Spotlight Magellan gives colleagues and those we collaborate with the opportunity to get to know Magellan employees through facilitated interviews that explore their personal interests and the meaningful work happening across Magellan. Through intentional engagement, Spotlight Magellan fosters a sense of community and connection, and highlights the impact demonstrated by individuals in their roles at Magellan.

This month, we’re getting to know Teresa Rollin, senior IT analyst. With April being National Volunteer month, Teresa was a perfect fit!

Continue reading to learn more about Teresa:

What is your favorite volunteer activity?

During my 20 plus years at Magellan, I have had the pleasure of organizing volunteer events for a small but mighty team of Maryland employees. We spend our volunteer time off (VTO) hours at Restore/Habitat for Humanity, Howard County Food Bank and the Howard County Garden that grows food for the Howard County Food Bank. I look forward to working with fellow employees on a common goal outside of an office setting and enjoying a meal afterwards.

Describe a typical workday in your life.

As an IT analyst for Magellan, my day starts with a short team meeting to discuss project progress. Meetings, testing, documentation and collaborating with developers and other teams take up the rest of the day.

Do you have any recipes that you love to make (or have made for you)?

Salsa Verde Chicken chili!

What is your favorite thing to do during your time off?

I enjoy attending festivals on my time off. I recently attended Feast Wilmington in North Carolina where 25 food and beverage vendors set up booths so that patrons can sample their menus.

What drew you to Magellan?

I was drawn to Magellan for its commitment to give back by granting employee volunteer hours and matching donations.  

What do you like best about your current position?

The best part of my position is the ability to help users when they have issues with the applications we support. I like the feeling of accomplishment you sense after you made someone’s day easier.  

What is the best career advice that you have received or have learned through your own experiences?

The greatest advice I have ever received was from Robert Daily, a fellow analyst, who said, double checking never hurts. In IT, even if something small like a quote is missing from a program, it will fail.

Spotlight Magellan gives colleagues and those we collaborate with the opportunity to get to know Magellan employees through facilitated interviews that explore their personal interests and the meaningful work happening across Magellan. Through intentional engagement, Spotlight Magellan fosters a sense of community and connection, and highlights the impact demonstrated by individuals in their roles at Magellan.

This month, we’re getting to know Brennan Serrano, Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (IBHP) marketing communications manager.

Continue reading to learn more about Brennan:

Describe a typical workday in your life.
A typical workday starts with reviewing my Workzone planner, which helps me stay organized across projects and communications materials I’m actively working on, building or awaiting review. One of my favorite parts of my role is the variety—no two days look the same. Some days are focused on collaborating with internal teams to develop and guide materials through the full review process. Other days, I’m planning or attending community events and conferences, where I share information and resources about Magellan.

What is your favorite thing to do during your time off?
As a former college baseball player, my competitive spirit hasn’t gone anywhere. I spend much of my free time playing competitive softball, and one of the best parts is being on a co-ed team with my wife. It’s a great way for us to bond through sport and competition. Outside of that, I value time with my family. They’re everything to me.

Do you have any pets? Tell us about their quirky personality traits.
I have one pet, Oakley, who is my best friend. She’s a four-year-old great pyrenees/lab mix who is basically a giant teddy bear that can also be a little sassy and stubborn. I like to joke that she’s my “supervisor” during meetings. Without fail, whenever I start talking in a meeting, she finds her squeakiest toy and goes to work. The moment I stop talking, she stops, too. It’s as if to imply that since I’m not talking to her, I can’t talk to anyone.

What drew you to Magellan?
I’ve spent five of the past seven years working in the mental health field, which is something I’m deeply passionate about. That passion comes from both personal experience and the impact I’ve seen through my work. When I came across this opportunity at Magellan, I did my research and immediately felt a strong connection to the mission. I truly believe in the work being done to support Idahoans and I’m proud to be part of an organization making a meaningful difference.

What do you like best about your current position?
The variety in my day-to-day work is something I really value. It’s also pushed me to become a “Swiss Army knife” when it comes to understanding Magellan’s services and programs. In my role, it’s important to have a broad knowledge base so I can be a strong resource at community events, provider conferences and agency visits. I take pride in being flexible, adapting quickly and anticipating needs before they arise, whether in meetings or out in the field.

What is your biggest strength?
My biggest strength is taking complex healthcare information, understanding what each audience needs and turning it into clear, structured communication that helps people take the right action the first time.

I also take pride in being reliable and delivering high-quality work. A softball teammate once told me that when a pop fly goes up in the outfield toward me, he starts walking off the field because he trusts I’ll make the catch. That’s the same level of trust I aim to build in my work. When something is handed to me, my team knows it will get done, and it will get done right. I’m not perfect, but I approach my work with a growth mindset and use every challenge as an opportunity to learn and continuously improve.

Spotlight Magellan gives colleagues and those we collaborate with the opportunity to get to know Magellan employees through facilitated interviews that explore their personal interests and the meaningful work happening across Magellan. Through intentional engagement, Spotlight Magellan fosters a sense of community and connection, and highlights the impact demonstrated by individuals in their roles at Magellan.

This month, we’re getting to know Jennifer Friedrich, vice president, federal program operations, military counseling division, federal market. Jennifer has been with Magellan since 2012.

Continue reading to learn more about Jennifer:

Describe a typical workday in your life.

My workday has a high operational tempo and is centered on maintaining operational excellence within the military counseling division, a team of over 1,750 associates including project management staff, Military & Family Life counselors and personal financial counselors. I focus on supporting our government customer, our employees and the organization as a whole by balancing priorities, addressing emerging needs and ensuring our teams have the guidance and resources they need to succeed. Each day requires adaptability, collaboration and a steady focus on delivering high-quality outcomes in support of the military counseling mission.

What is your biggest strength?

My greatest strength is my ability to lead through a human-centered, strength-based approach. My leadership, counseling and teaching philosophies naturally intersect and are grounded in humanistic psychology. I focus on identifying and amplifying each individual’s strengths and intentionally aligning them with meaningful growth opportunities. This approach builds trust, enhances intrinsic motivation and supports employee wellbeing and confidence, resulting in more engaged, capable and resilient teams.

How do you feel you excel in supporting your team(s)?

I excel in supporting my teams by modeling and encouraging balance, reflection and self-care as essential components of sustained performance. Magellan has afforded me the ability to maintain work-life balance, which enables me to remain focused, present and mission-driven. I translate this into my leadership by advising employees to intentionally set aside time each day to pause, evaluate and invest in themselves. I recognize that personal wellbeing directly supports effectiveness, engagement, and long-term success.

What is your favorite thing to do during your time off?

Traveling is my favorite way to spend time off. I enjoy exploring new geographic locations, immersing myself in different cultures and experiencing the food and traditions that make each place unique. Travel allows me to recharge, broaden my perspective and return with renewed energy and curiosity that carries over into my work and daily life.

What is the best career advice that you have received or have learned through your own experiences?

The best career advice I have learned through experience is to lead and work with purpose. Magellan has compassionately pushed my leadership growth edge by fostering a thriving, supportive environment that encourages reflection and development. I advise employees to explore their inner “why” and pursue opportunities that align with their values and sense of purpose. When individuals are engaged in meaningful work, they become more effective, connected and resilient, which are invaluable benefits that extend both inside and outside the workplace.

Do you have any pets? Tell us about their quicky personality traits and share a picture!

I have four pets: Oliver, Sage, Teddy and Poppy, and each has a wonderfully unique personality! Oliver is the loyal protector of the group, always keeping a watchful eye on everyone. Sage oversees all activity like a wise manager, making sure nothing goes unnoticed. Teddy truly lives up to her name. She’s our cuddly teddy bear and resident comforter. Poppy is a nonstop bouncing ball of energy who keeps us on our toes.

Together, they bring an incredible amount of joy and unconditional love to our home.

Spotlight Magellan gives colleagues and those we collaborate with the opportunity to get to know Magellan employees beyond the surface through facilitated interviews that explore their personal interests, experiences, and aspirations. Through intentional engagement, Spotlight Magellan fosters a sense of community and connection, strengthening relationships and creating a more enriching shared experience.

This month, we’re getting to know Mary Connole, senior paralegal, regulatory. Mary has been with Magellan since 1992.

Continue reading to learn more about Mary:

What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

I have a few things I rotate on different weekends that include going to our local ceramic shop to work on a current project, visiting with my friends, going golfing with my husband or side-by-side (UTV) rides. Pretty much anything outside.

What’s your favorite way to use your PTO?

My husband and I try to go on a cruise every year with my cousin, his wife and our granddaughter. We also like to go camping around southern Nevada with our Shi Tzu Dotty and my cousins who also live nearby. We also enjoy using the time off to plan reunions and spending time with good friends and family.

What is the furthest place you’ve traveled (or would like to travel to one day)?

The furthest place I have traveled to is the Southern Caribbean. My bucket list destination is to go on a Panama Canal Cruise and also cruises to Australia and South Pacific Islands after retirement. Anywhere with a beach!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

The best piece of advice I have received is that change is inevitable and is going to happen whether you are ready and agree with the change or not. Try to just accept it and move on. You will never be given any more than you can handle.

Do you have any pets? Tell us about what quirky personality traits your animals have!

We have one dog named Dotty. She is an 11-year-old Shi Tzu. She is an older dog but still acts like a puppy sometimes. She is also quite the diva! She has been known to interrupt a Teams call to bark at me to let me know I have been sitting at my desk for too long and need to get up and move. She also may be just a little spoiled!

Spotlight Magellan gives colleagues and those we collaborate with the opportunity to get to know Magellan employees beyond the surface through facilitated interviews that explore their personal interests, experiences, and aspirations. Through intentional engagement, Spotlight Magellan fosters a sense of community and connection, strengthening relationships and creating a more enriching shared experience.

This month, we’re getting to know Michelle Penman, training manager, family advocacy support services, federal market. Michelle has been with Magellan since August 2016.

Continue reading to learn more about Michelle:

Do you have any secret talents/ something you’re very good at that would surprise others?

I love to read and craft. My hidden talent is knitting. I have made items big and small. Currently, I am working on a shawl to wear once the weather gets cooler again.

What are you currently reading?

I am embarking on getting my Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, so I am mainly reading textbooks. When I have the time, I like to read sci-fi and mysteries. I love a good classic like Dune or Devil in the White City.

What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

My favorite thing to do on the weekend is to hang out with family. As a retired military spouse, I spent years away. We decided to move back closer to our family and it has been the best decision! We love to play games, have bonfires, watch movies and go on adventures together.

What are some goals that you have for yourself, both personal and career, that you hope to achieve over the next five to ten years?

I would like to achieve earning my Master of Arts degree. It’s a lifelong dream of mine. I would also like to continue working in federal contracts. I would love to someday be a program manager for a contract!

What is your self-care routine after the work week/ favorite ways to unwind after work?

I love good food! I like to make tasty and nutritious meals for my family. I enjoy including my three kids in the process of making new recipes so that I can show them that cooking is fun and it’s okay to experiment and deviate from the traditional recipes. I also love growing my own produce! It’s truly a joy to make something of your own from scratch.

Spotlight Magellan allows coworkers to get to know one another by going beyond the surface level through facilitated discussions that delve into personal interests, experiences and aspirations. Through intentional engagement, Spotlight Magellan aims to cultivate a sense of community and camaraderie across our company, ultimately contributing to a more cohesive and fulfilling remote workplace culture.

This month, we’re getting to know Jennifer Moran, veterans’ benefits specialist for the federal market. Jennifer has been with Magellan federal member services since July 2015.

Continue reading to learn more about Jennifer:

Describe a typical workday in your life.

I’m an attorney, and I was a Rating Veterans’ Service Representative at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for six years, where I adjudicated disability compensation and survivors’ benefits claims. Now, I represent veterans seeking benefits before the VA, both at the regional office level and before the Board of Veterans Appeals. My workday involves a great deal of client communication: intake calls with veterans seeking benefits, providing clients with case updates and coordinating the necessary paperwork and answering general benefits questions. The rest of the time I am reviewing veterans’ medical and personnel records page by page looking for evidence to help ensure that they are awarded appropriately, communicating internally with VA to address problems that arise with claims, preparing claims and evidence for submission and continually educating myself about constant changes in VA procedures, law and policy.

Do you have any secret talents/ something you’re very good at that would surprise others?

Few people know that I can sing. My mother was a highly trained lyric soprano with a voice like Julie Andrews. I was lucky enough to inherit some of her natural talent, which I exercise with joyous abandon in my car.

What are you currently reading or binge watching?

I am a bibliophile, with a 30-foot floor-to-ceiling library in my home. I’m always reading several books at once. My current favorite is “The Elements of Marie Curie” by Dava Sobel. As for binge-watching, it’s usually historical fiction. I’m just now watching “Outlander” and “Vikings.”

What is the farthest place you’ve traveled (or would like to travel to one day)?

The furthest I’ve ever traveled is New Zealand to visit a childhood pen pal with whom I exchanged letters in the days before email. We’re both over 50-years-old now and still keep in touch.

Do you have any pets? Tell us about what quirky personality traits your animals have!

I have three dogs, all former strays. Benson is my high-strung, slightly neurotic Staffordshire terrier who runs the house and greets all visitors with a shoe. Though the smallest, he’s been known to punch his siblings to be first in line for a piece of watermelon. RocNRoll is the massive (but very chill) 80 pound pit bull I adopted from a high-kill shelter 10 minutes before he was due to be put down. His hobbies include tearing up cardboard boxes and hanging by his jaws from tree branches. Ruger is a medium-sized pit bull/ mastiff/ German Shepard mix who looks like Scrappy-Doo with heavy eyeliner. He loves to watch television and likes to carry his favorite blanket with him everywhere.