Responsibilities
Kirill Palatnik responsibilities include strategic planning and providing customized and cost-effective employee benefit solutions to clients through funding arrangement review, vendor management, marketing analyses, program design, and cost containment initiatives. Kirill also has a strong background in financial projections, budget forecasting, and underwriting.
Background
Prior to joining Conner Strong & Buckelew, Kirill worked for Mercer in both their Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Norwalk, Connecticut offices. As a Health and Benefits Analyst, he was responsible for underwriting self-insured medical, dental, and vision benefit plans to set client budgets and employee contributions. He was also responsible for marketing all lines of coverage for clients, as well as helping with their open enrollment communication strategies.
Education
Temple University – Bachelor of Business Administration
Responsibilities
Michael Curran responsible for working directly with the firm’s Employee Benefits clients on strategic planning, funding arrangement reviews, plan design analysis, administrative and compliance oversight, and vendor management. Curran also provides assistance on a day-to-day basis in managing an assigned book of business which includes the evaluation and implementation of all health and welfare insurance products.
Background
Prior to joining Conner Strong & Buckelew, Curran worked at Towers Watson as a senior analyst specializing in Life and Disability insurance, along with other absence management strategies. He was responsible for the relationship management of large market client accounts from multiple sectors including: Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail, & Healthcare. Prior to Towers Watson, Curran began his career at Cigna in their financial development and underwriting program. Curran completed Cigna’s Life and Disability underwriting training program and went on to support Cigna’s mid-market book of business for the Northeast region.
Education
New York University – Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing
Responsibilities
Tracy Jadico works closely with the Employee Benefits Consultant on strategic benefit planning (including plan design and funding analysis), marketing and negotiation of vendors, selection and implementation, and administrative and compliance oversight. Additionally, she assists with benefit plan materials, communication projects, the annual enrollment process and the resolution of high-level claim issues.
Background
Tracy joined Conner Strong & Buckelew in September 2018. Before joining Conner Strong & Buckelew, Tracy worked for Gallagher Benefit Services for 11 years. Most recently, she worked as a Benefit Consultant focusing primarily on small to mid-sized clients. Her responsibilities included strategic planning, marketing and negotiation of renewals, product and vendor evaluation, implementation, and management as well as and day-to-day client management.
Education
LaSalle University – Bachelor of Arts
Professional Designations
Group Benefits Disability Specialist (GBDS)
New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania Health and Life Resident
Responsibilities
Karen Kidd is responsible for coordinating the implementation and conversion of new clients, as well as managing the operations of the Benefit Administration Unit. Her responsibility also includes managing and coordinating projects with the Account Team, clients, outside vendors as well as within the Benefits Administration Unit.
Background
Kidd has over 14 years of experience in the insurance industry. Prior to joining Conner Strong & Buckelew in 2007, she was a Senior Data Manager for ASRM, LLC in Moorestown, NJ. Her responsibilities included processing weekly payroll, enrollment and deduction files as well as handling new client implementations and new plan setups in the system. Before ASRM, Kidd was a Claim Analyst for the National Employee Benefit Administrators.
Professional Designations
NJ Licensed in Life and Health Insurance
Responsibilities
Aaron Mitchell is responsible for working with organizational leadership on defining goals & budgets for employee benefit programs and he reviews and presents alternative benefit funding strategies to reduce health and employee benefit expenses for clients. He is also responsible for directing a team of professionals on marketing, analysis, claim control, compliance and communication of group insurance programs and the implementation of tools and communication for employees that focus on improving their health and access to affordable care.
Background
Aaron has over 15 years’ experience in the healthcare and employee benefits industry. Prior to joining Conner Strong & Buckelew, Aaron worked as an Employee Benefits Consultant and Producer for 15 years. Aaron started his career at Health Select. Over the years Health Select became many other names due to 3 different mergers throughout Aaron’s career. Health Select was acquired by Hilb Rogal & Hobbs (HRH) who was then acquired by Willis, who sold 7 locations including his office to USI Insurance. Throughout that time, he was tasked with presenting on employee benefits in several industry specific publications and events, being knowledgeable in Alternative Benefit Designs, Ancillary Benefit Strategies, and Defined Contribution Plans.
Education
Pennsylvania State University – Bachelor of Science in Economics
Professional Designations
Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC)
Community Involvement
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Delaware (NAMI Delaware) – Vice President, Board of Directors
Brandywine Little League – Secretary, Board of Directors
Responsibilities
Susan Panto is responsible for advising clients on all aspects of their employee benefits plans. As a Consultant, Susan’s role is to act as an extension of our client’s Business and Human Resource Office and provide supervision of all customer service efforts and benefit administration. She helps their group contain costs by delivering plan design/cost containment options, marketing coverage to obtain competitive proposals, and analyzing proposals for both potential savings and benefit equivalency. Susan oversees any carrier changes or additions of new plans including review of all plan documents and contracts, attending board, negotiations, and or open enrollment meetings as requested, and preparing transition materials such as benefit and cost comparisons. Susan also provides guidance to the Business Office on matters such as FMLA, COBRA, PPACA compliance, Medicare, etc.
Background
Susan has been specializing in operation, account management, and administrative procedures since 1993. Since 2008, she has been working in the employee benefits field and worked primarily with Public Sector clients. Prior to joining Conner Strong & Buckelew in September of 2017, she served as the Executive Vice President of The Lance Group Employee Benefit Specialists.
Education
Rowan University – Bachelor’s in Psychology
Responsibilities
Charmaine Naut is engaged in strategic client management, including working with large employers and plan sponsors with underwriting and analytics, program design, financial evaluation, health and wellness, compliance, communications, and other key client-facing areas.
Background
Before joining Conner Strong & Buckelew, Charmaine was the Chief Operating Officer at CME, overseeing daily operations and providing strategic direction across all service areas. She ensured efficient delivery of benefits consulting, compliance, wellness, and communication solutions. Previously, Charmaine worked as a Senior Underwriting Consultant at Marsh & McLennan Agency and as the Manager of Underwriting at Independence Blue Cross.
Education
Temple University – Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk
Management & Insurance, Finance
Community Involvement
Gamma Iota Sigma, Treasurer
Financial Management Association, Co-President
Actively involved in the community and organizations that support civil rights & social action, education, health, women’s health, and human rights
Responsibilities
Renée Vojtko has near 29 years of experience in the Employee Benefits field. She is responsible for advising clients on all aspects of their employee benefits plans, acting as both account manager and strategic business partner. She is also responsible for analyzing and designing health and welfare strategies, negotiating and presenting renewals, updating clients on regulatory requirements, and providing alternative funding and financial analysis.
Background
Renee joined Conner Strong & Buckelew in January 2001. Prior to joining she served as a Senior Account Manager for PHS Health Plans (Health Net) in their Special Accounts Unit managing accounts with over 3,000 employees. Before PHS Health Plans, she spent two years with Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, where she provided support for both a broker and client base.
Education
West Chester University – Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Responsibilities
Simon Leung oversees all facets of the firm’s pharmacy business and engagement with clients. He actively works with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), coalitions, and other partners. He drives the firm’s initiatives to deliver best-in-class pharmacy consulting, building new tools and programs to optimize our clients’ pharmacy benefit strategy and helping the consulting teams support clients in managing complex pharmacy policy and coverage issues.
Background
Simon brings over 20 years of industry experience as a Registered Pharmacist. His extensive background includes managing retail and specialty pharmacy operations and gaining health plan experience with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. He has also worked with a National PBM, CVS Caremark, and gained pharmacy consulting experience at a national brokerage, HUB International. Additionally, he has experience with a disruptor PBM at Rightway. This diverse expertise allows Simon to provide exceptional leadership and innovative solutions in the pharmacy industry.
Education
University of Michigan – Bachelor of Science in General Biology
Ferris State University – Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
Professional Designations
Registered Pharmacist (RPh)
Responsibilities
Crystal Bailey is the Program Manager for five regional Health Insurance Funds (HIF) and one County Commission. She is the primary liaison between insurance carriers and clients to resolve issues, negotiate contracts and recommend plan design changes. Crystal is also responsible for assisting and advising brokers and clients on all aspects of their employee benefit plans within the HIF, including day-to-day account management, vendor management, annual enrollment process, and resolution of high-level claims issues.
Background
In 1989, Crystal joined Prudential HealthCare/Aetna as a Group Insurance Eligibility Technician before working as a Quality Review Technician, where she assisted in migrating Prudential HealthCare client and membership information onto the Aetna systems platforms through technical support for all products. In 2003, Crystal worked as a Benefits Consultant before being promoted to Senior Broker Liaison in the Preferred Producer Department for Aetna Inc, where she assisted with the creation of Aetna products communications, review and interpretation assistance of Aetna contracts, and planning of implementation and open enrollment activities for all lines of coverage.
In 2006, Crystal served as Associate Account Manager for Aetna Inc., where she assisted Key and Select account managers in maintaining their current fully and self-insured Middle Market book of business. Her responsibilities included investigation and resolution of issues reported by preferred producers and sales, which included but are not limited to enrollment, claims, membership services, pharmacy, and commissions for all Aetna lines of coverage. During her time at Aetna, Crystal gained an extensive background in producer and plan sponsor issues resolution and spearheaded several special projects, one of which included the transferring of eligibility to Aetna’s new Traditional system.
Education
Community College of Philadelphia – Bachelor of Science in Biology
Professional Designations
Licensed in Health and Life Insurance for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware
