Our employee benefits consulting practice is expanding its footprint in both North and Central Alabama.
We’ve hired two new benefits consultants, Mark Hamby and Brian Wagoner, both of whom came from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBS AL) and who will serve as vice presidents in the benefits practice. They will work directly with clients and provide highly technical, solutions-based employee benefits consulting as producers for the agency.
“Mark and Brian bring extensive technical experience to our agency and will provide customers the service and solutions they’ve come to expect from S.S. Nesbitt (SSN) regarding their healthcare insurance and employee benefits challenges,” said Cooper Johnson, benefits practice leader for SSN.
According to Johnson, adding senior producers to both Huntsville and Birmingham will allow SSN to broaden its capacity to service companies desiring a high-touch service team and a data-driven approach to keep program costs down and stay in compliance with the constantly changing healthcare landscape.
Huntsville Expansion:
Wagoner is joining SSN’s Huntsville office, which is instrumental in growing SSN’s North Alabama benefits consulting practice. Wagoner spent 15 years at BCBS AL across several roles: as a district account manager, district sales representative and account executive. In 2013, Wagoner won the Blue Cross President’s Cup for most sales in the company. He is a graduate of Troy University.
“S.S. Nesbitt’s reputation across the state in terms of benefits consulting is unparalleled, and I couldn’t be more excited about joining the SSN team,” said Wagoner.
Birmingham Expansion:
For the past nine years, Hamby worked at BCBS AL, where he was recognized for the most new sales contracts in the Small Group Accounts position in 2013. Hamby is a graduate of The University of Alabama and will be based out of the Birmingham office.
“S.S. Nesbitt’s team is known in the benefits industry for its stellar service and technical expertise,” said Hamby. “I’m fortunate to be a part of the Birmingham consulting practice and look forward to contributing to a wide variety of customers.”
According to Paul Barber, SSN president, “Mark and Brian bring a level of confidence that employers can trust and will help their businesses grow. This in turn will help our agency grow as we continue to build the most dynamic sales culture in the industry and deliver on the most compelling value proposition in our markets.”