Your dedicated group members Our Team

Tim Werner joined BlueStar as President in 2004.  Tim had previously been a partner in the Atlanta, GA office of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig as a corporate lawyer involved in private equity and private finance transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions.  Tim is a graduate of Duke University and of Vanderbilt Law School.  In his spare time, Tim plays a little too much golf, loves to go to concerts, and plays guitar. 

Suzanne Werner joined BlueStar in 2004.  As the Chief Operations Officer, Suzanne loves working with her fantastic management team to streamline processes and procedures and leverage technology to improve efficiency and services to our clients.  In her former life, she was a Professor at Emory University with a specialization in International Relations and Game Theory.  She received her B.A. from Duke University and PhD from Vanderbilt University. 

Patty has been with the company since it began 401(k) administration in 2000 and has helped build its internal infrastructure.  Patty leverages her Computer Science degree from the University of Delaware and extensive database administration background to help develop BlueStar’s recordkeeping system, data management, and proprietary software. She is currently the manager of the Payroll team and also works closely with our custodians and their systems.

Woodie Westbrook has been writing applications since the late 1980s and has worked across many sectors of government and private industry.  He is a US Army veteran, college drop-out, American Mensa member, and brutal pragmatist with a lack of self-preservation instincts and a propensity for injury. He loves good science fiction, craft beer, and going really fast on anything with two wheels. When not working he enjoys Nerf gun wars with his son, movie night with his wife, long walks with his Doberman, and off-road motorcycle racing.

Patricia Williams is the Quality Assurance Director for BlueStar Retirement Services.  With more than 30 years in the retirement plan recordkeeping space, Patti has a keen big-picture perspective developed through involvement in all aspects of the business, from establishing a daily valuation unit for a firm in Atlanta, Georgia to supporting other software users as an employee of FIS/Relius.  Patti loves all animals, cares deeply for our environment and is an avid music listener.  She travels with her husband to concerts and festivals across the country as often as possible.

Deborah Nagorka has more than twenty years of plan administration experience. Having worked as the benefit manager for a national brokerage firm, she understands the unique challenges faced by plan sponsors.   Prior to joining BlueStar, Deborah held director positions with a boutique TPA firm and a large recordkeeper focusing on plan compliance.  She is an officer of a non-profit dedicated to improving knowledge in the benefits industry.  She is an Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent (ERPA) and has the APA and APR designations.  She is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Ashley Brunkhorst is the New Business Manager for BlueStar Retirement Services.  Prior to joining the BlueStar team in 2011, she worked in Human Resources administering company benefit programs, where she discovered her passion for working with retirement plans.  Ashley is a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and holds the Qualified 401(k) Administrator & Qualified Pension Administrator credentials from the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries.

Billy Walther is the Client Services Manager for BlueStar Retirement Services.  Before joining the BlueStar team in 2016, Billy spent 4 years as the Manager of Plan Administration for The Haslauer Group, Inc, a regional TPA firm in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Billy graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University, holds the Qualified Pension Administrator credential from the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, and is an Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent.

Laura Casanova is the Plan Operations Manager at BlueStar Retirement Services. Laura oversees the development and maintenance of ongoing operations within the Plan Operations Department and implements effective dynamic solutions that enhance productivity. Laura has worked in the retirement plan industry for 10+ years and holds both Qualified 401(k) Administrator and Qualified Pension Administrator credentials from the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries. Outside of BlueStar, Laura is a dedicated youth soccer coach for Jacksonville’s premier soccer club the Jacksonville Armada FC Youth Academy.

Stephen joined BlueStar in 2017, bringing with him nearly 30 years of industry experience since graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1990. Since early in his career, Stephen has served as a Team Leader and has been instrumental in shaping the growth and success of the companies for which he has worked. He has played a key role in product development and in leading employees to help achieve company success. Stephen holds the Qualified 401(k) Plan Administrator credential from the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries.

Blair Brown is the Data Management and Control Manager for BlueStar Retirement Services. Blair joined BlueStar in 2011 after graduating from Florida State University with degrees in Business Management and Psychology with a focus on Industrial Organization. Guiding her team towards optimizing workflows and developing ever-better solutions to complex challenges is her primary driving focus. In her free time, Blair likes playing table-top RPGs, good wine, and playing table-top RPGs while drinking good wine. An avid traveler, she makes it a point to visit at least one new state and one new country every year.

Doreen joined BlueStar in May 2020 bringing almost 30 years of financial services experience.  Since early in her career, Doreen has served as a Manager, Director and Vice President of various client/participant service departments in the recordkeeping and advisory businesses.  She has played an instrumental role in improving client and employee satisfaction.  She has also developed new processes and procedures to improve the client and participant experience.

Dion Brockway is a Senior Retirement Plan Consultant for BlueStar Retirement Services and joined the team in 2010. Dion brings over 30 years of experience in the retirement industry, having worked for The Principal Financial Group, CNA Trust, several independent TPA firms, including being a partner in an independent TPA firm just prior to joining the BlueStar team. Dion graduated from Marshalltown Community College with an Associates Degree in Accounting. Dion has received his Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) and Qualified Pension Administrator credentials from the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Dion is the father of five children and playing guitar is a passion of his.

Karen Kurtzke is a Consultant for BlueStar Retirement Services. Karen joined BlueStar in 2010 and previously worked for a TPA firm in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida that serviced Cash Balance and Defined Contribution Plans.  Karen’s background includes banking and working for the local Internal Revenue Service office in Jacksonville, Florida. Karen holds the Qualified Retirement Administrator and Qualified Pension Administrator credentials from the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, and is an Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent.

Steven Kimmel is a Relationship Manager at BlueStar working with our investment advisor partners to promote BlueStar’s technology-focused open architecture platform.  After earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Financial Services from the University of North Florida, Steven joined BlueStar in 2010. Steven currently holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation and the Series 65 Securities License. Steven is an avid outdoorsman and spends most of his down time surfing, fishing, spearfishing and hunting.