Burnham Benefits Senior Account Executive Appointed President of the Employee Benefits Planning Association of Southern California

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - Nov 9, 2011) - 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, announced today that Senior Account Executive Rose Hook was appointed president to the Employee Benefits Planning Association of Southern California (EBPA). EBPA is one of the largest associations of Employee Benefits Professionals in the nation with active membership of upwards of 500 members. Hook was voted president by the associations board of directors and was introduced as incoming president at the next EBPA meeting followed by a cocktail reception on November 8, 2011.

Hook, who is responsible for new business development and managing client accounts in the Los Angeles metropolitan area at Burnham Benefits, will serve as the EBPA president until October 2012. During her term, Hook aims to grow and continue to bring value to EBPA's membership, enhance community outreach and expand the organization's social media presence.

"It's an honor to be named president of this organization and to have the support of industry peers," says Hook. "I look forward to collaborating with members of EBPA to grow the organization and continue to provide an exceptional educational and social resource for employee benefits professionals in Southern California."

EBPA is a non-profit organization serving as a forum for employee benefits professionals to share ideas and information, and advance professional skills across the industry. Founded in 1948, EPBA welcomes representatives from all areas of the employee benefits industry including plan sponsors, brokers, consultants, insurance carriers, human resources professionals, third party administrators, benefits communications specialists and more. Quarterly meetings held at the JW Marriott in Downtown Los Angeles feature a guest speaker or panel of experts to address trends in the industry. Most sessions also offer CE credit to licensed professionals. In addition, EBPA conducts an annual Continuing Education (CE) Day for benefits professionals and an annual golf tournament with a portion of the proceeds donated to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

"We're thrilled for Rose and believe she's an excellent representative of Burnham Benefits to the industry," says Kristen Allison, president of Burnham Benefits. "Under her leadership, we believe EBPA will continue supporting employee benefits professionals as they advance their skills to provide better service to the public."

Burnham Benefits is an Orange County-based employee benefits brokerage with three Southern California locations. The company prides itself on offering leading-edge, research-driven client actuarial data and company-specific information with support from in-house underwriters, attorneys, compliance officers and communications specialists. Burnham continually invests in the latest software and innovative ideas to provide optimal flexibility and control client costs. These customized solutions-based services allow Burnham Benefits to remain nimble in a typically rigid industry -- ultimately offering clients key business results and fostering 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. 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 280 corporate clients throughout the United States and manages more than $300 million in premiums. Working with its colleagues at Burnham Gibson Financial Services, 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 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.