Category Archives: Business

Press Releases from the Business World. Announcements, Product releases, Appointments.

Benefit Advisors Network and PTO Exchange to Give Firms and Employees More Ways to Use Surplus Vacation


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Adding PTO Exchange to our list of reputable partners provides value and strengthens connections with our members, in turn allowing them to be an even greater resource to their employer clients. We look forward to our partnership with PTO Exchange.

Benefit Advisors Network (BAN), a national network of independent employee benefit firms, is pleased to announce that it has created a strategic partnership with PTO Exchange, a benefits platform that turns unused paid time off (PTO) hours into liquid assets that can be converted into things employees value – retirement accounts, student loan payments, emergency cash, donations and more.

Under the terms of the new partnership, BAN’s 120+ member firms nationwide will now offer PTO Exchange to their client organizations across the United States.

“There is approximately $65B of unused PTO that is forfeited by employees each year,” says Rob Whalen, CEO of PTO Exchange. “And 2020 is projected to be even worse. COVID-19 has led to employees banking a massive surplus of unused vacation time – up to 34% more, according to industry surveys.”

Continues Whalen, “Our platform gives employees more options to convert that unused vacation into other assets based on their own personal priorities. For employers, we offer a cost-neutral way to extend their current PTO benefit, further support employees, and proactively manage their PTO surplus liability. Particularly at a time when the American workforce needs more options and tools to weather the disruptions caused by COVID-19, we are excited to partner with Benefit Advisors Network.”

Employees can use PTO Exchange to convert unused vacation into:

  • Retirement savings – allow employees to add to their 401(k) plans;
  • Student loan repayment – provide tuition reimbursement and help to pay down student loans, estimated to total $1.48 trillion in the U.S. today;
  • Emergency expenses – empower the estimated 40% of Americans who cannot cover an unexpected $400 expense;
  • Healthcare – employees can self-direct to their healthcare savings (HSA) or flexible spending accounts (FSA);
  • Travel – exchange for airfare, hotels and other travel;
  • Leave-sharing – contribute PTO to fellow employees who may need it; and
  • Donations – give to over 1 million charitable organizations in the US.

For employers, benefits include:

  • Extending their current PTO benefit;
  • Providing differentiated benefits to attract and retain talent;
  • Enhancing support for a multi-generational workforce; and
  • Proactively reducing the ballooning surplus PTO liability

“Adding PTO Exchange as a partner strengthens the resources available for our members. Employers who offer as much assistance as possible to the variety of generations in the workforce today are demonstrating that they are an employer of choice. In today’s competitive labor market, employee engagement is critical. The benefits of having a corporate philosophy – including financial wellness – means support from the workforce to have an efficiently operating business,” says Bobbi Kloss, BAN’s Director of Human Capital Management Services. “PTO Exchange provides such support to an employer’s holistic wellbeing culture.”

“Adding PTO Exchange to our list of reputable partners provides value and strengthens connections with our members, in turn allowing them to be an even greater resource to their employer clients,” says Perry Braun, Executive Director of the Benefit Advisors Network. “It is imperative that brokers today continue to stay on top of the latest technologies that bring value to their clients, while also allowing them to focus on running their business as efficiently as possible.”

Continues Braun, “We look forward to our partnership with PTO Exchange.”

About BAN

Founded in 2002, BAN is an exclusive, premier, national network of independent, employee benefit brokerage and consulting companies. BAN delivers industry leading tools, technology, and expertise to member firms so that they can deliver optimum results to their employee benefit customers. BAN intentionally limits membership because of the highly collaborative interactions. For more information, visit the Company’s website at http://www.benefitadvisorsnetwork.com.

About PTO Exchange

PTO Exchange is a flexible benefits platform that turns unused paid time off (PTO) hours into liquid assets that can be converted into things employees value – retirement accounts, student loan repayment, travel awards, charitable causes and more. PTO Exchange helps companies attract & retain talent, reduce balance sheet liabilities and strengthen community all while employees reclaim lost PTO. PTO Exchange is SOC 2-certified and trusted by Premera Blue Cross, General Atomics, Howard Brown Health, Slalom Consulting and others. Learn more at http://www.ptoexchange.com.

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Bindable Launches New Agent Wholesale Platform for Insurance Industry


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Bindable, the insurance technology leader for alternative distribution, today announced the launch of its Agent Wholesale Platform, a modern software solution that enables independent agents to launch their own virtual agencies and to seamlessly access and sell insurance products online, over the phone, or in-person.

The Agent Wholesale Platform is a white label insurance marketplace that allows agents and carriers to offer ancillary products such as pet, legal, and home warranty through a virtual agency without disrupting their current auto and home flow. Sites can be custom

branded and include a modified version of Policy Crusher®, Bindable’s proprietary SaaS platform and CRM. Use of the Agent Wholesale Platform will result in higher commissions and enhanced cross-selling abilities for agents, as well as better service for their customers. Cross-selling ancillary products is important for agents because it helps to prevent core auto and home customers from purchasing these products elsewhere and potentially switching over their auto and home insurance as well.

“Our focus has always been to continuously drive innovation in the insurtech industry. We’re proud to have created digital tools so that agents and their carrier partners can achieve more growth and better customer retention through product diversification,” says Bill Suneson, CEO and co-founder of Bindable. “With a virtual agency, they can do just that, and initiate more efficient transactions with consumers online or over the phone.”

COVID-19 has accelerated digitization, requiring agents to become more tech forward in their business practices. As the number of consumers completing transactions online versus in-person continues to climb, the expectation for digital access to insurance offerings has only increased. Research from Bindable shows that 93% of independent agents were in agreement that when it comes to purchasing insurance products, customer expectations are changing. Additionally, 76% reported that customer expectations around processes such as claims and payments being automated has increased, signaling a greater desire for digital transactions.

Bindable’s Agent Wholesale Platform is currently available in all 50 states.

For more information, please visit https://bindable.com/.

About Bindable

Bindable is the insurance technology leader for alternative distribution. Its proprietary platform brings together software, a digital wholesale marketplace, and a full suite of support services to offer flexible, market-ready solutions that connect insurance providers, trusted brands, and consumers. The company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. To learn more about Bindable please visit http://www.bindable.com and connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Insurance Experts Explain Who Is Considered A High-Risk Driver


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Insurance companies classify drivers into 3 main risk categories: Preferred, Standard and High-risk. Policyholders placed in the third category pay really expensive premiums, to compensate for the higher risk of making a claim or missing payments.

  • Drivers with a high number of traffic violations are considered high-risk. People with multiple traffic violations in the recent 3-5 years are likely to be placed in this risk category. At-fault accidents and DUI/DWI convictions will automatically make a person be labeled this way. Investing in Accident Forgiveness programs will help drivers avoid rate increases after the first at-fault accident.
  • Even a lapse in coverage of just a few days will negatively impact future premiums. Insurance companies prefer clients that had continuous coverage over the course of years. Companies ask about recent coverage lapses before issuing coverage.
  • People with a low credit score are also considered riskier to insure. Most insurance companies take into consideration a client’s credit score when determining rates. Drivers with poor FICO scores should look for ways of improving their creditworthiness.
  • Teens are automatically considered high-risk drivers. Persons between 16 and 25 years old are considered high-risk, due to their lack of experience behind the wheel. However, teens can get a series of discounts, like a good student discount or for leaving the car at home during the academic year.
  • Seniors over 65 years old are also labeled “high-risk”. According to the CDC, there are higher chances of being involved in accidents after the age of 65. Diminished sight and hearing, plus medication will impair a person’s driving capabilities.


Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information, free quotes and money-saving tips, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

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Daisy Intelligence Announced as One of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50™ companies


Daisy Intelligence, an AI-Powered platform that automates complex processes for retailers and insurance companies, today announced it has been recognized by Deloitte as one of Canada’s fastest-growing technology companies in North America. Transforming the industry through bold innovation, rapid growth, and entrepreneurial spirit, Daisy Intelligence has ranked No. 29 by achieving 669 percent in revenue growth from 2016 to 2019.

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program winners consist of public and private companies in the technology sector, which have transformed the industry. Now in its 23rd year, the program runs alongside the broader Deloitte North American Technology Fast 500™, with winners automatically eligible for this elite ranking.

Daisy’s AI-Powered solutions generate significant financial results for the company’s clients in the retail and insurance industries by delivering business recommendations and automating many complex processes that lay beyond human capability. Daisy has catalyzed a revolution in category management that has helped drive the company’s retailer clients to increased sales by an average of 2.9%; through optimization of their product and pricing mixes. Insurance company clients use Daisy’s AI-Powered risk management platform to save millions of dollars by detecting fraud and automating the adjudication of claims.

“We are honoured to be ranked among Canada’s top fastest growing technology companies,” said Gary Saarenvirta, Daisy’s Founder and CEO. “Daisy’s impressive and ongoing growth is only possible through the contributions and support of our employees, both past and present, our customers and strategic partners, our investors, and the technology business community here in Toronto. We are proud and grateful for where we stand today.”

“This year’s Fast 50 winners should be especially proud of this designation, as their role in the fabric of Canadian business – particularly during these turbulent times – is crucial,” said Erica Pretorius, partner and national leader for the Technology Fast 50 program at Deloitte Canada. “Their bold vision and true commitment to innovation allow them to not only improve today’s world, but also shape tomorrow’s, despite the constant uncertainty. This year’s winners are proving themselves resilient, innovative and adaptable, all in an unpredictable year defined by economic instability and the continuing public health crisis.”

To qualify for the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking, companies must have been in business for at least four years, have revenues of at least $5 million, be headquartered in Canada, own proprietary technology, conduct research and development activities in Canada and invest a minimum of five percent of gross revenues in R&D.

About Deloitte Technology Fast 50™

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program is Canada’s pre-eminent technology awards program. Celebrating business growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, the program features distinct categories, including the Technology Fast 50 ranking, Enterprise Fast 15, and Companies-to-Watch. The program also recognizes companies within the North American Technology Fast 500 ranking, identifying technology companies in the United States and Canada. The 2020 program sponsors include Deloitte, RBC, CBRE, Clarity Recruitment, and Lafond. For further information, visit http://www.fast50.ca.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Deloitte serves four out of five Fortune Global 500® companies through a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries and territories bringing world-class capabilities, insights, and service to address clients’ most complex business challenges. Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

Our global Purpose is making an impact that matters. At Deloitte Canada, that translates into building a better future by accelerating and expanding access to knowledge. We believe we can achieve this Purpose by living our shared values to lead the way, serve with integrity, take care of each other, foster inclusion, and collaborate for measurable impact.

To learn more about how Deloitte’s approximately 312,000 professionals, over 12,000 of whom are part of the Canadian firm, please connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

About Daisy Intelligence

Daisy is an AI-Powered platform for retail and insurance. Daisy uses reinforcement learning, a branch of AI, and its patent-pending Theory of Retail™ and Theory of Risk™ to be truly unique in the marketplace and on the cutting edge of the category management and risk management revolution. Daisy’s platforms, developed by a highly skilled team of 50+ computational scientists, mathematicians and business domain experts analyzes 100% of an organization’s transactions, executing billions of simulations daily to deliver optimized merchandise planning and risk management decisions for its clients. For additional information visit daisyintelligence.com.

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Risk Cooperative’s Chief Revenue Officer Named Professor of Practice at the University of Virginia


Risk Cooperative, a leading provider of risk management services and comprehensive insurance solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Les Williams, Risk Cooperative’s co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer, as a professor of Practice in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at his alma mater, the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science (UVA SEAS). As a successful entrepreneur and risk and resilience leader, this recognition of Les’ contributions to management practice are a capstone to a year of personal and professional accomplishments.

Other notable achievements in 2020 include his nomination and acceptance of the Bert King Award for Service, an alumni achievement award from Harvard Business School (HBS), where Les received an MBA in 2005. Les has remained an active contributor to the HBS alumni community as a past global alumni board member and as a key leader in recruiting underrepresented students. While at HBS, Les served as the co-president of his class but also mastered HBS’ renowned case-based teaching method, which is reflected in his copious writing and speaking engagements about the risks and business issues shaping the world. He will bring this expertise to bear not only for Risk Cooperative’s clients, but for his students at UVA SEAS, where he was the recipient of the 2018 UVA Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Outstanding Young Alumnus Award the most coveted award bestowed upon graduates of the department.

In addition to the HBS and UVA recognitions, Les was also named to the Private Directors Association (PDA) Cybersecurity Initiative Strategic Council, which is a leading organization providing a national network where executives and professionals interested in board service can network with boards interested in securing exceptional board members. Shoring up private enterprises, and in particular small to medium-sized businesses, to help improve their resilience to complex and emerging risks is not only a corporate priority for Risk Cooperative, it is a personal mission for Les. His role as a key advisor to PDA will help amplify his guidance to this key sector of the U.S. economy. Les was also named 2020 Specialty Power Broker by Risk & Insurance magazine as an individual who stands out among his peers for exceptional client work over the past year. His selection was based on feedback from current Risk Cooperative clients, including Walter Pizzano at Harvard University, where Les has become an extension of the in-house risk strategy team.

“We are proud of Les’ achievements in 2020, which has been a turbulent year for the world and the country. Les has been a steadfast leader since Risk Cooperative was founded in 2014 and an emblem of the type of platform company we have built. One which prizes diversity, inclusion and the collective endeavor of making the world more resilient,” said Andres Franzetti, Risk Cooperative’s co-founder and CEO.

About Risk Cooperative

Risk Cooperative is a specialized strategy, risk and insurance advisory firm licensed to originate, place and service innovative risk-transfer and insurance solutions in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Risk Cooperative helps organizations address risk, readiness and resilience through a comprehensive service and solution offering in partnership with leading insurance companies and value-adding partners.

For more information visit: https://riskcooperative.com

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Safehub and the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Partner to Incorporate Sensor Technology into Risk Modeling


Safehub, a global data platform and enterprise technology company delivering real-time, building-specific earthquake damage information, today announced its partnership with the GEM (Global Earthquake Model) Foundation that includes sponsorship of the organization, placing Safehub in the position of advisor to insurers that are looking to understand the incorporation of sensor data into their overall risk mitigation strategy.

GEM is at the cutting edge of earthquake science and technology, supporting the insurance industry and governments globally, and Safehub is the first sensor company to align with GEM, paving the way for a future where sensor technology is a ubiquitous part of resilience in business.

Safehub’s sponsorship of GEM, and sensor technology as a whole, will generate insights that will demonstrate its intrinsic value to the insurance industry and, ultimately, all businesses and government entities. Sensor technology is poised to enable new products, make business more efficient and eventually become a standard for insurance companies, risk professionals and scientists to create resilient businesses and mitigate losses from infrequent, but disproportionately catastrophic events. Specifically, the information from sensors and improved vulnerability estimates will be useful to insurance companies, building owners, risk managers, and business continuity professionals for risk transfer and planning purposes or post-earthquake response, including evacuation.

“Partnering with GEM is the next step in the evolution and recognition of the importance of sensor technology for resiliency,” said Andy Thompson, CEO of Safehub. “We partnered with GEM because the organization is the most forward-thinking and is continually innovating on solutions to achieve profound, lasting reductions in earthquake risk worldwide.”

Safehub’s sensors are affordable, and easy to install and the data generated on its proprietary dashboard, delivered via text and email, can determine if a building is damaged from an earthquake in minutes.

“Safehub’s advisory role with GEM is the next natural step in realizing the advantage that sensor technology provides,” said John Schneider, GEM Secretary General. “The organizations we work with, insurers, risk modelers, and scientists, are innovative and benefit in a profound way to solutions that enable the accuracy of the information they need to be resilient and make the most informed decisions that will influence future events.”

To learn more about Safehub, visit http://www.safehub.io.

About Safehub

Based in San Francisco, Safehub provides organizations with real-time, building-specific earthquake damage information to expedite emergency response and recovery. Through its cloud-based Safehub platform, business continuity and resilience managers are able to prioritize building assessments and resources while resuming operations as quickly as possible. For more information, please visit http://www.safehub.io.

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Western & Southern and Afficiency Team Up on Digital Life Insurance Products


“We share Afficiency’s passion for using data and technology to drive the development and delivery of new life insurance products,” said Jill T. McGruder, chief marketing officer for Western & Southern.

The first products being released on Afficiency’s all-encompassing digital platform are a whole life product and an income protection product designed to enhance Western & Southern’s financial product offerings. These products are completely digitized so applicants can learn about the product quickly and easily online, complete an application and receive instant underwriting, and purchase and receive their new policy within a matter of minutes.

“Western & Southern Financial Group is a strong financial institution with several great life insurance companies and distribution assets in its family of companies,” said Mark Scafaro, CEO of Afficiency, “They are a perfect complement to our digital life insurance solution. We are thrilled to have collaborated over this last year to develop unique digital products, and are excited about delivering our joint life insurance products to the marketplace via our platform.”

“We share Afficiency’s passion for using data and technology to drive the development and delivery of new life insurance products,” said Jill T. McGruder, chief marketing officer for Western & Southern. “Afficiency’s team and its platform will enable our company to further accelerate product innovation. This contract helps us expand our portfolio of life insurance offerings while accelerating product sales using new and existing distribution channels, as well as the distribution capabilities that Afficiency brings with its platform.”

“We are excited to also enter the worksite market with these unique and innovative digital life insurance offerings, leveraging the well-known Gerber brand, the fifth most recognized brand by U.S consumers,” said Adam Zuckerberg, vice president of Worksite Solutions for Western & Southern. “Adding an iconic and trusted name such as Gerber brings another level of financial strength and security to more households through our worksite offerings. There are a number of employers that are happy to offer these in-demand digital products while limiting their administrative work. It’s a fantastic worksite benefit to offer simple, efficient, and sought-after products to employees that even have convenient individual payment options.”

The collaboration between the two companies is the result of growing demand among consumers for an entirely digital process for buying life insurance and income protection products, particularly amid continued concerns by the coronavirus pandemic.

About Western and Southern Financial Group

Founded in Cincinnati in 1888 as The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is the parent company of a group of diversified financial services businesses. Its assets owned ($60 billion) and managed ($22 billion) totaled $92 billion as of Sept. 30, 2020. Western & Southern is one of the strongest life insurance groups in the world. Its seven life insurance subsidiaries (The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Gerber Life Insurance Company, Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, and National Integrity Life Insurance Company) maintain very strong financial ratings. Other member companies include Eagle Realty Group, LLC; Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.; 1 IFS Financial Services, Inc.; Touchstone Advisors, Inc.; 1 Touchstone Securities, Inc.; 2 W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.; 1,2 and W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc. Western & Southern is the title sponsor of seven major community events every year, including the Western & Southern Open, a premier event in the U.S. Open Series played each August by the world’s top-ranked professional male and female tennis players.

1 A registered investment adviser.

2 A registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC.

Review our current financial ratings.

About Afficiency Inc.

Afficiency is an insurtech company making life insurance easier to understand and even easier to purchase. Afficiency has developed a digital life insurance platform that allows new products to be quickly stood-up and made available for digital distribution, completely via API. All of Afficiency’s life insurance products are designed to be digitally underwritten and issued to applicants within seconds. Afficiency has been partnering with carriers and re-insurers since late 2018 to bring products to market. The team has also been working with conventional and new distribution channels to deliver these products.

Afficiency anticipates a number of further announcements in 2020, regarding new products, new partnerships, and new financing activity.

The information herein is not an offer to sell insurance. Insurance products are offered only through licensed and appointed insurance agents, and no insurance policy goes into effect until issued by a licensed carrier. All coverages are subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions of the actual policy issued. Not all policies or coverages are available in every state.

Afficiency, Inc.

3 World Financial Center

200 Vesey Street, 24thFloor

New York NY 10281

646.952.8582

inquiries@afficiency.com

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What Are The Main Factors That Influence Car Insurance Rates?


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“Drivers should understand what influences the most their insurance bills”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

When it comes to determining rates and associated costs, insurance companies analyze a vast number of factors. These factors can be classified into 3 main categories: driver-related factors, car-related factors and coverage-related factors. Companies carefully analyze the following factors:

  • Driver’s age. Teen drivers are more likely to get involved in an accident. Younger drivers, under 25 years old, pay higher premiums. Senior citizens that are in their 70s or 80s, also pay higher insurance rates based on their age. In this case, age-related medical problems will impair a person’s driving capabilities.
  • Credit score. Most states, except California, Hawaii and Massachusetts, allow insurance companies to look at the driver’s credit score. They will regularly charge more to the drivers with a poor credit score, while the ones that have good and excellent credit score will receive lower insurance rates.
  • Driving history. Drivers that were recently involved in accidents, received many tickets, or made previous insurance claims, should expect more expensive premiums. A really bad driving record will even determine the current insurer to drop the client. Safe drivers, on the other side, receive better rates.
  • ZIP code. The majority of car accidents happen close to home. People living in a densely populated neighborhood, with more cars, are more likely to suffer a car accident, vandalism or theft. Parking the car in a garage will make coverage cheaper.
  • Car model. An insurer will ask about car make, model, car type, year of production, installed safety features, condition, etc. Some cars are cheaper to insure than others. Luxury, sports car or extremely customized cars are difficult to insure and regularly will need a specialized insurer.


Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org

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Elite Insurance Partners Ranks #28 on Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2020 Fast 50 List


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We’re excited to have placed on the Fast 50 list for another year in a row,” says Elite Insurance Partners CEO, Jagger Esch.

Elite Insurance Partners ranks on the Tampa Bay Business Journal Fast 50 list at #28 with 103.61% increase in revenue over the past three years. This is the company’s second consecutive year to earn a place on the list.

At the virtual event on Tuesday, list rankings were revealed to almost 600 attendees. The list includes the fastest-growing privately-held and for-profit companies with headquarters in Tampa Bay. Qualifying companies had a 2017 revenue of at least $1 million or a 2019 revenue of at least $5 million. The combined revenue of all 51 companies on the list is $1.8 billion for 2019.

“We’re excited to have placed on the Fast 50 list for another year in a row,” says Elite Insurance Partners CEO, Jagger Esch. “The growth that we’ve experienced over the past three years is proof of our hardworking team and dedication to our clients. It also shows that the integrity behind everything we do helps us succeed.”

Esch and Elite Insurance Partners have received additional awards this year. Esch placed in the Tampa Bay Business Journal 40 Under 40 class of 2020 and EIP has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, Inc. 5000 Series Florida, and Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Best Places to Work list.

For a full list of the Tampa Bay Business Journal Fast 50 rankings for 2020, visit: https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/subscriber-only/2020/11/10/fast-50-tampa-bays-50-fastest-growing.html

About Elite Insurance Partners:

Founded in 2014, Elite Insurance Partners ranks in the top five Medicare brokerages in the nation. Representing over 30 carriers throughout the United States, their primary market is Medicare, but they also help with: dental, vision, cancer, heart attack, stroke, life, long-term care, and disability insurance. Assisting clients nationwide, their mission has always been simple: provide thorough education on all insurance options and help to find the best plan(s) for the needs and budget of each individual.

If you would like more information, please contact Lindsay Engle at LEngle@MedicareFAQ.com.

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Strategic Decisions Group Announces New Leadership Responsibilities for Three Partners


Under their leadership, the firm has grown its influence in helping clients to solve their toughest challenges, navigate industry transitions, gain organizational alignment, and enhance their internal strategic capabilities.

Management consulting firm Strategic Decisions Group (SDG) has announced new leadership responsibilities for three partners in the US and Europe.

Sang-Won Kim leads the firm’s global energy practice. Deepak Veeraraghavan leads the global life science practice and the firm’s strategy consulting practice in Europe. Jennifer Meyer leads the firm’s strategy consulting practice in North America. All three are SDG partners with decades of experience advising global clients in industry and government.

This news follows the firm’s October announcement that Mark Seidler, who previously led the firm’s European operation and global life science practice, has assumed the role of chief executive officer. Carl Spetzler, former CEO, will continue in the role of chairman. Dr. Seidler and Dr. Spetzler both continue to serve clients.

“We are delighted to announce these leadership responsibilities of Sang-Won, Deepak, and Jennifer and to recognize their professional achievements,” said Dr. Seidler. “Under their leadership, the firm has grown its influence in helping clients to solve their toughest challenges, navigate industry transitions, gain organizational alignment, and enhance their internal strategic capabilities.”

Sang-Won Kim

Sang-Won Kim leads the firm’s global energy practice. He advises clients throughout the energy value chain in making large capital investment decisions and developing decision support systems. He specializes in developing practical solutions to complex decision problems and communicating strategic insights to his clients. Recently, Dr. Kim has worked with clients in the energy sector to design strategies to navigate the transition of energy demand from fossil fuels toward zero-carbon energy sources. His clients include large exploration and production firms, national oil companies, national governments, pipeline operators, merchant and regulated utilities, and contractors in engineering, procurement, and construction in North America, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Kim was previously a managing director for strategy consulting with IHS Markit, a company that provides data, analytics, and insight to customers in capital intensive industries. Dr. Kim received PhD and MS degrees in management science and engineering from Stanford University. A native of Korea, Dr. Kim is based in Menlo Park, California.

Deepak Veeraraghavan

Deepak Veeraraghavan leads the firm’s global life science practice and the strategy consulting practice in Europe. He has led client teams in strategy development, portfolio management, change management, and decision process design. He has cross-sector experience not only in life sciences, biotechnology, and healthcare in Europe and Asia but also agriculture, chemicals, industrial markets, manufacturing, and fast-moving consumer goods. Recently, he has been working with pharmaceutical companies to implement groundbreaking prioritization methodology that uses multi-attribute utility theory to aid R&D decision-making at the early stage of the pharmaceutical pipeline, when long-term value potential is particularly difficult to assess. Prior to joining SDG, Mr. Veeraraghavan was a consultant with KPMG Advisory Services. He received an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management at Calcutta and a bachelor of engineering in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai. A native of India, Mr. Veeraraghavan is based in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Jennifer Meyer

Jennifer Meyer leads the firm’s North American strategy consulting practice and is a contributing partner to the firm’s executive education practice. She has decades of experience as a strategy consultant and educator and has led engagement teams in strategy development, economic evaluation, and business portfolio modeling for clients in technology, mining, transportation, energy, government, and non-profits. She specializes in combining strategy consulting and decision education to advance clients’ understanding and adoption of organizational decision quality principles and processes. Dr. Meyer teaches in the Strategic Decision and Risk Management (SDRM) certificate program at The University of Texas at Austin. She is coauthor of Decision Quality: Value Creation from Better Business Decisions, a popular business book she wrote with Dr. Carl Spetzler and Hannah Winter in 2016. Dr. Meyer holds PhD and MS degrees in operations research from Stanford University and a mathematics and physics BA from Drake University. She is a member of INFORMS and a Fellow in the Society of Decision Professionals (SDP). Dr. Meyer is based in Denver, Colorado.

About Strategic Decisions Group

Founded in 1981, Strategic Decisions Group is a strategy consulting firm renowned for its expertise in strategic decision-making, risk management, stakeholder alignment, and value creation. Through a collaborative, team-based approach, SDG helps its clients find innovative, creative strategies to thrive today, while also helping them build internal competencies and more effective decision-making processes to meet competitive challenges in the future. A unique combination of analytic skills, strategy-development techniques, and industry experience makes SDG a preferred strategy consultant to the global Fortune 500. For more information, visit http://www.sdg.com.

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