Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 101 
Email
Dan Cattaneo is President and CEO of Beneflex Insurance Services, Inc., a premier employee benefits broker and advisory firm. Dan founded Beneflex in 2004 after a 20-year career as a partner of MFC&V Insurance Services. In that role, Dan established and led his team to become the largest employee benefits enterprise in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties until MFC&V was acquired by Brown and Brown in 2003.
Dan founded Beneflex to continue serving his clients in a setting focused on employee benefits. Under Dan`s leadership, Beneflex has experienced remarkable growth, and has added professional staff at a rapid rate to meet that need.
Dan`s philosophy with clients is "What matters most to YOU, is what matters to us". Beneflex implements a proprietary discovery process called the Benovation Breakthrough to help clients identify what matters most to them, and to create strategic benefit plans that meet their needs.
Dan is highly skilled in all aspects of employee benefits. He is considered in private industry circles as an authority on self-funding arrangements, and has in-depth knowledge of the impact of current legislation on employer-provided benefits. He is a strong supporter of Human Resources associations in the Tri-Counties, and has been a regular guest speaker for Human Resources Management classes at UCSB.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 102 Email
Vickie P. Williams is the Vice President of Operations for Beneflex and the Senior Account Executive for our top tier clientele. With more than 10 years experience in employee benefits consulting, Vickie has extensive knowledge of all employee benefit insurance products, as well as advanced expertise in fully-insured, partially self-funded, and fully self-funded plan solutions. Working with our mid- and large-size accounts in both the private and public sectors, Vickie helps them develop and maintain comprehensive, cost effective benefit programs that consistently yield positive results for their financial statements and high levels of satisfaction for their workforce.
Much of Vickie's considerable success springs from her excellent working relationships with the key underwriters and marketing representatives at virtually every carrier with a presence in the Southern California. Those relationships and Vickie's keen expertise enable her to consistently achieve exceptional results in renewal negotiations, thereby securing the best possible rates, reserve factors, and benefit schedules for the firm's clientele.
Prior to joining Beneflex, Vickie was the Tri-County Regional Manager for a national employee benefits firm, the Senior Account Executive for a local pension and 401(k) administrator, and the Senior Account Executive of a leading ERISA law firm.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 116 Email
Lesa Caputo is a Benefits Advisor for Beneflex Insurance Services. She joined Beneflex in 2010 after 13 years with Brown & Brown Insurance, Santa Barbara (formerly MFC&V Insurance Services), where she was a senior Producer and Department Manager for the Employee Benefits Division.
As a graduate of UCSB with a degree in Business Economics in 1994, Lesa has been exclusively committed to the Employee Benefits industry ever since. She has worked on both the insurance carrier and broker sides of the industry, and has amassed an in-depth understanding of the complexities of the design and funding mechanisms of a strategic employee benefits plan.
Lesa is well versed in compliance and health care reform issues, topics she often addresses as the Primary Instructor for the Insurance Academy sponsored by the Santa Barbara Human Resources Association. She has also served two terms as President of the Santa Barbara Association of Health Underwriters, in 1999-2000 and 2009-2010.
Lesa has built a clientele of over 100 employers representing over $30 million in insurance premiums which she carefully monitors, advising her clients accordingly. She is regarded by her peers, clients and the human resources community as an expert in her field and passionate about her work.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 104 Email
Melissa manages a substantial portfolio as Account Executive and Benefits Consultant for the company`s small and mid-size group clients. Calling on her strong analytical skills and insurance industry experience, she brings invaluable expertise to marketing analysis of core and ancillary group benefit plans. Her multitude of responsibilities includes renewals, rate negotiation, client service, marketing and carrier relations.
Having earned her Associate of Arts degree at Ventura College and her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Melissa is known for her outstanding ability to comprehend and communicate even the most complex benefit designs. Clients find her instructions and advice indispensable, while her focus, perseverance and tenacity are highly respected by her clients and colleagues alike.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 112 Email
Nadine Dwan is an Employee Benefits Advisor at Beneflex Insurance Services, Inc. She is responsible for employee benefits program customization and design, contribution strategy, insurance carrier negotiations and employee education.
After a successful sales career with Citrix Online, Nadine became a Senior Sales Executive at Equilar, Inc., where she worked with executives and board members of Fortune 1000 public companies to benchmark Top 5 and Board compensation and managed Equilar`s strategic partnerships with NASDAQ and Western Independent Bankers. As a Workforce Management Consultant with ADP, one of the world`s largest providers of business outsourcing solutions, her pioneering work resulted in significant partner development on California`s Central Coast.
She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Santa Barbara Human Resource Association (SBHRA), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) and the Young Women Social Entrepreneurs (YWSE).
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 115 Email
Judith Hobson-Hurwitz is an Employee Benefits Advisor and joined Beneflex in 2010 when JHH Insurance Services was merged with Beneflex Insurance Services, Inc. Judith has been a part of the Employee Benefits industry for more than thirty years. After a successful sales career as an Account Executive for Blue Cross of California, Judith established and managed the Oxnard sales office for California Insurance Marketing Services for six years. In 1996 Judith became an independent insurance broker and in 2002 founded JHH Insurance Services where she continued to serve her clientele throughout the Tri-Counties and California. Based on her extensive experience in the world of employee benefits, Judith provides her clients a depth of knowledge and is known for her professional and dedicated service.
Judith is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and was one of three Charter members of the organization that established the Ventura County Chapter in 1982.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 106 Email
Rob Selby is a Benefits Advisor with an extensive background in consultative sales. Rob`s career has included over 20 years of sales and sales management with Kennametal, Inc., a Fortune 1000 multi-national engineering and manufacturing company. He has also been an independent sales and marketing consultant for small to middle-market firms. He is a graduate of California Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Arts “ Business Administration.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 108 Email
Casey Tadlock has joined Beneflex Insurance Services, Inc. as a Benefits Advisor. Beneflex is a premier employee benefits brokerage and advisory firm located in Santa Barbara, CA. Casey recently joined Beneflex after 7 years of service with Neovia Integrated Insurance Services where she was a Senior Account Manager for both Large and Small Group clients.
Casey has extensive experience in many facets of the Employee Benefits industry. Her strategic consulting style with clients has resulted in major cost reductions, financial process re‐engineering, and health plan design changes adapted for a competitive and changing business environment. Casey is highly professional and able to sort through complicated benefit plan design programs to find the elements of effective options while simplifying business execution. Her problem solving skills target cost savings for the client through creative solutions. She is regarded by her peers and her clients as an outstanding team player with a business ethic and customer focus of the highest caliber.
Casey recently made Dean’s List and graduated from UCSB with a degree in Sociology. She is excited to return to the client service and Employee Benefits industry.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 117 Email
Ceci Hernandez joined Beneflex in 2010 as an Account Manager. She has 20 years of Account Management experience with eight years in the Employee Benefits Insurance industry beginning in 2002. Ceci manages a sizeable book of business that includes both mid-size and large group clients. Her expertise is in the large group sector helping to design, implement and manage group health plans for employer clients. Ceci's patience, work ethic, professionalism and ability to develop strong relationships with our clients all make her a highly valued asset of our team.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 Ext:110 Email
Lesa Krashefski is the lead Account Executive for our mid- and large-sized clientele in both the public and private sectors, all of whom benefit from her extraordinary expertise and work ethic. Lesa's 20-year career includes distinguished performance in all three components of the delivery system for Employee Benefits: Human Resource Management, Insurance Underwriting, and Brokerage Service.
As a result of her multi-fold experience, Lesa has particular skill in analyzing our clients' needs and developing for them a full range of solutions, including fully-insured and self-funded alternatives which consistently yield significant savings and enhanced profitability. In addition to her product and marketing talent, Lesa also provides our clients with advanced support in the use of "back office" systems, including online administration and database management.
Ms. Krashefski is preeminent in her profession, and a primary contributor to the high customer satisfaction enjoyed by the clients of Beneflex.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 114 Email
Michelle Lopez has an extensive, 11 year, background in the insurance industry. Her wealth of experience, due to the duration and variety of roles she has held, has made her an invaluable resource to Beneflex clients.
Michelle joined Beneflex in 2010 from JHH Insurance Services, where she worked as an Account Manager for 5 years. Prior to JHH Insurance Services, her roles have included Membership and Customer Service Representative, Claims Examiner and Appeals, Client Care Advocate and Sales Agent with companies including AETNA Large Group Services, Anthem Blue Cross, Prudential and AFLAC.
As a graduate of California State University Northridge with a Bachelor of Art's Degree and Human Resources Professional Certificate from University of California Santa Barbara, Michelle uses her educational foundation and insurance experience to help others. "I'm proud to work with a company that puts our clients' best interest first."
Phone: (805) 684-5100 Ext:105 Email
Karla K. Torres joined Beneflex after several years with one of the largest medical group management companies in California, where she gained valuable experience in managed health care and medical claims. With extensive knowledge of the inside workings of both insurance carriers and medical groups, Karla is able to provide unparalleled client service to our clients and their employees.
Karla's expertise lies in her ability to assist plan participants in solving all service issues related to the payment of claims, prior authorizations, denial letters and appeals. Karla is also highly skilled in the composition of employee benefits communications in both English and Spanish.
Karla received her Associate of Arts Degree in Communication from Santa Barbara City College.
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Phone: (805) 684-5100 Ext:103 Email
Cynde Boller is a Benefits Client Advocate who joined Beneflex in 2008 and works with our BenAssist employee advocacy call center. Cynde`s extensive background in the insurance industry includes her work as an Account Manager with Brown & Brown Insurance, a Family Health Plan Specialist with BB&H Benefits Design, a Customer Service Representative with State Farm Insurance, and a Client Care Advocate with Integrated Insurance Services.
A graduate of Santa Barbara City College with an Associate of Arts in Communications, Cynde's passion is to use her talent and well-developed skills as a communicator to help others. As she puts it, "I enjoy my work with Beneflex because it gives me the chance to make a difference in people's lives by helping those folks who are so confused by their insurance. I'm proud to work with Beneflex because we educate our clients and continually find ways to help them." Cynde's philosophy is simply to always try to treat others as she would want to be treated, with respect, kindness and courtesy.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 109 Email
Katie Patrick is a Benefits Client Advocate who came to Beneflex in 2010 to work as part of our BenAssist employee advocacy call center. Katie helps our clients' employees by explaining their benefits, ensuring their claims are processed correctly and that they are billed accurately for medical services. She has been able to provide timely assistance that has helped more than one client employee get the critical medical attention they needed. Prior to Beneflex, Katie attended medical billing school and held a position at Anthem Blue Cross where she conducted utilization review. She has also been a free lance photographer for nine years.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 108 Email
Michael J. Cramer, J.D. joined Beneflex in 2009 as Compliance Officer. A graduate of the University of California at Irvine, Mike obtained his J.D. from the Southern California Institute of Law, and is also a certified California mediator. Prior to Beneflex, Mike worked for over 2 years at Allergan Sales, LLC in both Irvine and Goleta. Mike is responsible for ensuring our clients have the knowledge they need to take the actions required to keep themselves securely compliant with all federal, state and local regulations related to their benefit programs.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 100 Email
Dana Dunaway joined Beneflex in 2010 as our Finance and Systems Administrator. She is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Dana's expertise includes developing complex technology solutions with an emphasis in finance integration. She has been a member of the American Society for Women Accountants and Women in Technology International.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 119 Email
Jessica Harriger joined Beneflex in 2011 as an Assistant Account Manager, and provides support to our Account Management Team. Prior to joining Beneflex, Jessica worked as an Account Manager for an insurance agency in Santa Barbara and also held a position as a Regional Sales Representative for a Group Life and Disability carrier in the Bay Area. Jessica earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In her free time she enjoys traveling, volunteering internationally with Habitat for Humanity and spending time with friends and family.
Phone: (805) 684-5100 x 107 Email
Eileen Khan is our Executive Assistant. A native of Ireland, Eileen emigrated to London to work with the Royal Insurance Company, and also spent time with with Royal in Toronto, Canada and Ventura, California. She was the Office Services Manager for a large insurance agency in Santa Barbara from 1987 to 2006.
