Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Bachman, eESI

Bachmann_LindaAbout the Company: Linda Bachman is the Controller for eEmployers Solutions, Inc. (eESI), a Professional Employers Organization (PEO) – a full-service human resource outsourcing company. eESI provides human resources services, payroll administration, workers’ compensation, risk management and employee benefits. Our headquarters are in San Antonio, TX, but we have additional offices in Houston, Dallas, Austin, Corpus Christi, and in Denver and Colorado Springs, CO.

About the Program: The CFO Forum is a learning series that caters to CFOs and focuses on offering speakers that provide CFOs with timely topics and information they can use in their day-to-day responsibilities.

Personally Speaking: eEmployers Solutions, Inc. has been a member of the North Chamber for approximately 12 years, and Linda has been involved with the CFO committee for just over a year. She says, “The North Chamber is eESI’s Chamber of choice because of its leadership and commitment to San Antonio businesses.” Linda adds, “eESI represents small and medium sized companies in San Antonio, and the Chamber has become an invaluable resource in supporting our clients’ businesses, goals and ultimately their success.”

Kassler joins Security Service Federal Credit Union

Kassler_AmandaAmanda Kassler, SPHR, PMP, joins Security Service Federal Credit Union (SSFCU) as compensation and benefits manager. She carries leadership and supervisory responsibility for employee benefits and services, including corporate level oversight and reporting and coordination of the organization’s workers’ compensation program.

Prior to joining the credit union, Kassler served as a senior human resources administrator for the City of San Antonio. In addition, she teaches as a corporate training instructor for the Alamo Community College District. She is a certified senior professional in human resources, certified project management professional and certified corporate trainer.

She is a member of a wide variety of local and national organizations, including the National Project Management Association, San Antonio Human Resources Management Association, San Antonio Compensation Association, World at Work and the International Society for Performance Improvement.

About Security Service Federal Credit Union
Security Service Federal Credit Union offers competitive, affordable financial products and services designed to meet the needs of its members. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Security Service is an industry-leading financial institution with $7.5 billion in assets and 70 locations in Texas, Colorado and Utah. The credit union is among the top 10 credit unions in the nation. Security Service strives to be America’s best credit union and provides the true benefits of credit union membership with financial services of the highest quality and value. Learn more at www.ssfcu.org or call 1-888-415-7878.

Leadership Lab Chair: Lisa Pinto, SWBC

Pinto_LisaAbout the Company: SWBC is a diversified financial services company providing a wide range of insurance, investments, mortgages, employee benefits, and more to individuals, businesses, and financial institutions. I am the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. I am responsible for the company’s public relations efforts and working with the media throughout the country. I also lead our business-to-business marketing efforts.

About the Program: Leadership Lab is an award-winning program that fosters and enhances leadership by focusing on a foundation of relationship building and professional development utilizing new and innovative practices. More than just a nine-month experience—the relationships nurtured and the personal development gained from the program inspire greatness in personal and organizational leadership.

Personally Speaking: Lisa is a 2008 graduate of the North San Antonio Chamber Leadership Lab. Lisa says, “This program is a wonderful personal and professional development course that helps all of the area’s rising stars! It helped me tremendously as I became a manager with SWBC.” Lisa also serves on the Chamber’s Gala creative committee.

Hummel and Grove Join #SWBC

180x150-SWBCSWBC is pleased to announce that Linda Hummel and Andrew Grove have joined SWBC.

Hummel LindaHummel, a healthcare industry veteran, joins SWBC as CEO of the Executive Benefits Consulting Division. She will be responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of the operations, sales, and marketing efforts to employee benefits clients and prospects.

Hummel brings nearly 24 years of health benefits experience to the company. Before joining SWBC, she was President of the Employer Group Division for Humana – Texas. Hummel graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. She is also a Board Member for the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Medical Foundation, and Junior Achievement of San Antonio. In 2008, Hummel was named “Texas Business Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Texas. Most recently, she has been named as a finalist for the Austin Business Journal’s “Profiles in Power and Women of Influence Awards.”

Grove AndrewGrove joins SWBC as Vice President of Sales for the Employee Benefits Consulting Division. He will be involved in leading several aspects of the division, including the management of the sales team and its resources. In addition, he will plan, develop, and execute objectives, policies, and programs for marketing and sales activities.

Before joining SWBC, Grove was the Large Group Practice Leader for Humana’s South Texas Market. He attended The University of Texas at San Antonio; is a Licensed Health Insurance Counselor and Licensed General Lines Agent—Life, Accident, Health, and HMO; and has received numerous training certifications and awards. He currently serves as a Board Member for the San Antonio Independent School District Education Foundation. Grove is a Past Board Member for the Alamo Area Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Austin Association of Health Underwriters.

“We are thrilled that Linda and Andrew have joined our dedicated employee benefits team,” said Gary Dudley, SWBC President. “Their extensive leadership experience working for a major insurance carrier will be instrumental in helping our clients successfully navigate through the upcoming industry changes.”

“There are a lot of questions when it comes to the 2014 Healthcare Reform,” said SWBC Chairman Charlie Amato. “We know that Linda and Andrew are deeply attuned to the needs of employers everywhere and that they will be of great benefit during this challenging time.”

Spending the better part of their careers working together as strategic business partners, Hummel and Grove look forward to leveraging the relationships they have cultivated to help grow the SWBC Employee Benefits Consulting Division and client-base, while strengthening the relationships we have with our current clients.

About SWBC
Headquartered in San Antonio, SWBC is a diversified financial services company providing a wide range of insurance, mortgage, and investment services to financial institutions, businesses, and individuals. With offices across the country, SWBC is committed to providing quality products, outstanding service, and customized solutions in all 50 states. For more information, please visit SWBC’s website at www.swbc.com.

About SWBC Employee Benefits Consulting
SWBC Employee Benefits Consulting works with multiple carriers and providers to offer our clients flexible plan designs, cost-control strategies, reduced administrative costs, technological strength, and online enrollment.

Define Your Employees’ Health with Specialty Benefits

Humana green logoBy Linda T. Hummel, President of the Employer Group Division Humana in Texas

How do your employees define health? Is it being able to run a mile? Is it being able to zip last year’s jeans? Is it feeling happy or fulfilled?

Health can mean something different to each individual. However, to truly achieve well-being, one must be healthy on several levels – physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and financially.

Therefore, when San Antonio employers are choosing what benefits to offer their workers, it is important for them to realize there is a wide range of specialty insurance products and wellness services available, and each one is designed to help customers achieve lifelong well-being.

Let’s use dental coverage as an example. More than 90 percent of diseases – including heart disease, diabetes and cancer – show up in a mouth first. A dentist is often the first medical provider to find health problems. Good dental care can also lead to savings on medical care. The Journal of Periodontology found that health care costs were 21 percent higher for patients with severe gum disease than for those without gum problems.

Healthy eyes are also an important part of living a healthy and full life. By taking steps to improve your sight and protect your eyes from harm, you have a great chance of seeing and living well for many years.

If a small business cannot afford to sponsor dental or vision insurance for their employees, some benefits providers offer affordable individual plans. Humana, for instance, offers individual dental plans, which cover preventive services with no waiting periods, and an individual vision plan with a $10 co-pay for an eye exam.

The connection between physical health and overall well-being goes beyond a person’s senses. On more than one occasion, you have probably checked your bank account and had an emotional reaction – positive or negative.

During the recent economic downturn, it became increasingly clear that a person’s well-being is tied to financial security. Due to increased interest, health care providers are offering myriad financial protection plans – including critical illness plans that protect individual or family finances during serious illnesses and term life insurance policies for children up to 25 years old – to make financial security a reality.

In addition to simply assisting in your employees’ physical and mental health, these benefits help to reassure them that you are providing a work environment where their well-being and happiness is a priority.

Linda T. Hummel is President of the Employer Group Division for Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) in Texas. A 22-year veteran with Humana, Hummel is responsible for the overall management and strategic planning for Humana’s statewide commercial operations and products, which include health maintenance organizations (HMO), preferred provider organizations (PPO), self-insured plans (ASO), point-of-service plans (POS), Group Medicare plans, specialty benefit products and HumanaVitality, a comprehensive health, wellness and loyalty solution.