Ken Trask has over 25 years of experience in healthcare, marketing, customer service, and management. He has held several roles at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois including Group Benefits Specialist handling appeals for large groups, and Customer Advocate Specialist adjudicating appeals. In these roles, he demonstrated expertise in healthcare regulations and proficiency with claims systems. Prior to BCBSIL, he held roles in publishing, marketing, and retail management, displaying skills in editing, graphic design, and supervising employees.

1. Ken Trask
3550 N Lake Shore Dr. #1306, Chicago, IL 60657
815-508-1951 kt@integritymarketingdirect.com
Healthcare and Ancillary Skills
Career professionalwith over 25 years’ experience with management, marketing and customer service; including resolving difficult
situations and irate customers and providing excellent service in all aspects of my career.
• Group Benefits Specialist, handling top priory requests for BCBSIL’s 5th largest group, City of Chicago.
• Customer Advocate Specialist for Appeals Unit, adjudicating appeals from members, providers and third party; both clinical and
non-clinical for IL, TX, and OK. Wrote final decision letters, and trained new employees on letter writing techniques.
• Entrusted by management performance groups that require specific processes and high levels of satisfaction by the group,as
well as special projects throughout the year.
• Awarded the 5 Star Award for 2013 Customer Advocate Champion by BCBSIL Supervisor, Manager and Director.
• Follow all healthcare mandates: ACA, DOL/ERISA, DOI, NCQA, and URAC
• Meets all appeal timeframes with regards to above mandates: 2, 3, 15, 20, 30 and 60 days.
• Research CPT, HCPCS, ICD-9/10, and GPI codes with use of terminology and anatomy.
• Expert computer experience for 25+ years. Windows & Macintosh:Microsoft Office, Lotus Notes, QuarkXPress, Internet,
email, digital SLR, video filming and editing.
• Whetheran employee is below or above my position,respecting my peers has always been a high priority. This always results in
solid, trustworthy relationships and yields higher work production and forms a team environment.
Employment
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Group Benefits Specialist (GBS), Chicago Headquarters,10/19/2015-present: Exclusive GBS for City of Chicago, PPO active and
retiree groups. Position is a direct liaison to the group, providing daily support for all claims and benefits issues,including high-dollar
and manual calculation situations. Collaborate with Coordinators and Technicians on benefit testing,claim locks and issues.
Appeals Triage Unit, Danville FSU, 6/11-10/15: Adjudicate appeals from members, providers and third party; both clinical and non-
clinical for group and retail. Following Healthcare Reform mandates (ACA) is a daily requirement, coordinating efforts with Medical
Review Unit, such as physicians and nurses.
Customer Advocate I & II, Danville FSU, 6/08-6/11: This position is the frontline for BCBS, responsible for servicing customers,
providers & third parties assisting benefits and claim issues, explaining medical terminology for PPO, POS and HMO. Extremely
knowledgeable and proficient of Blue Chip and various HCSC proprietary applications experience.
Active Seniors Options, Inc., Managing Editor, Champaign-Urbana, 6/06-7/07
Managed,edited & distributed tabloid-sized newspapers, The Active Senior: Greater East Central Illinois (Champaign-Urbana area)
& Greater Central Illinois (Bloomington-Normal area). Responsible for designing all publications,marketing materials & necessary
ads while collaborating with advertisers for content.Also produced the nationwide newsletter, Marketing & Selling to the 50+.
Baier Publishing, Inc., Cissna Park 11/98-6/06
Multitasked as editor, reporter, printer and photographerfor two newspapers,as I was involved in entire process of publishing which
included newspaper offset printing, bindery, proofreading, layout, ad design and prepress operation. Staff and freelance work.
Mayflower Tours, Marketing Production Manager, Downers Grove 3/97-11/98
Managed and developed all print material such as catalogs, brochures,flyers, and pamphlets for a nation al tour (travel) operator,
utilizing a $500,000 yearly budget,including coordinating mailings and maintaining all lists. Also responsible for managing graphic
designers and distribution department, which processed bulked mailings and implemented in-house projects with vendors such as
Xerox, Pitney Bowes, USPS and UPS. Presentations given, and supported sales stafffor all marketing materials.
Mid-Central Food Broker, Sales Representative, Chicagoland 11/88-3/97
Marketed and sold consumer packaged goods to retail stores—Chicago inner city & suburbs.Responsibilities were selling,
merchandising, auditing, trade shows and introducing new products to department managers.
Microsoft Corporation,Demonstration Representative, Chicagoland 1/95-3/97.
Demonstrated Microsoft’s latest software, such as Office, in various computer stores.Trained at Microsoft’s Chicago location.
Jewel Food Stores, Management, Chicagoland 10/80-11/88
Managed & improved various departments of major food chain, including ordering, merchandising, inventory and receiving.
Supervised and trained employees in proper methods of merchandising grocery retail.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Journalism, School of Communications, Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinoisan & Daily Egyptian, Writer & Photographer ~ American Marketing Association,Director of Public Relations