Burnham Benefits Owner and President Named Enterprising Woman of the Year

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 14, 2012) - Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, a leading employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm based in Orange County, Calif., has announced that its president and owner, Kristen Allison, received the 2012 Enterprising Woman of the Year award from Enterprising Women magazine. Allison was recognized for the revenue growth of Burnham Benefits, her leadership in the community and industry and for giving back to the business community through mentorship and supporting other women in business. Winners were recognized at the 10^th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration on March 12 at the Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"In an industry where many people are 'working for today,' our focus at Burnham has always been looking toward the future -- creating long-term growth strategies, building a strong foundation of experienced employees, and adopting the latest technology, talent and resources to stay on the leading edge of the benefits industry. Continual reinvestment in the company has allowed Burnham Benefits to provide much more for our clients, and our notable growth this past decade proves that it is working," says Allison, who started her benefits career 30 years ago, working her way through the business and taking the helm at Burnham Benefits in 1995. "It is truly an honor to be recognized for these accomplishments by Enterprising Women, and to be in the company of such successful female business leaders."

Kristen Allison has built Burnham Benefits Insurance Services into one of the largest employee benefits brokerages in Southern California, currently managing more than $500 million in benefits expenditures. Allison's sharp leadership skills have guided her as she's carved out her niche as a customer-focused benefits brokerage with the resources and service lines of a Fortune 500 firm. This is now the hallmark of the company -- one that clients have enthusiastically embraced.

"Enterprising Women of the Year honorees are so deserving of being in the spotlight," said Monica Smiley, publisher and chief executive officer of Enterprising Women. "Each has demonstrated that she has a thriving, growing business; she has mentored or given back to support other women in business, and she stands out as a leader in her community. We could not be more proud of the accomplishments of our honorees."

The Enterprising Women award follows several other recent accomplishments for Burnham Benefits. The company recently earned the Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) designation from the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and was ranked as the top place to work among small companies by the Orange County Business Journal. Burnham Benefits concluded 2011 with 22% revenue growth and 100% staff retention.

To learn more about Burnham Benefits' services, visit www.burnhambenefits.com.

ABOUT ENTERPRISING WOMEN MAGAZINE: Enterprising Women, with headquarters in Cary, N.C., is the nation's only women-owned magazine published exclusively for women business owners that chronicles the growing political, economic and social influence and power of entrepreneurial women. The magazine provides a friendly meeting place, a public forum and a national stage for the critical issues confronting women's businesses and daily lives from the unique perspectives and experiences of entrepreneurial women. Published in both print and digital editions, the magazine's digital edition reaches more than 200,000 readers in 50 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.enterprisingwomen.com or call (919) 362-1551.

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. 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% 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 as well as a health and wellness solutions expert, health care reform and compliance officer and communications specialists, Burnham Benefits provides an integrated approach to managing a client's full spectrum of employee benefits. Named the best small company to work for 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.