Experience

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  Benefit Commerce Group, an Alera Group Company

  • Scottsdale, AZ

  • Director, Communications

    • Mar 2013 - Present
    • Scottsdale, AZ

    Employee benefits, commercial property & casualty consulting and brokerage, and retirement plan services. Alera Group is the nation’s 11th largest privately held employee benefits firm, providing powerful solutions in employee benefits, property & casualty, retirement services and wealth management for clients across the country. BCG: Inc. 5000: 4-Time Honoree / Healthiest Employers: Since 2014 / Best Places to Work: 6-Time HonoreeLocally based firm. Largest and most experienced employee benefits team in the area, providing clients with advice, advocacy and results. • Proven record of sustainable strategies to help clients, their employees and families save money on health plans. Typical client has saved $10,000+ per employee over a 5-year period, without reducing value of benefits.• We make life easier for our clients’ HR teams, focusing on employee communication, engagement and HR technology to help them recruit and retain productive workers.• Over 200 client awards for wellness and benefit programs in past 5 years, including: Healthiest Employers and Wellness Council of Arizona.• We conduct annual Arizona Employee Benefits Benchmarking Survey.• We are Title Sponsor of Phoenix division of Accelerent, a business development organization.

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  Zebra, Inc.

  • Rockford, IL

  • Corporate Communications & PR Consulting

    • May 2010 - Aug 2019
    • Rockford, IL

    Strategic communications planning, PR, employee communications, marketing communications, executive communications, corporate communications. www.nancyzalud.com

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  ACCESS PLANS, INC.

  • Vice President-Communications

    • Jun 2002 - May 2010

    Marketing communications, PR, employee communications, advertising, investor relations for a $50 million revenue national membership and insurance marketing company. Led five-person team to support company's three complementary distribution channels.--Developed new corporate identity and branding program including brochure, website and business cards as part of merger of three companies.--Launched new membership program targeted for Spanish-speaking chain of 54 retail stores in 5 states, with website, bilingual training manual, sales brochure and member fulfillment book.--Developed Product Catalog for use by membership/discount division sales staff.--Directed communications to national insurance distribution of 5000+ independent agents, including weekly email newsletter, email blasts, quarterly print newsletter. Sales increased 15% to $80 million in annualized submitted premium.--Assisted in development of and secured national award for "My Health Assistant". --Handled transitional communications after death of CEO, with no disruption of sales.--Developed multi-level marketing materials for medical discount plan launch.--With two other executives, launched new national brokerage insurance agency, AHCP, with website, recruiting brochure, PPTs, advertising and product brochures. From start-up, built 2500-agent sales force submitting $70 million in annualized premium.--Spearheaded launch of new career insurance agency, IPA, with recruiting DVD and new agent kit. Resulted in 265 dedicated agents producing $15 million in submitted annualized premium.--Launched a dozen new insurance products, including major medical, dental, senior life and senior savings program.

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  CERES GROUP, INC

  • Senior Vice President

    • Jan 1999 - Jun 2002

    Media relations/PR, investor relations, advertising, communications to agents/employees/customers for a $700 million revenue health insurance company. Revenue nearly tripled in five years. Led four-person team as company completed several acquisitions and numerous product launches.--Launched QQLink, an innovative system to use Internet technology for insurance agents. Campaign included PR, internal and marketing communications, recruiting CD and news releases. Thousands of agents joined and program gained national recognition.--Successfully branded parent company, following a number of acquisitions. New internal slogan, "Totally Ceres", carried message of unification and commitment.--Developed and implemented company-wide suggestion program resulting in over $300,000 in savings its first year.--Ghostwrote numerous trade journal articles for company executives.

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  Self-employed

  • Consultant

    • Jul 1997 - Jan 1999

    Provided corporate communications and business consulting to established firms and start-up companies. Services included marketing materials, communications with investors, customers and sales forces, as well as advertising and marketing planning. Clients included a Cleveland insurance company, a national long-term care insurance marketing company and a digital imaging start-up.

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  PIONEER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. (PFS) (Pioneer Life Insurance Company)

  • Senior Vice President

    • Oct 1984 - Jun 1997

    Marketing communications, advertising, media relations, PR, investor relations, customer communications, employee communications, charitable events for a nearly $1 billion revenue insurance, marketing and managed healthcare company. Advanced from Advertising Manager through junior officer positions to Senior Vice President within a few years. --Announced and participated in merger activities for more than 10 acquisitions.--Guided communications during periods of growth and difficult economic times. Provided support for IPO, secondary stock offering and public debt financings. In 10 years as a public company, revenue grew more than 15X.--Led customer communications including Customer Service responses for FAQs, customer letters related to product changes, materials for customer retention and cross-sell programs, and customer newsletter--Directed charitable fundraising activities with employee groups and outside business associates. Raised $1.5 million for the March of Dimes over four years.