Tamra Miller is a prime example of the “Break the Paper Ceiling” movement—building her career from the ground up after starting work right out of high school and rising through determination, capability, and earned trust. She is deeply grateful for the leaders who recognized her talent without requiring a college degree, and her recent completion of the CEBS exam reflects her continued pursuit of growth and excellence.

In this episode, Eric and Tamra discuss:

• Managing complex vendor strategy
• Empowering a focused subcommittee
• Evaluating personality and precision
• Balancing change with institutional knowledge

Key Takeaways:

• Tamra created a structured, multi-year review plan to evaluate retirement and actuarial providers with the intention. She prioritized risk mitigation, like the 401(k), due to fiduciary exposure. Treating the review as a staged project ensured clarity, accountability, and prudent oversight.
• Instead of relying on a C-suite-heavy committee with limited time, she formed a small, agile group. This team handled weekly deep dives, vendor screens, and detailed RFP analysis. The full committee engaged only at key decisions, improving efficiency and clarity.
• Beyond technical competence, personality and working style became major differentiators. Short “fit checks” revealed which teams were enjoyable, responsive, and easy to partner with. Finalist success hinged on concise, tailored presentations that proved real understanding.
• While most services went to market, Tamra retained a long-time actuary with deep union expertise. This preserved crucial institutional memory and proactive problem-solving. Sometimes the best choice isn’t new—it’s the partner who already understands your complexity.

“Remember who you're there to support and what's the best way to go about doing that… I can't support my employees if I don't have good relationships with my vendors, because those are the people that I'm going to for problem resolution when I can't fix it myself.” - Tamra Miller

Connect with Tamra Miller:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamra-miller-cebs-shrm-cp-19b1102b 

Connect with Eric Dyson: 

Website: https://90northllc.com/

Phone: 940-248-4800

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/401kguy/ 

The information and content of this podcast are general in nature and are provided solely for educational and informational purposes. It is believed to be accurate and reliable as of the posting date, but may be subject to change.

It is not intended to provide a specific recommendation for any type of product or service discussed in this presentation or to provide any warranties, investment advice, financial advice, tax, plan design, or legal advice (unless otherwise specifically indicated). Please consult your own independent advisor as to any investment, tax, or legal statements made.

The specific facts and circumstances of all qualified plans can vary, and the information contained in this podcast may or may not apply to your individual circumstances or to your plan or client plan-specific circumstances.