About Us

The Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare Plan was created in 1954. Today, the Transit Employees’ Health and Wellness Plan are 16,000 members vital, comprised of plan participants, retirees, widows, and their family members who are employees of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority who are members of the Local ATU 689 union.

As a governmental health plan, TEHW provides a comprehensive package of benefits that includes medical, prescription drug, dentalvision, life and accident coverage, and long-term and short-term disability insurance. The plan reduces per participant administrative costs, making the Fund competitive with private insurers while offering quality health benefits and eligibility information to its plan participants and their families.

Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare Mission Statement

“Our organization is committed To providing a quality and unparallel customer service Experience through innovative ways of empowering Health conscious decisions for our members and their family’s Well-being while partnering with internal and external stakeholders.”

How we Operate

Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare Plan is governed by a board of trustees representing the employer- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA or Metro) and ATU Local 689 according to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. The Board oversees TEHW’s assets and makes plan design recommendations and decisions about the benefits offered. Transit Employees Health and Welfare Plan Current Board of Trustees:

  • ATU LOCAL 689 TRUSTEES

    • Raymond Jackson, Secretary
    • Keith Bullock
    • Esker Bilger
  • WMATA OR METRO TRUSTEESWASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY

    • Sherri T. Dickerson, Chair
    • Robert Tang
  • PLAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    • James McGee

Meet Our Team

AllBoard of TrusteesExecutive TeamFinance DepartmentHealth & WellnessMember Affairs & Satisfaction/CommunicationsAdministrationBenefits and Eligibility
Executive Assistant

Faith Jackson

Chief Financial Officer

Crystal Long

Controller

Phil Plymouth

Human Resources & Payroll Specialist

Kierra Richardson

Disability Analyst and Project Manager

Ashley Wade

Director of Health & Wellness

Brandon Graves

Senior Manager of Health Integration

Jackie Wilson

Senior Manager of Member Affairs & Satisfaction

Bertha Villatoro

Communications Specialist

Kiana Vincent

Director of Benefits and Eligibility

Kerri Kerr

Benefits and Eligibility Specialist

Stephanie Steven

Eligibility and Benefits Specialist II

Tiajuana Smith

Benefits and Eligibility Specialist

Natasha Hawkins

Secretary & ATU Local 689 Trustee

Raymond Jackson

ATU Local 689 Trustee

Esker Bilger

ATU Local 689 Trustee

Keith Bullock

Sherri T. Dickerson
WMATA or METRO Trustee

Sherri T. Dickerson

Executive Assistant

Faith Jackson

Faith Jackson is the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director. She has several years of administrative experience. She is knowledgeable in customer service and problem-solving. Faith has demonstrated the skills of being organized and paying attention to details. Faith is excited about carrying out the mission of TEHW and its members. Faith has obtained a bachelor’s degree in International Business from LIM College. Faith is currently seeking her master’s in marketing.

Chief Financial Officer

Crystal Long

Crystal Long

is the Chief Financial Officer at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare (TEHW) with over 20 years of successful experience in health plan and non-for-profit financial management. Her experience also includes auditing Labor Unions, Pension Plans, Health and Welfare Trusts, 401k Plans and Non-for-profits.

Crystal graduated from Bowie State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Walden University with a concentration in Leadership. As an industry professional, Crystal has worked for several types of health care organizations including Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) plans, for-profit healthcare company, and non for profits.

Dedicated to service, Crystal is passionate about financial literacy and recognizes the importance of understanding one’s health and welfare benefits as being a staple in providing a lasting legacy to families. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, teaching financial literacy, and spending time with family and friends.

Controller

Phil Plymouth

Phil Plymouth is the Controller at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare Plan. He has over 15 years of accounting experience, working in a health plan and labor union environment. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration with a concertation in Information Systems Management. His mission is to provide members with excellent customer service.

Human Resources & Payroll Specialist

Kierra Richardson

Kierra Richardson is the Human Resources & Payroll Specialist at Transit Employees Health and Welfare Plan. Her background at TEHW is extensive as she’s worked closely with members on a day-to-day basis in regard to New Hires, Retirees (Medicare), COBRA letters, Safety Glasses, transfers out of Local 689, Opt Out processing, and terminations. Her current responsibilities include implementing systems for managing staff benefits, payroll, behavior, and onboarding new employees. Kierra is dedicated to ensuring that TEHW runs smoothly and efficiently.

Disability Analyst and Project Manager

Ashley Wade

Ashley Wade is the Disability Analyst and Project Manager at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare. She graduated from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and another in Ministerial Studies. She also has a background in Education, Project, and Program Coordination. Ashley is currently working on obtaining her Graduate Degree from Walden University. At TEHW, she will handle the review process for short and long term disability claims by providing regular report status updates. She will also have the responsibility of communicating with members and management to ensure a complete report is done. During her spare time, Ashley enjoys reading inspirational books, shopping with her friends, spending time with her family, and traveling. She continuously serves in her community and church as a mentor to 150 to 200 children.

Director of Health & Wellness

Brandon Graves

Brandon Graves is our Director of Health & Wellness at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare. He acquired his MS in Health Promotion Management from American University in Washington, DC. He holds a certificate as a Worksite Wellness Specialist from the National Wellness Institute and a Mental Health First Aid Practitioner from the National Council for Behavioral Health. Brandon truly believes he exists as a bridge between a culture of health and the community in which he is called to serve! He enjoys weightlifting, martial arts, cooking, and traveling in his spare time.

Senior Manager of Health Integration

Jackie Wilson

Jackie Wilson is our Senior Manager of Health Integration at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare. As the Senior Manager of Health Integration, she works with the Moving Metro staff, Local 689, WMATA, and community partners to provide a holistic wellness experience for members and their families. She processes newly hired employees and short-term/long-term disability requests and assists members on the phone in person at the office. She also works with the TEHW staff to offer programs and services that address the needs of our membership. Jackie understands that good health is more than physical when it comes to our community of members.

Senior Manager of Member Affairs & Satisfaction

Bertha Villatoro

Bertha Villatoro is the Senior Manager of Member Affairs & Satisfaction at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare. She has been a member of Local 689 since January 2001. She provides Local 689 employees with an explanation of benefits and assists them with the enrollment and termination processes. Bertha ensures that all documentation complies with federal and state laws impacting employee benefits, Power of Attorney, Legal Documentation, etc. She also supports employees through the entire employee benefit lifecycle.

Communications Specialist

Kiana Vincent

Kiana Vincent is the Communications Specialist at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare. She oversees all internal and external communication for TEHW, along with establishing and maintaining the company’s presence on social media. She is highly knowledgeable in customer service and graphic design. Kiana is enthusiastic about creating a new vision for TEHW and ensuring members have the best experience possible. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism.

Director of Benefits and Eligibility

Kerri Kerr

Kerri Kerr is the Director of Benefits and Eligibility at Transit Employees’ Health & Welfare Plan. Throughout her career in the healthcare industry, she’s held leadership roles in operations, program management, network contracting, and software system implementation. Kerri is new to the Health & Welfare team and is excited to add her 30 years of customer-centric industry experience to this motivated and dynamic team. She is naturally curious and looks forward to learning something new each day. Outside of the office, Kerri travels with her husband and two sons. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and completed her Master of Health Care Administration and an MBA in Human Resources.

Benefits and Eligibility Specialist

Stephanie Steven

Stephanie Steven is the Benefits and Eligibility Specialist at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare. Stephanie comes to TEHW with a Healthcare Management and Benefits background of over eight years. Prior to TEHW, she worked for CareFirst in the Behavioral Health Intake and Assessment Department. She was responsible for developing and maintaining knowledge bases for use by local Mental Health practices. In her current role, she supports the overall program strategy and ensures benefit plans are administered according to plan provisions and company’s regulatory guidelines. She carries a Bachelor of Administration from The College of St. Elizabeth and is certified in Medical Billing & Coding.

Eligibility and Benefits Specialist II

Tiajuana Smith

Tiajuana Smith, also known as “Tia,” is the Eligibility and Benefits Specialist II at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare. She possesses over 15 years of experience in Human Resources and Benefits. Tia oversees life insurance, death claims, qualified medical/child support court orders, evidence of insurability, and Delta Dental discrepancy reports. She also assists with administering medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and retirement programs, including Medicare-related inquiries. Tia loves playing cards with her friends, growing/manicuring orchids, and connecting with friends and family outside of work.

Benefits and Eligibility Specialist

Natasha Hawkins

Natasha Hawkins is the Benefits and Eligibility Specialist at Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Towson University, and a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She specializes in documentation as well as educating retired members of the benefits that they possess. Natasha is also responsible for ensuring that retirees have a great experience via phone or in person, discussing their benefits. Natasha uses her positive attitude, diligence, and collaborative efforts to help propel the team in a positive direction and motivate those around her. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and shopping with her friends.

Secretary & ATU Local 689 Trustee

Raymond Jackson

ATU Local 689 Trustee

Esker Bilger

ATU Local 689 Trustee

Keith Bullock

WMATA or METRO Trustee

Sherri T. Dickerson

Open Enrollment

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