Rising Stars in Advising
November 4, 2011 1:13 PM
Bryan Brenner
He is the chief executive at FirstPerson located in Indianapolis.
The 38 year old was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal's "Who's Who in Health Care and Benefits" in September, and his company was selected as one of the "Best Places to Work in Indiana" by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
He plans to begin an internship at his company for students at his alma mater's College of Business School of Management.
The 38 year old was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal's "Who's Who in Health Care and Benefits" in September, and his company was selected as one of the "Best Places to Work in Indiana" by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
He plans to begin an internship at his company for students at his alma mater's College of Business School of Management.
C.R. Duley
He is a partner at Duley Bolowar and Associates located in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Duley was born into the insurance business. His father started Duley Bolwar and Associates in 1970, and the younger Duley, who is now 31, grew up around the business admiring his father's success.
He is on the fundraising committee for Phoenix Children's Hospital and serves on the Fiesta Bowl Committee.
For those young people joining his firm or the business, he also offers this advice: "Keep you ears and eyes open. It's a changing world, [you] must keep up-to-date with all the changes. Never be satisfied with where you are."
Duley was born into the insurance business. His father started Duley Bolwar and Associates in 1970, and the younger Duley, who is now 31, grew up around the business admiring his father's success.
He is on the fundraising committee for Phoenix Children's Hospital and serves on the Fiesta Bowl Committee.
For those young people joining his firm or the business, he also offers this advice: "Keep you ears and eyes open. It's a changing world, [you] must keep up-to-date with all the changes. Never be satisfied with where you are."
David Goldfarb
Goldfarb is the founder and president of DSG Benefits Group located in Dallas.
The 32 year old entered the benefits industry 10 years ago. He was lucky to have a mentor who showed him the ropes before he started his own firm seven years ago.
Several years ago, his company started providing mid- to large-sized clients with "full-blown, customized portals," especially if they have consumer-driven health plans.
He is active with Dallas Association of Health Underwriters and the Texas Association of Health Underwriters as well as the National Association of Health Underwriters. "You have to be involved, you can't be complacent."
The 32 year old entered the benefits industry 10 years ago. He was lucky to have a mentor who showed him the ropes before he started his own firm seven years ago.
Several years ago, his company started providing mid- to large-sized clients with "full-blown, customized portals," especially if they have consumer-driven health plans.
He is active with Dallas Association of Health Underwriters and the Texas Association of Health Underwriters as well as the National Association of Health Underwriters. "You have to be involved, you can't be complacent."
John J. Weber
He works as a bond broker at the John O. Bronson Co. located in Sacramento, Calif.
Since his father enjoyed the industry, Weber decided to give it a try.
Weber, age 29, has been working primarily with pension and 401(k) plans for two-and-a-half years. And he's found a solid niche: His main focus is the construction industry, and his blue-ribbon client roster includes the Construction Financial Management Association, Associate Builders & Contractor, Inc. and the American Subcontractor Association, Inc.
Since his father enjoyed the industry, Weber decided to give it a try.
Weber, age 29, has been working primarily with pension and 401(k) plans for two-and-a-half years. And he's found a solid niche: His main focus is the construction industry, and his blue-ribbon client roster includes the Construction Financial Management Association, Associate Builders & Contractor, Inc. and the American Subcontractor Association, Inc.
Jon Duczak
Duczak is the vice president of The American Worker Plans located in South Barrington, Ill.
For the 36 year old insurance has always been a family affair. Not only does his father work alongside him at The American Worker Plans, but he also has three uncles and several cousins in the major medical small group marketing industry.
"I spent summers working at a major medical agency doing odd jobs," he says. "During my high school years, I would come home to insurance publications placed on my bed -little hints from my father," he says with a laugh. "Even if I didn't want to be in the business, I eventually was going to be drafted."
For the 36 year old insurance has always been a family affair. Not only does his father work alongside him at The American Worker Plans, but he also has three uncles and several cousins in the major medical small group marketing industry.
"I spent summers working at a major medical agency doing odd jobs," he says. "During my high school years, I would come home to insurance publications placed on my bed -little hints from my father," he says with a laugh. "Even if I didn't want to be in the business, I eventually was going to be drafted."
Lisa Scott
Scott is the director of compliance and communications for Independent Benefit Services located in Rockville, Md.
The 39 year old serves as president for the International Society of Certified employee Benefit Specialists' Capital Chapter that promotes educational and networking opportunities for local benefit professionals in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
She is also a company liaison with United Benefit Advisors. In the next five years, Scott envisions leading new compliance and wellness initiatives.
The 39 year old serves as president for the International Society of Certified employee Benefit Specialists' Capital Chapter that promotes educational and networking opportunities for local benefit professionals in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
She is also a company liaison with United Benefit Advisors. In the next five years, Scott envisions leading new compliance and wellness initiatives.
Susan Rider
Rider is an employee benefits senior account manager of Gregory & Appel Insurance located in Indianapolis.
The 34 year old is not only an employee benefits senior account manager but is also national chair of the National Association of Health Underwriters Younger Agents Advisory Group and president of the Indiana State Health Underwriters.
As head of the younger agents group, she helped introduce the social media sites Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to NAHU, as well as a blog called B2B, or broker-2-broker, where young agents can post information relevant to each other. Her passion is helping NAHU brokers around the country realize the value of technology.
The 34 year old is not only an employee benefits senior account manager but is also national chair of the National Association of Health Underwriters Younger Agents Advisory Group and president of the Indiana State Health Underwriters.
As head of the younger agents group, she helped introduce the social media sites Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to NAHU, as well as a blog called B2B, or broker-2-broker, where young agents can post information relevant to each other. Her passion is helping NAHU brokers around the country realize the value of technology.
Timothy D. Wojcik
Wojcik is an employee benefits adviser for Roller Consulting located in Conshohocken, Pa.
Not only does the 26 year old participate in triathlons and is familiar with technology but also he feels being active helps him connect to employers who are placing an ever-increasing premium on wellness and disease management. "I think knowing that wellness is becoming more and more part" of the workforce, he says. "People like myself can really add value and push that and really feel comfortable knowing it's part of our lives as well."
Not only does the 26 year old participate in triathlons and is familiar with technology but also he feels being active helps him connect to employers who are placing an ever-increasing premium on wellness and disease management. "I think knowing that wellness is becoming more and more part" of the workforce, he says. "People like myself can really add value and push that and really feel comfortable knowing it's part of our lives as well."
Tom Daly
Daly is the vice president and director of technology and marketing for Eustis Insurance and Benefits located in Metairie, La.
The 41 year old started NAHU's LinkedIn group, which currently has around 5,200 members.
In the beginning of 2011 he released an iPhone app, Benefitsync, which delivers ID card information and links to provider directories directly to a plan participant's iPhone.
In April 2001 when he started Hartwig Moss Benefits through the 135-year-old property and casualty agency, Hartwig Moss Insurance Agency. The firm had never sold benefits, he adds.
The 41 year old started NAHU's LinkedIn group, which currently has around 5,200 members.
In the beginning of 2011 he released an iPhone app, Benefitsync, which delivers ID card information and links to provider directories directly to a plan participant's iPhone.
In April 2001 when he started Hartwig Moss Benefits through the 135-year-old property and casualty agency, Hartwig Moss Insurance Agency. The firm had never sold benefits, he adds.
Bradford M. Backlund
Backlund is a producer for Flanigan-Leavitt Insurance Agency Inc. located in Reno, Nev.
The 32-year-old is president-elect of the National Association of Health Underwriters Nevada chapter and past-president of the NAHU Reno chapter. In the three years he has been in the business, he has exceeded his goals twice and won a Circle of Excellence award from his company for being a top new producer. Further, he finished 2010 in the top 10 of overall new producers for the Leavitt Group, the seventh-largest privately-held insurance brokerage in the nation.
And he flows with ambition. "I anticipate milestone achievements in my career as I grow and prosper," he concludes. "My future goal is to have an ownership interest with my agency."
The 32-year-old is president-elect of the National Association of Health Underwriters Nevada chapter and past-president of the NAHU Reno chapter. In the three years he has been in the business, he has exceeded his goals twice and won a Circle of Excellence award from his company for being a top new producer. Further, he finished 2010 in the top 10 of overall new producers for the Leavitt Group, the seventh-largest privately-held insurance brokerage in the nation.
And he flows with ambition. "I anticipate milestone achievements in my career as I grow and prosper," he concludes. "My future goal is to have an ownership interest with my agency."
