% female, identify their goals and work towards achieving their dreams. Our company is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and we often look for vendor partners with this same certification. I’m a member of several executive organizations, including Women’s Presidents Organization, where I’m able to share my experiences and also learn from other women leaders in the Tri-State area.