Burnham Benefits Welcomes Two New Hires to Growing Team in Northern California

SAN RAFAEL, CA and IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 17, 2013) - Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, one of the largest employee benefits brokerages in California, recently welcomed two new team members to its growing staff. Senior Account Executive Laurel McClay and Account Executive Michele M. Dang will support the firm's continued growth and expansion in the Northern California market.

"Since opening Burnham's Northern California office in April, we have developed a solid core staff that is growing our business in the area and helping to balance our service across the state," says Kristen Allison, president and CEO of Burnham Benefits. "Both Laurel and Michele bring a strong understanding of the region and the needs of its employers, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the firm."

Laurel McClay joins Burnham Benefits with more than 30 years' experience in the industry, and will apply that knowledge to support strategic account management, client relations and new business development as a senior account executive with the firm. Prior to joining the Burnham team, McClay served in executive roles with several major national firms working with clients on both local and national levels. She looks forward to helping Burnham clients develop creative benefits programs that will keep them both competitive and compliant -- guiding them through the complex healthcare landscape and providing them with valuable cost-containment strategies.

Michele M. Dang brings more than 25 years of industry experience to her role as account executive with Burnham Benefits. Having serviced both fully insured and self-funded accounts for national brokerage firms, Dang will help clients differentiate themselves through their benefits programs with a focus on innovative plan design for private-sector middle-market companies.

Burnham Benefits expanded earlier this year through the addition of a dedicated team in Northern California, led by industry veteran Michael Michalski, who joined as an equity partner and regional president of the firm. Allison and Michalski set out to establish Burnham as a respected, client-first firm in the region, offering the resources and infrastructure of a Fortune 500 firm.

"Laurel and Michele's combined experience in the industry will make a huge impact on expanding the level of service we can provide to the region," says Michalski. "We're pleased with the growth happening in our Bay Area office so far and look forward to continuing to extend Burnham's stellar reputation and innovative service offerings to Northern California employers."

Burnham's unique model enhances the traditional service offerings of a brokerage by adding the personal touch of a consulting firm, and sets itself apart with the added expertise of in-house underwriters, compliance officers, communication specialists and wellness experts.

ABOUT BURNHAM BENEFITS INSURANCE SERVICES: Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Burnham Benefits Insurance Services Inc. is a leading employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm in California. Kristen Allison, CEO of Burnham Benefits and a 30-year industry veteran, acquired the firm in 1995 from John Burnham Insurance Services, and has maintained 20 percent annual growth and 98 percent client retention for the past 10 years. California employers trust Burnham to provide the counsel and cutting-edge resources to meet changing market needs. Boasting in-depth industry knowledge and Fortune 500 resources, the firm prides itself on flexibility, creativity and consultative service to manage more than $1 billion in premiums for its growing list of 300 corporate clients. Working with its colleagues at Burnham Gibson Financial Group, and having the added expertise of in-house underwriters, compliance officers, communications specialists and wellness experts, 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, 2012, and 2013, the company has four offices in California: Irvine, San Rafael, 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.