Meet the Masters: Unscripted & Unplugged (1.5 CE Credits)

Want to know what separates a successful Benefits Advisor from an average one? Join us for this special 90-minute interactive Zoomcast, where we bring together top industry experts Michael Barrow, Derrick Gleed, Chris Gory, and Blake Waddell, who collectively have over 100 years of experience in Group Insurance. These experts will share their insights, experiences, and strategies for success, providing unparalleled advice.

Don’t miss this one-time exclusive event! Mark your calendar now for an unscripted and unplugged session. Our panelists will speak candidly from the heart, without any pre-prepared questions. This is your chance to experience raw and genuine insights firsthand.

In this Zoomcast, you’ll gain insights on:

• Key traits and habits that distinguish top-performing Benefits Advisors.
• How to build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with your clients.
• Innovative approaches to designing and implementing employee benefits plans.
• Q&A Session.

Meet the Panel

Andrea Ballett

With more than forty-one years in the industry, Andrea has built a practice anchored in education, transparency, and long-term relationships. She focuses on clients with fifteen or more employees and supports organizations ranging from very small groups to those with more than six hundred employees. More than sixty-five percent of her block is ASO through The Benefits Trust. Andrea works primarily in the GTA, with clients in multiple provinces. Her philosophy is simple: educate clients so they can make informed decisions today and tomorrow.

Sarah Becker

Sarah brings nearly twenty-five years of experience from both regional and global advisory firms and now partners with Barill and Company. She specializes exclusively in group benefits and helps organizations create plans that balance cost sustainability, employee understanding, risk management, and program effectiveness. Sarah is known for making benefits meaningful and accessible. She contributes to HR associations, CGIB, and the National Group Benefit Meetings. Much of her work is rooted in the non-profit sector, although she thrives with any organization that values the physical, financial, and emotional wellbeing of its people.

Michael Wortsman

With more than twenty years of industry experience, Michael has dedicated his career to helping organizations support their employees with innovative benefit solutions. After joining his father in the industry, he founded The Employee Benefits Company and built a reputation for responsiveness, creativity, and deep technical knowledge. Now a founding partner at Bridgewell, Michael continues to help employers compete for talent by designing plans that meet the demands of a global workforce. He is a long-standing member of the Canadian Group Insurance Brokers, a former Manulife Small Business Advisor Panel member, and a frequent contributor to industry publications and seminars.

Dave Patriarche

Founder and Registrar of CGIB, Dave has been operating Mainstay Insurance Brokerage since 1996. His practice is focused one hundred percent on employee benefits. He works exclusively in Ontario and typically serves groups ranging from two to twenty lives, while also supporting clients with more than one hundred and fifty lives. Dave is recognized across the industry for his expertise, his work on advisory panels, and his role as an Expert Witness in employee benefit cases. He also serves on the FSRAO Technical Advisory Committee on Insurer Oversight of Managing General Agencies.