Technology Leader Anil Jampana Named to Fill New Role
CAMDEN, NJ (January 4, 2021) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, announced today it has named 25-year technology leader Anil Jampana as its Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer. In this newly created position, he will oversee all information technology functions and activities including technology operations, data, and software development. He will also be responsible for leading a digital transformation initiative to implement the latest technologies to drive business growth and profitability. The creation of this new role is a demonstration of the firm’s significant recent investment in technology and innovation.
Technology powers new ways of working that increase productivity, lower costs and reimagine the insurance experience for companies and clients. The firm’s dedication to staying at the forefront of technology drove the need for more senior-level talent to operationalize business processes and structure. The addition of this position follows a number of other technology related investments including the creation of an InsurTech Practice Group, use of cutting-edge claims software, and hosting an annual Innovation Challenge.
It also comes on the heels of significant strategic milestones over the past 12 months, including co-founding BrokerTech Ventures, the first program specifically for investors and innovators building the next generation of tech solutions for insurance agencies and brokerages; joining C2 Solutions, the national leader in driving collaborative solutions in employee benefits consulting; and hiring a Chief Security Officer to reduce cyber risk across the organization.
“We’ve made tremendous strides in the area of technology and innovation over the last two years and adding a proven talent like Anil only helps us continue on that trajectory,” said Michael Tiagwad, President and CEO of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “This new executive position will be critical in helping us achieve operational efficiencies by adding another layer of expertise to a growing area of focus for the firm.”
Jampana has an extensive understanding of all aspects of technology and security having held a variety of senior level positions across a broad range of industry verticals. He most recently served as President, Head of Business and Product Development at a startup developing informatics solutions to speed up new materials development. Previously, Jampana held positions at PPD, Inc., Nutrisystem, Inc., Fidelity Investments and AT&T. He holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering from West Virginia University.
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 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).
Property & casualty brokerage and consulting firm becomes newest member of national leader in driving collaborative solutions in employee benefits consulting
CAMDEN, NJ (January 21, 2021) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, announced today it has joined Collaborative Centric Solutions (C2), a national leader in driving collaboration with insurance carriers, vendors and its members. By joining C2, together with other firms that present innovative client focused solutions, Conner Strong & Buckelew is changing the face of employee benefits consulting by delivering greater quality and value to clients.
C2 is comprised of the nation’s top independent regional employee benefit firms, each bringing a unique blend of heritage, expertise, solutions, and talent. C2’s collective passion and creativity in providing solutions for clients offers a genuinely fresh approach to tackling some of the most daunting problems faced by businesses today. As a member, Conner Strong & Buckelew will enjoy the autonomy of pursuing the strategies, technologies, and offerings that are at its business core and at which they excel the most. The breadth and diversity of the members allows Conner Strong & Buckelew to tap in to C2’s rich network to leverage the best, complementary products and services across the broad spectrum of capabilities.
“The best part of becoming an equity partner of C2 is the ability to share ideas and thought leadership in a safe, constructive space,” said Joseph DiBella, Managing Director, head of employee benefits at Conner Strong & Buckelew. “It’s going to allow us to take our knowledge and innovation to another level and deliver even greater value to our clients.”
“As our partnerships continue to grow we’re excited to welcome Conner Strong & Buckelew as our newest member. As an industry leader, Conner Strong pairs comprehensive solutions with innovative programs in order to serve their broad range of businesses and organizations,” said Kristen Boyd, Executive Director of C2 Solutions.
C2 partners with carriers, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Health & Wellness vendors and technology partners. This strategic collaboration allows Conner Strong & Buckelew access to exclusive products and services for clients and gives clients, their employees and their families, confidence that they have the right solutions and empowerment to achieve like never before.
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 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).
About Collaboration Centric Solutions (C2)
C2, an equity-owned partnership powered by Holmes Murphy & Associates, M3 Insurance, McGohan Brabender, Scott Insurance and The Partners Group. Co. is a national company formed by leading independent employee benefit consulting firms for strategic collaboration with carriers, vendors and members to create innovative product offerings while delivering greater quality and value to clients. For more information visit www.poweredbyc2.com or follow us on LinkedIn @C2Solutions
Leading Insurance Brokerage and Consulting Firm Highlighted for Strong Wellness Culture
Camden, NJ – December 11, 2020 – Conner Strong & Buckelew has been ranked among the 2020 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America. The awards program, an annual evaluation powered by Springbuk and hosted by First Person, was created to honor people-first organizations that prioritize the well-being of their employee population even in the face of a global pandemic. Companies were recognized because of their commitment to workplace wellness and their exceptional health and benefits offerings.
Conner Strong & Buckelew’s enduring focus on employee wellness, wide variety of programs provided at no cost to employees and nearly 100 percent participation in initiatives set Conner Strong & Buckelew apart from a strong group of applicants.
“As employee benefits consultants, we believe in the power of health and wellness programs in both building a healthy workforce and boosting a company’s bottom line,” said Joseph DiBella, Executive Vice President of Employee Benefits for Conner Strong & Buckelew. “During the pandemic we have not lost sight of the importance of supporting our employees’ health and wellbeing. Our onsite health center has been available virtually since the beginning so our team members did not have to forego important care.”
Conner Strong & Buckelew has been consistently ranked as a “healthiest employer” in the Philadelphia region by The Philadelphia Business Journal. For three consecutive years, the firm was acknowledged for its dedication to making healthy education available and incentivizing employees to lead healthier lifestyles.
To view the complete list of the 2020 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America, 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 Springbuk and Healthiest Employers®
Springbuk’s Health Intelligence platform extends beyond traditional data warehousing and analytics to help you unlock your data and maximize the value of your employee health investments. Each year, Springbuk administers the Healthiest Employers® Awards Program across the country to honor the nation’s most dedicated employers in bettering their worksite health and wellness programs. To date, over 10,000 employers across 40+ U.S. cities have participated in the awards program. Learn more at www.Springbuk.com. and www.HealthiestEmployers.com.
About First Person
First Person Advisors is an Indianapolis-based benefits, compensation and organizational health advisory firm with decades of experience helping clients navigate the changing workforce. Building partnerships by discovering and understanding each client’s unique challenges, First Person delivers holistic solutions that allow employers to take care of their people and anticipate future needs in a workplace where people can fulfill their potential. For more information, please visit firstpersonadvisors.com.
BTV to Fuel Inaugural Israeli InsurTech Accelerator
DES MOINES, IA – Dec. 1, 2020 — BrokerTech Ventures, the first broker-led platform for broker-centric innovation, launches its international expansion by pledging to counsel and advise the Israeli InsurTech Accelerator operation fueled by the foundational guidance of members from the BrokerTech Ventures leadership team.
BrokerTech Ventures’ focus is fostering innovation in the insurance space by providing seed and early-stage insurtech companies support developing broker-centric solutions for the industry. Partnering with BrokerTech Ventures, the Israeli InsurTech Accelerator will serve as a feeder system into the BrokerTech Ventures US Accelerator, which just closed applications November 30, 2020.
“We believe insurance is global. This relationship is a wonderful first step in that realization. It allows us to explore how our accelerator model resonates with the insurance community outside of the United States,” said John Jackovin, BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator Executive Director. “Additionally, we create an opportunity for our BrokerTech Ventures partners to peer into the world of insurtech in Israel, which is a driving force for innovation.”
The Israeli InsurTech Accelerator is led by Kobi Bendelak, Co-Founder and CEO of InsurTech Israel, and Ortal Vadler Relationship Management Specialist. Kobi brings over 20 years of experience as an investor, mentor, and facilitator, while Ortal, with a background in connecting prospects and lenders, strategizes developing relationships with emerging startups. Teaming with Ayalon insurance company, one of the largest insurance and finance groups in Israel, and using the BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator program, InsurTech Israel hopes to maximize emerging technologies for insurance companies through tailored input centered on specific business issues.
“Through BrokerTech Ventures, we have enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with Kobi and InsurTech Israel over the last several months,” said Dan Keough, Chairman & CEO of Holmes Murphy and Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BrokerTech Ventures. “Taking steps to formalize our relationship in fueling the first broker-led insurtech accelerator in Israel is exciting for us and a statement into future international opportunities for BrokerTech Ventures.”
Known as the “startup nation,” Israel is home to major tech companies and insurance carriers with over 6,000 active startups. InsurTech Israel’s mission is to innovate within the insurance industry, connecting global insurers to next-gen startups.
“Through InsurTech Israel, we have been on a journey to locate the most compelling insurtech solutions which are cultivated right here in our home country,” said Kobi Bendelak, Co-Founder and CEO of InsurTech Israel. “Through the formation of The Israeli InsurTech Accelerator, and with the support of BrokerTech Ventures, we stand to amplify our efforts and validate insurtech solutions at a much more rapid pace.”
Support for the Israeli InsurTech Accelerator includes Ayalon Insurance and recognizable names, Amazon Warehouse Services, Dell Technologies, Sapiens, Sompo Digital Lab, Deloitte and Shibolet Law Firm. InsurTech Israel assists in mentorship for the StartUpBootcamp Accelerator and Lloyds Lab in the UK, working closely with the Global Insurtech Alliance.
For more information on BrokerTech Ventures, visit www.brokertechventures.com.
About BrokerTech Ventures
Based in the insurance nucleus of Des Moines, Iowa, BrokerTech Ventures is the first broker-led convening platform focused on delivering innovation to the insurance ecosystem. Founded in 2019, BrokerTech Ventures provides a venue for thought leaders in insurance and technology to collaborate and bring to market leading-edge ideas and solutions. BrokerTech Ventures invests in research, vetting, and investing opportunities for each of the selected startups, provides access to veteran industry mentors, and brings scale to the insurtech market through multi-billion dollar broker and insurance company distribution channels. Learn more at www.brokertechventures.com, or follow us on Twitter (@BrokerTechVen), LinkedIn, or Facebook.
$4 million in funding secured from brokers and renowned insurtech Venture Capitalists
BrokerTech Ventures, founded in 2019 as the first broker-led platform for broker-centric innovation, ideation, investment, and communication, closed a co-leading funding effort to raise $4 million in capital for Highwing, a Denver-based insurtech company focused on an open exchange ecosystem for the benefit of the insurance industry value-chain.
Born from a brokerage, Highwing is focused on helping the insurance industry take control of their data — delivering better results faster to change both processing and management for brokers and carriers.
Partners in co-leading this investment round, Baldwin Risk Partners, an independent insurance distribution firm, and BrokerTech Ventures were joined by member firms, Conner Strong & Buckelew, Holmes Murphy, The ABD Team, and Heffernan Insurance Brokers. Investment groups Cameron Ventures, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, SkyKnight Capital, SpringTime Ventures, and Service Provider Capital aligned in capital support to complete the Highwing investment round.
“Conner Strong & Buckelew is thrilled to be part of helping Highwing take their open exchange technology platform to the next level,” said Michael Tiagwad, Conner Strong & Buckelew CEO and founding member of BrokerTech Ventures. “Bending the innovation curve and ultimately changing the insurance experience for companies and clients is the goal, and it is companies like Highwind that will help us get there.”
Commercial insurance is expected to reach $900 billion by 2021 but has been restricted by manual methods. Utilizing their innovative insurtech platform, Highwing intends to use the $4 million in funding to expand their product suite, allowing users to organize insurance applications and more, providing a valuable service to the industry.
“We’re so grateful to Conner Strong & Buckelew and the other BrokerTech agency partners for their support in co-leading our seed funding round, which enables us to add staff and expand our product, said Erik Mitisek, CEO of Highwing. “We look forward to continued collaboration and support as we scale Highwing together.”
“This is an exciting time for BrokerTech Ventures, all the agency partners, for Highwing, our customers and the insurance industry,” said Terrence Tracy, Managing Director, Executive Vice President, Insurtech Practice Leader. “By investing in companies like Highwing, we move closer to creating a more efficient and creative platform that will help our industry and create a better engagement process for our clients.”
To learn more, visit www.brokertechventures.com.
About BrokerTech Ventures
Based in the insurance nucleus of Des Moines, Iowa, BrokerTech Ventures is the first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program focused on delivering innovation to the broader insurance ecosystem. Founded in 2019, BrokerTech Ventures provides a venue for the greatest thought-leaders in insurance and technology to collaborate and bring market leading-edge ideas and solutions. BrokerTech Ventures invests in the research, vetting and investing opportunities, for each of the selected startups, provides access to veteran industry mentors, and brings scale to the insurtech market through multi-billion dollar broker and insurance company distribution channels. Learn more at www.brokertechventures.com, or follow us on Twitter (@BrokerTechVen), LinkedIn, or Facebook.
About Highwing
Highwing provides open data solutions that help mid-market commercial insurance brokers and carriers move faster and go further for their clients. Highwing’s platform enables direct connectivity between brokers and carriers, powering efficient workflows, data-driven insights, and profitable growth.
Employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm launches Virtual Open Enrollment and supporting digital communications tools to more effectively reach remote employees
Camden, NJ – September 15, 2020 – To help companies better navigate remote workforces, Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, has expanded its suite of employee benefit tools to include more virtual options for communicating with employees. The new additions to the company’s HR and employee communications toolkit include solutions for hosting virtual open enrollment meetings and connecting with employees individually to discuss their benefits packages.
Virtual Open Enrollment
Incorporating both a virtual, organization-wide benefits meeting as well as one-on-one sessions between an employee and a benefits expert, Conner Strong & Buckelew’s virtual open enrollment will transform the typical annual open enrollment meetings into meaningful, productive employee checkpoints. With new scheduling tools, employees can request 15-minute conversations with an open enrollment educator to ask specific questions in a confidential space.
Virtual Communications Tools
Conner Strong & Buckelew will now offer Virtual Flip Books as part of its HR tools to communicate benefits details to employees located anywhere in the world. These assets can be embedded directly into the benefits portal or other employee-facing website and can be updated at any time, decreasing costly reprints for companies and ensuring employees are accessing the most up-to-date coverage details. Further, the Virtual Flip Book is more user-friendly than a static PDF, especially when viewed through mobile or tablet interfaces.
“With more organizations working remotely through the COVID-19 pandemic, employee benefits and HR professionals must continue to find new ways to communicate,” said Joseph DiBella, executive vice president, managing director, health and benefits practice leader of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “Our expanded HR and employee communications toolkit leverages technology capabilities for HR teams to better address and respond to employee requests on a case-by-case basis – a necessary advancement for organizations that must now communicate with a largely remote workforce.”
In coordination with its new virtual solutions, Conner Strong & Buckelew will continue to offer BenePortal, an online benefits resource where employees can access benefit plan documents, insurance carrier contracts, forms, guides, links and other applicable benefit materials 24/7; Employee Health and Wellness Tools; Member Advocacy and a nurse advocacy program as part of its comprehensive employee benefit services.
Employee Health and Wellness Tools
Member Advocacy
To learn more about Conner Strong & Buckelew’s HR and employee communications toolkit, please visit our Employee Communications webpage.
About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance brokerage, 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, Delaware, and Florida, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of over 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).
