CLS Partners, an innovative employee benefits and insurance brokerage, today announced the hiring of industry leaders Dard Hunter and Stefanie Grasty. Hunter, who will serve as president of employee benefits, and Grasty, the newly named senior vice president of business optimization, will help bolster the company’s statewide and national presence through custom, data-driven business solutions that are unique to the industry.
“CLS Partners is fundamentally different from others in our industry and through eight years of success and an average of 130 percent year-over-year growth, we’ve begun to attract the attention of industry leaders like Dard and Stefanie,” said Clint Scott, CEO of CLS Partners. “The reality is that although most companies in our sector want to see clients succeed, their legacy practices and business structures don’t enable them to respond to the sweeping changes seen in recent years. CLS Partners, on the other hand, was founded specifically to help clients use a tailored, quantitative approach to capture strategic opportunities where others only see increasing costs. Dard and Stefanie are industry veterans who share the vision that there is a better way to drive measureable results for clients and we’re excited for the role they’ll play in our growth and expansion in Texas and beyond.”
Dard Hunter now leads the firm's benefits business, helping to develop CLS Partners' consulting resources and capabilities, to deliver value to clients, and to facilitate the company's organic growth and geographic expansion. Prior to joining the company, Hunter was senior partner at global human resources firm Mercer, where he worked for nearly 24 years in many roles, including carrier relations leader for Mercer's private exchange and as the business leader for the Midwest and Northern California regions, among others. His consulting work focuses on controlling cost, reducing compliance risk, streamlining administration, and improving employee engagement for clients across a range of industries and complexities.
“Employers are spending an average of more than $11,000 per employee per year for healthcare coverage, plus they now face a myriad of compliance and testing issues that didn't exist prior to the rollout of healthcare reform just a few years ago. These are serious strategic issues for today's business executives," said Hunter. "CLS Partners has developed a model to help combat these disruptions that is unlike those used by traditional brokerage firms. Our approach enables C-suite personnel to make vital quantitative and qualitative benefits decisions in a professional business context that provides them confidence in a sustainable strategy. It is something I haven't seen anywhere else in our industry and I'm excited to bring it to employers throughout Texas, and eventually across the country."
Stefanie Grasty will also play a key role in the future of CLS Partners, ensuring the company continues to effectively deliver its Ultimate Customer Experience as it expands to new markets and takes on new clients. Specifically, she is responsible for leading project teams and identifying opportunities to scale CLS Partners’ customer-centric approach. Prior to joining the company, Grasty served as the employee benefits practice leader for Frost Insurance Agency, where she managed its $22M employee benefits practice, operating in six regions throughout Texas. She also oversaw the agency’s compliance, worksite wellness, financial analysis, retirement, HR technology and HR consulting areas.
“In today's evolving market, customers have the right to demand creative approaches to overcoming legacy challenges that have plagued the industry for years,” added Grasty. “CLS Partners is a firm that believes there are new ways to conquering waste, inefficiency, and reactive approaches to problem-solving. I'm excited to join this team and apply innovative solutions that target the universal issues clients in the insurance industry face.”
Founded in Austin in 2008, the addition of Hunter and Grasty underscores CLS Partners’ accelerated growth throughout Texas. Its Dallas office, which opened in 2014, has recently doubled its employees and plans to double square footage by mid-2017. In addition, CLS Partners is also in the process of establishing a Houston office, expected to be finalized before the end of 2016, to build upon its recently hired Houston-based employees and fuel the aggressive growth the company expects in the country’s fourth largest city.
About CLS Partners
Founded in 2008, CLS Partners is an innovative employee benefits and insurance brokerage founded with the belief that our clients deserve a better way. From benefit and retirement packages, to risk management and consulting services, our innovative, data-driven, holistic approach was built to optimize the human capital ecosystem and deliver a meaningful, measureable financial impact to your bottom-line. To learn more, visit www.clspartners.com.
