Ep. 6 - Kevin Cope Inside the High-Stakes World of Billion-Dollar Benefit Decisions

In this episode, Anne sits down with Kevin Cope, Administrator of the NECA-IBEW Health and Welfare Trust Fund, Pension Trust Fund, and 401(k) Plan based in Decatur, Illinois, to talk about what it really takes to manage benefits at scale. From navigating billion-dollar pension assets to resolving high-stakes healthcare decisions, Kevin shares the behind-the-scenes challenges of serving thousands of members and nearly 900 employers. Whether you're deep in the benefits world or just curious about how multi-local trust funds really operate, Kevin offers a grounded, candid look at leadership, communication, and what it means to do the right thing, especially when it’s hard. Have feedback or guest ideas? Email us at [email protected] Learn more at www.eprlive.com Host: Anne Larson Produced & Edited By: John Shaw Music by: Kellan Green Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome & Inside a Multiemployer Trust Fund(00:01:09) - Pension vs. Health & Welfare: Where the Work Really Is(00:05:25) - 40 Staff, 38 Trustees, and 3 Plans(00:08:59) - From the Field to Fund Administration(00:13:38) - Handling the High Stakes!(00:21:24) - Perspective, Leadership, and Where the Work Is Headed