Burnham Benefits Hires New Account Executive, Maggie Lepore

IRVINE, CA and SAN LOUIS OBISPO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 15, 2013) - Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, one of the largest employee benefits brokerages in Southern California and one of the few to specialize solely in strategic employee benefits consulting and brokerage services, welcomes Maggie Lepore to its team of established industry leaders. Lepore's impressive experience within the employee benefits arena will bring a fresh and comprehensive perspective to her new role as an account executive at the firm, where she'll focus on servicing existing accounts as well as growing new business in the Central Coast region.

Lepore will work with clients across a variety of industries as an account executive at Burnham Benefits, offering leadership and account management for existing clients and developing new business for Burnham in the mid-market, private, and public sectors. Using her past multi-faceted experience at a national firm, spanning client services, sales, management and employee-benefit communication, Lepore will design and implement effective benefits programs for Central Coast-based employers and their teams.

"For more than 10 years, Maggie has provided uniquely tailored employee-benefits plans, while maintaining close to 100% client-retention on those accounts she serviced as account executive," says Kristen Allison, president of Burnham Benefits and a 30-year veteran of the employee benefits industry. "We're thrilled to add Maggie's top-performing talent to our team and we know she'll serve existing clients superbly, while actively growing and expanding our business in the region she knows so well."

Prior to joining the Burnham Benefits team, Lepore spent 10 years working within various aspects of insurance services and employee benefits with a national firm. Positions include client service representative, account executive and director of technical products.

"My previous role -- working with both fully insured and self-funded business -- required me to manage all aspects of elaborate benefits plans, while providing maximum client satisfaction," says Lepore. "At Burnham Benefits, I'll offer clients an additional value-add that even a national firm could not-access to infrastructure and support from in-house underwriters, healthcare reform specialists, compliance and communication experts and more -- which will allow me to better meet the needs of clients. It's exciting to be part of such a knowledgeable and dedicated team that is committed to supporting one another, and so in tune with their clients' needs."

A licensed California Life & Health Agent and certified ZyWave Champion, Lepore also has multiple designations in progress from the prestigious Wharton School of Business, including a Group Benefits Associate Specialty Designation (GBA) and the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) accreditation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Irvine -- where she graduated with multiple academic honors.

A Southern California market leader, Burnham Benefits offers clients a consultative approach to employee benefits, using research-driven methods, actuarial and benchmarking data to develop comprehensive benefits plans that exceed clients' business goals. Burnham supports clients in managing the complex spectrum of employee benefits needs, offering compliance, communication, and healthcare reform expertise as well as innovative employee wellness programs. California employers and business leaders across the country count on Burnham to offer key business results and foster the health of their employees.

ABOUT BURNHAM BENEFITS INSURANCE SERVICES:
Based in Irvine, Calif., Burnham Benefits Insurance Services Inc. is one of the largest employee benefits brokerages in Southern California and one of the few to specialize solely in employee benefits insurance. Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego employers trust Burnham to understand the unique challenges of the Southern California market. Kristen Allison, President of Burnham Benefits and a 30-year industry veteran, acquired the firm in 1995 from John Burnham Insurance Services, an Orange County mainstay for more than 50 years. Boasting the in-depth industry knowledge and Fortune 500 resources of a large firm, Burnham Benefits prides itself on retaining the flexibility, creativity and consultative service of a boutique. After steady growth of 20 percent annually for the past 10 years, the company serves more than 300 corporate clients throughout the United States and manages more than $600 million in premiums. Working with its colleagues at Burnham Gibson Financial Group, and having the added expertise of in-house underwriters, compliance officers and communications specialists, 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 both 2011 and 2012, the company has three offices in California: Irvine, 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.