About Us
Ep6ix is your premier end-to-end benefits communication, education, and enrollment partner – from discovery to deployment.
Our Mission
To elevate and better align all aspects of the continuously evolving enrollment and employee benefits management ecosystem by delivering enhanced solutions that address the pain points of today and adapt to capture the new market opportunities of tomorrow
Our Approach
While many enrollment firms bring solutions for communication, education, and technology, we believe success comes by tying all these elements together through project management and execution of a well-defined process. Agnostic to both carriers and enrollment platforms, Ep6ix brings a unique set of processes and partnerships to execute virtual core enrollments in a way that provides full transparency, consistency, and accountability to all stakeholders. We bring:
- A virtual enrollment application for communication, scheduling, screen share meetings to maximize and facilitate employee engagement.
- The best Benefits Counselors in the industry - all Ep6ix counselors go through an intensive four week, eight module training on core benefits with an average tenure of eight years in worksite benefits
- Development of a custom communication plan using mobile-enabled tools and any combination of call center and virtual screen share meeting/consult options
- Execution and Experience – 15 years of executing core enrollments
- Key partnerships including TPAs, Technology, Compliance, Billing Solutions, and many others
Meet Our Team
Tom McKiernan - Founder and CEO
Tom founded Ep6ix after nearly 20 years in the Employee Benefits industry. His experience executing core enrollments gave him an appreciation for the need to educate and engage the employee as a means to help brokers and clients deliver on the strategies of benefits cost containment, employee attraction and retention, increased productivity and morale, reduced absenteeism, and increased overall health and financial wellness of the employee. His experience showed that the effectiveness of these strategies hinges on the engagement and education of the employee that transitions them from passive participant to active consumer.
After 15 years leading an organization, emphasizing individual and leadership development within an entrepreneurial pursuit for a single carrier, Tom shifted his focus. He founded Ep6ix with an agnostic approach that helps brokers, clients, sales leaders, and independent agents understand the continuously shifting pain points that employers experience around the delivery of employee benefits. This new approach soon became a formula for maximizing enrollment performance. A formula that aligns employer and employee objectives in the delivery and enrollment of employee benefits, consisting of a model that combines: People, Platform, Partnerships, Products, and Process to optimize Performance.
Brooke Anthony - VP & General Counsel
Brooke graduated Wake Forest University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, and from St. John's University School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 2004. She has over 18 years' experience in complex contract negotiation, commercial litigation, and commercial transactions. When not working, Brooke enjoys spending time with her niece and nephews and beloved Frenchton, Lola.
B.J. Spyksma - Broker Development & Specialty Markets
B.J. has led an interesting insurance career. He started selling cancer policies to farmers in Iowa in 1997. He quickly moved up and started recruiting agents in the Western US. As his career continued, he hired and ran a successful senior insurance marketing opportunity in Florida with over 50 agents he hired and trained while operating as their General Agent. As insurance laws changed in Florida and the HMOs pulled out in the late 1990s, B.J. changed his focus to various VB platforms. He helped with product design and delivery as a General Agent for some of the top VB companies in the US. In the last 15 years, he has focused on member experience and strategic partnerships in the Self-Funded space. Joining Ep6ix, we bring both the Fintech and Insurance industry together as a WIN for clients and brokers providing transparency and a true technology-driven insurance marketplace.
Kyle Whelton - Producer and Relationship Manager
Kyle started with Ep6ix in June of 2020 as a Benefits Counselor and could not pass up the opportunity later that year to become a part of the team leading the enrollments and building relationships. He comes to Ep6ix with a unique skill set in project management, communication, training, and enterprise technology management built from experiences in a variety of roles and industries. Since graduating from Marquette University in 2015, Kyle has worked on electronic medical record implementations for some of the largest health systems in the United States, led non-profit organizations, built and sustained grassroots volunteer organizations, and developed his own book of business as an independent insurance agent. Ultimately, Kyle saw an opportunity to combine all of these skill sets and many of his professional passions with Ep6ix.
A.J Motter - Relationship Manager
A.J. comes to Ep6ix with 14 years of experience in Employee Benefits education, delivery, and sales management. Prior to his insurance experience, A.J. had a successful engineering career with a focus on automotive advanced planning. These backgrounds bring a skillset blending the ability to deliver an analytical problem-solving approach to broker partners and clients that provides unique solutions in plan strategy, design, implementation, and education.
When not working, A.J. enjoys sports, the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. He and his wife Catrina live in Northwest Ohio and are kept busy keeping up with the activities and sports of their 8 children.
Dave Hallett - Relationship Manager
After graduating from St. John Fisher University with a bachelor's degree in Management, concentration in Marketing, Dave was a national account manager for a logistics company in Boston for several years. In 2004, he changed careers and moved into the employee benefits space. For 19 years, Dave hired, developed, and led a large successful team of agents, managers, and benefits counselors, while partnering with top-tier insurance brokers and consultants. A long-time business colleague of Tom’s, Dave joined Ep6ix in 2023. Outside of work, Dave enjoys spending time with his family outdoors, traveling, fishing, cooking, and woodworking. Dave lives just outside of Boston with his wife, their 2 kids, and 2 dogs.
Heather Dolliver - Relationship Manager
21 years in the insurance industry. Eighteen years of voluntary benefits wholesale, direct sales, and sales management experience. In-depth knowledge of insurance benefits industry trends and an avid student of the business insurance industry. She has been with Ep6ix since February of 2022
Johanna Manzano – Project Manager & Marketing Manager
Johanna comes to Ep6ix with a background in Organizational Development and Project Management from Colombia, where she graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering and Design. Johanna's ability to merge design, develop processes, and data management is matched only by her willingness to take on complex tasks and projects.
She excels at developing solutions that incorporate art, design, and marketing with data analysis. The Ep6ix team and their clients benefit from her attention to detail, execution, and willingness to share and train. Outside of work, you can find Johanna enjoying the outdoors, hiking, camping, spending time with her beloved dog Lupe, or traveling.
Cynthia Davis - Enrollment Partner Relationship Coordinator
Cynthia has worked in the insurance industry for 15 years in a variety of roles. From assisting with claims to recruiting and training agents, Cynthia has been deeply involved in almost every aspect of running an agency. In her current role, Cynthia supports and organizes enrollments, coordinates benefit counselor selection, onboarding, training, and also supports the implementation team while serving as a bridge to our carrier partner. Cynthia's colleagues will tell you without question, she's the glue that holds the team together and has yet to find a task she could not accomplish.
Dean Shipman - Implementation Consultant
Over the past 35 years, Dean has worked in organizations ranging from Silicon Valley-based start-ups to 150-year-old multi-national corporations. His primary roles have been in sales and technical sales support. Dean's career has spanned the telecommunications, outsourcing, business software, and insurance industries. His primary focus has always been to achieve the end objective of his customers and bring projects small and large to fruition. Dean believes that everything starts with a plan and that the execution of a plan requires teamwork and honest communication. There are no “no-brainers” when it comes to project management. The success or failure of a project is in the details and asking the right questions is how you uncover those. As an Implementation Consultant for Ep6ix, Dean brings decades of experience to our broker partners, the employers they work with, the Ep6ix Benefits Counselors, and, ultimately, the employees that we counsel.
Valerie Blanco - Implementation Consultant
Valerie is one of our Implementation Consultants here at Ep6ix. After graduating from Florida International University with a Specialist Degree in School Psychology, she began her career in the Employee Benefits industry and has never looked back. She brings nearly 15 + years of experience working with different industries including but not limited to manufacturing, travel, healthcare, and municipalities. Valerie places high value on maintaining positive client relationships and loves to collaborate with her teams to create high-quality projects. She is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that her clients are receiving a comprehensive strategic plan, effective and seamless implementation, and consistent optimizations. Outside of work, you can find Valerie enjoying the outdoors, spending time with her family, or traveling.
Nathen Kooi – Implementation Consultant
Nathen has a Master of Business Administration, with a Major in Marketing from Baker College Center for Graduate Studies. He brings to Ep6ix over 9 years of experience in the Employee Benefits Industry. Nathen was first drawn to the industry out of his desire to help people make informed decisions about their benefits. He enjoys working with clients to cultivate a smooth process for everyone involved. Nathen has always been drawn to roles that are people-centric and truly value the collaborative approach that the team at Ep6ix utilizes. When not at work, he enjoys live music, movies, theater, and just about anything that gets him outdoors.
Melissa Saenz - Associate Implementation Consultant
Melissa started her insurance career in the voluntary benefits industry in 2002. Most of her career was spent on the east coast, until moving to Arizona for an opportunity to work directly with Tom McKiernan in 2018. She brought with her over 20 years of experience in sales, recruiting, training, and management. Melissa has worked with companies of all sizes from small mom and pop’s to major corporations. She takes pride in building strong customer relationships.
Her experience in the industry, passion for structure, and attention to detail made joining the Ep6ix team a perfect fit. Melissa is a graduate of West Virginia University. She enjoys the outdoors by camping, hiking, and boating. She loves to cook, travel, play games, and most of all, Melissa loves spending time with her family.
Johann Scrimshire – Associate Implementation Consultant
Johann worked in the employee benefits space collaborating with multiple brokers for almost 6 years before joining Ep6ix in June of 2020. As an early adopter of technology with a passion for education and a background in training, he continually helped his clients elevate the enrollment experience for thousands of their employees. As a teen, he became an Eagle Scout and that experience set him on a lifelong path of helping those around him be the highest, best versions of themselves. Johann’s life goal is to be one of the biggest, most giving philanthropists. He’s not there yet but diligently works on it each day. One of Johann’s gifts is he has the remarkable ability to take complicated information and explain it in ways that everyone understands. Ep6ix is the best, most natural fit of his career.
Sharon Martin-Toussaint - Associate Implementation Consultant
For more than 20 years, Sharon enjoyed a thriving career as a Senior Sales Executive in commercial printing and publishing. Known throughout her industry as a trusted leader, Sharon has driven business growth, revenue, and market recognition for several major global companies, utilizing her skills and experience in marketing, customer service, and client relations, as well as her, demonstrated technical knowledge and subject matter expertise. With a genuine passion for problem-solving and helping others find solutions, Sharon has made a natural career transition into the insurance industry, as she continues to lead with a strong focus on customer service and developing close and continuous relationships with her clients. Sharon began her insurance career with Aflac in 2018 and quickly moved into a District Sales Coordinator position, successfully leading a team of agents. We are excited to now have Sharon as part of our team here at Ep6ix. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Production Management from New York University and her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Corporate Finance from Bernard Baruch College.
Sean Gleason – Associate Implementation Consultant
Since graduating from Villanova University with a B.S. in Business Administration, Sean has been assisting businesses and individuals with their employee benefits and insurance challenges for over 18 years. He started in the insurance industry providing supplemental benefits to businesses, with a focus on the medical field. To better serve his clients, Sean expanded into several other lines of insurance. He has experience managing large accounts, working with brokers, and with several enrollment platforms. Sean prides himself on being detail-orientated and providing excellent customer service. He loves finding solutions to complicated problems and working with clients to make sure that their expectations are exceeded. Sean is a husband, a proud father of two, a volunteer firefighter, and enjoys running and tennis in his spare time. He’ll be running the New York City Marathon for the first time later this year.
Justin Buck – Associate Implementation Consultant
Most people don’t grow up aspiring to work in insurance, but Justin Buck did. At 16 he began learning more about the industry from his family’s business and thought this might be the right fit. After graduating from college, Justin decided to start his own book of business as an insurance agent and has never looked back. Throughout his career, he has served in various leadership roles and was one of the first Ep6ix Benefit Counselors. Justin is excited to take the skills he’s developed over the years and apply them as an Associate Implementation Consultant, helping employers and brokers improve the benefits experience for their employees and clients. Justin resides in Portland CT with his fiancé Natalie and Chocolate lab George. In Justin’s free time he spends time with his family, out on the golf course, or at the beach.
Maleta "Lynn" Manweiler - Associate Implementation Consultant
Lynn learned early the value of a commitment to customer service and a strong work ethic in her parents’ small family chain of retail stores. Her 30-year career spans work in nonprofit, local government, and employee benefits with primary roles in project management, sales, community development, and customer service. She has a strong dependable reputation of service and dedication to her broker partners, employers, and their employees, and this same attention to customer service, integrity, and a consultative benefits education process led her to find a home with Ep6ix.
Duane Townsend - Associate Implementation Consultant
After 20 Years in US Navy working in Logistics and Project Management, he retired. Now working in his 19th year of voluntary benefits wholesale, direct sales, and sales management experience. Has In-depth knowledge of industry trends, an avid student of technology and business trends in the insurance industry. His priority is to ensure client satisfaction and collaborate with teammates to ensure the highest quality results. Has been with Ep6ix since August 2022
Lori Veillette - Associate Implementation Consultant
Lori graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering concentrating in Computer Technology from the University of New Haven. She worked for 20 years as a computer programmer. After leaving the programming field, Lori became an Office Manager in a pediatrician's office where she gained experience in Medical Plans. She left that position to become an Insurance Agent for Aflac in 2010. For the last 12 years, Lori has grown her business to include medical plans, voluntary benefits, Life Insurance and Property, and Casualty insurance, offering her clients the best customer service possible. In the fall of 2020, Lori joined the Ep6ix team as a benefit consultant where she has participated in numerous core and voluntary cases. She feels it is important to not only educate the employee on the benefits but also listen to their individual needs to make sure they enroll in the best coverage. She is always willing to lend a hand to others, has a strong work ethic, and pays attention to details. In her spare time, Lori enjoys spending time with her husband, painting, crafting, and visiting her children in Hawaii and Colorado.
Mike Baecker - Associate Implementation Consultant
Mike graduated from Endicott College with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing in 2011. After spending a few years working for a medical debt collector after college, Mike quickly began to realize that the average person was poorly educated when it comes to their insurance. When an opportunity in the employee benefits industry presented itself in 2014, Mike dove right in and never looked back. He has managed an extremely productive team of between 10 and 15 agents for the past five years and has managed relationships with hundreds of businesses of all sizes. Mike is passionate about hiking, travelling, camping, history, and helping people when they need it most.
Rebecca Pitcher - Associate Implementation Consultant
Rebecca, most fondly known as Becki, graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a specialization in Equine. After 8+ years of experience working in public relations, marketing, and communications, Becki transitioned her career to employee benefits. For 9 years, Becki has worked as an independent agent growing her business, facilitating broker relationships, and providing the best customer service possible to her clients. In the fall of 2021, Becki joined the Ep6ix team as a benefit consultant where she has participated in numerous core and voluntary cases and has been asked to assist on special projects. Becki takes a holistic approach to employee benefits and believes education is the key to the implementation and success of any benefits program. Becki is a dedicated, hard worker, who pays astute attention to detail and enjoys collaborating with a team for the very best outcome of a project. When not working, Becki enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and horseback riding.
Jeff Felter - Associate Implementation Consultant
After graduating from the University of Southern California, Jeff began his career working at several, large Advertising Agencies in both NY and Chicago. He was responsible for producing award-winning TV commercials for many Fortune 500 companies. That experience led Jeff to use his organizational skills in the insurance industry. For the last 11 years, Jeff has been consulting, coordinating, servicing, and enrolling Clients and employees in their benefits. He enjoys educating and communicating with others about their challenging and oftentimes confusing Health Care options.
Thornton Ring - Associate Implementation Consultant
After a 20-year career at sea that culminated in 7 years serving as the Captain and Operations Manager of semi-submersible drill-ships, Thornton was ready to take more charge of his own schedule and decided to put his team building skills to work as an independent consultant. Thornton joined Ep6ix in 2021 as a benefits counselor with a desire to learn more about the core enrollment process and the future of integrating People and Platform to provide a better enrollment experience for employees. Drawing on his own experience as an employee of a large corporation that conducted Open Enrollment through a website with 1-page info sheets to explain the benefits options Thornton firmly believes there is a better way, and that it is possible for a company of any size to provide their employees with a 1:1 consultation at open enrollment.
Karen Kiefer - Associate Implementation Consultant
Karen graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with a BA in Communications. She was a radio disc jockey and Newspaper Editor right out of college, but was introduced to the insurance industry very early in her career. She has over 35 years in the insurance field, the first 20 years in Office Management. She has been an IT Manager, Human Resources Manager as well as a Business Manager. Because of her solid experience in the management realm, she has outstanding leadership, organizational and communication skills. She has many years of training and team building experience and because of her excellent understanding of the importance of training, she also became a public speaker for other insurance agencies regarding their agency software. After 27 years in the management field, Karen decided to obtain her insurance license and become an independent agent. She has been an independent insurance agent for the last 8 years and has been involved with hundreds of enrollments both in person and virtually with both individual and group products. When she was introduced to Ep6ix, becoming a Benefits Counselor in 2021 was a straightforward decision. She is passionate about helping people understand the products that are being offered to them and create positive client relationships through the enrollment process.
Chris Butler - Associate Implementation Consultant
After graduating from Wagner College with a B.S. in Computer Science, Chris has spent a large majority of his career working for Fortune 500 financial firms. Throughout this time, he has held various positions as a software developer, project lead and project manager. A desired career change brought Chris into the health benefits sphere where he has been an asset as a Benefit Counselor and Agent. In addition to these skills and experiences, Chris brings a very affable demeaner which has proven useful in building relationships.
Christopher Tari - Enrollment and Technology Trainer
Chris graduated from the University at Albany in 2010 with a B.A. in Communications and quickly began his career in Employee Benefits soon after. As the Enrollment and Technology Trainer, Chris supports Benefits Counselors by training them on the enrollment technology and assists them with how to prepare, organize and execute a successful enrollment. Furthermore, he helps the Benefits Counselors maximize each conversation by balancing the core benefits with a strategic delivery of the worksite and voluntary benefits. When Chris is not working, he enjoys cooking, fishing, and spending time with his wife and two children.
Charleen Wright - Account Executive
Charleen graduated with her MBA from Medaille College of New York. She began her professional career in Employee Benefits over 6 years ago after 20+ years in customer service across a variety of industries, including finance, banking, and telecommunications. Charleen is a dedicated, hard worker that collaborates closely with her teams to ensure efficiency and success. Charleen’s tireless devotion to her projects leads her to go above and beyond for her clients in implementing their strategies and optimizing productivity. Charleen enjoys reading, spending quality time with her family, and traveling. You can find her outside of work playing board games or playing on the beach.
Sophia Gilmer - Multi-Media Manager
In a bygone era, Sophia would be called a Gal Friday, having worked for McKiernan & Associates since 2009 in various capacities. Beginning in Human Resources, as a Recruiter/Headhunter, for Tom McKiernan’s agency in Connecticut through to his time running a carrier's Arizona market in 2017. When there is a great idea bandied about that requires someone to figure it out and execute it, Sophia is often tasked with it. As a logophile and linguist, she is currently most occupied as a content writer, copywriter, and editor creating multi-media marketing as well as E-learning content. As one who believes there is a place, method, and system for everything, administrative duties are never too far-off or rebuffed. In 2019, when the inspiration of Ep6ix struck, Sophia was the first to join, and as always, is happy to do whatever needs to be done and beyond excited to see just how far we can take it.
Diana Manzano - Digital Projects Team Lead
Diana is an architect, graduating from San Buenaventura University of Cali in Colombia. After 5 years of working in design and construction, she joined the marketing department on Ep6ix, in January 2023, contributing her discernable knowledge of various design programs to generate plans and proposals for Brokers and Clients.
As the current youngest member of the team, Diana brings a fresh perspective, new ideas, and solutions that advance the development of a number of departments in addition to marketing. She stands out for her ability to source and quickly learn new programs that augment Ep6ix in the use of new technologies.
When not at work, Diana enjoys shopping, going out with her friends, travel, concerts, and festivals as well as binge-worthy television.
Angela Gutierrez - Marketing and Data Analyst
Angela has a degree in Accounting and Finance from Colombia and has over 10 years of cost and tax experience. She stands out for her willingness to help and effectively contributes to all assigned projects.
She came to Ep6ix to work in marketing data analysis in 2022, after having worked in a tax firm in Miami, Fl. She has a desire to learn and work in a different Industry. She is completely willing to help and acquire knowledge about the solutions and benefits that we at Ep6ix offer to employees and companies.
Isabel Valencia - Marketing and Data Analyst
Isabel took a less traveled route but brings all her diverse and invaluable experience and training with her to Ep6ix. After receiving her Law degree in Colombia, she gained vital experience in customer relations and service, legal document drafting, and finely honed analytical skills. Now residing in The United States, she is eager to acquire new knowledge and skills to further her professional development in diverse fields and contributes her intelligence, positivity, and enthusiasm to collaborate on various tasks primarily within the Marketing Department.
Apart from her work, Isabel enjoys the beach, exploring new places, outdoor activities including running and cycling, and above all cherishes quality time with her family.
