The arctic front that swept across the countryside over the last 10 days has been bone-chilling. A freeze has made it hard for the wild geese to land, and people have gone out to try to help them. Spring seems far away, but underneath the snow tiny shoots are sprouting, gathering, growing stronger. And in the business world, innovation continues, with new products and new companies. Here's what we're seeing in the benefits industry:

People

Wagner Law Group has been certified as a women-owned and operated business by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). The firm's founder and managing director is Marcia Wagner. The firm also added two attorneys to its new Washington, D.C. office: Dan Brandenburg, whose expertise includes pension, 401(k) and welfare plans, executive compensation and more; and David Pickle, who specializes in all aspects of ERISA Title I provisions, including prohibited transactions and exemptions and reporting and disclosure rules. 

Retirement plan and fiduciary outsourcing solutions provider Pentegra announced the promotions of Lars Ernst to Assistant Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and Thomas Leder to Assistant Vice President, Consulting Services.