Benefits are only as good as employees' understanding of them, according to Jessica DeVenuta, most recently senior benefits manager at Lakeshore Learning Materials.
"While compliance, technology, and financial stewardship are critical, they're only successful if employees can actually navigate and use the benefits available to them," she said, explaining that clear metrics help in that mission.
"On the employer side, I believe data and humanity should work together, not against each other," she shared. "I use analytics to identify opportunities to improve plan performance, reduce administrative complexity, and manage costs responsibly, while ensuring those decisions continue to support employees' health, financial well-being, and overall experience."
DeVenuta improved the leave experience for Lakeshore employees, transforming it from a manual Excel process to a dedicated leave management system.
"The implementation wasn't simply about introducing new technology, it was about creating standardized, repeatable processes that improved compliance, strengthened data integrity, and provided employees with a more consistent experience during some of the most important moments of their lives," she said.
DeVenuta also led an evaluation process of the organization's benefits strategy, service model, technology capabilities, compliance support, and employee advocacy resources which resulted in a new brokerage relationship that she said "better aligned with our long-term vision of delivering more strategic, data-driven, and employee-centered benefits."
While DeVenuta's tenure at Lakeshore recently ended, her goals as a benefits professional are unchanged.
"I want to serve as a true strategic partner in organizational decision-making, helping shape business strategy through the lens of people, data, compliance, and employee experience," she said. "Benefits touch nearly every aspect of an organization, from talent attraction and retention to financial planning, risk management, culture, and employee well-being."
