John (Jay) P. Foran is the Founder and President of the EBS Foran Group, which is comprised of two distinct entities that specialize in the field of Employee Benefits.  A graduate of Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, Mr. Foran has over thirty years experience in the Employee Benefits field and has been a licensed insurance advisor and a licensed insurance broker since 1983.

Prior to beginning his consulting practice in 1983, Mr. Foran was formerly employed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts in various marketing and senior management positions.  Mr. Foran also participated in the founding of the Central Massachusetts Business Group of Health, a coalition of major Employers in the Central Massachusetts Region dedicated toward controlling Employee Benefit costs.
In September, 1983 Mr. Foran resigned his position as Regional Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield to establish a private consulting practice geared toward assisting Employers in procuring high-quality cost efficient benefit programs for their Employee and Retiree populations.  A former member of the Board of Trustees of the Northshore Health Planning Council, Mr. Foran also helped establish the Council's Business Advisory Committee.

Mr. Foran has worked extensively with Clients throughout the United States on areas of benefit design for Employee, Medical, and Dental programs, the introduction of cost-containment techniques, as well as in the areas of risk management, alternate delivery system products and variable funding arrangements.  Mr. Foran has also worked with both Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) and Commercial Insurance carriers to create unique health programs for self-funded Employers.  Among Mr. Foran's specialties is the underwriting and placement of medical excess risk/stop loss coverage.

The EBS Foran Group has Clients throughout the Eastern portion of the United States including Public and Private Sector Employers located in Massachusetts, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania as well as servicing Clients with an International presence.  The EBS Foran Group is recognized as one of the preeminent independently owned Employee Benefits specialty firms in the Northeast with well over one-quarter billion dollars worth of Client premiums under management

In addition to being a Licensed Accident and Health Advisor and Broker, Mr. Foran is also a Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) and in his capacity at EBS Foran one of his primary responsibilities is to work with Clients to introduce the new generation of healthcare plans, (commonly referred to as consumer-driven health plans) along with the new generation of Federal Tax programs available to help further integrate the Employees into the healthcare procurement process.  Mr. Foran is also a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (corporate designee).  A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Mr. Foran is currently a resident of YarmouthPort, Massachusetts and Naples, Florida.

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Vincent (Vin) A. DiBenedetto is Director of Client Core Services and Special Projects for EBS Foran Insurance and Advisory Services, Inc.

Mr. DiBenedetto has over 30 years experience in Administrative Services and Client Relations.  Prior to joining EBS Foran, Mr. DiBenedetto worked for both Budget Rent-a-Car and Ford Motor Company in various senior management positions concentrating in Product Development and Client Relations and Retention.  Since joining EBS Foran in 2003, he has managed the impact of The Medicare Modernization Act on Employer Sponsored Retiree Group Health Plans, been instrumental in the implementation of Section 125 Plans such as Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Reimbursement Accounts as part of our efforts to introduce to our Clients the concepts of Consumer Driven High Deductible Health Plans.  Mr. DiBenedetto is currently Project Manager of our Employer Web-Based Benefit Program in addition to acting as a Senior Financial Analyst in compiling employer financial data for our Underwriting Department.  Mr. DiBenedetto has an undergraduate degree in Foreign Affairs and graduate certificates in both Business and Finance.

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Kenneth Lombardi is our Senior Vice President of Operations for EBS Foran Insurance and Advisory Services, Inc. and currently resides in Boylston, Massachusetts.

Mr. Lombardi has over 20 years of experience in group benefit underwriting and consulting services.  His career has evolved through most aspects of the group benefit industry, including sales, underwriting, underwriting management and consulting.  He is currently a Licensed Insurance Advisor and holds a license as an Insurance Broker for Life and Accident and Health products in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Mr. Lombardi has significant experience directly related to the development of prospective costs of group medical care products, including the development of fully insured rates and the working rate levels required to fully fund for self-funded financial programs.  In addition, Mr. Lombardi also has extensive underwriting experience with Life Insurance, Short and Long Term Disability and Dental Products.

Prior to joining EBS Foran, Mr. Lombardi was affiliated with Allmerica Financial for over 17 years in both underwriting and sales.  He was also instrumental in the development of Starnex, an employee benefits technology firm successfully launched in January 1999.

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Denise J. Ethier-Cole is Senior Account Executive for EBS Foran Insurance and Advisory Services, Inc.
Ms. Ethier-Cole has over 22 years of experience in the Employee Benefits field and has been a Licensed Life, Health and Accident Insurance Broker in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 1987.

Prior to joining EBS Foran in 1997, Ms. Ethier-Cole worked for BHR Life & Group Insurance Agency, Inc. in Leominster, MA for seven years as Director of Customer Services.  Her responsibilities included the training of new and experienced Customer Service Representatives, in plan benefits, underwriting procedures, interpreting claim payment systems, and enrollment and billing functions for several different insurance carriers.  Her BHR career also included the preparation and presentation of employee benefit market analysis for existing and potential Clients.  Ms. Ethier-Cole's responsibilities also included quarterly service visits to all of the organization's Key Accounts to keep them abreast of changes occurring in the marketplace.

Prior to her career at BHR Life & Group Insurance Agency, Inc., Ms. Ethier-Cole was employed by the Travelers Insurance Company in Worcester, MA.  Ms. Ethier-Cole held the position of Account Executive in the Employee Benefits Department.  Her responsibilities included the processing of all new business inclusive of the preliminary and final rating, implementation and on-going service requirements.  In addition to new business, Ms. Ethier-Cole was also responsible for the presentation of all renewals and on-site service visits.
As Senior Account Executive at EBS Foran, Ms. Ethier-Cole's extensive background in product knowledge, administrative and customer service areas has proven to be a strong asset to our Clients.


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Patrick J. Foran is a Worcester Native and is a current resident of Yarmouth, Massachusetts.

Mr. Foran followed in the family tradition and attended Assumption College and has a B.A. in Politics.

His first job was at Arbella Mutual Insurance Company as a claims specialist.

Since 1995, Mr. Foran has worked for EBS Foran on a part-time basis serving in various Administrative, pre-renewal Underwriting and Marketing support capacities until joining on a full-time basis in 2000.
Mr. Foran is an Account Executive and is a Licensed Life, Accident and Health Insurance Broker in Massachusetts.  He is also responsible for internal corporate finances.

Mr. Foran also serves on the Harwich-Dennis Rotary Club Board of Directors, where he is also a Past President.  Additionally, Mr. Foran serves his community as Chairman of the Town of Yarmouth Finance Committee.


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Mr. James (Seamus) F. O'Hara is an Account Executive for EBS Foran Insurance and Advisory Services, Inc.

A native of Ireland, Mr. O’Hara currently resides in YarmouthPort, Massachusetts where he has lived for the past 14 years.  Mr. O’Hara has been active in many social and civic organizations, including the Rotary Club of Harwich-Dennis, where he has served both on the Board of Directors and as Club President.

As a member of our staff since 2003, Mr. O’Hara is responsible for the marketing of EBS Foran services to private sector Employers on Cape Cod and the Islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, as well as the southeastern quadrant of Massachusetts.

As a Licensed Life, Accident and Health Insurance broker in Massachusetts, Mr. O’Hara brings to EBS Foran over 20 years experience as a financial advisor and as a business principal in the International Hospitality and Entertainment industries.  Mr. O’Hara has particular experience in new business start-up and venture capital consulting, and he brings a fresh perspective to the cost of Employee Benefits from a business owner’s perspective.

A graduate of the University College of Cork, Ireland, Mr. O’Hara has also testified before the Massachusetts State Legislature on the importance of enacting Seat Belt legislation.  In addition to his activities at EBS Foran, Mr. O’Hara is also involved in many other community activities with his three young daughters and wife.  Mr. O’Hara is also the President of a local investment club and has a strong acumen in the area of finance. 

Prior to coming to the United States, Mr. O’Hara worked in London in the investment and financial industry with particular experience in new company venture capitalism.

This year, Mr. O’Hara has taken upon himself a new challenge as a cyclist in the Pan-Mass Challenge, a 190 mile two-day bicycle tour through Massachusetts to raise funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

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A graduate of Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts, Edward W. Byrnes, Jr. has over 32 years experience in the Employee Benefits field and has been a Licensed Life and Health Insurance Broker in the Commonwealth since 1979.  Mr. Byrnes is Senior Vice-President of Underwriting.

Prior to joining EBS Foran in 2004, Mr. Byrnes was employed by Sun Life of Canada as a Senior Manager in their Stop Loss Underwriting Operation.  Managing a group of six to eight underwriters, his team brought successful sales results each year coupled with underwriting profits consistent with Sun Life's target goals.  Prior to Sun Life, Mr. Byrnes had extensive underwriting and sales experience with Allmerica Financial, Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Mr. Byrnes has worked extensively with Clients throughout the United States on areas of benefit design for Life Insurance, Short and Long Term Disability coverage, Medical, and Dental programs. He has worked effectively with these Clients to develop solid benefit offerings that are priced appropriately, whether they were conventionally insured products or self funded products. His expertise in prospective pricing brings added value to EBS Foran and their Clients.

Mr. Byrnes is also a Licensed Insurance Advisor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Mr. Byrnes is currently a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts and is also a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (corporate designee).


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JENNIFER ARSENEAUX

A Cape Cod Native, Jennifer Arseneaux graduated from Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts with a BA in Psychology.  Ms. Arseneaux currently works at the Cape Cod Office of EBS Foran Insurance and Advisory Services, Inc.

Prior to joining EBS Foran Insurance, Ms. Arseneaux worked at Tufts Health Plan for eight years in both their Watertown and Waltham locations.  She worked in Customer Service and Large Group Sales.  Ms. Arseneaux currently is an Account Manager for the Small Business Accounts including all of EBS Foran's Cape Cod Clients.  Ms. Arseneaux enjoys visiting our Clients during the renewal process and also on a more frequent basis being proactive in Client needs.

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JESSICA C. GOODHILE

Jessica C. Goodhile is the Stop Loss and FSA Products Manager for EBS Foran Insurance and Advisory Services, Inc.
Ms. Goodhile has over 11 years of experience in the insurance industry and has been a Licensed Life Insurance Broker in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 2007.

Prior to joining EBS Foran in 2007, Ms. Goodhile worked for The Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester, Massachusetts as a Senior Claims Representative and Pricing Analyst.  Her responsibilities included processing claims, training and management of team members and resolving escalated issues.  As a Pricing Analyst, Ms. Goodhile was responsible for organizing rating and product changes and producing Department of Insurance filings for changes in insurance products.  She also served as a liaison between departments to ensure that the entire company, including programming, underwriting, sales and claims, were aware of the changes being implemented.

Ms. Goodhile graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a B.S. degree in Wildlife Biology and a dream of becoming a Park Ranger.  She did serve as a Park Ranger for the City of Worcester through the AmeriCorps Inc. program and worked as an Experiential Educator at Joy Outdoor Education Center in Ohio before she had the opportunity to enter the insurance industry.
You may also find Ms. Goodhile as a volunteer either as an usher at the Hanover Theatre or supporting the Pan-Mass Challenge.
Ms. Goodhile’s strong work ethic, adaptability and talent for translating complex insurance products for our Clients make her a great asset to the EBS Foran Team.

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LESLIE E. WALTERS

Leslie Walters is our Receptionist/Administrative Assistant in the Cape Cod office of EBS Foran Insurance and Advisory Services, Inc.  Ms. Walters joined our team in February of 2007.

Prior to working for us, Ms. Walters worked as a Legal Secretary at Infinium Software in Hyannis and in the Human Resources Department at Cape Cod Healthcare.  Ms. Walters graduated from Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston with a Certificate in Secretarial Studies and later on attended and graduated from Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable with an A.S. in Secretarial Studies.

In her spare time, Ms. Walters enjoys volunteering at her daughter’s elementary school and participating in fund-raising efforts for the Green Mountain Pug Rescue, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to rescuing pugs from puppy mills in the Midwest and finding them loving “forever homes” in New England.

Ms. Walters greatly enjoys her role in assisting both our EBS Foran Clients and her coworkers.  From greeting Clients on the phone to mailing out Client Advisories on the latest insurance news, Ms. Walters is very happy to be a member of the EBS Foran Team.

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MEAGAN E. WILLIS

Ms. Meagan E. Willis joined the EBS Foran Group on a full-time basis in September 2003.  Previously, Ms. Willis was employed by the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District following her graduation from Assumption College in 2002.

While in College, Ms. Willis maintained a vigorous academic schedule with a Major in English and a Minor in Political Science.  Ms. Willis also excelled in athletics where during her senior year she was named a Collegiate All American in Women’s Lacrosse as well as the Northeast Ten Goalkeeper of the Year in Women’s Lacrosse and a Northeast Ten All Star along with being the MVP of the Assumption College Women’s Lacrosse Team for the second consecutive year.  Given Ms. Willis’ skills, both in the classroom and on the athletic field, it comes as no surprise that she is recognized here at EBS Foran as a strong team leader and someone who possess exceptional communication and organizational skills.

Ms. Willis’ primary responsibility for the EBS Foran Group is to work with team members in the administration of our COBRA unit where she is Director of COBRA Services.  Ms. Willis has embraced the challenges of administering the COBRA services for our Clients with a significant level of dedication and enthusiasm, and she has been well received by all Clients and COBRA beneficiaries during their day-to-day interaction with people involved in this important area of Benefits Administration.

Ms. Willis visits with Clients to provide assistance on Customer Service issues as we further expand our scope of services in that regard.

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