Burnham Benefits Names Two New Partners

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Oct 29, 2012) - 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, has promoted two key executives, Melanie Thomas and Dan Exceen, to equity partners in the growing firm.

For the past 13 years, Thomas has been a substantial and increasingly valuable contributor to Burnham Benefits. Working with mid- and large-size financial, manufacturing, and service sector clients, Thomas is appreciated for her knowledge and thought leadership. Thomas continually demonstrates her ability to bring best practices to her clients and is a leader within the Burnham Benefits team.

Exceen joined Burnham Benefits seven years ago from the carrier side of the business and has continued to play a major role in the development of sales and customer specialty products for Burnham. An expert in health and welfare products, Exceen has focused his practice on serving public and private sector clients.

"Melanie and Dan are ideal examples of Burnham's emphasis on fostering growth and opportunity for employees," says Kristen Allison, president of Burnham Benefits Insurance Services and a 30-year veteran of the employee benefits industry. "Our culture empowers employees to drive their career paths and rewards them for contributing to the team. This unique environment furthers the professional development of our firm as we seek to provide clients and business partners with superior knowledge and services. Melanie and Dan reflect our culture and values, and we're proud that they are now equity partners. At Burnham, we want our ownership in the hands of those that contribute at extraordinary levels to our success."

Burnham Benefits is an Orange County-based employee benefits brokerage with three Southern California locations. Burnham Benefits provides company-specific data and reporting through in-house underwriters, attorneys, compliance officers and communications specialists. Burnham continues to invest in the latest software and technologies that create innovative solutions in the delivery of flexible and cost-effective programs.

The company prides itself on offering leading-edge, research-driven consulting services to its clients including corporate wellness programs. California employers choose Burnham Benefits for its forward thinking approach, unmatched client support and superior consulting.

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 $500 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 2011, 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.