FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Allison Quinn, Director of Marketing & Communications, 484-838-9815, allison.quinn@equinoxbenefits.com

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Emmaus, PA (May 5, 2021) – When Tom Groves founded The Equinox Agency in 2005, he set out to build a company with uncompromising integrity and exceptional client service. Sixteen years later, he and business partner Dan Gagnier are proud to say that commitment has not changed. But they are even more excited about how what has changed will lead the company, now known as Equinox Benefits Consulting, forward. In support of the company’s evolution and goals, Groves was recently named Chief Executive Officer and Gagnier was named Chief Strategy Officer. Additionally, Melissa Buck was promoted to Chief Financial Officer.

“The landscape of healthcare insurance and employee benefits is constantly changing, and we’ve been fortunate to continue grow in our scope and services,” said Groves. “Still, the pandemic accelerated the pace of change in ways we couldn’t have imagined a short time ago. To continue to provide the best support for our clients, Equinox also needs to evolve.”

“We’ve done that by building a service model and team structure, both internal and client-facing, that is truly proactive in its approach to finding and implementing innovative strategies that best fit our client’s needs,” said Gagnier.

In her new role as CFO, Melissa Buck, who joined Equinox in 2019 as Controller, will take the lead in overseeing all financial operations for Equinox and its sister company, Streamline HR. She will also manage the newly-formed Shared Services division, which supports accounting, human resources, and marketing and communications functions for both companies.

Melissa’s attention to detail, tireless work ethic, and CPA experience working previously for a billion-dollar international organization has made her irreplaceable to the Equinox and Streamline HR teams,” said CEO Tom Groves. “As both Equinox and Streamline HR continue to grow and evolve, her leadership, commitment to our companies’ core values, and keen financial sense will be increasingly valuable,” noted Chief Strategy Officer Dan Gagnier.

Buck has more than 14 years of experience in corporate and public accounting during which she honed her expertise in financial analysis, reporting, and developing and implementing process improvements. Her previous roles included positions at Buzzi Unicem USA (Bethlehem, PA), Fisher Clinical Services, Inc. (Allentown, PA), and Deloitte & Touche LLP, (Allentown, PA) where she began her career working with clients like Mack Trucks and Victaulic. She is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA).

Tom Groves, CEO, has over 20 years of industry experience and is an expert in negotiation, self-funding, and employee engagement. As the founder and principal partner, Tom has led Equinox to be one of the fastest-growing companies in the region year over year.

Dan Gagnier, CSO, has over 16 years of industry experience, with the last 10 years as a partner with Equinox. He is an expert in self-funding insurance programs and strategies for cost containment. Dan specializes in advising organizations and corporations in choosing healthcare products that not only fit their needs but also control costs.

About Equinox Benefits Consulting & Streamline HR

Founded in 2005, Equinox Benefits Consulting provides employee benefits consulting services to more than 500 clients nationwide. Located in Emmaus, Pa., Equinox aims to deliver proactive, innovative health and ancillary benefit solutions with exceptional customer service to its clients – allowing employers of all sizes to offer attractive, affordable benefits to their employees without sacrificing quality of care. Equinox has been honored year after year with multiple industry awards including “Who’s Who in Business,” and Lehigh Valley Business’s “Reader Rankings,” “Game Changers,” “Fastest Growing Companies,” and “Best Places to Work.”

Recognizing how intertwined benefits and human resources are, Equinox founded its in-house third-party administrator, which now operates as Streamline HR, in 2007 to provide high-tech automation solutions for all HR needs including payroll, benefits administration, COBRA, and spending accounts administration.

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