America's Benefit Specialist August-September 2022

in the health industry, and add efficiencies to it. He identified the need to integrate carrier underwriting within a small-group quoting engine and deliver an accurate insurance quote to customers. The result was a software solution, Quot‐O‐Matic, that accurately consolidated insurance benefit plans and rates to allow brokers to assemble multi‐carrier quotes easily for client presentations. This revolutionized the role of brokers in California, as they were able to quickly and accurately find quality health insurance at the best price for their clients. John spearheaded many other innovations. In 1986, Word & Brown created a COBRA division, becoming the first company in the nation specializing in COBRA compliance and administration. In 1990, Word & Brown introduced a Flexible Benefit Plans division to assist businesses with Section 125 Flexible Benefits adminis tration and disbursements. In 1996, John and Rusty created the “defined-contribution” concept that allows employers to set their own contribution to the premium for their employees’ group health coverage. This concept has since been adopted by others in the group health marketplace, and it is now available across the nation through insurers and exchanges. John was the driving force behind countless other industry firsts—benefits for consumers and for the agents and brokers who worked with his company. Within the insurance industry, John has served as a president for the Orange County AHU president and California AHU. He was responsible for the first CAHU trade show while president. John

has also served as budget chairman of NAHU’s Leading Producers Round Table. In addition to his professional achievements, John gives back to a number of organizations. He joined the Board of Directors at Prov idence Speech and Hearing Center in 1976. He has served contin uously, including as board president, vice president and committee chair. During his 43 years on the Board, John, Rusty Brown and The Word & Brown Companies have contributed millions of dollars to the non‐profit. John is a 20+ years supporter of the United Way of Orange County. John has advocated for employee support of the United Way for decades and annually donates a 50% match for the companies’ employee contributions. In 1996, The Word & Brown Companies initiated its own in‐ house fundraising project to benefit the community’s needy. Oper ation Drumstick was launched as the result of an employee appeal to Word & Brown’s co‐founders to help her raise funds to provide meals at Thanksgiving through the Orange County Rescue Mission. Like Harold Gordon, John Word is a visionary who has made our industry (and community) better, and NAHU is proud to honor him with this award. Here is what some of his colleagues added: Rusty Brown: “John and I have worked together for more than 37 years. I am proud to have him as a friend and as a business partner. I am thrilled that his transformative work in our industry and his in credible contributions to CAHU and NAHU have been recognized by NAHU.”

JOHN W0RD III

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