Burnham Benefits Welcomes New Account Executive, Ryan Meissner

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - May 10, 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, has strengthened its team with the addition of account executive Ryan Meissner to its corporate headquarters in Irvine.

Meissner's prior experience working as an underwriting consultant for a major carrier is expected to serve as an asset to Burnham Benefits and help set client expectations of carriers. Already, this unique background has enhanced his abilities as an account executive by maximizing clients' results with effective decisions. Meissner's strengths lie in financial analysis, and his new role involves streamlining daily operations through benefit and carrier changes and ensuring employees have access to the resources and information they need to continue going above and beyond for clients. The ambitious new account executive will evaluate carrier exhibits, contribute to client service and spread his expertise across a variety of functions.

"It is especially vital in the current state of the marketplace that we provide employers with advisors who have intimate knowledge of innovative and cost-effective benefit strategies," says Kristen Allison, President of Burnham Benefits Insurance Services and a 30-year veteran of the employee benefits industry. "We're confident that Ryan Meissner will facilitate innovation at Burnham and have a positive influence on the high-quality benefits consulting our clients have come to expect. He's been here only briefly and is already proving to be an indispensable asset to our team."

Meissner earned a Master's of Science degree in Health Care Administration from California State University of Long Beach. He honed his leadership skills through training new hires on underwriting methodologies, guidelines and procedures as an underwriting consultant for UnitedHealthcare (previously PacifiCare). There, Meissner supervised three underwriting analysts and contributed to risk assessment of current and prospective customers on a daily basis. The department tools he created to promote efficiency remain valuable assets. Meissner shined at helping clients, brokers and the sales teams remain open-minded and creative while maintaining a sustainable profit margin.

"I was attracted to Burnham Benefits because of its strong reputation in the industry," says Meissner. "It's the people who work at Burnham, the way they do business, and how they respond to clients that makes me so pleased to have joined the Burnham Benefits team."

Burnham Benefits' proactive approach to healthcare reform compliance is helping organizations manage complex legislation issues and balance legal and financial concerns with robust employee benefits. Its dedication to exceeding client expectations and putting itself on the forefront of innovative solutions is just part of how the company continues to thrive in an uncertain economy. By continuing to add resources, Burnham Benefits can continue offering premium customer service to help clients manage unprecedented changes and challenges.

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. 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.