Hays Companies Volunteers with Habitat for Humanity

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For almost a decade, Hays Companies has built a strong partnership with Habitat for Humanity to combat homelessness and provide affordable housing for families within the communities where we work and live.

This month, Hays team members assisted with building a Habitat for Humanity home in St. Paul, Minnesota. Of the experience, Robert Rangel, Hays Companies’ Director of Claims Management and Volunteer Committee Chair said, “It was a fulfilling day for our team. It’s not every day you have the opportunity to learn how to construct a garage and build a roof with your colleagues. We were grateful to be out in the community together giving back to a wonderful organization.”

One of Hays Companies’ core values is being impactful and contributing to the communities we serve. Habitat for Humanity is a great outlet for employees to live out this value by volunteering.  “We encourage our employees to get involved with organizations in the community that they’re passionate about. Habitat for Humanity is an organization with a mission that Hays’ employees believe in,” stated Chief Executive Officer, Jim Hays.

Hays Companies Vice President Bruce Lyon Receives 2018 Excellence Award

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Hays Companies of Kansas City is proud to announce that Bruce Lyon, Vice President and Director of Risk Management, was honored by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals with the 2018 CSP Award of Excellence.

A leader in high quality credentialing for safety, health and environmental practitioners, the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) was founded in 1969. Since then, they have grown to be recognized as the leader in credentialing for practitioners in the safety, health, and environmental industries. Their highly prestigious Award of Excellence is awarded to top practitioners that embody outstanding leadership, deep industry knowledge and a strong commitment to advancing safety excellence.

Lyon has over 37 years of experience in the insurance and consulting fields and continues to be a passionate advocate for the advancement of the safety profession. He currently serves as Advisory Board Chair to the University of Central Missouri (UCM) Safety Sciences program as an active collaborator with the faculty, a frequent lecturer and mentor.

Additionally, Lyon is Vice Chair of the ISO 31000 Risk Management standards US Technical Advisory Group (US TAG), a member of the ANSI/ASSE Z590.3 Prevention through Design standard review committee, and a subject matter expert in the development of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals’ (BCSP) Safety Management Specialist (SMS) certification.

To learn more about the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and the other Excellence Award recipients, please click here.

Andrew Williamson Joins Hays Companies of Wisconsin Benefits Practice

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Hays Companies of Wisconsin is pleased to announce that Andrew Williamson has joined the Benefits Practice, where he will focus on employers with under 200 employees.  Williamson brings 15+ years of consulting and brokerage experience with similarly-sized employer groups.

“Our unique tools and industry-leading talent have led to expansive growth in our core business segment that focuses on larger employers,”  said Dan Robinson, Executive Vice President of Hays Companies.  “We are excited to share the tools and resources with middle market employers with under 200 employees.  With Andrew’s leadership, we expect to positively redefine the value that employers of this size in Wisconsin can expect from a benefits advisory partner.”

Hays Companies is one of the fastest growing, privately-held risk management, insurance and employee benefits advisors in the country. Our philosophy of delivering the highest-quality, customer-focused service has led to significant growth for 20 years. Today the company includes 700+ experienced professionals in more than 35 locations throughout the United States. Andrew’s addition to Hays’ Wisconsin office follows the eighth consecutive year Hays Companies has been recognized as one of Wisconsin’s Top 100 Workplaces.

Education:

Andrew received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Andrew maintains a Wisconsin Resident Intermediary License for Accident and Health plans and Life plans.

Contact Information:

Andrew Williamson

Middle Market Practice Leader

Phone: 414-290-3609

Email: awilliamson@hayscompanies.com 

Hays Companies of Wisconsin Named One of the Top Workplaces

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The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has named Hays Companies of Wisconsin one of Wisconsin’s Top Workplaces for the eighth year in a row. Consequently, they have been inducted into The Journal Sentinel’s 2018 Top Workplaces Hall of Fame, a prestigious position that reflects the quality of our culture and employees.

Results were based on survey responses from employees on items such as how employees felt about their job and overall satisfaction with the company.

Highlights from the survey included the following comments:

“We are given the ability to succeed in whatever our career aspirations may be.”

“It’s challenging and something new every day. I enjoy my co-workers and feel that people are working together to deliver the best results for our clients.”

“The people I work with are great, caring people. We all are working towards a common goal.”

“This is a great recognition and something that all of us are very proud of. It’s imperative to the management team to have built and to continue to create a healthy work environment where people love what they do and who they work with. Most importantly, this happiness translates to an exceptionally high level of customer service resulting in very high levels of client satisfaction,” Dan Kwiecinski, Executive Vice President of Hays Companies of Wisconsin said.  

Here at Hays Companies, we have created a culture that is unmatched in our industry. Inspired by our Founders’ entrepreneurial spirit and drive, our team thrives in a collaborative work environment, and an engaging and meaningful workplace, which allows our employees to deliver the best results to our clients.

Hays Companies is one of the fastest growing Property & Casualty and Employee Benefits advisers in the country. We are dedicated to providing expert counsel to our clients that assist them in minimizing or mitigating their “total cost of risk” in a well thought out and planned manner. We collaborate with clients to find business efficient solutions that you can improve upon incrementally over time. Our 700+ team represents a dynamic, entrepreneurial assembly of the best and brightest in the industry. With over 30 offices across the country, we draw from a pool of unrivaled expertise, in legal, certified public accountants, financial services, and claims to design a team devoted to your needs alone.

Hays Companies Congratulates Bruce Lyon on Prestigious Industry Award

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Bruce Lyon, Hays Vice President and Director of Risk Management, recently received first place honors by The American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) Editorial Board and the Council on Professional Development for his article, Communicating and Managing Risk: The Key Result of Risk Assessment.

The article, co-authored by Dr. Georgi Popov, speaks to the critical impact that communication has on effectively managing risk. Without communication, risk assessments lack the power for positive change within an organization. To implement effective change, key-decision makers must be informed and safety professionals empowered to share potential for risk.

By establishing risk assessment methods that identify, assess and communicate potential operating risks, a trickledown effect is established that demonstrates downstream business consequences and the link between operational risk, occupational safety and health (OSH) risk, and business risk – an essential aspect for future planning.

The article, which was published in the November 2017 issue of the Professional Safety Journal, can be viewed in full, here: Communicating & Managing Risk – The Key Result of Risk Assessment.

This prestigious accomplishment demonstrates the depth of professionalism and risk control expertise that organizations can expect to receive from Hays Companies. To learn more about how Hays can help you manage your risk, please contact your local Hays Representative.

Bio: Lyon is a professional member and past president of ASSE’s Heart of America Chapter and a recipient of the Region V Safety Professional of the Year Award. He is advisory board chair to UCM’s Safety Sciences Program and co-author of Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide for Assessing Operational Risk.

Hays Companies Joins the National Safety Council’s Road to Zero initiative

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Hays Companies recently joined the National Safety Council’s Road to Zero initiative, a partnership focused on ending traffic fatalities – a leading cause of unintentional deaths. The goal is safe mobility for all people through a coordinated, data-driven approach. As a partner of the Road to Zero Coalition, Hays will work to develop priorities and encourage stakeholders to take action to meet the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities by 2050.

It might seem like a lofty goal, but key stakeholders believe it is possible. “The aim of Road to Zero is to get to zero deaths by 2050,” says Debbie Hersman, the president and CEO of the National Safety Council, the lead on the Road to Zero initiative. “That’s the goal. We’ve done this with aviation—there have been several years with zero deaths in commercial aviation—and a lot of people thought that was impossible.”

At Hays Companies, we have continued to make distracted driving our national safety focus as an organization.

We are committed to the safety of our employees and clients on our roadways. We’ve been incredibly moved by our VP of Risk Management Services, Tom Goeltz, and his personal story with losing his daughter due to an alleged distracted driver. Goeltz is actively building national awareness as a legislative advocate and frequent public speaker on how to help keep employees and their families safe. Our Road to Zero Coalition partnership exemplifies the importance and value we at Hays Companies place on safety, and how we can work together to combat this epidemic.

“It’s not impossible – it just hasn’t been done yet. Working together, we will find new solutions to old problems and eliminate these preventable deaths,” said Tom Goeltz.

Looking for an employer toolkit on Distracted Driving? Consider these resources:

  • Safe Driving Kit with infographics, myth busters, videos, and more
  • Join in on the upcoming “Engaging Ways to Address Distracted Driving at Work” webinar hosted by the National Safety Council
  • Learn about cell phone blocking technology and tips to reduce distracted driving
  • Ask Hays about cell phone slips to block cell signals while driving
  • View a video series about workplace cell phone policies and related topics
  • Consider hosting Tom Goeltz for a personalized presentation on workplace safety

Visit nsc.org/roadtozero about the Road to Zero initiative or contact Tom Goeltz (tgoeltz@hayscompanies.com) for additional information.

Five Essential Personal Insurance Tips

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At Hays, our Private Client Group works to insure protection for every lifestyle. Whether it’s Home and Auto, Directors and Officers liability, Life Insurance, Disability or Long Term Care or unique areas of risk, such as kidnap and ransom, aviation, equine, or valuable articles, we’re here to help.

With expertise in the industry spanning 35 years, we have gathered five essential tips you need to know to protect your home and other assets:

1. Your Advisor Should Help Organize your Insurance Program.

With numerous assets acquired over time, it’s common to insure them with many different programs, often leaving your assets unorganized and expensive to manage. This can lead to gaps in coverage that will only be revealed when a claim is unexpectedly denied.

2. Be Presented With Options.

The benefit of retaining an independent insurance agent or broker is that they are working in your best interest. You should be frequently presented with options to organize your coverage.

3. Have Enough Personal Liability Insurance.

If a lawsuit puts your assets at risk, the last thing you want to worry about are insufficient limits. Make sure your liability coverage limits exceed your net worth. The Hays team can help you determine this value.

4. Be Certain of Your Insurer’s Financial Strength.

Always look for financial stability when choosing your insurer. It’s important your provider is strongly capitalized and will be able to pay your claims. Look for insurance companies rated “A” or “Excellent” by A.M. Best.

5. Work With High Net Worth Insurance Specialists.

Complex insurance situations require specialists. If you have a net worth of $2 million or more, most insurance carriers are not equipped to address your complex personal risk management needs.

Hays Private Client Group thrives at being problem-solvers in complex insurance situations. To contact us or to discover how we can keep your valuable assets protected, visit us here. Come experience The Hays Difference.

Hays Companies Ranked 16th Largest Benefits Broker in 2017

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Hays Companies is pleased to announce that we were recently named the 16th largest Benefits Broker in the large-group market by Employee Benefit Adviser in 2017!

Employee Benefit Adviser is one of the top industry publications, serving over 146,000 brokers, advisers, consultants, and financial planners, amongst others. Their annual list was published in partnership with miEdge, a business intelligence firm from whom the data analytics were provided.  The leading firms were ranked exclusively on health and welfare revenue, provided by Form 5500 reporting data as of Dec. 11th.

Having enjoyed over 20 years in the business, our sustained and continued growth has been an area of pride and contributed to our 2017 ranking, which included our 2017 revenue of $38.48 million and 22.45% year-over-year growth.

To view the complete list, please click here.

Hays Companies Names Frank Bacon As National Pharmacy Consultant

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Frank Bacon has been named as a National Pharmacy Consultant within Hays Companies.  The Pharmacy Practice serves employee benefits clients to better manage the effective delivery of prescription benefits while maximizing cost efficiencies within organizations.

Bacon joined Hays Companies in 2016, bringing over ten years of pharmacy experience with him. Prior to coming aboard the Hays team, Bacon served as a PBM Network Pricing Consultant for one of the nation’s largest Pharmacy Benefit Managers. He draws on that experience while advising Hays’ clients on how to best manage and mitigate prescription related costs. Bacon’s unique insights are invaluable in navigating the complicated pharmacy benefits systems.

His new responsibilities will include advising Hays clients in PBM contracting and pharmacy benefit design.

If you have any questions regarding Hays Companies Pharmacy Practice, please reach out to your local Hays Consultant or contact employeebenefits@hayscompanies.com

Loss prevention tips for all your home matters provided by Hays Companies Private Client Group

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The best way to minimize damage from a hurricane is to be prepared before one strikes. To help you plan and remain safe at home during these potentially deadly storms, follow these safety tips.

During Hurricane Season:

·         Plan evacuation routes and designate a contact person who family members know to call once the storm is over.

·         Stock up on items such as bottled water, flashlights, battery-operated radio, nails, tarps and plywood.

When There’s A Hurricane Threat:

·         Keep an up-to-date log of all of your possessions with photographs and videos, and review your home insurance policy.

·         Place important, valuable papers such as your log of possessions and insurance policy in waterproof bags.

·         Cover windows and doors and secure outdoor furniture.

·         Refill your prescriptions, fill up your gas tank and withdraw a week’s worth of cash so you are prepared in the event of a power outage.

·         Move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home.

·         Gather emergency supplies and fill bathtubs with clean water.

·         Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks and storm drains. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately.

During a Hurricane:

•             Listen to your battery-operated radio for instructions from the local authorities on evacuation and safety guidelines.

•             Seek shelter in an interior room away from windows, such as a closet.

•             If the electricity goes out, use a flashlight to see; do not use candles.

•             If you hear the winds subside, do not assume that the storm is over. The calm may be the eye of the storm, and the worst part may still be coming.

Safety First

After a hurricane is over, stay inside until you hear that an “all clear” notice has been issued. If you were told to evacuate, do not return home until you have been given permission by the authorities. Additionally, exercise extreme caution when inspecting your home for damage. Do not try to inspect damaged utilities and appliances; contact a professional to do so.

Please call Hays Companies Private Client Group with any questions or claims. You can contact us 24 hours a day at (612) 747-1095 or cschaefer@hayscompanies.com.