Orange County Business Journal Names Burnham Benefits "Best Place to Work"

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Sep 23, 2011) - Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, a leading employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm based in Orange County, Calif., is proud of its recent first-place ranking among small companies in the Orange County Business Journal's annual survey of the best places to work. The OCBJ surveyed employees and managers of companies throughout Orange County to determine which provide the best workplaces.

"This first-place ranking is an honor we're particularly proud of," says Kristen Allison, President of Burnham Benefits. "We believe our company culture, amazing staff and supportive work environment create the solid foundation for all the work we do. It's great to be recognized for something we believe is so important."

Burnham's employee-first culture fosters a trusting and respectful environment with endless opportunities for growth. A "grow at your own rate" philosophy means that employees create their own goals and quotas and choose the balance of home and work life that suits them. Modern green offices feature natural light, filtered water and expertly tended plants. Fun is always on the agenda, so employees enjoy weekly catered lunches, birthday parties, a comfy kitchen space, popular gifts and gadgets at the holidays and cool prizes for goal achievement. Happy employees are eager to share the wealth, and Burnham matches employee donations to the charities of their choice up to $500.

Burnham Benefits is a full-service employee benefits firm with over 40 years' experience serving over 300 employer groups. The company specializes in the mid- to large-sized marketplace of 250 to 5,000 employees, manages over $500 million in benefit expenditures and is distinguished by its unparalleled resources including best in class health and wellness expertise, esteemed compliance and underwriting staff and superior hands-on leadership.

Burnham Benefits has a reputation for its leading-edge, research-driven client solutions which utilize actuarial data and company-specific information with support from in-house underwriters, attorneys, compliance officers and communications specialists. These customized, solutions-based services set Burnham apart from competitors and are further enhanced by Burnham's continual integration of the latest software, innovative ideas and state-of-the-art online enrollment and administration systems to control client costs and provide optimal flexibility. These strengths have led Burnham Benefits to successfully address the complex and unique needs of companies from a range of industries with focus on maximum value and cost control.

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 Services, and having health and wellness, underwriting, compliance and communications expertise in-house, Burnham Benefits provides an integrated approach to managing a client's full spectrum of employee benefits needs. 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.