Category: Corporate News

BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator Opens for 2022 Cohort Applications

Des Moines, IA — November 15, 2021 – BrokerTech Ventures (BTV), the industry’s first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program focused on delivering innovation to the insurance broker industry, has opened the application window for its 2022 BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator program.

The company, backed by 15 of the most sizable and innovative brokerage firms in North America and 13 of the most notable and respected insurance companies and wholesalers with both domestic and international presence, 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 two cohorts, generating over 100 proofs of concepts, pilots, and customer engagements while increasing the reported startup valuations by more than $200 million,” said Dan Keough, Holmes Murphy chairman and CEO and BrokerTech Ventures co-founder. “With the third 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. Those startups who took part in the inaugural cohort had nothing but great things to say.

“You can raise capital and hope to figure out distribution and product-market fit or you can figure those things out upfront, bring in non-dilutive capital (AKA revenue), and then raise capital knowing you can scale,” said John Jackovin, BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator Executive Director. “As an entrepreneur and a startup founder for the last 20 years, I know that if I had an insurtech startup, I would absolutely apply to the BTV Accelerator. Nothing accelerates your company quite like customers.”

The deadline for BTV Accelerator submissions is December 17, 2021. 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 2022. More than $500,000 in funding is at stake for the selected broker-centric, seed and early-stage startups, with each startup receiving up to $50,000.

To submit an application for the 2022 Accelerator, go to www.brokertechventures.com.

If you would like to arrange a media interview to discuss the BTV Accelerator or other BTV activities, please email Susan Hatten, BrokerTech Ventures Chief Operating Officer, at [email protected].

About BrokerTech Ventures

Based in the insurance nucleus of Des Moines, Iowa, BrokerTech Ventures (BTV) is the first broker-led convening platform 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.

Conner Strong & Buckelew Named New Jersey’s Healthiest Employer by National Awards Program Healthiest Employers®

Leading Insurance, Risk Management and Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Firm Recognized for its Commitment to the Health of its Employees

CAMDEN, NJ (October 28, 2021) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, announces its recognition as New Jersey’s Healthiest Employer by the national awards program Healthiest Employers^®. In addition to other considerations, Conner Strong & Buckelew was praised for its commitment to healthcare affordability and the company’s 92% completion rate of annual physicals and biometric screenings among its employees, with those who complete the program seeing an average of $2,880 in savings per year per family.

“Our goal is to keep our employees healthy, not just care for them when they are sick. The focus is on prevention and health education as well as sick visits, and we’re honored to have received recognition for our commitment,” said Alexis Wolfson, Chief Human Resources Officer, Conner Strong & Buckelew. “We encourage all of our employees to take full advantage of the many ways to stay engaged with their health, including in-person appointments, virtual screenings via our secure mobile app, urgent care access, and more.”

The Healthiest Employer award is presented each year and honors the best and brightest in workplace wellness. The assessment is scored on a scale of 1-100, composed of six categories with yes/no, multiple choice, and short answer questions. A Healthiest Employers Index (HEI) is assigned to each applicant to rank finalists.

The 6 categories evaluated were:

Culture and Leadership Commitment
Foundational Components
Strategic Planning
Communications and Marketing
Programming and Interventions
Reporting and Analytics

To view the complete list of the 2021 Healthiest Employers of New Jersey, click here.

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, Massachusetts, Delaware, Florida, and Georgia, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of more than 400 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).

About Healthiest Employers^®Healthiest Employers^® is a trusted awards program that recognizes people-first organizations taking a more proactive approach to employee health. Our goal is to be a resource for organizations focused on improving their employees’ health, creating a community invested in their populations’ health and wellbeing.

BrokerTech Ventures Announces Launch of BTV LATAM Partnership with Domestic Presence in Eastern United States

BrokerTech Ventures Announces Launch of BTV LATAM Partnership with Domestic Presence in Eastern United States

BTV Also Elevates Broker-Led Partner Platform to 15

Des Moines, IA – September 30, 2021 – As BrokerTech Ventures (BTV), the industry’s first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program, gets ready to take center stage by leading out BrokerTech Connect during InsureTech Connect (ITC) in Las Vegas, Nev., the company is also making two major announcements.

First, BTV is elevating its already international presence by pledging to counsel and advise the LATAM (Latin American) Accelerator operation fueled by the foundational guidance of members from the BTV leadership team. BTV LATAM will have its domestic presence in Miami, Fla.

BTV also represents The Israeli Insurtech Accelerator, which operates out of Tel Aviv, Israel, and was founded in November 2020.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with the team in Latin America,” said Mike Mitchell, Vice Chairman of the Graham Company, with locations in Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and New York. “As we look to build on our success of pushing the envelope for insurtech in the U.S. to a global scale, our work ahead with the Latin America team will be instrumental. We look forward to exchanging innovative ideas that will exceed expectations for how insurance is done across the globe — and with our own clients.”

“BTV’s wide array of knowledge and thought leadership from our broker and agency partners combined with LATAM’s drive to enhance and maximize the delivery of client-centric insurance solutions makes this a win-win for all,” said Mike Tiagwad, President & CEO at Conner Strong & Buckelew, based out of Camden, N.J.

The LATAM Accelerator will be formed and led by Pablo Duarte and Hilario Itriago, Co-Founders of Insurt3ch and NetBrokrs. Both men bring more than 20 years of experience each in the insurance and insurtech/fintech industries. Using the BTV Accelerator program, LATAM hopes to maximize emerging technologies for insurance companies through tailored input centered on specific business issues.

“We could not be happier and more motivated to bring BTV to LATAM,” said Itriago. “A rich history of brokerage exists in all our countries across the region, and at this crucial time in our industry’s transformation, it is more important than ever to bring broker-centric innovation and investment. We are to be the firsts in Latin America with this approach, and in doing so, we hope to spark great participation in BTV LATAM.”

On top of this news, BTV has also announced the addition of its newest industry-leading broker partner UNICO Group.

“Our BTV network continues to increase in expansion across the country, allowing us to be the first to stake our position in cultivating, curating, and fostering innovation for brokers,” said Dan Keough, Holmes Murphy Chairman and CEO and co-CEO of BTV. “UNICO Group is a well-respected brokerage with a commitment to innovation and thought leadership, and we’re excited to have their cutting-edge ideas at the table.”

The addition of UNICO Group brings the BTV industry portfolio to 15 of the most sizable and innovative brokerage firms in North America and 12 of the most notable and respected insurance companies and wholesalers with both domestic and international presence.

“UNICO Group is excited to partner with BrokerTech Ventures and its members in our joint mission to collectively embrace insurtech solutions,” said Ric Stoakes, UNICO Executive Vice President, Risk Consultant. “BTV’s dedication to innovation and technology aligns with our future-focused drive and motivation. We were humbled by the invitation from such well-respected firms and are energized to begin working together on this new opportunity for the benefit of those we serve.“

On top of this news, between the BTV Accelerator and Early-Stage Investment towers of operation, BTV now also represents 24 insurtech companies in its portfolio, with investments and commercial engagements in each. The application window for the 2022 BTV Accelerator will open in November.

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 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.

Conner Strong & Buckelew Named 3rd Largest Employee Benefit Consultants in the Region byPhiladelphia Business Journal

NJBIZ Ranked Conner Strong & Buckelew New Jersey’s #1 Top Insurance Brokerage

TrustLayer Raises $15M to Build the Future of Insurance Verification

U.S. Insurance Awards Finalist

Conner Strong & Buckelew is pleased to announce we have been selected as a finalist in Business Insurance’s 2021 U.S. Insurance Awards for the category of Insurance Consulting Team of the Year.

There were 170 submissions in 2021, so it is an honor to be named a finalist. This significant achievement reflects our dedication to our clients and our commitment to providing innovative solutions.

We were nominated by three Fortune 500 life science clients, who highlighted our subject matter expertise, ability to provide insight on complex coverages and structure integrated insurance programs, as well as develop customized solutions to meet each clients’ unique needs. Our team includes professionals with diverse backgrounds and unique expertise and we are deeply honored that our clients place a very high value on our consultative advice.

This recognition is a testament to the hard work our entire organization does in service of our clients. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the team that was nominated:

Congratulations to the team for leveraging their knowledge and relationships in the industry to help our clients achieve their business objectives and reduce their overall cost of risk!

Learn more about the finalists for the 2021 U.S. Insurance Awards program here.

Conner Strong & Buckelew Launches New Pharmacy Coalition, CSB Rx Advantage

Expansion of firm’s existing offering establishes a coalition that’s among the largest in the nation, delivering significant savings for clients

CAMDEN, NJ (July 27, 2021) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, is proud to announce CSB Rx Advantage, a private and exclusive pharmacy coalition available to the firm’s employee benefits clients. The new coalition is powered in part by Collaborative Centric Solutions (C2) Solutions, a national leader in driving collaboration with insurance carriers and brokers, technology and other partners and members. With more than three million covered individuals driving exceptional purchasing power, CSB Rx Advantage is among the largest pharmacy coalitions in the United States – and will help members combat rising prescription medicine costs.

Conner Strong & Buckelew supports the expanded offering with a world-class clinical team, including clinical pharmacists that will strategize overall pharmacy design and analytics. As a result of stronger negotiating power, greater purchasing power, expert support, multiple PBM options, and competitive pricing, the new coalition is expected to save clients 10 to 15 percent in their annual pharmacy spend, with both traditional and pass-through pricing options available.

“Pharmacy concerns and the need for better solutions is a critical issue for all of our clients, both public and private,” said Joseph DiBella, Executive Vice President of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “Through the expansion of our pharmacy coalition, we expect CSB Rx Advantage to bring even greater value to our clients, allowing them access to the best available pharmacy solutions for their employees.”

CSB Rx Advantage includes multiple Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) partners, including Express Scripts, Capital Rx, Optum and Welldyne.

Further, the expanded service will make the following tools available:

A custom preferred medication list that combats low-quality, high-cost drugs
Integrated patient assistance in appropriate medication use powered by Prescription Care Management (“PCM”), a high-touch patient and physician medication management program to drive better outcomes
Solutions around manufacturer assistance plans for patients
Custom data reporting and analytics to identify medication manageme nt opportunities

The CSB Rx Advantage coalition will be made available to all Conner Strong & Buckelew employee benefits clients immediately.

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.

About Collaboration Centric Solutions (C2) C2 Solutions is an alliance of member firms and preferred partners that work together to fundamentally change the face of employee benefits consulting. Through strategic collaboration with its clients, carriers, and technology partners, the organization creates innovative product and service offerings that deliver greater quality and value. For more information visit www.poweredbyc2.com or follow us on LinkedIn @C2Solutions.

Conner Strong & Buckelew Launches Proprietary Employee Benefits Claims Screening Process, ClaimCheck

New solution is the only end-to-end process ensuring large claims are managed properly through entirety of engagement, both clinically and administratively

CAMDEN, NJ (July 27, 2021) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, is proud to announce ClaimCheck, a unique and proprietary employee benefits claims screening process in place to ensure large and catastrophic claims are being properly managed by the complex healthcare system, adjudicated pursuant to the Plan of benefits, and paid properly.

The new process is a response to the increasing number of larger claims from self-funded employers and plan sponsors, a result of technological enhancements and medicinal innovations, which have greatly improved the ability to treat conditions. In fact, according to Sun Life, from 2016-2019, nearly 25 percent of employers had at least one member with over $1 million in claims.

ClaimCheck is the only end-to-end process available to ensure large claims are being properly and efficiently managed. At any time over the course of a claim’s handling, the ClaimCheck process includes guard rails to engage clinical and administrative checks to safeguard the client and patient’s interests.

“We expect more frequent, larger claims will become the norm across the industry, so we’ve developed a proprietary process for our clients to use when navigating this new reality,” said Joseph DiBella, Executive Vice President of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “ClaimCheck will give our clients greater peace of mind, knowing that large claims are being closely and carefully scrutinized every step of the way.”

The ClaimCheck process will include the following five steps:

A claim will be flagged for review by a Conner Strong & Buckelew clinical nurse once it reaches either $100,000 or 50 percent of the client’s stop loss deductible, whichever comes first. The claim is reviewed for eligibility, care management effectiveness and ongoing monitoring to ensure all needed care management oversight is in place.
If needed, a clinical nurse reviews the care management plan and options with the health plan’s care management team. If warranted, the claim is elevated to the Conner Strong & Buckelew physician Chief Medical Officer for a more thorough clinical review.
Once flagged, these claims remain under “open” management by the clinical team at Conner Strong & Buckelew to ensure appropriate care management. This ensures proper evaluation over the course of the engagement.
Claims remain open until treatment is concluded and/or until the client receives applicable stop loss payment. Even after payments are made, claims are monitored for ongoing appropriateness.
Finally, any claim more than $200,000 goes through a case audit of the carrier’s adjudication accuracy of the claim to ensure all claims were paid properly.

The stages of the ClaimCheck process have been methodically developed, ensuring no large claim is overlooked or mismanaged throughout the course of engagement.

Conner Strong & Buckelew’s employee benefits clients will have access to ClaimCheck immediately.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew

Conner Strong & Buckelew Announces REACH Model for Exceptional Customer Experience

Top Regional Broker Outlines Best Practices After Receiving World-class Net Promoter Score of 92

CAMDEN, NJ (July 21, 2021) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, announced today it achieved a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 92, which is classified as “World Class” and more than triple the average for the insurance industry. The NPS is a global standard measuring customer satisfaction and loyalty through a single, easy-to-understand metric. The landmark score reflects the firm’s commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience.

“We value our clients and employees above everything else, and this outstanding score is a rewarding validation of that focus and the hard work our team puts in day in and day out,” said Michael Tiagwad, President and CEO of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “The beauty of the Net Promoter Score is that it distills so many elements of a customer experience into one incredibly important number. Our high marks didn’t happen by accident. We’ve innovated and implemented a number of best practices that drive an organization-wide focus on enhancing our customer experience.”

In its ongoing efforts to foster greater customer loyalty and maintain world-class service, Conner Strong & Buckelew has developed the REACH Model — a formalized approach to driving greater customer experience.

R – Rethink Your Definition of Customer Service

Even the transition from the term “customer service” to “customer experience” has profound implications for how an organization interacts with prospects and buyers. Customer experience goes beyond troubleshooting when problems arise. Good customer service is essential, but good customer experience encompasses every touchpoint, from high-level brand messaging to nuances like terms of service details or how easy it is to find answers on the company website.

E – Empower Leaders and Staff to be Client Advocates

With this broader focus on customer experience comes the need for all parts of the organization to be focused on client success. That starts with company leadership, who prioritize customer satisfaction and are held to hitting key metrics around engagement and experience. Throughout the organization, customer-facing employees share the company’s commitment to customer experience and understand the impact it can have on the organization’s success. All employees are empowered to speak up with new ideas or initiatives that could improve the broader customer experience.

A – Adopt Employee-driven Innovation

Innovation in any part of an organization must be driven by employees. That includes big ideas and initiatives that engage customers and enhance their experience. Companies can foster that passion for innovation by providing the time, resources and skills needed to develop new tools and approaches. Taking this a step further, we created a formal Innovation Challenge among employees, and implementing the winning ideas has had a significant impact on the customer experience.

C – Cultivate a Culture of Collaboration

If customer experience is a true organizational focus beyond frontline producers and account service teams, that focus can be enhanced by ensuring each part of the organization collaborates and contribute to a better overall customer journey. Each department works toward a shared goal and rely on each other to provide services and solutions that enhance the overall customer experience.

H – Help Customers Solve Their Biggest Challenges

Ultimately, customers want solutions to their problems and experiences that facilitate or enhance those solutions. In the insurance brokerage space, that means not only understanding the intricate risks facing different businesses and industries but how the general principal applies across all companies. The more an organization knows about the needs of the customer, the better suited it is to solve those challenges in a way that engages and satisfies.

The firm’s NPS score of 92 exceeded virtually all benchmarks in the insurance sector, with departments across both the Property and Casualty and Employee Benefits divisions receiving high marks in additional survey questions. Additionally, the firm received very high scores from customers for its communications in response to COVID-19, in which the firm created a dedicated COVID-19 Resource Center and sent frequent email updates to clients.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Delaware, Florida, and Georgia, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of nearly 450 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).