Top Insurance Brokerage and Consulting Firm Gives Back to the Community

CAMDEN, N.J., Aug. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, continued its tradition of giving back to the community with its 12th annual Community Day event. 120 Conner Strong & Buckelew [CSB] employees came out to volunteer their time at three Southern New Jersey locations.

At Cooper’s Poynt School in Camden the company’s volunteers rolled up their sleeves to paint classrooms and murals, build furniture and put their landscaping talents to work transforming the school’s indoor and outdoor spaces. We are proud to do our small part to help Cooper’s Poynt School as it strives to be a high-quality school where students are valued, challenged and prepared for college and careers that positively impact their community and the world.

In Toms River CSB volunteers partnered with the American Littoral Society by investing their sweat equity to clean up several miles of trails and beaches at Cattus Island County Park. We share the American Littoral Society’s passion for the study and conservation of marine life and habitat, and we were honored to contribute our time and energy to help protect the New Jersey coast.

At Tourne County Park in Parsippany our volunteers assisted the Morris County Park Commission by mulching and planting 120 new trees. Steward to over 20,000 acres of parkland, the Morris County Park Commission is committed to the care and growth of regional parks, recreation facilities, open spaces and more. Their work benefits all of us and we were happy to help them enhance our park system for today — and for future generations.

Michael Tiagwad, Conner Strong & Buckelew’s President & Chief Executive Officer commented, “Conner Strong & Buckelew has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the communities where we live and work. Our annual Community Day event is just one example of our employees’ passion for supporting the community. In the true spirit of giving, Conner Strong & Buckelew and its employees provide financial aid and volunteer thousands of hours every year to support a wide range of worthy organizations. A desire to improve the lives of others and uplift communities is an integral part of our culture”.

Conner Strong & Buckelew’s philanthropic culture has resulted in the company repeatedly being recognized as one of the top corporate givers in the region.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Florida, and Delaware, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of 500+ professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

Firm increased headcount over 10% since 2023, including the creation of three new, strategic senior-level positions to support rapid growth, innovation and client service

CAMDEN, N.J., Aug. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As a result of significant business growth and driven by the firm’s long-term focus, Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, is pleased to announce employee growth of over 10% since 2023. This significant increase in headcount across the organization reflects the upward trajectory of the firm’s business and will enable the firm to continue to provide unsurpassed consulting and brokerage services to clients. Notable, senior-level positions include Vice President, Head of Pharmacy; Chief Analytics Officer; and Vice President, Production Development. In total, 71 new hires have joined Conner Strong & Buckelew in 2024 alone – a 43% increase from this time last year.

Vice President, Head of Pharmacy: Simon Leung, Pharm D, a 20-year pharmacy leader, joined the company to oversee all aspects of the firm’s pharmacy business, including engagement with clients, pharmacy benefit managers and coalitions. Joe DiBella, National Benefits Business Leader at Conner Strong & Buckelew, commented, “In this new and unique leadership position, Simon’s combination of provider and consulting side experience will provide valuable perspective as we partner and negotiate with pharmacy benefit managers, coalitions and other entities.”

Chief Analytics Officer: Dr. Lovedeep Saini, Ph.D., a 15-year data science veteran with several Microsoft Azure Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) certifications, will lead Conner Strong & Buckelew’s data, analytics and AI initiatives. She will leverage advanced technologies, ML and statistical modeling to transform data into actionable, strategic insights. Senior Partner and Chief Information Officer Anil Jampana, stated, “Dr. Saini’s deep expertise in predictive modeling, benchmarking and digital transformation will help us optimize our data, improve operations, drive innovation, capitalize on growth opportunities and provide better data-driven solutions to our clients.”

Vice President, Production Development: Shea Cavanaugh, APRI, AIGA, a 12-year business development and sales management professional with nearly a decade in the insurance sector and certifications in risk and insurance, will support and guide newer producers and production support personnel during the early business development phase. According to Conner Strong and Buckelew’s Senior Partner and National Business Development Practice Leader, Justin Ackerman, “Shea’s combination of business development experience and insurance expertise will aid the production team in establishing the best strategy to help deliver on prospective new client needs.”

Asked about the impetus for these new roles and the company’s overall employee growth, Michael Tiagwad, President & Chief Executive Officer at Conner Strong & Buckelew said, “We are an organization that has thrived and grown for over 65 years. Our long-term view, combined with our ability to remain nimble and grow alongside our evolving industry, are among the keys to our longevity. We focus intently on both our clients’ and employees’ needs, which has resulted in retention rates of 99% and 97%, respectively. These new positions exemplify our continued commitment to expanding our capabilities, delivering cutting-edge consulting and brokerage services to clients and providing our employees with limitless opportunities to build lifelong careers with us.”

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Florida, and Delaware, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of 500+ professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

Industry Leader Simon Leung, PharmD Named to Fill New Role

CAMDEN, NJ (July 1, 2024) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, announced today it has named 20-year pharmacy leader Simon Leung, PharmD as its Vice President, Head of Pharmacy. In this newly created position, he will oversee all aspects of the firm’s pharmacy business, including engagement with clients, pharmacy benefit managers and coalitions.

With as much as 20-50% of employers’ healthcare spending going toward prescription drugs, focus in this area is paramount.¹ The creation of this new role demonstrates the company’s strong commitment to helping employers and plan sponsors navigate the increasingly challenging and complex world of pharmacy policy and prescription drug coverage issues.

Joe DiBella, National Benefits Business Leader at Conner Strong & Buckelew commented, “Simon’s expertise and leadership will significantly enhance our ability to design plans to meet the unique needs of our clients and strengthen our ability to partner and negotiate with pharmacy benefit managers, coalitions, and other entities. We are fortunate to have him on the team collaborating with our benefits consultants to deliver best-in-class, cost-effective pharmacy solutions to our clients.”

Simon Leung, PharmD earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Michigan and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ferris State University.  He comes to Conner Strong & Buckelew with a plethora of consulting and provider side experience.

^1.C2 Solutions 2024 Pharmacy and Drug Trends Report.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Florida, and Delaware, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of 500+ professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

June 21, 2024

C2 Solutions Issues Annual Pharmacy and Drug Trends Report

Grand Rapids, Michigan – C2 Solutions, a collective of member firms focused on finding collaborative solutions in the rapidly evolving employee benefits landscape, has released its 2024 Pharmacy and Drug Trends Report which provides insights into the current challenges and emerging trends shaping the pharmacy and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) space.

Based on the experience of C2 Solutions’ member firms between 2021 and 2022, some of the key takeaways from this year’s report include:

• Nearly 30% of adults report they don’t take their medications as prescribed because of cost.
• On average, 20% of healthcare spending by employers and plan sponsors was allocated to prescription drugs — with some employers reporting percentages as high as 50%.
• The top 10 traditional drugs accounted for a third of traditional drug expenditures and 15% of overall drug spending — with diabetes therapies dominating the category.
• The top 10 specialty drugs accounted for about half of specialty drug spending and 25% of overall gross drug spending — with drugs for inflammatory conditions remaining dominant in this segment.
• While the utilization drivers for traditional drugs remained stable and are expected to stay that way, future changes on the specialty drug front are more likely due to limited utilization, which is just over 1% of total claims volume.

Drug expenditures increased 4% nationally during the period covered in the C2 Solutions Report, however, the overall spending for C2 Solutions member firms decreased by 4.3%. According to Kristen Boyd, Executive Director at C2 Solutions, “The downward trend in drug spending among the clients of C2 firms demonstrates the firms’ expertise in managing pharmacy expenditures and the benefits of finding solutions through collaborative resourcing.”

About C2 Solutions

C2 is an equity-owned partnership focused on collaborative solutions in the rapidly evolving landscape of employee benefits. As a collective whose member firms maintain independent ownership, we represent a refreshing approach to the impersonal strategy of national consolidation.

As a collective benefits organization, C2 fosters direct, open collaboration with each of its member firms, hosting cross-training opportunities, encouraging peer-group sharing at the leadership level and offering open access to vital industry tools.

While the majority of the marketplace is served by public firms with little ability to offer unique products and services, C2 member firms stay true to their roots, serving the specialized needs of their respective regional client bases while providing the latest solutions and strategies through collaborative resourcing.

C2 Solutions member firms include Conner Strong & Buckelew, Holmes Murphy, M3 Insurance, McGohan Brabender, Scott Insurance, Sterling Seacrest Prichard and The Partners Group.

To learn more about C2 Solutions, its member firms and products visit poweredbyc2.com.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Florida, and Delaware, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of 500+ professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

Camden County Councilmembers Visit the TRIAD 1828 Centre in Show of Support

Camden, NJ, May 2 – Today, members of the Camden City Council joined executives from The Michaels Organization, NFI, and Conner Strong & Buckelew to put the finishing touches on a giant structure made entirely out of donated food as part of a local Canstruction event, benefitting the Food Bank of South Jersey.

“This food drive and participation in Canstruction event are a true testament to the TRIAD partners’ commitment to the Camden community and to giving back,” said Mark Morgan, Chief Operating Officer of The Michaels Organization. “Teammates from each organization have diligently worked together to donate an incredible amount of food, and to assemble this fun structure to showcase that commitment in action.”

The structure, an alien and rocket ship designed and planned by Urban Practice – The Michaels Organization’s strategic partner for architectural services who are also headquartered in the TRIAD Centre — complements the “Send Hunger to a Galaxy Far, Far Away” theme of this year’s local Canstruction competition.

Camden City Council members, Vice Chair Sheila Davis, Councilmember Jannette Ramos, Councilman Chris Collins, and Councilman Falio Leyba-Martinez were on hand to thank the employees of all three companies and to add the last few cans to the “alien.”

“To the partners, this is absolutely amazing, your organizations are phenomenal in all you do for the City of Camden,” Councilman Collins said.

“We’re proud to be a part of the City of Camden,” said Jeff Brown, President & Vice Chairman of NFI. “Since moving our headquarters in 2019, our teams have been involved in supporting the community. Events like this echo our value of social responsibility and how we can continue to support the people who call this city home.”

Kristine Klepper, Executive Partner with Conner Strong, said “We are all so grateful to the City of Camden for being so welcoming to us, and we thank all of our employees for really living our core value of giving back and helping the community.”

The structure will remain in the TRIAD Centre lobby for the day and then NFI will deliver the donated food items to the Deptford Mall, where it will be re-constructed for the formal competition.

The donated cans benefit the Food Bank of South Jersey after the formal competition at the Deptford Mall on May 4th.

About The Michaels Organization
Michaels is a national leader in residential real estate, offering full-service capabilities in design, development, property management, construction, and investment management. Serving 200,000 residents in more than 600 communities across 39 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Michaels is committed to crafting attainable housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement and neighborhood prosperity, and to creating Communities That Lift Lives. Visit TMO.com our Media Room, and follow us on LinkedIn.

About NFI
NFI is a fully-integrated North American supply chain solutions provider headquartered in Camden, New Jersey. Privately held by the Brown family since 1932, the company generates more than $3.5 billion in annual revenue and employs over 16,800 associates. NFI owns and operates more than 70 million square feet of warehouse space alongside a dedicated fleet of 4,900 tractors and 13,700 trailers. In 2024, the company will operate the first 100% zero-emission drayage fleet, leading the transition to zero-emission goods movement in the United States. NFI’s relentless innovation and unparalleled service deliver logistics solutions that transform the way business gets done. The company’s business lines include dedicated transportation, warehousing and distribution, eCommerce fulfillment, brokerage, transportation management, port drayage, intermodal, global logistics, and industrial real estate. For more information about NFI, visit www.nfiindustries.com or call 1-877-NFI-3777.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Florida, and Delaware, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of 500+ professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Twitter (@connerstrong), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

Des Moines, IA – March 27, 2024 – BrokerTech Ventures (BTV), the industry’s first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program, has selected the following 10 insurtech startups to take part in its highly intentional accelerator curriculum.

• BluePond.Ai, Basking Ridge, NJ
• Centinel, Chicago, IL
• Feathery, San Francisco, CA
• Gabriel, Modiin, Israel
• Gaya Technologies, San Francisco, CA
• Handl Health, Culver City, CA
• Lightship Neuroscience, San Diego, CA
• Powerbroker AI, San Francisco, CA
• Qumis, Chicago, IL
• Tailwind, Mercer Island, WA

“In this, our fifth year of the BTV Accelerator, I am thrilled with the quality of innovation moving through our accelerator, as well as the diversity in founder, team makeup, and geographies represented,” said John Jackovin, executive director of the BTV Accelerator. “With these high-caliber, early, and growth-stage insurtech companies on our roster, we truly believe we will be able to help clients identify risk sooner to drive down costs faster.”

The accelerator cohort kicks off April 10 and 11, 2024, with BTV Mania held in Des Moines, Iowa. During the program, the startups will meet with all of BTV’s owners and partners to discuss partnerships designed to advance their offering and accelerate their progress. Additionally, they receive $50,000 in seed funding and gain immediate access to BTV’s multi-billion-dollar distribution platform to deploy the technologies.

On top of this news, BTV is pleased to announce the addition of its newest broker partner, Insurance Office of America, as well as a new community partner, Dowling Capital, to help further represent the company’s insurance industry ecosystem.

“We could not be more pleased to announce the addition of these new forward-leaning and innovative partners,” said Dan Keough, Holmes Murphy chairman and CEO and BTV co-founder. “We view these partner relationships as integral in terms of our overall strategy in building out BTV. We have intentionally and thoughtfully come together, representing multi-billions of dollars in collective distribution and industry depth of expertise, and we believe that BTV can be the convening platform to provide access into the unknowns, idea-sharing, investing, and distribution for the benefit of all.”

The addition of these newest partners brings the BTV industry portfolio to 23 of the most sizable, innovative, notable, and respected brokerage firms, insurance companies and wholesalers, and community partners with nationwide and international presence.

Lastly, BTV is announcing its 4th year of a strategic collaboration with ITC Vegas, the world’s largest insurance innovation (insurtech) conference and convening platform. BTV has been named as the Headline Sponsor of the ITC Brokers curated program as a part of the ITC Vegas 2024 concept. As in years prior, BTV will fuel and lead out the broker-centric content series the afternoon of Tuesday, October 15, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“The ITC Vegas platform brings together the greatest minds around insurtech trends, technologies, and applications,” said Keough. “Our desire to engage in and bring new and innovative ideas and content to this type of platform comes from BTV’s industry position as the convener of broker-centric innovation, ideation, and communication for the global insurance ecosystem. We represent the brokerage community and the voice of the client, and we believe there is significant value in the community the ITC Vegas team has been building since 2016.”

BTV and ITC Vegas partnered not only in 2020, as they collaborated around the Agency Connect Virtual Conference, which attracted 2,000+ brokers, agents, and broker tech attendees from across the globe, but also in 2021, 2022, and 2023 as BTV led out ITC Vegas’ BrokerTech Connect.

For more information on BTV, please visit www.brokertechventures.com.

About BrokerTech Ventures
Based in the insurance nucleus of Des Moines, Iowa, BrokerTech Ventures (BTV) is the first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program focused on delivering innovation to the insurance broker industry. Founded in 2019, BTV provides a venue for the best minds in insurance and technology to collaborate and bring to market leading-edge ideas and solutions. BTV invests in the research and testing for each of the chosen startups, provides access to veteran industry mentors, and helps scale the technology to market through broker distribution channels. Learn more at www.brokertechventures.com, or follow us on Twitter (@BrokerTechVen), LinkedIn, or Facebook.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Florida, and Delaware, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of 500+ professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Twitter (@connerstrong), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

Positions to take part in 5^th year of program up for grabs with more than $500,000 in seed funding at stake.

Des Moines, IA — November 14, 2023 – BrokerTech Ventures (BTV), the industry’s first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program, has opened the application window for its 2024 BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator program.

Since its founding, BTV has grown to include 12 of the most notable super-regional brokerage firms in the nation, 13 of the world’s most highly respected insurance carriers and wholesalers, and 48 insurtech startups from around the world. BTV has also been instrumental in helping build and fuel the Israeli and Latin American accelerator programs. The company is dedicated to fostering innovation in the insurance space by providing early-stage insurtech companies the support to develop tech solutions for the industry.

“BTV has experienced amazing results from the first four cohorts, with startups generating over 200 proofs of concept or pilots with our partner organizations and collectively raising over $250 million in funding since their participation in the accelerator. This is a true testament to BTV’s ability to attract investment and support entrepreneurs in the insurtech space,” said Dan Keough, Holmes Murphy Chairman and CEO and BrokerTech Ventures Co-Founder. “With the fifth cohort, I believe we can expect new insurtech solutions with greater influence and even more diversity of thought for the industry. I’m excited to see what the startups will bring to the table.”

The concept of the BTV Accelerator is to be an “innovation hub” and proof of concept environment for broker-centric products and technology solutions, ultimately bringing validated solutions to the industry. The ideal candidates for the Accelerator are early-stage insurtech startups.

“It’s hard to image this will be our fifth cohort, but I’m just as excited as I was in year one to see these startups dramatically change with the help of BTV,” said John Jackovin, BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator Executive Director. “This acceleration is directly attributed to all of our broker, carrier, and wholesaler partners looking for the latest technologies and products that will help them identify risks sooner, provide better service, and drive down costs.”

The deadline for BTV Accelerator submissions is December 18, 2023. The initial review will be in January, with the top 20 startups chosen to take part in the Selection Series in early March. The Selection Series will be a virtual event where BTV partners can dig deeper into the products, companies, and teams. Subsequently, the cohort will begin the five-week Accelerator program in April 2024. More than $500,000 in funding is at stake for the selected broker-centric, seed and early-stage startups, with each startup receiving $50,000.

“In addition to the BTV Accelerator application opening, the BTV delegation just returned from a week of dedicated insurtech events and networking alongside the InsureTech Connect (ITC) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada,” said Susan Hatten, Holmes Murphy Chief Marketing Officer and BTV Chief Operating Officer. “In conjunction with ITC, BTV hosts a broker-led afternoon of curated content — BrokerTech Connect — followed by our signature event — BTV’s Happiest Hour. This is a great opportunity for the startups who take part in our BTV Accelerator to network with our 12 broker partners, 13 carriers/wholesaler partners, and their accelerator cohort colleagues (and the cohort members from years prior), as well as a host of additional insurance leaders, investors, and insurtech enthusiasts. We view this as not only instrumental for the startups who take part in our accelerator, but for the insurance industry as a whole.”

To submit an application for the 2024 Accelerator, go to www.brokertechventures.com.

About BrokerTech Ventures
Based in the insurance nucleus of Des Moines, Iowa, BrokerTech Ventures (BTV) is the first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program focused on delivering innovation to the insurance broker industry. Founded in 2019, BTV provides a venue for the best minds in insurance and technology to collaborate and bring to market leading-edge ideas and solutions. BTV invests in the research and testing for each of the chosen startups, provides access to veteran industry mentors, and helps scale the technology to market through broker distribution channels. Learn more at www.brokertechventures.com, or follow us on Twitter (@BrokerTechVen), LinkedIn, or Facebook.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Florida, and Delaware, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of 500+ professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Twitter (@connerstrong), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

November 8, 2023 – C2 Solutions (C2), a national leader in driving collaboration with insurance carriers, vendors and its members, announced today it has added Sterling Seacrest Pritchard as a C2 Member Firm.

C2 is comprised of the nation’s top independent regional employee benefit firms, each bringing a unique blend of heritage, expertise, solutions, and talent. By bringing together firms like Sterling Seacrest Pritchard that present innovative client focused solutions, C2 firms are changing the face of employee benefits consulting by delivering greater quality and value to clients. As a collective benefits organization, C2 fosters direct, open collaboration with each of its member firms. C2 hosts cross-training opportunities, encourages peer-group sharing at the leadership level and throughout all levels of the organizations and offers open access to vital industry tools.

C2 member firms gain access to a suite of premium products that help them compete at an elite level. This variety of tools gives their clients confidence in the firms’ ability to navigate even the most complex employee benefits situations and encourages vital growth within their regions.

“C2 continues to be at the forefront of the employee benefits marketplace. We continue to grow and enhance all of our relationships including our member firms. With the addition of Sterling Seacrest Pritchard as one of our member firms, we once again elevate our level of sophistication and comprehensive solutions to serve our member firms clients and communities,” said Kristen Boyd, Executive Director of C2 Solutions.

“We are thrilled to join C2 and lock arms with such a prestigious group of firms. Our shared commitment to independence and collaboration will ensure that we can continue to deliver innovative solutions to the clients we serve,” said Garry Hill, Partner at Sterling Seacrest Pritchard.

C2 partners with carriers, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Health & Wellness vendors and technology partners. This strategic collaboration allows access to exclusive products and services for member firm clients, as well as being a trusted distribution channel for our carriers. C2’s member firm clients, their employees, and their families can be confident they have the right solutions and become empowered to achieve like never before.

About Collaboration Centric Solutions (C2)
Stronger Together – C2‘s mission is to accelerate innovative client solutions through the collective strength and shared expertise of entrepreneurial C2 firms.

C2 is an equity-owned partnership founded by Conner Strong and Buckelew, Holmes Murphy & Associates, McGohan Brabender, M3 Insurance, Scott Insurance, Sterling Seacrest Pritchard and The Partners Group and is focused on collaborative solutions in the rapidly-evolving landscape of employee benefits. As a collective whose member firms maintain independent ownership, we represent a refreshing approach to the impersonal strategy of national consolidation.

About Sterling Seacrest Pritchard
Sterling Seacrest Pritchard works in partnership with their clients and their community to provide business insurance and employee benefits solutions, risk management services, and surety and bonding products customized to today’s dynamic marketplace.

Sterling Seacrest Pritchard works with businesses of all industries and sizes that want clarity about their risks, control over their insurance and benefits costs, and strategic guidance. Their team members’ wealth of knowledge spans a wide variety of industries with exceptional expertise and focus.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Florida, and Delaware, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of 500+ professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Twitter (@connerstrong), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

Our passion for innovation is truly driven by employees, and we’re committed to giving our teams the time, resources and skills they need to develop the next generation of risk and insurance tools.

At the heart of our commitment is our Innovation Challenge – a bi-annual ideas summit that gives employees at all levels an opportunity to produce big ideas that will reshape our business and our industry. Each team is empowered by the knowledge that their ideas can have real impact on our company and our clients.

This year, 28 employees across eight teams participated in the 2023 Insurance & Risk Management Innovation Challenge. Our judges were truly impressed by the level of talent displayed. The presentations focused on new products, services, and technology applications that are highly relevant to our business with the potential to drive growth.

Here is a recap of the ideas presented by the three winning teams and the impact they will have on our clients.

1^st Place: WORKWELL Rx
Team members: Jill Ambrose, RN, Jennifer Conicella, Melissa Csercsevits and Sean Rafferty

This team provided a solution that leverages buying power and relationships across our Property & Casualty and Employee Benefits departments. It incorporates an integrated approach across both programs, specifically with workers’ compensation coverage and pharmacy benefits at the forefront. This solution would provide our clients with more control over their pharmacy benefits, reduce inconsistencies in costs across coverages and geographies, and ultimately improve their bottom line.

2^nd Place: DeepDive – Risk Financing Made Easy
Team members: Michael Helfrich, Nicholas Nocero, Eamonn O’Toole, Tim Svoboda

This team collaborated with The Actuarial Advantage, our trusted actuarial consulting partners, to develop a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use analytical tool that will aid in strategic discussions on risk financing. Combining our industry expertise with automation and relevant data sources, the team was able to create this tool to assist our clients in better understanding loss scenarios, evaluating risk financing options and improving program design.

3^rd Place: Empowering Efficiency & Unifying Data
Team members: Gregory Fanelli, Tamara Malone, Maggie Mauer and Geoffrey Rendina

This team conducted an in-depth analysis of our core data systems and presented a strategic approach to enhance our data infrastructure. They identified opportunities across departments for improved data management under a unified structure to further bolster Conner Strong & Buckelew’s exceptional capabilities in servicing our clients.

Stay tuned for more updates!