About Us
Great Northern Benefits was established in October of 1999 by former NorthMed senior account executive Terry Roote as a means for businesses of all sizes to access expertise in the area of employee benefits. Jay Hooper, the former President of NorthMed joined Roote shortly thereafter. GNB provides market analysis, and offers life, health, short-and long-term disability, long-term care and dental products; comprehensive study of benefits and premium rates; employee benefit meetings; claims problem solving; comparison of benefits; implementation of Section 125 plans; HRAs; voluntary benefits; and recommendations to aid in the decision-making process.
Terry Roote
Terry Roote spent 12 years as the senior account executive for NorthMed before establishing Great Northern Benefits in October of 1999. Terry attended Northwestern Michigan College and Michigan State University, and is a member of the Traverse City Kiwanis Club and past-president of the Torch Lake Lions Club. Terry enjoys golf, sailing, fishing and the great outdoors in general.
Jay Hooper
Prior to joining Great Northern Benefits, Jay Hooper was the President and CEO of NorthMed for 10 years. Jay earned his undergrad degree from Taylor University and holds an MBA from CMU. A former Grand Traverse County commissioner and chairman, Jay is a current member of the Grand Traverse County Road Commission, the NorthFlight Board of Directors, and serves on the Northwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees. Jay is also a member of the Agricultural Preservation League of Old Mission Peninsula where he and his wife, Marie, operate Montague Estate Vineyard and Montague Kennel. Jay enjoys golf, working in the vineyard and accompanying Marie, their Collies and Goldens to AKC events around the country.
Dolly Martinson
Dolly has been in the health care industry since 1988. She spent over a decade with NorthMed prior to their merger with Priority Health, her last position as Provider Services Coordinator responsible for credentialing, training and ensuring regulatory compliance for a roster of nearly 1,000 providers in 15 counties in northwest lower Michigan. Dolly has also worked at area radio stations, both behind the mic and in their sales departments.
Dolly has served as Client Services Manager for GNB since 2001 and is responsible for new and renewing group proposal development and benefits administration. She earned her producer license in 2002 and specializes in individual Medicare and small business benefits.
Dolly lives in Suttons Bay with her teenage daughters and enjoys playing the piano and the bassoon, golfing, sailing, alpine skiing and the fine arts. She is the assistant organist at First Lutheran Church, bassoonist with the Northport Community Band, and volunteers at Suttons Bay Public Schools where she is the secretary of the Band Boosters.