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Laurie Hoag-Winkler
Executive Vice President, National Practice Lead, Employee Benefits
Professional Background
Laurie Hoag-Winkler is a highly accomplished professional in the field of employee benefits, boasting extensive experience and a remarkable track record of success across multiple organizations. Currently serving as the National Practice Lead for Employee Benefits at IMA Financial Group, Inc., Laurie plays a pivotal role in shaping the strategies and direction of employee benefits services, ensuring that clients receive innovative and effective solutions tailored to their needs.
Laurie's leadership journey began with her role as Vice President at Van Gilder Insurance Corporation, where she laid the groundwork for her career in the insurance industry, honing her skills in management and customer service. Her dedication and expertise led her to ascend to the position of Director of Group Programs at IMA, Inc., where she made significant contributions to the development of comprehensive programs that cater to the diverse needs of clients.
Following her success at IMA, Laurie became the Employee Benefits Practice Leader at USI Colorado, further enhancing her reputation as a strategic thinker and expert in employee benefits. Her tenure at Lockton Companies as Senior Vice President, Director allowed her to deepen her industry insights, focusing on delivering exceptional employee benefits solutions that address both company and employee objectives. Throughout her career, Laurie has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to professional growth and leadership, showcasing her ability to navigate complex challenges and deliver results.
Education and Achievements
Laurie pursued her education at Alfred State College - SUNY College of Technology, where she developed a solid foundation in technical and professional skills that would serve her throughout her career. Her academic background laid the groundwork for her eventual rise in the corporate world, equipping her with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are vital for success in the competitive insurance and employee benefits industry.
Achievements
Laurie's career is marked by numerous achievements and milestones that reflect her dedication and expertise in employee benefits. One of her notable contributions includes the innovative programs she has initiated to improve employee engagement and satisfaction, ensuring that employees receive access to valuable benefits that enhance their well-being. Additionally, by leading teams of talented professionals, she has inspired and influenced a new generation of leaders in the insurance and employee benefits sector.
Her expertise and leadership qualities have not only driven her personal success but have also significantly impacted the organizations she has been a part of, strengthening their client relationships and contributing to overall business growth. Through her diverse roles and impactful contributions, Laurie Hoag-Winkler continues to be a prominent figure in the employee benefits landscape, advocating for solutions that benefit both employers and employees alike.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
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- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
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Clay is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Clay is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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