Nice to Meet You.

Let us introduce ourselves. We are strategists, enthusiasts, humanitarians, and detectives. A dynamic group of people who all share a passion for saving lives.



Want to get to know more about us? Scroll over the grid above to learn more about each of us in turn. And if you like what you learn, connect with us on Facebook, tweet with us on Twitter, link up with us on LinkedIn, watch our latest videos or read our latest blog posts! There are so many ways to join in on the Ovation Experience!

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Allison Lantieri, Marketing Director

Allison Lantieri brings sixteen years of marketing and communications healthcare experience to the Ovation team and has worked for both for-profit and non-profit B2B and B2C organizations.

Prior to joining Ovation Allison spent more than a decade in eldercare and aging advocacy as a strategic marketing consultant for the Pioneer Network and Director of Communications for the Institute for Caregiver Education. Her love for elders began with her work as Director of Marketing for Apple Healthcare (now Apple Rehab), an eldercare provider nationally recognized for their commitment to person-centered care. It was during her time at Apple that she made eldercare advocacy a personal commitment.

Allison holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications, a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Minor in Public Relations from West Virginia Wesleyan College. Allison is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and the American Marketing Association. She is a blogger, antique lover and storyteller, and lives in Broad Brook with her husband and her two children.

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“Marketing is about connecting with an audience. You can't truly connect unless you have an engaging story to tell. Ovation has one–and having the opportunity to tell it is an honor.” -Allison Lantieri


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Bill Carew, Chief Executive Officer

Bill Carew is President and Chief Executive Officer responsible for the strategic, operational and financial performance of the company. Central to the strategic mission of the company is the ability to deliver high impact and continuously improving results in both employee benefits/risk management and in workforce health/risk reduction.

Given the state of health in the U.S. and around the developed world, Bill and the leadership team appreciate the enormity of this challenge and understand that delivering exceptionable, sustainable results can only be achieved with a delegated operating model that empowers and supports business leaders to deliver results through high performing, high energy teams.

He is a proud graduate of Boston College with a BA in History and he has an MA in Economics from Trinity College. He currently serves as Chair of the Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors as well as the Metro-Hartford Alliance Healthcare Task Force Wellness Committee. Bill and his wife Karen reside in Simsbury, CT with their 4 children.

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“The problems in healthcare are huge, but the opportunities are even bigger. I love the challenge, and I love having the chance to make a real difference.” -Bill Carew


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William Mauke, President, Workforce Health

Bill Mauke brings more than 30 years of experience in the health benefits industry to his position. He is responsible for Ovation's Workforce Health business unit and has been responsible for many of the company's pioneering initiatives in workplace health management programs and consumer directed health plans. Bill is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences on the topics of population health management and healthcare consumerism. He is active in industry organizations including the National Business Group on Health and the Institute for Health and Productivity Management.

Prior to joining Ovation, Bill managed health benefit operations for three national insurance carriers in Atlanta, New York and Boston, and has been responsible for client relationships with national accounts including NASA, BIC Corp, Reebok, LL Bean and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission.

Bill has a BA in Economics from Colgate University.

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“The work that we are doing to engage employers in looking at Workforce Health as a significant business strategy is crucial to saving millions of healthcare dollars. More important is the real impact we can have on actually saving lives.” -Bill Mauke


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Brian F. Driscoll, Chief Operating Officer

Brian Driscoll is a founding Partner of Ovation Benefits Group. Prior to founding Ovation Benefits and its predecessor company CarewDriscoll, Brian held a number of positions in the healthcare industry with Johnson & Higgins, Aetna and Travelers.

In addition to his extensive background in the negotiation and financing of employee benefits, Brian has also overseen the area of compliance for Ovation Benefits. He is a frequent participant and speaker in the company's seminar series and has advised and trained employer groups in various areas including HIPAA and Medicare Part D.

He currently is an active board member of the Connecticut Benefit Brokers (CBB) and participates on the insurance company (Anthem & Connecticare) broker advisory councils.

Brian attended Trinity College where he received a BA in Mathematics. Brian, his wife Kathy, and their daughter Emily reside in Burlington. In his free time, Brian is an active member of St. Patrick's Church in Collinsville; he also coaches youth sports and enjoys playing golf.

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“The general success of our organization centers on our commitment to hire and retain the best available talent. Hardworking, smart and energetic people provide our organization with the highest quality service experience for our customers, the culture we desire and the innovation necessary to continue our success.” -Brian Driscoll


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Caroline Hills, Human Resource Manager

Caroline Hills joined the Ovation team in May of 2011 as the organization's Human Resource Manager and brings more than twenty years of experience to the position. She is responsible for management of all human resources, including talent acquisition, benefit administration, performance review management, employee relations and communication and enhancing existing programs while developing new strategies to prepare for projected growth. Her goal is to support and communicate the needs of employees and to ensure employee retention through training and growth opportunities.

Caroline is a seasoned human resource specialist known for her ability to quickly assess situations while providing creative and realistic solutions to everyday problems. Prior to joining Ovation she worked over 10 years within the financial services industry acting in a Human Resource capacity for investment companies including Bridgewater Associates, Citigroup and Russell Investments. Prior to that Caroline was responsible for Office Management and Human Resource Generalist activities with Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company where she was awarded the company's Regional Vice President Award for Excellence.

Caroline is a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University with a BA in Psychology.

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“I'm engaged in fostering a hospitable and welcoming environment for our employees while also offering programs and services to enhance the culture within our organization.” -Caroline Hills


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John Carew, Chief Sales Officer

John Carew has been Chief Sales Officer and Partner to Ovation since its inception in 2002. With more than twenty years of experience in the managed care industry, John is responsible for all business development activities for Ovation. His passion and natural affinity for sales management has helped build a top-notch sales team and he takes great pride in the thoughtful solutions his team members bring to every business opportunity they encounter.

Before joining the Ovation team, John was a member of Carew, Driscoll & Associates where he spent 100% of his time on building new business sales. Prior to that, John spent five years working in business operations and sales with Tufts Health Plans and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare in Boston.

John received his BA from Providence College where he studied economics and art history. When not working, John enjoys running marathons, playing rugby, coaching baseball and traveling with his family. John and his wife Kirsten reside in Simsbury, Connecticut with their three young boys.

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“People don't need another broker right now. They need a solution. And we have it.” -John Carew


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Carrie Balicki, AVP, Workforce Health Operations

Carrie joined Ovation in July of 2005 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Workforce Health Operations Manager. Her main responsibilities include the day to day operations and client management for our Workforce Health business.

Prior to joining the Workforce Health team Carrie was Practice Leader for our small business group. She spent five years in that role managing approximately 125 of our insurance clients. Carrie is a past recipient of Ovation's internal quarterly achievement award which recognizes employees who exhibit positive energy, initiative, concern for their colleagues and a dedication to the company mission.

Carrie is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business and a minor in Accounting. She spends her free time with husband Greg and three beautiful boys, William, Nicholas and Jackson.

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“Our work will help our clients save lives. This mission is what makes it easy for our team to be focused, energized and passionate about the work we do every day. ” -Carrie Balicki


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Dr. Charles H. Taylor, MD, Medical Director

Charles H. Taylor, MD, serves as Medical Director for Ovation and for the Taylor-High Clinic, a preventive medical center in Atlanta, GA. He also serves as medical advisor for several Fortune 500 Corporations. Dr. Taylor is recognized as a Top Doctor in America by U.S. News World and Report. He was a member of the medical advisory committee to the Georgia Governor and served on the CDC Business & Expert Panel to develop and provide resources to states for setting guidelines and standards in the field of health promotion and preventive healthcare.

Previously, Dr. Taylor served as Medical Director of the Emory Clinic Perimeter where he designed preventive evaluations and comprehensive intervention programs for top executives of Fortune 500 Companies. Dr. Taylor is a co-author of Ovation's Risk Reduction Program which has served thousands of individuals at worksites across the US.

Dr. Taylor received his B. S., Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN and his M.D. at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Taylor is a member of the American Academy of Family Practitioners, American Medical Association, Georgia Academy of Family Practice and the American Heart Association, Georgia Affiliate. He is certified by the American Association of Family Practice, National Board of Medical Examiners and is licensed by the State of Georgia.

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“It wasn't until the 90s we realized the only way to empty the lobby of sick people is to see them when they are well. You've got to get to these folks early to change their lives.” -Dr. Charles Taylor, MD


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Jeff Worley, Practice Leader, Small Business

Prior to joining Ovation, Jeff served as Executive Director at Benefits Consulting Group, LLC, a company he founded in 2000. Jeff has over 20 years of experience in the employee benefits arena including several leadership positions at Kaiser Permanente, most recently serving as Director of Sales for the Connecticut and New York markets, with responsibility for sales, marketing, account management, as well as several fortune 500 clients. Jeff is a major proponent of health improvement initiatives and continues to seek innovative health solutions for all business partners.

Jeff has a BA in Economics from Hope College in Holland, Michigan and an MBA with a dual Finance/Marketing concentration from The University of Connecticut.

Jeff resides in Canton, Connecticut with his wife Karen and their two sons. He has been involved in youth lacrosse and ski racing and volunteers as a ski racing coach for the Ct Special Olympics Winter Games. Jeff is an active cyclist and loves to ski and surf with his sons.

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“We get it. You're busy, under-resourced and bogged down in the day-to-day. Our team brings an expertise that will give you peace of mind and free you up for more important things–like managing your business.” -Jeff Worley


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Kim Kovalski, Chief Financial Officer

Kim is Ovation's Chief Financial Officer and brings with her over a decade of financial experience namely in the private equity industry working for CCP Equity Partners. During her tenure there the firm was primarily focused on building and expanding private businesses in the financial services industry.

Kim has served on boards of directors for a number of businesses in the financial services industry including MedSpan, Hobbs Group, Long Term Care Group and Kinloch Holdings.

More recently Kim has served on the boards of the Metro Alliance Insurance and the Financial Services Cluster. Kim graduated with an MA in Finance from Fairfield University and went on to receive her MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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“In an economic downturn, it is refreshing to be part of an organization that is focusing on not just saving money for its clients, but saving lives as well. To that end, our strong financial foundation serves us well as we move to engage clients in our mission.” -Kim Kovalski


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Peter Townsley, Dir. Chronic Disease Prevention Programs

Peter Townsley is Ovation's Director of Chronic Disease Prevention. He is a founder of Health Navigators and past President and CEO of Corporate Health Services of America, Inc., where he managed medically based preventive health services for corporations in 42 states for 20 years. Mr. Townsley has served on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association of the Southeastern United States, was Chairman of the Heart at Work, the Worksite Health and Public Policy Committees for Georgia, and is a past president of the American Heart Association of Metro Atlanta.

Mr. Townsley is a founding member of both the Georgia Foundation for Athletic Excellence and the Georgia Coalition for Nutrition and Physical Activity. He has served as co-chairman of the R. Bruce Logue, MD, "Excellence in Medicine" Board of Advisors and has served on the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Cardiovascular Health & Business Expert Panel where he contributed to the CDC Worksite Tool Kit. Mr. Townsley is a popular speaker for businesses, Associations and Academic Institutions and has been a frequent guest on television and radio. He is the author of several health improvement and ethics articles and booklets, and is the author of "The Risk Reduction Program" utilized by Ovation Benefits' Workforce Health initiatives.

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“A long and enjoyable life doesn't belong only to those with the best genes. It belongs rather to those who know their numbers, who follow evidence based guidelines, and who do what's best for them regardless of whether it's popular or convenient.” -Peter Townsley


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Robert Marino, Senior Practice Leader

Bob Marino is responsible for overseeing Ovation's Account Management staff. He has developed the practices and procedures essential to delivering the standards of service to all of our clients. Bob spent four years as Director of Sales and Account Management at MedSpan Health Options, a Connecticut HMO. While there, he managed all aspects of Customer Service, Renewals and New Business Sales. During his tenure, MedSpan was recognized as one of America's fastest growing companies by Inc. Magazine as well as the highest rated HMO in Connecticut for overall customer service.

Prior to MedSpan, Bob spent 15 years with CIGNA Health Plans. He held various positions during this time including underwriter and account manager operating in several different marketplaces around the country. His range of responsibilities included renewal and new business pricing; product development and direct account management services.

Bob holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a concentration in Accounting from Central Connecticut State University. Bob also holds a Chartered Life Underwriters Professional Designation.

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“The energy and dedication of our client service teams comes through in the great work we deliver to our clients every day.” -Robert Marino


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Ron Theriault, Senior Practice Leader

Ronald Theriault specializes in the public sector market. Ron has more than 16 years of experience in the insurance industry, and has worked closely with many cities, towns, and districts throughout Connecticut. His work includes managing the RFP process, budget projections, strategic plan design, collective bargaining and expert testimony at arbitration hearings.

Ron is an active member of Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, Connecticut Association of School Board Officials, Connecticut Government Finance Officers Association, Connecticut Council of Small Towns, and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. He graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics from Bates College.

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Tony Bruschino, Director, Information Technology

Tony Bruschino is the Director of Information Technology for Ovation. In this capacity, Tony sets the strategy and directs internal and external operations. He often works behind the scenes in the office ensuring smooth operation of the backend infrastructure and is always eager to offer tech advice to anyone who needs it.

Guiding and motivating staff is core to Tony's leadership philosophy, and he truly values everyone's opinion and strives to treat people the way he would like to be treated.

When not spending quality time with his wife and their English bulldog, he can often be found pursuing the next best thing in server administration, web development or virtualization, climbing a mountain on his mountain bike, checking out the latest in at-home workout programs or aspiring to take over the world with the latest technological gadget.

Tony holds a BA in Information Technology from Marist College.

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“I understand that one size does not fit all and that in this 'do more, spend less' environment, being a productive and efficient leader is as important as ever.” -Tony Bruschino