ACUMEN - Key Persons
Aaron began his employment with Acumen in 2012 and has served in the employee benefits industry for more than 15 years. He has earned the designations of GBA (Group Benefits Associate) and CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter). Aaron strives to efficiently guide his clients through the wide range of employee benefit plan options and he is also well-versed in alternative funding strategies. Growing up in a family business, Aaron understands the value of retaining long-term, productive employees and the importance of a trusted, proactive benefits advisor.
Education:
BA from Wartburg College
Ali assists with day-to-day operations as well as supporting our advisors, account managers, and marketing team. She prepares client presentations, plans company events, and maintains databases. Ali's background is in print advertising sales and document management.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University
Andrew has worked in the insurance industry since 1998 and has focused exclusively on employee benefit planning since 2002. In 2010, Andrew and his business partner, Kirby Moss formed acumen. Today acumen staffs 35 full time employees, partners with over 150 licensed advisors, and consults with over 1,500 businesses on their benefits.
Education:
St. Olaf College with a Bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Economics, Leadership for Five Seasons Program
Brian is dedicated to designing and implementing top quality benefit programs for employers to reward and retain employees. He works with clients in a proactive manner to help them gain control over the evolving industry. Before joining the acumen team, Brian worked as a sales manager in the mortgage industry.
Education:
BA from Wartburg College in Business with a focus in Management/Marketing/Finance
Camron graduated with her Master's degree in Sociology with an emphasis on quantitative data analytics. Her research revolved around the analysis and synthesis of data to ascertain the origins of cultural and social issues in the United States. Her background has contributed to her position at acumen, where she manages commissions and contracts to ensure transactional accuracy and enhance efficiency of accounting processes.
Education:
Bachelors and Masters of Science in Sociology from Iowa State University
Christi has 19 years of insurance industry experience with a heavy concentration in operations, project management, and business development. As Director of Operations, she is responsible for the strategic and tactical objectives of the organization. Christi establishes and continuously improves business practices, policies, and systems, thus providing a solid value proposition to our clients.
Education:
Delta State University and Mount Mercy University, focus in Business Management, Marketing, and Finance
As part of Acumen's Compliance Team, Denise provides timely notices of COBRA or State Continuation eligibility for the employees of Acumen's clients, in accordance with federal and state regulations. She is also responsible for processing COBRA enrollments, overseeing coverages, and tracking payments after a job loss or qualifying event occurs. Denise has an substantial background in benefits and leave of absence administration, with more than 25 years in the Human Resources and Employee Benefits fields.
Holley started her career in insurance in 2008 and has since amassed knowledge in various aspects of employee benefits & individual insurance. Holley assists our advisors with tasks related to maintaining positive relationships with our clients including renewals, employee benefit meetings, Medicare policies, and anything in between. In addition, Holley provides help with presentation materials and database maintenance as well as addresses client questions that arise
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Client Services
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor
- Senior Benefit Advisor
Jessica has 18 years of experience in the health insurance industry. Jessica works with her employer clients to create customized benefit plans and help implement the company's benefit strategy. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence provides her clients with an unparalleled level of service in the group benefits arena. She is committed to a team approach that not only earns her clients' trust, but have them truly feeling that she is an extension of their staff. She keeps up to date with the ever-changing legislation and most recently healthcare reform to keep her clients educated and in compliance.
Job Titles:
- Individual Advisor
- Medicare / Individual Advisor
Josh comes to acumen with a long family history in the insurance industry. Through his previous work in the athletic department at Cornell College he learned the value of strategy and putting together a detailed game plan to ensure both short- and long-term success. He looks forward to working together with clients to reach a solution that satisfies the needs and goals of both employees and employers.
Education:
Bachelor's Degree from St. Olaf College in Political Science
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Client Services
Kandi assists clients with resolving claim and administrative issues as well as addressing client questions that arise day-to-day. She is responsible for obtaining and distributing benefit renewals as well as providing review and direction on renewals to our internal advisors.
Education:
Bachelor's degree from Morningside College
Job Titles:
- Business Systems
- Business Systems Administrator
Kayla graduated from the University of Iowa in 2015. As a member of our Research and Development team, Kayla focuses on system updates and improvements, consistency and integrity of data entry, and timeliness of client deliverables.
Since 1995, Kirby has been dedicated to helping employers and their employees with their employee benefit needs. Kirby designs, implements and manages customized health and welfare plans. Through Kirby's in-depth proactive process, employers are able to gain greater control over the cost and quality of their benefit plans.
Education:
BA from Simpson College, Leadership for Five Seasons Program
Lynn serves as an Advisor on benefit plans to businesses of all sizes. She is dedicated to designing and implementing quality benefit programs for employers to reward and retain employees. Lynn maintains great relationships with her clients to keep them up to date on all available options and ensure plans are well-suited for the unique needs of each business. Lynn brings 17 years of experience in the health insurance industry including five years of service with a health insurance carrier.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from St. Ambrose University
Maria brings a wealth of knowledge in corporate wellness and employee benefits to the acumen team. She is dedicated to designing and implementing top quality benefit programs for employers to reward and retain employees. Maria works with her clients in a proactive manner to help them gain control over an ever-evolving industry. In addition to her experience in employee benefits, insurance, and worksite health promotion, Maria has also worked in pharmaceutical sales and in higher education. Maria holds a master's degree in Public Health (MPH) and has a passion for engaging and educating employers and their employees on the best benefit plan solutions.
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Health Promotion from the University of Northern Iowa
Master's degree in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Illinois at Chicago
Michael has been in the employee benefit industry since 2011 and has had the pleasure of working with many companies as a resource and partner in the health, life, disability, dental and vision markets. He earned his Group Benefits Associate (GBA) designation in 2022. Michael works proactively with employers to implement cost-effective, value-based employee benefit packages to help attract and retain employees.
Education:
BA from Coe College
Job Titles:
- Director of Compliance Services
Milinda has 20 years of experience as an educator in both the public and private markets. Prior to joining the acumen team, she worked closely with top ranked universities and medical centers to develop customized employee training material and curriculum. As a member of the Research & Development Team, Milinda is responsible for the overall planning, directing, and coordinating of compliance activities in relation to client employee benefits plans. In addition to developing and facilitating internal and external market segment specific training programs, Milinda works to build strong relationships with acumen's advisors, employees, and clients, acting as a consulting resource for market specific support.
Education:
BS in Education from Southeastern Louisiana University
Nick has been in the insurance industry since 1994 and works with employers, employer coalitions, and employer insurance pools to structure and finance the risk associated with employer health plans. He also helps design and oversee the administration of employer health plans including medical, disease, claims, and provider network management, and pharmacy benefits. Nick specializes in self-funded and partially self-funded plans for employers of all sizes. He has an office in both Des Moines and Springfield/Joplin area of southern Missouri. Nick has an insurance license in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri.
Renee has over 15 years of experience in customer service and has been with acumen since 2014. She oversees our client services team which includes the Account Management and Benefit Concierge teams. Each assist our valued clients with tasks such as enrollment, new hires, terminations, and all questions related to employee benefits. Renee is also responsible for the activity and accountability of our OwlLink online benefit portal and works closely with clients on implementing their benefits through this system. Renee holds a State of Iowa Life, Accident and Health insurance license.
Education:
Associate of Banking and Finance - Kirkwood Community College
Ryan has over nine years of experience in employee benefits and has earned the designations of Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) and Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC). Ryan is focused on designing HR and employee benefit solutions to our clients, including communicating those benefits to the company's plan participants. He is experienced in a wide variety of employee benefit plans for small to mid-size companies and enjoys being a valuable resource for all of his clients' human resource related needs.
Since 1983, Steve has been a leader in the insurance and employee benefits industries. He has assisted professional individuals, business owners and employers in a wide array of industries with innovative and cost-effective insurance plans.
Devoting his career to this industry, Steve has achieved notable recognition for his active membership as a Life and Qualifying member of The Million Dollar Round Table and Top of The Table. Additionally, he has won numerous industry awards including the National Quality Award and Leading Producer Round Table. Previously, Steve served as Chairman of the President's Advisory Council of The Paul Revere Insurance Company and as a member of the Agent Advisory Council of the UNUM-Provident Companies.
In addition to his business contributions, Steve has been actively involved in the healthcare field as a hospital system Board Member and as a Trustee Council member for the Tennessee Hospital Association. His civic activities include serving 24 years as an elected Sumner County Commissioner, 12 years as Chairman of the County Commission, and as a Board member of the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, Sumner Foundation, Volunteer State Community College Foundation, COMPASS and Forward Sumner. He was a founding Board member and is currently the President and Chairman of the Board of Salvus Center.
Steve enjoys sharing his expertise as a key speaker at various industry seminars and conventions as well as civic and charitable engagements including Rotary International, Kiwanis, Civitan and Sertoma.
Education:
Steve holds a B.A. in Communications from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a Registered Financial Consultant.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Client Services
Sue has been in the healthcare industry for the last 32 years on both the carrier and broker side with the last 13 years as an Account Executive. Her range of expertise includes but is not limited to service, market review, employee education, individual plans, and Medicare.
Education:
Associates of Liberal Arts - North Central Missouri College
Job Titles:
- Account Implementation and Renewal Specialist
Tabatha has worked in customer service and account management for 20 years with a strong background in client service. As a member of our Account Implementation and Renewals team, Tabatha assists with all tasks related to new clients, assisting advisors with presentations and materials, and maintenance of databases.
Education:
Bachelor's degree from Westmar College
Tamme has a strong background in customer and client service, and served in the healthcare industry for almost 14 years prior to joining acumen. As an Account Executive, she assumes complete responsibility of maintaining a very positive relationship between acumen and its clients.
Education:
Bachelor of Business Administration from Iowa State University
As a member of the Research & Development Team, Tammy provides support to everyone at Acumen with regard to the insurance market, products, carriers, and beyond. Tammy utilizes her in-depth knowledge and experience to develop and facilitate market specific training, procedures, and educational programs for both Acumen's valued clients and our employees. Tammy began her career in the health insurance industry in 1996 and has worked at Acumen since 2012. Tammy holds a State of Iowa Life, Accident and Health insurance license.