Lessons learned from the first enrollments of the COVID-19 era

Author of HR Bartender, President, ITM Group

Sharlyn Lauby is the author of HR Bartender and president of ITM Group, a Florida-based training and human resources consulting firm focused on helping companies retain and engage talent. Prior to starting ITM Group, Lauby was vice president of human resources at Right Management Consultants, one of the world’s largest organizational consulting firms. She has designed and implemented highly successful programs for employee retention, internal and external customer satisfaction and leadership development. Publications such as Reuters, The New York Times, ABC News, and The Wall Street Journal have sought out her expertise on topics related to human resources and the workplace.

Senior Vice President, Voluntary Benefits, Acrisure

Shawn Ferguson is the Senior Vice President of Voluntary Benefits at Acrisure, one of the world's top 10 insurance brokerages and the fastest growing in the world over the past six years. He is responsible for implementing successful voluntary benefits strategies for Acrisure across the U.S. For the past 15 years, Ferguson has worked solely in the voluntary benefits and enrollment segments of the industry. Prior to joining Acrisure, Ferguson gained his benefits and enrollment experience with various firms, starting his career as a per diem “Road Warrior” shortly after earning a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Akron. He climbed the enrollment-firm ladder, and eventually opened his own firm, Bayside Benefit Solutions, in Tampa, Florida. He also oversaw the voluntary benefits and enrollment division at Alltrust, where he worked closely with brokers and account managers to make voluntary benefits part of the agency’s culture and strategy. Ferguson attributes his success to using a carrier-agnostic approach to find the best solutions for each individual client.

Senior Vice President, Field and Market Development, Colonial Life

Richard Shaffer is the senior vice president of growth markets and enrollment for Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company. He leads corporate strategy and planning, business development and oversees growth teams providing client acquisition, enrollment, client management and client retention programs. Shaffer joined the company in 1998. He previously held a variety of roles with Unum U.S., including leading a benefits account management team, serving as a large employer group and voluntary benefits specialist in Chicago and leading innovation on the National Client Group Leadership team, Unum’s large employer practice. Shaffer is on the board of directors of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.