Lauren Winans

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang Episode 022: Lauren Winans

Lauren Winans is the Chief Executive Officer and Principal HR Consultant for Next Level Benefits, an HR consulting practice offering clients access to HR professionals for both short-term and long-term projects. With 20 years of human resources and employee benefits experience, Winans possesses deep expertise in HR best practices and resonates with employees. She founded Next Level Benefits in 2019, offering HR teams access to former corporate HR professionals on-demand when they need them most.

Winans’ experiences at various global, multi-generational, geographically dispersed organizations have prepared her well for assisting clients of all sizes and from any industry. Prior to becoming CEO of Next Level Benefits, Winans served as a senior HR leader and responsibly managed all aspects of health, welfare, absence management, and retirement at General Nutrition Centers, American Eagle Outfitters, and CONSOL Energy. While working for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Winans acquired an extensive knowledge of the health insurance industry.

Throughout her career, Winans has been focused on improving culture and enhancing the total rewards offered at the companies she has worked for and provided guidance to. She is strategically focused yet tactically proficient and brings a holistic perspective to each client project.  

Winans is a member of the Forbes Business Council, Business Journals Leadership Trust, and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). She is a non-profit board member and an active volunteer for patient advocacy. She is also a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management and Robert Morris University with a Master’s in Business Administration.  

Listen to this dynamic The Confident Retirement Podcast episode with Lauren Winans about employees’ benefits and advantages in getting help from a company that has extra expertise in dealing with HR works.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

-The feeling of being in a hamster wheel in a corporate world and then being free by building Lauren’s own business

-Variety of reasons why you need services from an HR expert company

-Offering a robust benefits package to be a competitive business

-Blind spots in company offerings

-Top three retirement benefits

-Auto-enrollment and Auto-escalation and the barriers why companies are not doing it

-Enrichment opportunities not only an employer's obligation but also a societal obligation

-Her passion about Patient Advocacy

-Staying up to speed on everything despite the inevitable changes

-Impacts in commoditization and the pandemic

Connect with Lauren

Website: https://www.nlbenefits.com/

E-mail: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nlbenefits

Connect with Kris

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: @kflammang

Highlights:

[05:31-05:47]

“If I knew what I know now, I would not have lost any sleep. I would not have stressed over how the website looks and all the different components that go into creating a business.”

[18:03-18:10]

“I really think that employers need to kind of step back and assess what their philosophy around employee benefits is.”

[29:22-29:45] 

“But generally speaking, I feel that it is very important for folks to be heard when they are seeking care. And for them to be able to ask questions and get educated and get information from their doctors and feel confident in their treatment plans in their care.”

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