FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. PAUL, Minn.—On May 5, MNsure's two longest-serving board members, Peter Benner and Phil Norrgard, completed their second and final terms on MNsure's board of directors. The two were appointed to MNsure's first board of directors, which was formed in April 2013, by then Governor Mark Dayton.

“Peter Benner and Phil Norrgard helped guide MNsure through its early days with steady hands and an unwavering commitment to the Minnesotans we serve,” said MNsure CEO Nate Clark. “Their insightful, engaged direction was instrumental in all of the improvements MNsure has made over the years. We thank them for their leadership and their service to Minnesota over the last eight years.” 

On June 16, the board elected /about-us/board-committees/board/suyapa-miranda.jspSuyapa Miranda to be MNsure's new chair, replacing Benner, who served in the role since June 2020. 

Miranda currently serves as executive director of Prepare and Prosper, a nonprofit organization that works with low- to moderate-income people to build financial well-being through free tax preparation and financial services. She has served as MNsure’s vice chair since June 2020 and has been a board member since 2018. 

“Suyapa Miranda’s career has been devoted to addressing the economic and health disparities that are unfortunately still too prevalent in Minnesota,” said Clark. “Her commitment to health equity is more important than ever. We welcome her leadership and her continued focus on ensuring MNsure is accessible to any Minnesotan who needs access to quality, comprehensive health coverage.” 

The board elected /about-us/board-committees/board/stephanie-stoffel.jspStephanie Stoffel to serve as MNsure vice chair. Stoffel, an IT executive, has been a board member since March 2020. 

Peter Benner 

Peter Benner served as board chair twice, once from 2015 to 2017 and again from 2020 to 2021. He also served as vice-chair from June 2019 to 2020. Benner was a part of the strategy work group, which focused on MNsure’s government affairs, the MNsure and DHS relationship, and partnerships. 

Benner is a retired consultant on health care, labor relations and public policy. Before consulting, he worked for many years with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Benner is the former executive director of AFSCME Council 6, where he was the lead negotiator with the state of Minnesota in designing the insurance benefits for state employees and their families. He also sat on many boards and commissions relating to health care including: Minnesota Health Care Access Commission, Minnesota Health Care Commission, Minnesota Citizen's Forum on Health Care Costs, Governor's Health Care Transformation Task Force, Governor's Health Care Reform Task Force, Minnesota Community Measurement, and the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. 

Phil Norrgard 

Phil Norrgard served as board chair from 2017 to June 2019 and was a part of the finance work group, which advised on budget development and financial planning, enrollment projections and financial monitoring. 

Norrgard served as the director of human services on the Fond du Lac Reservation, where he performed many of the same tasks as a county health and human services administrator. In addition, he administered purchases and contracts for a wide range of medical, dental, pharmacy, chemical dependency, behavioral health, chiropractic and in-home health care services for the Band. Norrgard served as a founding member on the Fond du Lac Insurance Board of Directors and helped establish Fond du Lac’s self-insurance medical plan. He has served on numerous boards for community organizations and was a founding member of the Minnesota Indian Mental Health Advisory Council and the Minnesota Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council. Norrgard also served as the Bemidji area delegate alternate to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Tribal Technical Advisory Group. 

MNsure board members are appointed by the governor through the state's open appointments process and confirmed by the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives. The commissioner of Human Services is a standing member. Board members serve staggered four-year terms and are limited to two terms of service. All appointed members must have demonstrated that they do not have conflicts of interest. Additional information about the MNsure Board of Directors can be found here.

MNsure is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage that meets their needs. MNsure is the only place you can apply for financial help to lower the cost of your monthly insurance premium and out-of-pocket costs. Most Minnesotans who enroll through MNsure qualify for financial help.