Joseph R. Hovanec

Professional Background

Mr. Hovanec has been in the Employee Benefits/Group Insurance industry since 1979. Between 1979 and 1987, he marketed, sold and serviced group life, disability, dental and health insurance plans to brokers, consultants and employers. From 1979 until 1983, Mr. Hovanec represented Great West Life, from 1983 to 1986 MONY and from 1986 to 1987 Aetna/Partners National Health Plans.

In 1987, Mr. Hovanec joined Chicago based Fred S. James as an insurance broker in the Employee Benefits Division. Fred S. James was acquired by London based Sedgwick, the third largest insurance broker in the world at the time, and ascended through a series of progressively more managerial responsible positions ultimately reaching the level of Vice President.

During his tenure at Sedgwick, Mr. Hovanec was responsible for consulting with, advising and assisting clients in all aspects of their employee benefit plans, developing new client relationships, coordinating the cross servicing activities of property and casualty and employee benefit brokers, integrating the Noble Lowndes Benefits Consulting acquisition into the Sedgwick structure and managing Sedgwick Noble Lowndes Employee Benefits consultants and brokers.

In 1996 Mr. Hovanec established an independent Benefits Brokerage and Consulting firm and now operates J. Hovanec Group, LLC d/b/a JHG Benefits. JHG´s clients consist of private and public firms ranging in size from 40 employees to 10,000 employees. In general, the brokerage and consulting services provided by JHG include those related to health and welfare benefits and executive benefits. Two areas of great emphasis within JHG are diligent and honest client representation and JHG´s industry independence. Mr. Hovanec has represented clients based in various states and currently holds insurance licenses in the states of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Personal

Mr. Hovanec is married and has three children. He is a 1978 graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington) and holds a BS in Business Administration and Management.