In this employee spotlight, we feature Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Team Leader of Claims Operations Katie Cariveau.
Meet Katie Cariveau
Katie Cariveau grew up in Thompson, North Dakota, a small town in Grand Forks County. She and her husband of 13 years, Jay, have two daughters, Kelsey and Jaelynn, and a big mastiff named Max. Both daughters work in health care in West Fargo and Fargo, N.D.
Finding BCBSND
Katie and her husband first moved to Fargo in 1999 when Jay found a job there. She was hired at a small corporate company, but it didn’t have much room for career growth. Eventually, she came across a job fair at BCBSND.
“I was looking for something that was good for my family life. Something that gave me flexibility, good benefits and good hours. At the job fair, everyone was so welcoming and friendly – they made me feel really comfortable,” said Katie.
Large company, small areas
Now, nine years later, Katie has been able to grow her career and expand her knowledge of the insurance industry. She first started as a customer advocate answering members’ phone calls. A year later, she was promoted to a team coordinator position. From there, she moved into an analyst role and then into her current role as team lead. Finding a place with room to grow and meeting people who made her feel welcome and cared for was a great win for Katie and her family. She especially enjoys the leadership programs and volunteer opportunities at Blue.
“It feels like a small company compared to what most people probably think we are. I don't think most people realize how small some of our areas actually are,” shared Katie. “Some of my best friends are ones I met through work.”
Katie’s day-to-day work varies as a team leader. Her team takes care of member calls about claims and benefits for some of our larger employer groups, so it takes a lot of teamwork and knowledge to answer members’ questions. They try their best to be the “one-stop-shop” for any of the members’ needs.
“We handle so many different functions in different groups within our teams, so it's a very good variety of work. We’re definitely learning something new every day,” she said.
Supportive leadership and fun memories
Katie is thankful for the care her leaders show. She said they encourage her team and always look for opportunities for them to grow.
“They’re really good at structuring our team so we can grow within our team. They give us work we may not think we would be able to handle, but they know we can handle and it’s always a good learning opportunity,” she said.
Her favorite memory is when leadership scheduled team outings at the Fargo Theater for a movie event. It was a great time for 20 to 40 of them to visit and enjoy each other’s company. She also remembers participating in the Day of Caring event where employees get together and serve senior citizens in the community.
A place of opportunity
Overall, Katie enjoys the opportunities BCBSND offers. Whether volunteering in the community, taking on challenging projects, taking time off to be with family or growing as a professional, Katie has found a place that helps her accomplish her goals.
“I really love working for this company and the support I’ve been given over the years – it's been a very good company to work for.”
Katie’s biggest inspiration
As a mother, Katie wants her two daughters to have a great example to follow. She considers them her biggest inspiration. Through learning and working hard, Katie has shown exactly what it takes to make a rewarding career.
”I want them to realize if they work hard, it really pays off – they can accomplish whatever they want to accomplish or set their mind to,” she said.
