Different paths, same goal: Moving the industry forward

Have you ever noticed how pretty much no one in our industry started out thinking they’d end up here? One of my favorite parts about my conversations with advisors and benefits professionals over the years has been hearing both their origin stories and their various — and often circuitous — journeys to where they are today.

That diversity of voices offers our best hope against the seemingly insurmountable obstacles facing those who strive every day to fix our broken health care system. Our 2023 Broker of the Year finalists bring unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the table. They work every day to move our industry forward, enrich their local communities, and help employers find high-quality health care and benefits while controlling costs.

From Dan LaBroad’s childhood days consolidating paper routes in his neighborhood to his current role as a benefits innovator, he has usually taken the road less traveled. “I have always had a desire for freedom … and to set the rules. I am not a big follower of other people’s rules or the status quo.”

Despite resistance early in her career, Nancy Giacolone has done things her own way, working her way up from the bottom and providing inspiration and encouragement for others along the way. “I’ve mentored a lot of people just because I want to see them succeed … We’re all in this together.”

Brian Uhlig has incorporated lessons learned about resilience and entrepreneurship into every step of his career. His evolution into a leading benefits advisor has included a number of highlights, including his acceptance into the first group of advisors at Health Rosetta. “I used to define success as new business sales … but now I view new business sales as the output of the work my team does day in and day out.”

From her early days as a receptionist at her mother’s company, Jenni Bickerstaff discovered that learning from the past and listening to clients in the present creates opportunities to provide for those who need it most. “As health care got more complex … I had to provide my clients the peace of mind that I was solving problems they didn’t realize they had.”

Bryce Heinbaugh was introduced to benefits and health care the hard way: through emergency heart surgery. That experience sparked a passion that’s grown into a mission to rebuild trust in the industry in his community and beyond. “The future of health care is local, open, and independent. We need to create community health plans that bring local employers into a collaborative effort.”