Professional Journey - Built & Sold Multiple Businesses
Early Stage Insurance - Educational Foundation & Corporate Experience
- Florida State University: Degree in Risk Management Insurance & Actuarial Science
- Aetna: P&C and workers comp underwriter for 2 years in Washington DC market from
- CIGNA Healthcare - New business sales rep for medical, dental & vision in Washington DC market. Worked my way up from small market to middle market (200 - 5,000 EE's), primarily selling as a wholesaler through the broker distribution channel.
See a problem. Solve the problem. Time to start my 1st business.
I got lucky – I met my brilliant husband Ron in a bar in DC – while he was in the process of selling his “dotcom” technology business. Ron is the one who encouraged me to leave my cushy corporate job to start my own business - and gave me the confidence and knowledge to make it happen.
At 29 year old, I started BeneTek based off of one client who was willing to give me my 1st shot and give me the Broker of Record for the employee benefits at large tech company in Washington DC. Little did I know that over the course of the next 25 years, she would become my mentor, role model, COO of my future technology company and my best friend.
BeneTek - out of my guest bedroom - quickly grew from 1 client to 20 national clients. Early on, I understood that the only way to scale was through good technology that could organize and streamline the fragmented business of employee benefits. My vision - for what would soon become Web Benefits Design - was unique and had not yet been done.
Female-driven strategy & design proved to be key differentiator.
Being a female technology CEO was a key differentiator for us. After all, it's women that make most healthcare decisions in any family, so having a women-centric approach that caters to how women think and take care of their families was a key strategic driver.
During our 22 year run of BeneTek and Web Benefits Design - we amassed an incredibly talented, loyal and wildly diverse team of brilliant thinkers and executors. In 2019, we successfully sold Web Benefits Design & BeneTek Corporation to CNO Financial Group, a publicly traded company based in Chicago. I got to ring the bell on Wall Street – just a few days before Covid shut everything down! I stayed on as CEO for a 3 year transition period, then immediately started working on my next business and reinventing myself.
BeneTek Corporation: Founded 1999 - Sold with Web Benefits in 2019
BeneTek's primary function was as the employee benefits consulting and brokerage operation alongside the Web Benefits technology suite of services. The focus was on the integration of technology and administrative solutions that reduce costs and create efficiencies. BeneTek was licensed in all 48 states with 185 national carrier appointments.
BeneTek provided the following key functions for our employer clients:
- Annual and ongoing plan design and predictive modeling
- Aggressive carrier rate negotiations
- Actuarial and underwriting services
- Monthly benefit budget forecasts and self-funding reconciliation
- Benefit communications (website, booklets, flyers, text and email campaigns)
- Employee benefits hotline to assist with benefit enrollment, claim problems and eligibility questions
- Full technology integration for all Web Benefits services - our team handled it A to Z.
Web Benefits Design: Founded 2002 - Sold 2019
Web Benefits Design (WBD)was a national leading employee benefits technology firm - well known for its high quality solutions, rapid implementation, data accuracy and signature services. We served a broad range of clients across every industry from 50 to 45,000 employees.
Over the course of 25 years we achieved the following successes:
- Month over month revenue growth - 100% owned & bootstrapped (no outside investors)
- 3,500+ clients
- 160 employees
- 390 brokerage firm partners nationwide
- Data connections with 275 insurance carriers and 38 payroll companies
- 75,000 sf state of the art technology center in Orlando, FL
- Preferred partnerships with UnitedHealthcare, CIGNA Healthcare, Lincoln National, RSLI, SunLife, Guardian and Mutual of Omaha
- Numerous industry awards and accolades due to exceptional reputation and quality
Core Technology
- Customized benefits website - white-labeled for client branding
- Online enrollment for all benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, disability and voluntary benefits. Includes shopping cart displaying "per paycheck" cost to employee.
- Full automation and connectivity with almost all payroll systems and insurance carriers
Signature Services
- COBRA administration
- ACA reporting with IRS integration
- Employee benefits call center
- Total rewards statements
- Dependent documentation services
- Student verification services
- Custom videos and media (multi-lingual)
- Print & mailing services
- Decision support tools and cost calculators
- Consolidated billing and reconciliation services
Art Originals: Founded 2020 - Sold 2024
Art Originals provides customized art, mirrors & framing. As the artist, I created over 5,000 proprietary images with companion pieces that can be modified to fit any size or shape, and be color-matched to fit your space. Our business model is unique, because unlike other artists who want you to see the world through their eyes, I create art that is based on your style, color scheme, budget, preference and space. In addition to our exclusive art portfolio, we can access unlimited 3rd party licensed images & photography, as well as client images.
We print, produce, frame, mat on canvas, giclee, mirror and acrylic. All finished products have ready-to-hang hardware and are available for installation or shipping. We specialize in large art and cater to designers, builders and commercial clients - though individual clients are always welcome!
Art Originals was a Women Owned Business prior to its acquisition in September 2024. Though I am no longer the owner, I am still an affiliated partner and continue to work in the industry as a consultant - working closely with my former colleagues and talented business partners.
Schenk Enterprises - Co Owner with Husband Ron Schenk
Schenk Enterprises and Schenk Real Estate Holding Company serve as the ongoing corporate infrastructure for our commercial real estate portfolio. All properties are owned and operated by SEI, featuring high-end, luxury office and retail space available on both short and long-term leases.
Awards & Recognition
Recognized as Top Employee Engagement Firm with cover story and featured article.
Recognized as Top 500 software companies in the United States.
Recognized as Top 10 Innovation firms in 2019 and 2020 with cover story and featured article.
Recognized as Top 500 software companies in the United States.
Recognized as 1 of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies (2020)
Awarded as Top 100 Employers for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Over 100 talk radio show episodes with the nationally syndicated host Kevin Price on The Price of Business.
Multiple TV interviews on NBC syndicated show, The Bridge, to discuss healthcare reform and the current political landscape.
Recognized by industry leading publication as top insur-tech firms on the rise with 5 star software rating.