Bios

Dave Cross, Director of Insurance Services has over 27 years of experience in the insurance industry, in claims, underwriting and marketing.  Dave has over 9 years of specific experience in Employee Benefits Consulting and Brokerage.  Dave has experience in both group and supplemental individual employee benefit plan design, administration and implementation.  He has primarily worked with hospitals, healthcare systems, physicians and associations and other affinity groups.

During his tenure in the insurance industry, Dave has interacted with a large number of the major insurance companies and brokerage operations across the United States. Dave’s primary strengths are his listening skills, communication and his relentless focus to provide the best solutions based on the customers needs.

A native of Harrisburg, PA, Dave graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree.  Dave holds licenses in life, accident, health and property and casualty. Dave has also been involved in the local community having served on the parish council, school board and coaching his son’s baseball and basketball teams.  Dave readily admits that he is “haunted by waters.” Dave spends a fair amount of time fly fishing for trout in Pennsylvania and has fished many of the blue ribbon trout streams across the country. Dave recently implemented a “Trout in the Classroom Program” the first in a Central PA school, to better educate children and help them become stewards of the environment.

Dave is proud to be a member of the HealthCare Benefits, Inc. team.  Everyone here subscribes to the highest ethical standards and always places the customer needs first.

Contact information:

Direct:  717-561-5366
Fax: 717-561-5218
dcross@hcb-inc.com

With 20 years experience in employee benefit insurance, Larry Draghi is an expert in evaluating program design and networks, financial and underwriting analysis,
renewal negotiations and implementation planning. Mr. Draghi specializes in Medical, Dental and Vision benefits along with Stop Loss Insurance at HealthCare Benefits and also has significant experience with designing, financing,
and implementation of Life and Disability plans.

Prior to joining HealthCare Benefits, Mr. Draghi held a senior position for ten years with a national benefits consulting firm. He also worked as an Account Executive with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's national account area for 8 years prior to his consulting experience. Mr. Draghi gained additional experience while working in the corporate finance area for a Fortune 50 firm.

Mr. Draghi’s professional and business affiliations include the following:
• BA, University of Pittsburgh - 1979
• MPIA, University of Pittsburgh - 1980
• MBA, University of Pittsburgh - 1981
• Certified Health Care Consultant
• Association for Corporate Growth
• Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative
• Health Policy Institute
• Member of the Duquesne Club

Contact information:

Direct:  412-697-0827
Fax: 412-697-1515 
ldraghi@hcb-inc.com

Having over 22 years of insurance experience, Ms. Evans has a background that gives her the expertise with understanding plan design, underwriting, negotiation, development, and implementation of a broad range of employee benefits.

Prior to working with The Holland Company, Ms. Evans was an Executive Account Representative for The AllHealth Group Insurance Trust. Ms. Evans worked with all aspects of coverage through national accounts as UnumProvident Corporation, CIGNA, and Delta Dental. Donna also served as Insurance Broker for various insurances for AllHealth and The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

Before joining AllHealth, Ms. Evans was Office Manager for Sentry Insurance Services, Inc. Ms. Evans managed all operations for the Harrisburg office including accounts payable, accounts receivable, home loan contracts and settlements. She also managed the payroll accounts for the Harrisburg and Pittsburgh offices.

Ms. Evans was also employed at Foremost Insurance Company. At the Foremost Insurance Company she was the Office Claims Representative responsible for reviewing and paying claims for the southern region. Prior to that, she was the Clerical Supervisor managing all clerical functions for the claims department.

Ms. Evans was co-owner of Culhanes Steakhouse, a south central Pennsylvania fine dining establishment. She handled the day to day operations including hiring personnel, managing accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll and taxes.

Ms. Evans has current licenses and appointments in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for the following:

• Property and Casualty
• Life, Accident & Health

Ms. Evans’ professional and business affiliations include the following:
• National Association of Insurance Women – 1971- 1990
• Business Women’s Association – 1985-1991

Contact information:

Direct: 717-561-5236
Fax: 717-561-5218
devans@hcb-inc.com

With 17 years experience in employee benefit insurance, Richard Fennell has expertise in underwriting, plan design, negotiation, development, and implementation of a broad range of employee benefit plans.

Prior to starting HealthCare Benefits, Mr. Fennell specialized in national accounts as
National Practice Consultant for UnumProvident Corporation. During his tenure with
UnumProvident, he interacted with all the major insurance consulting and brokerage operations in the United States. Both the consulting and brokerage organizations had their advantages and disadvantages. Utilizing his understanding of these organizations, Mr. Fennell envisioned a company that could maximize its value to customers by combining the advantages of a consulting and a brokerage operation.

He started HealthCare Benefits in 2002 where he specializes in Disability and Life benefits. In essence, HealthCare Benefits combines the funding mechanism of insurance brokerage with the project specific approach of a consulting firm. The benefactor of this approach is the client.

Mr. Fennell’s professional and business affiliations include the following:

• BA in Psychology from Bowdoin College, ME - 1986.
• President of Shadyside Bed & Breakfast Inc. - 1990
• President Bowdoin Alumni Club - 1993
• Chairman Neal Delaney Foundation – 2002
• Board Member of Hope Network – 2003
• Committee Member of Children’s Hospital Wine Tasting - 2004

Contact information:

Direct:  412-697-7444
Fax:   412-697-1515 
rfennell@hcb-inc.com

Bob Holland is a partner in HealthCare Benefits, Inc. and also serves as President. Bob has over 20 years of experience in Employee Benefits Consulting and Brokerage, and is very experienced in employee benefit plan design, financing, and adminstration. He has worked with hospitals, healthcare systems, high tech companies, manufacturing and retail businesses, and associations and other affinity groups.

Bob's primary strengths are his expertise, his enthusiasm, his passion for new ideas and innovation, his communication and negotiating skills, and his ability to focus on solutions and results. He has a BA in English, and an MBA, both from Duquesne University. His MBA coursework included Labor Law, Healthcare Administration, and Business Ethics.

Outside the office, Bob's primary passion are his family and friends. He has two sons; one a college lacrosse player and Economics Major, the other a teenage basketball player and honor student. His wife Candy was his college sweetheart, and is his life partner. To this day, he continues to share season tickets for various events with college friends.

Bob is active in the Bethel Park Basketball Association as a coach and board member, and is a volunteer with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, workiing on efforts to improve health literacy. Bob is incredibly proud of HealthCare Benefits, Inc., the people who are part of our company, and the services we provide to our clients.

Contact information:

Direct:  412-697-7865
Fax: 412-697-1515
rholland@hcb-inc.com

With over 10 years experience, Pablo M. Linzoain is an expert in national and international negotiation and financial strategies for start-up companies. Pablo specializes in finance and negotiation at HealthCare Benefits.

For the last eleven years Mr. Linzoain has been working on the planning and execution of strategies and tactics for getting established companies into new markets in and around North America, South America, and Europe. His approach includes capitalizing on his expertise in the following industries: fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), manufacturing, vehicle parts, commodities trading, insurance, film and advertising video production.

Mr. Linzoain is the co-author of two books focusing on negotiation; Trato Hecho second edition - 2003, and Deal - March 2004. In addition, he wrote several papers including the following: “The Argentinean Style Of Negotiation”, 2001, “The Discipline of Negotiation”, 2001 and “Preparing for a Multi-Party Negotiation”, 2002.

Mr. Linzoain’s professional and business affiliations include the following:

• Vice-president of the Board of Director for the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic, 2005-Present
• Rotary International – Fox Chapel Club, 2004-Present
• BA, University Catholic of Cordoba, Argentina – 1989-1993
• MBA, and Master in Sciences in Marketing and Negotiation - The Business School of Manchester Metropolitan University (England) - 1999-2001.
• Certificate on Negotiation and Mediation, Harvard Law School – 2001-2002
• President of the Junior Commission of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Cordoba, 1996-1997.

Contact information:

Direct:  412-697-2828
Fax: 412-697-1515 
plinzoain@hcb-inc.com

Prior to joining HealthCare Benefits, Jason worked for a Regional health insurance provider for 5 years. He held roles in both the sales and service areas of the organization. Jason’s main focus was the retention and development of accounts in the mid market.

Jason also worked on the development and implementation of several wellness programs. He has extensive background in designing consumer driven health insurance programs for organizations and establishing wellness indicatives to control costs.

A native of Pittsburgh Jason attended The University of Pittsburgh and graduated with a degree in marketing.

Contact information:

Direct:  412-697-0566
Fax: 412-697-1515 
jpapson@hcb-inc.com

With over 25 years of experience in underwriting, human resources and risk management, Ms. Peurala has a wide range of understanding underwriting, plan design, negotiation, development and implementation of a broad range of employee benefits.

Prior to starting with The Holland Company, Ms. Peurala was the administrative assistant for The AllHealth Group Insurance Trust, working with various benefits through national accounts such as UnumProvident Corporation, CIGNA, and Delta Dental.

Prior to joining AllHealth, Ms. Peurala was employed over 22 years with one of the top five medical malpractice insurance companies, PHICO. At PHICO, Ms. Peurala held positions in Underwriting, Human Resources and Risk Management. In Underwriting, Ms. Peurala was the Individual Physician and Small Practice Underwriting Assistant, reviewing and issuing policies for more than 2000 doctors and small practices. In Human Resources, Ms. Peurala managed payroll accounts and various benefit programs for over 600 employees including, but not limited to Life, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability and 401K plans. In Risk Management, Ms. Peurala was the Risk and Safety Technician providing a wide range of assistance to more than 15 Risk Managers providing services to more than 300 hospitals and medical facilities in more than ten states. Ms. Peurala assisted Risk Managers with risk management site surveys and generating reports for site visits.

Prior to her tenure at Phico, she worked in international banking for American Express International, Germany as an Assistant Bank Manager.

Ms. Peurala’s professional and business affiliations include the following:

• Business Womens Association – Newsletter Editor – 1982-1984
• National Association of Insurance Women – 1979 - 1982
• American Payroll Association – 1986 - 1997
• Phico Employee Fellowship Association - Employee Representative 1979 - 2001
• NewView Community Partners, Inc - Secretary - 2002 - 2005

Contact information:

Direct:  717-561-5305
Fax: 717-561-5218
cpeurala@hcb-inc.com

As Marketing Director, Ms. Swanson concentrates on the image, mission, & corporate direction of
HealthCare Benefits.

She designs marketing materials and client proposals while also planning and managing company events. She develops and maintains strong client relationships with a keen focus on communication and customer needs.  Ms. Swanson is also a licensed producing agent that manages customer accounts, third party administration, and insurance needs for small and mid market accounts. 

Prior to joining HealthCare Benefits, Ms. Swanson worked in marketing and advertising for three years in a Pittsburgh agency. There she managed print campaigns and promotional accounts in regional, national, and international markets. Ms. Swanson also spent time educating young adults as a guest speaker for communication and public relations departments in local high schools and universities.

Ms. Swanson’s professional and business affiliations include:

• PA Resident Producers License – Accident, Health, Life, & Annuities
• BS in Education - Gannon University 2000
• Kappa Delta Pi - International Education Honor Society, officer (1996-2000), present member

Contact information:

Direct:  412-697-0923
Fax: 412-697-1515 
rswanson@hcb-inc.com