America's Benefit Specialist June 2023

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

team of agents. Consolidated Marketing Group offers thor ough, ongoing field training for agents at all stages of their careers with a focus on helping seniors obtain the crucial coverage they need to prepare for the good days ahead. By emphasizing and developing deeper connections with the individuals and families it serves, CMG has brought timely and effective solutions to thousands across Tennessee and the Southeast. Integrity has also acquired Sellyei & Rundle, an indepen dent marketing organization based in Tucson, Arizona, and led by Lisa Rundle, president. With more than 40 years of industry experience, Rundle is well versed in how clients can utilize Medicare coverage to meet their healthcare needs. She discovered a passion for serving seniors after working as a sales manager for a leading insurance carrier and went on to found Sellyei & Rundle in 2002. From its inception, the agency has set a much-needed tone of peace and security for seniors entering retirement and transitioning to Medicare. Over the past two decades, Sellyei & Rundle has served over half a million clients. RISK STRATEGIES BUYS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST Risk Strategies has acquired HollandStivers Employer Solu tions, a specialist in employee benefits located in Paducah, Kentucky. The purchase marks the first acquisition by Risk Strategies in Kentucky. The firm brings several compli mentary capabilities to the Risk Strategies National Employ ee Benefits Practice, including expertise in group medical, individual medical, group life and dental. HollandStivers also offers clients payroll administration and other HR services. With almost 30 years of experience in the benefits insur ance industry, HollandStivers has established deep rela tionships with its clients. Along with customized employee benefits solutions, HollandStivers offers clients an array of val ue-added services including data analytics, carrier rate nego tiation, compliance assistance, and employee communication and education. The payroll administration services directly provided by the firm include product selection and imple-

NORTHWIND ACQUIRES HEALTH BENEFIT ADMINISTRATOR QVI RISK SOLUTIONS

Pharmacy services platform company Northwind Pharma ceuticals has announced the acquisition of QVI Risk Solu tions, a health benefit administrator based in Bend, Oregon. “The self-funded employers, unions, advisors and health care providers with whom we work feel that the economic and experiential value of healthcare has become disordered,” said Phillip Berry, CEO. “They continue to ask us to help them create options that drive value back to those who pay for and access the healthcare system. “Northwind’s mission is to re-center healthcare around self-funded payer and employee plan members by leverag ing points of health influence to remove cost, access, and complexity barriers,” continued Berry. “With our acquisition of QVI Risk Solutions, we add another piece to our Nexus of Care vision by supplementing our direct contract pharmacy ben efits services with the ability to administer a complete health plan for our clients. We are building a future that re-localizes and re-centers healthcare around the self-funded payer and the employee member.” QVI Risk Solutions, Inc. was founded in 2003 to provide TPA services to employers that choose to self-fund their employee benefit program and Business Process Outsourcing ser vices to other TPAs and commercial health insurers. Led by Founder and CEO Carolyn Jarschke, QVI has grown to serve thousands of members and their sponsoring organizations across the country and will continue to operate out of Bend. TWO COMPANIES JOIN INTEGRITY Integrity Marketing Group LLC has acquired Consolidated Marketing Group, an independent marketing organization based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and led by Steve Ruth, presi dent. CMG focuses on Medicare and supplemental planning solutions. Since 2010, CMG has been dedicated to providing exceptional agent training to ensure the agent’s success in the industry. With more than 25 years of industry experience, Ruth has dedicated his efforts to ensuring the success of an impressive

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