Thomas P. Wagoner, President and CEO
Thomas P. Wagoner is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and president of Accelerated Benefits. He has provided professional planning services for close to 25 years.
Since 1986, Tom has grown his business to become the third largest insurance agency in central Ohio. Through Tom’s endless drive and determination, Accelerated Benefits has been continuously recognized as one of the top ten agencies in the central Ohio insurance and benefits industry. Accelerated Benefits is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. Tom was inducted into the Colonial Hall of Fame where he is one of only two representatives to receive this award on multiple occasions in the provider’s 60-year history. Tom has also received Colonial’s Supplemental Insurance Founder’s Award and Representative of the Year. Tom was named CEO Superstar in 2009 and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and International College of Financial Planning (ICFP) as well as an Investment Advisor Representative (IAR). Tom also serves on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Grocers Foundation and is on the president’s council of the Total Administrative Services Council (TASC). Accelerated Benefits is a member of several area Chamber of Commerce organizations.
Tom has a Bachelor of Science from Miami University in Finance and Business Economics. He pursued post-graduate studies at the University of Dayton in Investment and Investment Banking. Tom currently holds the following securities registrations: NASD Series 6, NASD Series 7, NASD Series 22. Tom has been a guest speaker on numerous radio and television broadcasts, corporate sponsored financial planning and retirement planning seminars. As a philanthropic advocate, Tom has volunteered his services to many churches, high-schools and associations.
Tom resides locally with his wife and has two daughters.
David Petno, Regional Director, Business DevelopmentDave Petno has been with Accelerated Benefits since 2002. Prior to that, he held executive level positions in health care companies in Cleveland, Ohio, and in Pennsylvania. He holds a Masters Degree in Hospital Administration from Ohio State University, and an Under Graduate Degree from Calvin College.
Dave has served as Legislative Chair at the North East Ohio Association of Health Underwriters, and the Media Chair for Ohio Health Underwriters. He makes regular trips to Washington DC and Columbus in order to provide advice on health insurance issues.
Dave is a recognized speaker in the area of healthcare reform, as well as insurance matters. He has published articles in national magazines. He is also a regular faculty member of Lorman Educational seminars.
Adam Smith, Manager, Business DevelopmentAdam Smith serves as Manager of Business Development for Accelerated Benefits’ corporate office located in Dublin, Ohio.
In his role, Adam is responsible for new account development and providing an exceptional level of service to existing clients. This is accomplished through continuous learning, skill development in all areas of benefit management, and by listening to his clients’ needs. His goal is to be a trusted benefit resource for clients.
Adam brings several years of experience to Accelerated Benefits in the financial services and insurance industry. He began his career as a Financial Analyst with JP Morgan Chase and brought this experience with him three years ago when he joined the Accelerated Benefits family. Adam holds his health and life license as well as Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.
As a wellness enthusiast, Adam enjoys playing sports and living a healthy lifestyle. He also volunteers his time through Franklin County Children’s service. Adam’s other hobbies include reading, and spending time with his family.
Adam and his wife, Kristen, and baby girl Maddy, reside locally.
Sandy Tucker, Key Account ExecutiveSandy serves as a Key Account Executive working closely with Tom Wagoner, President and CEO, to manage all aspects of client relationships. Sandy has several years of industry experience many of which were spent working for medical carriers including, Medical Benefits Administrators, Medical Mutual of Ohio, and UnitedHealthcare. In these roles, Sandy acquired experience in administrative services, as well as account service and sales. Sandy is designated as a Health Insurance Associate and views education as a critical element to success; she has helped advance the learning of others through teaching both high school and college courses.
Sandy is a graduate of Ohio University, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Business Education. Sandy enjoys walking, traveling and spending time with her family. She is recently married and is the mother of four with two sons and two step-children.
Scott Boyer, Business Development Scott Boyer's background in the benefits arena dates back twenty years to 1991 when he was first licensed in the insurance industry. He first became associated with Accelerated Benefits in 1999. For the following five years, he handled key agency accounts, as well as serving as project manager with many agency initiatives.
After six years traveling and teaching investors with TD Ameritrade, Scott is back with Accelerated focusing on business development, growing and servicing key accounts. His passion for learning and his experience teaching and training keeps him on the cutting edge of the industry for his new and existing clients.
He holds a BA degree in Communications from Cedarville University and a Health, Life and Annuity license in Ohio. A native buckeye, he has lived in Columbus for 20 years. If he's not taking care of his clients' needs, you'll likely find him doing something with his family or some activity outside. Leisure includes golf, rock climbing, mountain biking or simply spending time with his family. And of course, weekends in the fall are dedicated to being outside and Ohio State football.
Mark Fleming Jr., Business DevelopmentDuring his career, Mark has accumulated over five years of experience as an employee benefits consultant. Mark's responsibilities over the course of his time at Accelerated Benefits have included functioning as the Account Executive for 60 - 70 clients across the state of Ohio, participating in the company compliance committee that developed compliance standards to meet government regulations, website content and development, and developing and maintaining new client relationships among many responsibilities.
Mark graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in finance and a minor in coaching from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Mark holds a Health, Life, and Annuities license in the state of Ohio, and also is a notary public in the state of Ohio. Mark has experience managing his own small business and constantly utilizes this experience to develop creative, proactive solutions for his clients. Mark has also been published on multiple occasions in national insurance publications.
Mark spends most of his free time with his wife and daughters, is an ardent follower of Ohio State football and basketball, and enjoys instilling his passion for life in those around him. Mark resides locally with his two young daughters, and wife, Michelle (also a Miami graduate making them a "Miami Merger").
Scott Ferguson, Renewal Specialist & Individual SalesScott Ferguson joined the Accelerated Benefits family six years ago after working in Human Resources for close to 20 years. As the agency’s individual sales specialist, Scott is responsible for providing quotes and installing policies for individual coverage. He also provides alternative solutions to clients while evaluating renewal options in the market and conducts group meetings and individual sales and enrollment for Accelerated Benefits’ Voluntary product line.
Scott and his wife, Toni, have two children: Kacie, who works as an attorney for a local law firm, and Sean, who recently graduated from Bowling Green University and is following in his father’s footsteps by joining the insurance industry.
Scott is a graduate of the Ohio State University.
Amber Thompson, Agency DirectorAmber has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry where she brings extensive experience from working for both medical and dental carriers as well as an independent agency. She holds life, health, variable annuity and HMO licenses. She is designated with the Fellowship Life Management Institute and is a Professional in Customer Service as well as an Associate of the Reinsurance Administration. Her job responsibilities are multiple and ever changing as she began her career with Accelerated Benefits as Tom Wagoner’s Executive Assistant but since then, Amber has also taken a leadership role in the agency ensuring quality and production in all things AccBen.
Amber is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace College and is married with a full household: she has two daughters, two dogs and two cats.
Heather Lacks, ControllerHeather’s role within Accelerated Benefits is vital to the financial success of the organization. As Controller, Heather holds responsibility for commission account, account payable, account receivable, purchasing, payroll, and Information Technology Support. She resides locally and joined the Accelerated Benefits’ family in 2007.
Sharon Edwards, Renewal SpecialistSharon’s primary focus as a renewal specialist is to coordinate new business and renewal marketing for groups over 100 employees. Sharon has more than 20 years of experience working in the industry where she spent time concentrating her efforts on Medicare billing and claims, as well as health, life, accident and cancer insurance. She also has experience with contracting, licensing, and securities. Sharon joined the Accelerated Benefits’ family in 1999.
As a native of Ohio, Sharon is a graduate of Smithville High School and spent time studying at the University of Akron where she enjoyed creative writing. Sharon currently resides in Marysville with her husband and three cats. They are proud parents to their son and grandson.
Kate Stiltner, Account ManagerKate Stiltner joined Accelerated Benefits in February of 2010 as an Account Manager for Adam Smith and Mark Fleming, working primarily to help support groups ranging in size from two employees to 99. Her various responsibilities include facilitating the new business implementation process, handling enrollment and claims issues, managing annual renewals for new groups under 50 employees, as well as assisting group members with the application process and preparing benefit kits for both new and existing groups.
Kate entered the insurance industry in 2004, in a similar role, after graduating from Ohio State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, with a concentration in Communications. After a year and a half in the insurance world, she took a three year hiatus to pursue a career in radio advertising. Her passion for helping others, and her desire to be part of a team, lead Kate to return to the industry in her current position.
Kate lives in Delaware, Ohio with her husband, John, her two step-sons, and their dog, Lucky. She enjoys running, scrapbooking, spending time with her family, and Ohio State football. Go Bucks!
Beulah Horton, Renewal SpecialistBeulah has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. Upon moving to Ohio, in 1984, Beulah spent 19 years with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She held various positions throughout her tenure there, and spent ten years of this time focusing on group sales. She also has experience in claims adjudication and auditing, customer and provider inquiries, as well as sales and service. Beulah’s current responsibilities with Accelerated Benefits include coordinating new business implementation for employers ranging in size from 50-100 employees. She also handles group renewals and complex service issues for employers with over 50 employees.
Beulah resides locally in the Columbus area and enjoys spending time with her grand-daughters.
Kathy Zambon, Account ManagerKathy began her career with the Air Force as a civilian doing research for project engineers where her attention to detail and dedication won her the Civilian of the Year Award. She went on to manage a psychological practice handling all insurance claims and coverage information. She represented PriMed Physicians in Dayton, OH where she acted as HR Manager for a medical group with over 300 employees.
After moving to Columbus, Kathy furthered her experience in HR contributing her efforts as HR Manager for Scioto Country Club and then later, Blue Chip Surgical where she coordinated benefit management for surgical centers located throughout the United States. Kathy began her career in insurance in 2009 by working as an Account Manager for a local agency. She joined Accelerated Benefits’ family in late 2010.
Donna Benjamin, Administrative AssistantDonna is a veteran in the insurance industry with over 27 years of experience, six if which have been spent with the Accelerated Benefits family where she has focused on the coordination of health and supplemental insurance. Donna is responsible for directing phone calls, processing incoming applications as well servicing the agency’s clients, agents, internal staff and broker partners. Donna holds her Property and Casualty license.
Donna and her husband, Mark, enjoy the summers camping and motorcycling. They share their home in Columbus with their two dogs, Buck the Airedale and BJ the Mini-Schnauzer.
