Kelly Smith

Kelly M. Smith, CIC
Owner, KGS Insurance Services, LLC
Partner/Director of Operations for AmeriBen Alliance, LLC


Kelly founded KGS Insurance Services, LLC in 1998 after working in the Employee Benefits field for over 7 years. In 2001 she merged with three agencies to form Ameriben Alliance, LLC to offer a broader array of products with a focus on superior customer service.  She has over 20 years of experience in this field and she recently achieved her Certified Insurance Consultant license.  Kelly’s name is synonymous with Employee Benefits in Middlesex County.

Kelly is the current Chairwomen of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  She is a past chair of the Insurance Committee and she is also a member of the Chambers’ Healthcare Council and Legislative Committee.

Kelly is a member of ConnectiCare’s Small Group Advisory Council and a past member of Anthem BC/BS’s Producer Advisory Council.  Aside from being a business owner and working in her chosen field, Kelly is very active in various civic organizations within the community.

Kelly is the past President of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Middlesex United Way. Throughout her tenure as a United Way volunteer, she has held positions on many boards and subcommittees. Some of the most recent being, Chair of the Nominating Committee, Chair of the Personnel Committee and Chair of the Community Impact Council.  She currently maintains a Board of Director’s position, is a member of the Campaign Development Team and also the Middlesex United Way’s Women’s Initiative. 

Kelly’s other civic involvement is with Middlesex Hospital. She is a Corporator, member of the Philanthropy Council and has also served as President and Vice President of the Community Council.

Her professional organizations include the National Association of Health Underwriters, Connecticut Benefit Brokers, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, and the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Kelly’s distinctions include the Hartford Business Journal’s 2001 and 2002 Forty under Forty Award.  The 2005 Women & Families Center Community Service Award, The 2008 SBA Women in Business Champion of the year award and the 2009 Middlesex United Way Community Service Award.  She is a graduate of Middlesex Community College and has also attained credits towards a Registered Employee Benefits Consultant and Registered Health Underwriter at the American College, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Rob Thomson

Rob Thomson - Thomson Financial Services, L.L.C.
Rob Thomson is a graduate of Southington High School and Syracuse University. He served as captain of their football team his senior year as well as being named team MVP and Scholar Athlete. Following college, he had a brief stint with the New England Patriots. He joined a Travelers subsidiary, Bankers & Shippers Insurance Company, for the next three years. With Bankers & Shippers, he held the position of Senior Territory Manager that included working with over 400 insurance agencies throughout New England. He was responsible for marketing and agency development with their Property & Casualty products. His background of agency management was natural fit for Thomson Financial Services along with a strong working knowledge of insurance. Rob joined Thomson Financial in 1995. His a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce where he was Chairman of the Apple Harvest Festival. He also is a member of The Connecticut Underwriters Association and a member of the Connecticut Benefit Brokers. Rob is the former head football coach at Bristol Central High School. Rob and his wife, have two sons and reside in Southington.

Paul Smith

Paul E. Smith - Paul E. Smith Insurance
Paul Smith, Vice President of Sales for AmeriBen Alliance, LLC, started in the insurance business in July of 1973 as an agent for the Prudential Insurance Company of America; he was then promoted to Sales manager four years later, where he managed a sales staff of ten people. In this position, Paul and his staff qualified for the company's top honors with sales results placing them in the top 10% of the company. He was promoted to Regional Vice-President covering the Massachusetts and Connecticut territories and later promoted to District Manager of the Connecticut area. In 1986, Paul joined Connecticut National Life as Regional Vice President promoting product and sales for New England. In 1989 he started his own business concentrating on group health and life insurance. Paul is involved in the community and currently serves on the board of Connecticut Chapter of the March of Dimes; he has served as President of the Chapter and is currently Vice President of Fundraising. He is past President of Granby Chamber of Commerce and Granby Lions Club, and he served on the Governors advisory council. Paul is currently President of the Berlin Chamber. In addition, Paul is past President of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters and is a member of the Connecticut Benefit Brokers. Paul currently lives in Berlin with is wife, Patti. He has a Golf Handicap of 18.

Keith J. Bell
Keith J. Bell - Benefit Plans Unlimited, Inc.
Keith J. Bell, Director of Communications for AmeriBen Alliance, LLC, founded Benefit Plans Unlimited in 1987. Keith has over 20 years of experience in the employee benefit field serving in various management and sales positions with employee benefit companies. He maintains a license as a Certified Insurance Consultant in the State of Connecticut. Keith was an employee benefit consultant for several boards of education and municipalities throughout Connecticut, as well as for private industry. He is President of the Connecticut Chapter National Association of Health Underwriters. Keith specializes in large group consulting, yet he counts among his clients many small and medium sized businesses. He is a member of Connecticut Benefit Brokers having served as their Director of Communications and on their Board of Directors for several years before becoming active in the National Association of Health Underwriters. Keith was instrumental in developing a Community Healthcare Plan for Windham County, working with business leaders from the region along with Windham County Memorial Hospital, The Windham Physician Hospital Organization, The Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and MedSpan Health Options. Keith is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University and lives with his wife, Eleanor, in Bloomfield. He is active in the Hartford Insurance City Chorus and has served as their president and board member for many years.


John Parker

John C. Parker, RHU, LTCP
A health related benefits advisor since January 1985, focused on implementing cost effective benefit plans. This is accomplished with solutions such as:
• Developing benefit programs which serve client needs and meet employee interests.
• Helping employers understand the value to them and their employees of new approaches such as Health Savings Accounts
• Focused communication and education so employees understand and are effective in using their health related benefit coverage.
Professional Associations: Clients gain and professional knowledge of benefit trends and emerging products is enhanced through participation in national level conferences (5 in 2005) and active membership in:
• American Association for Long Term Care Insurance (AALTCI)
• Association of Health Insurance Advisors (AHIA)
• Connecticut Benefit Brokers (CBB)
• National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU)
• National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)
• Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP)
Previous Experience: Extensive knowledge and skills gained during 18 years in human resources, benefit management, and employee and labor relations with three manufacturing businesses and a preventive labor relations consulting firm.
Education:
• Master of Science in Personnel Administration, George Washington University, Wash. D.C.
• Bachelors, Business Administration, Thiel College, Greenville, PA.
• Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), American College, Bryn Mawr, PA
• Long Term Care Professional (LTCP). AALTC with HIAA's Education Division, Washington DC
Community and Personal Activities:
• Serve various community and non-profit organizations through Board of Directors and Committee work. Active in a 700 member church
• Former Adjunct Faculty, University of New Haven in SE CT - undergraduate Management courses
• Captain, U.S. Naval Reserve (retired).

William S. "Bill" Thomson
AmeriBen Alliance lost one of its founders on January 5, 2003.
Bill was a remarkable man that will be sorely missed. He touched many lives with never-ending devotion to his family, friends, and community. Bill's spirit will forever remain in the hearts and minds of all who shared the pleasure of his friendship. His quick wit and life experiences brought well-heeled perspective to the formation of Ameriben Alliance and his goodwill to all shall forever remain a legacy.


Ameriben Staff
Front Row (L to R): Bob Viets, Paul Smith.
Middle Row (L to R): Donna Calnan, Kelly Smith, Laura Roy.
Top: Richelle Carlone