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. 

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.

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.

Laura Casanova is the Compliance Project 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. 

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 Recordkeeping Manager for BlueStar Retirement Services, overseeing the Payroll Team and the Data Management and Control Team. Blair joined BlueStar in 2011 after graduating from Florida State University with degrees in Business Management and Psychology with a focus on Industrial Organization. In her free time, Blair likes playing table-top RPGs, drinking 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.

Steven Kimmel is a DIrector of Institutional Sales 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.

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.