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Congratulations to EBN’s 2012 Benny Award winners

 

My favorite holiday is Christmas because I find it so joyful, loving and peaceful. Plus, I just really, really like giving people presents. So, it should come as no surprise that one of my all-time favorite parts of my job is announcing and presenting EBN’s annual Benny Awards.
Now in their 21st year, the Bennys honor excellence and achievement in the HR/benefits profession, and are granted to employee benefits or HR practitioners directly involved in the management of employee
benefit programs. The awards always bring out the best of the best, and this year’s nominations were no different. The staff and I are annually awed and inspired by your achievements on behalf of employees and their families, and are happy and proud to give them the recognition they deserve. 
This year’s Benny honorees are:
BENEFITS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR: Christine Carstens
Director of Employee Benefits
Hughes Network Systems, LLC
Germantown, Md. 
BENEFITS LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE: Raymond L. Eames III
Director of Benefits
SKF USA Inc.
Lansdale, Pa.
BENEFITS LEADERSHIP IN RETIREMENT PLANNING: Carol Klusek
Head of Retirement and Financial Benefits
Aetna Inc.
Hartford, Conn.
JUDGES’ CHOICE: Sheryl Harris
Benefits Manager
JM Eagle
Los Angeles, Calif.
There is so much the staff and I can say about this year’s Benny class, and we will — just not right now. All of the 2012 winners will be profiled in the Sept. 1 issue of Employee Benefit News, so stay tuned for complete coverage of what makes this year’s honorees so special. 
Then, come meet them in person! The awards will be presented at EBN's 25th annual Benefits Forum & Expo http://ebn.benefitnews.com/conferences/benefitsforum/, to be held Sept. 9-11 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix. 
Unfortunately, I won’t be at the event in the flesh; I’ll be using a combination of STD and parental leave to care for my newborn — so, it’s more like I’ll be there in benefits spirit! However, I’m looking forward to connecting with them and other industry professionals at future events later in the year. 
In the meantime, congratulations to all of the honorees and thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination. I already can’t wait to read more about your accomplishments when we reopen Benny nominations in Spring 2013. 

My favorite holiday is Christmas because I find it so joyful, loving and peaceful. Plus, I just really, really like giving people presents. So, it should come as no surprise that one of my all-time favorite parts of my job is announcing and presenting EBN’s annual Benny Awards.

Now in their 21st year, the Bennys honor excellence and achievement in the HR/benefits profession, and are granted to employee benefits or HR practitioners directly involved in the management of employee benefit programs. The awards always bring out the best of the best, and this year’s nominations were no different. The staff and I are annually awed and inspired by your achievements on behalf of employees and their families, and are happy and proud to give them the recognition they deserve. 

This year’s Benny honorees are:

BENEFITS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR: Christine Carstens, Director of Employee Benefits; Hughes Network Systems, LLC; Germantown, Md. 

BENEFITS LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE: Raymond L. Eames III, Director of Benefits; SKF USA Inc.; Lansdale, Pa.

BENEFITS LEADERSHIP IN RETIREMENT PLANNING: Carol Klusek, Head of Retirement and Financial Benefits; Aetna Inc.; Hartford, Conn.

JUDGES’ CHOICE: Sheryl Harris, Benefits Manager; JM Eagle; Los Angeles, Calif.

There is so much the staff and I can say about this year’s Benny class, and we will — just not right now. All of the 2012 winners will be profiled in the Sept. 1 issue of Employee Benefit News, so stay tuned for complete coverage of what makes this year’s honorees so special. 

Then, come meet them in person! The awards will be presented at EBN's 25th annual Benefits Forum & Expo, to be held Sept. 9-11 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix. 

Unfortunately, I won’t be at the event in the flesh; I’ll be using a combination of STD and parental leave to care for my newborn — so, it’s more like I’ll be there in benefits spirit! However, I’m looking forward to connecting with them and other industry professionals at future events later in the year. 

In the meantime, congratulations to all of the honorees and thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination. I already can’t wait to read more about your accomplishments when we reopen Benny nominations in Spring 2013. 

 

This article originally appeared in Employee Benefit News.
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