Burnham Benefits Expands Its Los Angeles Office With Addition of New Account Executive Maria Talamantez

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 14, 2013) - Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, one of the largest employee benefits brokerages in California and one of the few to specialize solely in strategic employee benefits consulting and brokerage services, welcomes Maria Talamantez as its newest account executive. Talamantez has been tapped to help drive continued growth in the Los Angeles area and develop new business within the Hispanic market.

Talamantez's vast industry experience will allow her to partner with and guide clients as they implement strategic employee benefits programs. Fluent in Spanish, Talamantez will also focus on expanding Burnham's reach into Hispanic-owned local businesses, and companies that employ Spanish-speakers -- a large and vital segment in Southern California.

"Maria's style of connecting with clients and carriers fits perfectly with the Burnham company culture," says Kristen Allison, president of Burnham Benefits Insurance Services and a 30-year veteran of the employee benefits industry. "Her skills and well-rounded experience will bring a new dynamic to our team and will support our continued growth into expanding markets, while still providing the personalized service Burnham is known for."

Talamantez previously served as an associate with Mercer for eight years, where she worked closely with clients to provide strategic planning, creative cost-containment solutions and guidance to ensure clients were compliant with health care legislation. Prior to working in the employee benefits industry, Talamantez spent 10 years in public relations, where she developed exceptional account management skills that easily translated across industries.

"With Burnham, I see major opportunities to provide innovative and customized solutions for clients, while also growing in my career," says Talamantez. "I'm looking forward to working with the team and supporting Burnham as it continues expanding in California, while leveraging my background to tap into new market segments."

Burnham Benefits is expanding in the Los Angeles-area and is poised to move into larger regional offices within the next six months. This continued growth is creating new positions for talent in production, account management, operations and communications. For more information about a career with Burnham Benefits, please contact Vanessa Scarbo, director of human resources, at 949-252-4572.

ABOUT BURNHAM BENEFITS INSURANCE SERVICES: Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Burnham Benefits Insurance Services Inc. is a leading employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm in California. Kristen Allison, CEO of Burnham Benefits and a 30-year industry veteran, acquired the firm in 1995 from John Burnham Insurance Services, and has maintained 20 percent annual growth and 98 percent client retention for the past 10 years. California employers trust Burnham to provide the counsel and cutting-edge resources to meet changing market needs. Boasting in-depth industry knowledge and Fortune 500 resources, the firm prides itself on flexibility, creativity and consultative service to manage more than $1 billion in premiums for its growing list of 300 corporate clients. Working with its colleagues at Burnham Gibson Financial Group, and having the added expertise of in-house underwriters, compliance officers, communications specialists and wellness experts, Burnham Benefits provides an integrated approach to managing a client's full spectrum of employee benefits. Named Best Place to Work by the Orange County Business Journal in 2011, 2012, and 2013, the company has four offices in California: Irvine, San Rafael, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, as well as offices in Oregon and the Washington D.C. metro area. For more information, visit www.BurnhamBenefits.com.