A Personal Reflection on a New Chapter for Custom Design Benefits

By Julie D. Mueller, President & CEO

There are certain moments in business that invite you to pause for a minute and reflect on how far you’ve come, the people who helped you get there, and the responsibility that comes with leading what comes next.

For me, this is one of those moments.

I’m proud to share that I have completed the process of making Custom Design Benefits fully privately owned under my leadership.

While this is certainly an exciting milestone professionally, what stands out to me most is the sense of gratitude I feel toward the people who helped shape this company over the years.

Custom Design Benefits was founded in 1991 with a vision for a more thoughtful, responsive approach to benefits administration. Long before I joined the organization, there was already a strong foundation built around service, relationships, and doing right by clients and members. Over time, that foundation continued to grow through the commitment of employees, partners, and leaders who cared deeply about the work and the people behind it.

I joined CDB in 2003 after spending much of my career in the healthcare and benefits industry. Even then, it was clear this organization was different. There was a level of personal investment in clients and broker partnerships that you do not always see in this space. People here genuinely cared about solving problems, being accessible, and building long-term trust.

That culture remains one of the things I value most about this company today.

Over the last decade, I’ve had the privilege of serving as CEO during a period of meaningful growth and evolution for CDB. We’ve expanded capabilities, strengthened partnerships, welcomed new talent, and continued adapting to the changing needs of employers and

members. Through all of it, I’ve remained incredibly proud of how our team continues to show up for the people who rely on us.

This transition also gives me an opportunity to recognize the support and partnership of my previous partners. Their confidence in our leadership team and in the future of CDB helped position the organization for long-term success. I’m sincerely grateful for what we accomplished together and for the trust they placed in me throughout this process.

As we move forward, I want our clients, broker partners, and employees to know something very clearly: our commitment remains the same.

The same leadership team is in place. The same values continue to guide our decisions. The same focus on partnership, responsiveness, and customized solutions remains at the center of our work.

What excites me most about this next chapter is the opportunity to continue investing in the future of CDB while staying grounded in the principles that built the company in the first place.

Healthcare and benefits administration continue to evolve quickly. Employers are asking harder questions. Brokers are looking for partners who can help them navigate complexity with confidence. Members expect better experiences and greater transparency. Those expectations challenge us to keep learning, improving, and thinking differently about how we serve.

I welcome that challenge.

CDB has never aimed to be the biggest organization in the room. We’ve focused on being the most trusted one. That mindset will continue to shape how we grow, how we innovate, and how we support the people who place their confidence in us every day.

To our employees, thank you for your dedication and care.

To our broker partners and clients, thank you for your trust.

And to everyone who has been part of the CDB story over the years, thank you for helping build a company worth believing in.

I’m incredibly optimistic about where we’re headed next.

Julie D. Mueller
President & CEO
Custom Design Benefits