America's Benefit Specialist April 2023

es, enhancing digital capabilities and providing high quality customer service. Mikano is based in Houston, Texas, and brings more than 20 years of claims experience to the position. Most recently, he served four years as director of claims at an employee benefits company. Previously, he held positions of increased responsibility at a multinational finance and insurance corpo ration for nearly two decades. Mikano earned a degree from Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan. Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company recently announced the appointment of John Moody as regional sales director in its Distribution and Business Development department. Moody will oversee workplace sales in the North Florida re gion for the life insurance carrier. Prior to joining Boston Mu tual Life, Moody served as a district general agent for Colonial Life, and has held other roles in the insurance industry in the Jacksonville, Florida, region over the past 20 years, including worksite agency director at Manhattan Insurance Group and sales and service director at Benefits Technologies. Boston Mutual also announced the appointment of Anthony Spencer as regional sales director in its Distribution and Busi ness Development department. Spencer will oversee work place sales in the Georgia region for the life insurance carrier. Spencer has an extensive background in sales and business development, and brings more than 20 years’ experience to Boston Mutual Life. Prior to joining Boston Mutual, he served as district sales manager at Colonial Life in Atlanta. Spencer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Catawba College in North Carolina. awards in the 17th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Cus tomer Service. The company received Silver for “Best Use of Technology in Customer Service – Computer Industries” and Bronze in the category of “Achievement in the Use of Data & Analytics in Customer Service.” The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world’s top honors for customer service, contact center, business development and sales professionals. This year’s award winners were announced during a gala event attended by more than 400 professionals from around the world at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on March 3. COMPANY NEWS Zywave has been presented with two prestigious

clients throughout the Northeast region. Prior to joining Alli ant, Miller was a relationship manager with a global financial services and consulting firm. She studied at Saint Joseph’s College and the University of Southern Maine. Phil Toughey has joined Alliant as vice president within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Orange County, Califor nia, Toughey will work with a diverse client base, designing and deploying a broad range of strategic benefits solutions. His experience includes leadership positions in the insur ance, finance, technology, and electronics industries. He is also co-founder of internet start-up Printnation.com. Prior to joining Alliant, Toughey was principal with a global insur ance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm. He earned his bachelor’s degree in graphic arts from St. Brendans College. John Foster has joined Alliant as vice president within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Foster will design, implement and manage a diverse range of employee benefits solutions across a broad portfolio of clients. With more than three decades of experience, Foster has worked with a multitude of benefits programs, includ ing disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental and vision. Prior to joining Alliant, Foster was an account executive with a Fortune 500 insurance company. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Berea College. Finally, Doreen Devine has joined Alliant as executive vice president within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in New York, Devine has more than 25 years of experience helping businesses efficiently manage their employee benefit pro grams by designing, implementing and managing modern solutions that meet today’s unique challenges. Her broad industry experience includes the utility, chemical, pharma ceutical, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing fields. Prior to joining Alliant, Devine was a managing director of global client management for a global advisory and brokerage firm. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Rutgers University and her master’s certification in project management from George Washington University.

Great American Insurance Group is pleased to announce that Steve Mikano has joined its Accident & Health Division, known as pomi, as divisional vice president of claims. Mikano will lead all aspects of claims for Great American’s A&H Division, including working with internal stakeholders and third-party vendors to improve and streamline process

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