Senior Consulting Team

Mark Abate, Principal
508-485-4000 x202

Mark Abate is a Principal of Strategic Benefit Advisors, Inc.  He specializes in the design, funding and administration of group medical, dental, life and disability programs.

Mark’s twenty-three year career in this field includes two years as a group underwriter at Hartford Life Insurance Company and fifteen years as a consultant at Mercer Human Resource Consulting.  Mark currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New England Employee Benefits Council.  

For the past several years, Mark has spent considerable time with his clients to understand their business processes and objectives and has developed health and welfare benefit strategies to meet his clients’ unique demands.   Mark has served in the role as the lead strategist for many large-scale engagements for area employers.  He also has an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of employer health and welfare benefit programs, including proven cost management techniques, benefit design, compliance issues, vendor marketplace and plan funding and administration.                           

Mike Deneen, Principal
508-485-4000 x203

Mike Deneen is a Principal of Strategic Benefit Advisors, Inc., where he specializes in the design, funding and administration of group medical, dental, life and disability programs.  Mike is responsible for managing many of SBA's client relationships and for developing strategies to help his clients provide the best overall value for their benefits spend.  Mike has deep technical knowledge in identifying health plan cost and utilization drivers and developing effective program management techniques.  In addition, Mike has specific expertise in developing and managing standalone pharmacy programs, and working with his clients' financial leaders to develop, monitor and manage benefit budgets.  Mike developed SBA’s health care industry pharmacy purchasing coalition.

Mike's eighteen year career began as a large group underwriter at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.  Mike then spent six years as a consultant at Mercer Human Resource Consulting prior to co-founding SBA in 2002.  Mike is a graduate of Babson College with a BS in Finance/Investments.  Mike is on the Board of Trustees of the Shrewsbury Montessori School, where he is Chair of the Human Resources Committee.      

Theresa Flynn, Managing Consultant
508-485-4000 x205

Theresa Flynn, Managing Consultant, joined SBA in 2008.  In her role she provides consulting advice to clients in all areas of health and welfare benefits, including strategic planning, financial analysis, funding arrangements and compliance. 

Prior to joining SBA, Theresa spent 10 years in senior consulting positions at Hilb Rogal & Hobbs (HRH).  While there she also lead a national practice team responsible for integrating operations and best practices for over 50 employee benefit offices across the country.  Prior to consulting, she was a Senior Human Resources and Benefits Specialist at EG&G.  This corporate experience at a large company brings a unique and practical perspective to Theresa’s consulting that is highly valued by her clients.   

Lynn Gillis, Consultant
508-485-4000 x206

Lynn Gillis is a Consultant at Strategic Benefit Advisors, where she specializes in evaluating plan funding alternatives, financial/underwriting analysis and cost/utilization analysis.  Lynn’s experience includes the rating and designing of medical and dental plans to align with her client’s strategic plans, funding analysis and conducting bid solicitations.  

Lynn’s eleven year career began as an Underwriter at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island where she worked on groups such as Lifespan, CVS and various Municipal Collaboratives.  Following her tenure at Blue Cross of Rhode Island, Lynn continued her Underwriting career at Health Net of the Northeast in Shelton, CT where she was a Senior Underwriter.  She was involved in various technical rating projects as well as medical utilization analysis. 

David Hoffmann, Managing Consultant
508-485-4000 x204

David Hoffmann is a Managing Consultant at Strategic Benefit Advisors, where he specializes in health care strategy, plan funding and financial/underwriting analysis.  David has generated a significant ROI for his clients through his strategic analysis, thought leadership and strong negotiations with their vendors.  David’s experience includes designing and rating health and welfare benefit plans, conducting bid solicitations, evaluating plan funding alternatives, performing cost and utilization analysis and managing client and vendor relationships. 
 
David’s twelve year career includes two years as an actuarial analyst at MVP Health Care and two years as a large group underwriter at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.  Prior to joining Strategic BenefitAdvisors, David was a senior consulting analyst at Mercer Human Resource Consulting in Boston. 

Deborah Wallace, Managing Consultant
508-485-4000 x. 210

Deborah Wallace is a Managing Consultant with SBA specializing in strategic planning, benefit plan pricing, employee contribution modeling, renewal negotiations and plan marketing for medical and ancillary lines of business.  She is a trusted advisor for her clients with a track record of delivering exceptional results and service.

Deborah has over thirteen years of experience in the employee benefits field.  Prior to joining SBA in 2010, she worked as a Senior Consultant at Willis of Massachusetts.  Her tenure also includes consulting positions at Watson Wyatt and Towers Perrin.  Deborah began her career in the networking contracting division of Tufts Health plan. 

Debbie Winer, Managing Consultant
508-485-4000 x207

Debbie is a Managing Consultant at Strategic Benefit Advisors, specializing in strategic planning, project management and benefits systems and operations. She brings a wealth of managerial and operational experience to her SBA clients, who are often looking for additional resources to support their benefits initiatives.

Debbie came to SBA after almost fifteen years with The Gillette Company, where she held the position of Director, North American Benefits and was responsible for the design, funding, communication, implementation and ongoing administration of all retirement and welfare benefit plans, executive programs and fringe benefits offered across all U.S. business units. Her more than 30-year career in the employee benefits field began in the regulatory compliance area of The Travelers Group Department, and has included several years managing benefits for a prominent tobacco manufacturer in Virginia as well as a Massachusetts-based national non-profit association.