Robert Shestack, CVBS, CFF

Chairman & CEO, Executive Board, Advisory Board
Health & Voluntary Benefits Association® (HVBA)

Co-founded in 2008, Robert Shestack is the Chairman & CEO and Hall of Fame member of the Health & Voluntary Benefits Association (“HVBA”), the first national non-profit [501(c)(3)] trade association focused on Voluntary Benefits for employer and affinity groups. The HVBA’s goal is to promote the education, administration, implementation, product development, compliance, technology, and enrollment of Voluntary Benefits in the workplace. In addition, Mr. Shestack is the Chief Strategy of Paylogix, the nation’s largest Licensed, Insured and Bonded Third Party Administrator (“TPA”) focusing on Voluntary Benefits. Paylogix represents over 25 Fortune 1000 companies as manages close to $1 billion in annual voluntary benefit premiums. 

Mr. Shestack was the former EVP and National Practice Leader for The AmWINS Group, the largest insurance wholesaler in the United States, placing over $13 billion in annual premium. In his role, he was responsible for all carrier relations, business strategies, enrollment & implementation activity, and communications, as well as the execution of the 5-year strategic business plan. Prior to joining AmWINS, Mr. Shestack was Managing Director and National Sales Leader of Employer Benefits at Marsh & McLennan (Marsh US Consumer). Mr. Shestack’s experience working within the voluntary benefits industry includes product development, insurer relations, innovation, communication & enrollment strategies. 

Mr. Shestack has been responsible for managing and developing high level sales talent and establishing client and partner relationships in the employer benefits industry. A 34+ year industry veteran, Mr. Shestack holds a Workplace Benefits Consultant  (“WBC”) certification, a Certified Voluntary Benefits Specialist (“CVBS”) designation and is a Certified Financial Fiduciary (“CFF”) as well as a bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science & Risk Management from Temple University’s renown Fox School of Business, the nations top Actuarial Science & Risk Management program. Also, he is certified in Health & Welfare Cafeteria Plan Fundamentals through the American Academy of Actuaries. He is a Risk Management Capstone Course student advisor at Temple University’s Fox School of Business, where he and his wife also fund a $10,000 scholarship program for Fox School of Business undergraduates. 

In addition to his responsibilities at the HVBA and Paylogix, Rob was also inducted into the Workplace Benefits Hall of Fame in July 2010, joining an elite group of voluntary benefit industry leaders. An accomplished author published in over 150 articles and white papers, as well as an accomplished speaker, he wrote a chapter on critical illness in the 2008 book “Workplace Marketing — A Promise to Deliver” and is working on his next 2 books. 

Mr. Shestack was featured as the cover story for Benefits Selling magazine in 2007 and he received the inaugural Voluntary Benefits Adviser of the Year award in 2011. The award recognizes outstanding service to group benefit plan sponsors by brokers and advisers, as well as overall contributions to the profession. In April 2013, he was honored with the prestigious H. Wayne Snider Distinguished Alumni Award from Temple University’s Fox School of Business recognizing Rob as someone who has distinguished himself or herself for at least 20 years in the field of Insurance, Risk Management and Actuarial Science. Mr. Shestack is the only industry professional to be inducted into both Halls of Fame and receiving the Benefits Adviser of the Year award…the VB industry’s trifecta. 

In 2017, Rob received the South Jersey community service volunteer of the year award recognizing his unselfish efforts and dedication in making his community a safe place to live and raise a family. Dedicated to his community, Rob is an 8-time (24 years) elected official (Fire Commissioner) in his township representing over 60 career personnel and an annual budget exceeding $12 million. Rob also served as the Vice Chairman of the NJ State Joint Insurance Fund as well as past President of the New Jersey State Association of Fire Districts representing 985 state-wide fire commissioners. His township was recently selected by Money Magazine for their top 50 best places to live in the United States listed as #16 for 2020. Rankings were based on an array of factors, including but not limited too: low crime rate, education, municipal services and public safety. Additional factor were applied simply to be considered by Money Magazine, which included (but not limited to): A minimum of 25,000 residents, multi-cultural sites, and places with diversity narrowing the “field” down to 1,890 towns to be consideration.