TRG Named One of the 2020 Best Places to Work in VT

The Richards Group was recently named one of the 2020 Best Places to Work in Vermont, an award created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.

“A career at The Richards Group means working alongside exceptional people who care deeply about our customers and the communities we serve,” said Antonia Crawford, Human Resources Manager at The Richards Group. “Our employees are our most important asset and we continue to support not just their professional aspirations, but their personal ones as well. Initiatives like our wellness program, continuing education, practical resources and training, as well as healthy work-life balance and employee recognition are all essential to the success of the culture we have created here at TRG. Our values are rooted in providing a healthy and happy workplace where employees can thrive, and we are incredibly honored to have been recognized for the fifth consecutive year as one of the Best Places to Work.”

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 140 employees and 12 locations in Vermont and New Hampshire and has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting.

The Richards Group to Merge with IPG Employee Benefits

The Richards Group is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement to merge with IPG Employee Benefits, based in Keene, NH. The two firms have long been leaders in employee benefits consulting across the twin state region, and the merger further strengthens their collective offering to clients.

“We’re delighted to have Walter Rohr, John Round and their team join The Richards Group. IPG has an excellent team, strong client relationships and a terrific reputation”, said Drew Richards, Vice President of The Richards Group. “We’ve had clients in Keene for years and have had considerable growth in Cheshire County over the past decade. We’re thrilled to be part of the vibrant community in Keene and joining with IPG certainly deepens the commitment we’ve already made to the area.”

“We (IPG) are excited to be combining with another family-owned and locally-based organization that values integrity, respect, and hard work”, added John Round, President of IPG. “There is a natural fit between the two companies as we will immediately benefit from the resources and talent they have built in Vermont and they from our expertise and the personnel we have developed here in New Hampshire. Truly, our clients and the communities we will both continue to serve are the biggest winners in this merger.”

“Many of you likely know IPG by reputation and as an admired and respected competitor in the Employee Benefits space”, commented Tom Scull, Vice President of The Richards Group. “In combination with our existing Employee Benefits operations, this creates one of the most impressive and formidable Benefits organizations in Vermont, New Hampshire and frankly, beyond.”

The Richards Group will move their local employee benefits and insurance staff to IPG’s Washington Street offices, as they continue to hire in Keene. IPG will begin operating under The Richards Group name right away.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Retirement Plan and Employee Benefits solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm has over 140 employees in 12 locations and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 4 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Richards Group has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting.

Bourdon Insurance Agency to Join The Richards Group

Bourdon Insurance Agency is pleased to announce that the firm has been acquired by The Richards Group effective October 1, 2019. The partnership with The Richards Group will benefit clients by ensuring that decisions and service remain local for years to come, while expanding client services and resources. The Bourdon staff will have a new office location at 94 Court Street in Middlebury.

“It means a lot to us that Sue Bourdon felt The Richards Group was the best fit to continue the excellent work that Bourdon Insurance has done over the decades,” said Drew Richards, Vice President of The Richards Group. “Their roots are as a Vermont based family business, just like ours at The Richards Group. We’re excited to make this investment in Middlebury and to continue to serve this vibrant community.”

“When we considered what firm was best for our clients, employees and the community, we knew The Richards Group was the right fit. The Richards Group is Vermont based and locally owned, and we have similar priorities and values,” commented Sue Bourdon, President of Bourdon Insurance Agency. “Our clients will benefit from the new insurance markets and technologies that The Richards Group will make available, along with their employee benefit and retirement plan consulting expertise.”

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Retirement Plan and Employee Benefits solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm has over 130 employees in 12 locations and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 4 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Richards Group has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting.

The Richards Group named Best Employee Benefits Firm

The 2019 Best of Business Award winners have been announced by Vermont Business Magazine and The Richards Group has won as Best Employee Benefits Firm. This awards program celebrates the best Vermont companies in business-to-business categories.

“We’re very proud to be named Vermont’s Best Employee Benefits Company again in 2019,” said Tom Scull, Vice President at The Richards Group and leader for the Employee Benefits and HR Solutions business: “Many of the surveyed readers of VBM are clients and know first-hand how important employee benefits and HR Solutions are to a company. To be named a best-in-class provider in our field of expertise a second year supports our mission to be a team who is known for going above and beyond with team members who pay close attention to detail and trends in the industry. Congratulations to our team of employee benefits experts and thanks to our clients for the recognition.”

The Richards Group’s Employee Benefits and Human Resources practice employs a ‘360 Degree’ strategy that focuses on employee benefits in the broadest sense of the phrase. We provide unique attention designed to meet each individual client’s needs and understand the challenges that HR leaders balance between maintaining a healthy workforce and fiscal responsibility. To that end, we provide clients with plan design and budgeting strategies, wellness expertise, leadership and training, robust technologies and compliance insights. We take a holistic approach to ensuring you have a healthy, engaged and dynamic workforce.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Retirement Plan and Employee Benefits solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm has over 130 employees in 12 locations and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 4 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Richards Group has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting. For more information about the firm and its capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.

Eddie Lewicki promoted to Commercial Risk Management Consultant at The Richards Group

The Richards Group is pleased to announce that Eddie Lewicki has been promoted to the Commercial Insurance and Risk Management team. Eddie will be based in The Richards Group’s Bennington and Manchester offices.

“I’ve been excited to take this step for some time now. We have a lot of important local businesses and non-profits as clients, and I’ll be able to help them manage their risks and contain costs”, commented Eddie Lewicki. “At The Richards Group we have a wide range of commercial insurance markets, expertise and technology and I know this will help me put my clients in the best possible position”.
“We are very happy to have Eddie as part of the Commercial Insurance team at TRG,” added Peter Richards, VP of Commercial Insurance and Risk Management. “Eddie brings a natural talent and relatability that will be very helpful to our clients. He’ll be a real asset to our clients in Bennington, Manchester and beyond”. Eddie is originally from Arlington and attended Burr and Burton Academy. He then moved on to Siena College, where he majored in History and pitched for the baseball team. He started his career with The Richards Group in 2016 as an Account Manager. Eddie resides in Sunderland with his wife. He enjoys coaching the Burr and Burton baseball team, volunteering his time helping youth organizations such as little league and Northshire hockey, and spending time golfing.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Retirement Plan and Employee Benefits solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 130 employees in 12 locations and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 4 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Richards Group has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting. For more information about the firm and its capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.

The Richards Group Named One of the 2019 Best Places to Work in Vermont

The Richards Group was recently named one of the 2019 Best Places to Work in Vermont, an award created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.

“At The Richards Group we are always looking for new ways to build and maintain our great company culture and this process is incredibly valuable to our continued growth,” said Antonia Crawford, Human Resources Manager at The Richards Group. “Our employees are our most important asset and it is key that they enjoy not just the work they do, but the teams they are a part of and the culture we have created, so they can be their best for our customers. I take a lot of pride in being able to say that we do a really good job of caring for our staff and supporting their growth. We are incredibly honored to have been recognized for the fourth consecutive year as one of the Best Places to Work.”

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 125 employees and has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting.

The Department of Financial Regulation Approves Two Association Health Plans in Vermont

Late last week, the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation announced it had approved licenses for two Vermont-based associations to offer 2019 health plans to sole proprietors and employers with 100 employees or less. The Associations are:

• The Vermont Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACE)

• Business Resource Services (BRS)

Both associations are offering multiple plans designed to complete with the Exchange's Gold and Silver metal level plans. These plans, also known as Association Health Plans (AHPs), cover all the Essential Health Benefits and state mandates. The premium rates for these plans are, on average, less expensive than the Exchange rates.

The Richards Group is happy to provide its clients with a customized benefit analysis and model potential cost savings by enrolling in either one of these AHPs for 2019. If you haven't already heard from your Account Manager, please let us know.

The Richards Group invites you to our exclusive event.

Thursday, September 6th | 9:00am – 3:00pm
The Hanover Inn
Hanover, New Hampshire

Experts Ross Gibson, Deb Loughlin, Lindsay Simpson, and Steve Burnett of The Richards Group (TRG) will guide leaders to identify gaps within various elements of employer-employee engagement and share solutions to achieve workforce excellence. Learn More >

The Richards Group named Best Employee Benefits Firm in Vermont

The 2018 Best of Business Award winners have been announced by Vermont Business Magazine and The Richards Group has won as Best Employee Benefits Firm. This awards program celebrates the best Vermont companies in business-to-business categories.

“We’re very proud to be named Vermont’s Best Employee Benefits Company,” said Tom Scull, Vice President of Employee Benefits at The Richards Group. “Many of the surveyed readers of VBM are clients and know first-hand how important employee benefits are to a company. To be named a stand-out business in our field of expertise, a business that provides best-class customer service, a business who is known for going above and beyond, and a team of experts who pay close attention to detail demonstrates our success. Congratulations to our team of employee benefits experts and thanks to our clients for the recognition.”

The Richards Group’s Employee Benefits and Human Resources practice employs a ‘360 Degree’ strategy that focuses on employee benefits in the broadest sense of the phrase. We provide unique attention designed to meet each individual client’s needs and understand the challenges that HR leaders balance between maintaining a healthy workforce and fiscal responsibility. To that end, we provide clients with plan design and budgeting strategies, wellness expertise, leadership and training, robust technologies and compliance insights. We take a holistic approach to ensuring you have a healthy, engaged and dynamic workforce.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 115 employees and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 3 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

The Richards Group to Acquire Centurion Insurance from Mascoma Bank

The Richards Group is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement to acquire Centurion Insurance Group from Mascoma Bank. The transaction will be completed in April of 2018. The Centurion office will remain at its current location while The Richards Group’s Norwich branch office, which has served Upper Valley clients for the past 10 years, will consolidate operations into Centurion’s office space. 

“We feel fortunate that the leadership of Mascoma Bank decided The Richards Group was the best fit to serve the needs of their insurance clients going forward,” said Drew Richards, Vice President of The Richards Group. “We’re thrilled to be part of the vibrant community in Hanover and to deepen the commitment we’ve made to the Upper Valley over the past decade.” 

“We are very pleased to be partnering with The Richards Group on this transaction,” commented Clay Adams, President & CEO of Mascoma Bank. “Both our customers and the Centurion employees will be well served working with the breadth and depth of their product offerings and expertise. Like Mascoma Bank, The Richards Group has a deep commitment to their communities, which they have dependably served for three generations. This acquisition allows them to strengthen their connections and service to the Upper Valley.” 

“Having spent the better part of my life in the Hanover community, this acquisition means a great deal to me and I’m excited with how The Richards Group is now positioned in the Upper Valley,” added Tom Scull, Vice President of The Richards Group. “With our expertise, technologies and service models, we bring outstanding capabilities to our local clients in the commercial and personal insurance, employee benefits consulting and retirement plan advisory areas. Our scale gives us access to the type of valuable resources and best practices you would typically find in a national firm, which we deliver through our local, high touch service model – it’s the best of both worlds. We’re excited to demonstrate this to our new clients.” 

“We appreciate our collaboration with Mascoma,” continued Scull “and we look forward to working closely with them going forward. We welcome the talented Centurion team to The Richards Group and look forward to helping them continue the excellent work they have done for clients.” 

Centurion will begin operating under The Richards Group name in the Spring of 2018. 

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 115 employees and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 3 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

Mascoma Bank, a mutually owned bank established in 1899, is headquartered in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The Bank has $1.7 billion in assets, 340 employees, and 26 locations throughout the Connecticut River Valley in New Hampshire and Vermont. Mutually owned and not for sale, the Bank has no stockholders to please. They are committed to remaining independent and to re-investing profits into the community. The bank has been serving the banking needs of the local community for generations by offering a full range of personal and business accounts and services.

The Richards Group Named One of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Vermont

The Richards Group was recently named one of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Vermont, an award created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.

“We’re proud to once again be acknowledged as one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont,” said Ben Taggard, VP of Wealth Management at The Richards Group.  “We have experienced strong growth, both organically and through acquisitions, and The Richards Group has created many new jobs throughout the region in recent years.  To be recognized speaks volumes about the culture that we all contribute to and the outstanding colleagues that we work with every day.”

“It’s valuable to have the survey and benchmarking data that this process provides,” added Peter Richards, VP of Commercial Insurance and Risk Management. “It shows where our strengths are as an employer and where we have opportunities to improve.  We know our success as a firm is based on our ability to attract and retain talented employees and this process provides good insight on how we can compete effectively in the job market.”

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867.  TRG locations include Brattleboro, Bennington, Norwich, Middlebury, Rutland, Bellows Falls, Manchester, Burlington, Wilmington as well as Concord and Keene, NH.  For more information about the firm and our capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.   

VRGA Endorses The Richards Group for Member Program

The Vermont Retail and Grocers Association is pleased to announce it has partnered with The Richards Group to manage its commercial insurance program for VRGA members.

“The Richards Group has made the association a top priority throughout the past several years and understands what small businesses in Vermont need in regards to insurance, information, and best practices,” said Erin Sigrist, President of the Vermont Retail and Grocers Association. “Our commercial insurance program is a key benefit for our members. We have hundreds of businesses throughout Vermont participating, so we look forward to working with The Richards Group as they bring their insurance expertise, technology and extensive knowledge of safety and risk management to VRGA members.”

“Over the years we have built some valuable industry knowledge and resources for industries including retail, grocery, breweries, wineries, and specialty foods manufacturers that we know will serve VRGA members well,” said Peter Richards, Vice President of Commercial Insurance and Risk Management at The Richards Group. “In today’s business environment, VRGA members need and deserve more than insurance coverage at a competitive price - they will benefit from capabilities such as OSHA compliance insights, workers compensation cost containment strategies and special Association coverage enhancements.”

VRGA, located in Montpelier, Vermont, is an association of merchants and trade partners united to promote the sustainable growth of our industry through the educational, economic and public policy needs of our members. Today, VRGA represents approximately 800 Vermont retail stores and 250 suppliers to the industry, including members of the Vermont Specialty Food Association, Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores and the Vermont Petroleum Association. The insurance program is extensive and provides members with coverages including property, liability, auto and workers compensation, along with the opportunity to earn back a dividend based on the Association’s experience. Past dividends have averaged 6% over the past 17 years and have been as high as 22%. For more information about VRGA, please visit www.vtrga.org.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm was named one of the 2017 “Best Places to Work in Vermont” by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

If you are a VRGA member, or may like to become a member, and want information about the VRGA commercial insurance program and its benefits, please contact Scott Olmstead or Shannon Prescott at (800) 222-6016.

The Richards Group expands Human Resources and Leadership Development services – rehires Ross Gibson

July 2017 (Norwich, VT) - The Richards Group (TRG), a Vermont based professional services firm specializing in insurance, employee benefits and retirement plan consulting, is pleased to announce that Ross Gibson has rejoined the firm effective immediately. Ross will continue to build the Human Resources and Leadership Development Services capabilities of the firm as a key component of the Employee Benefits division. Ross previously worked for TRG but left briefly in 2016 to help establish a Human Resources function for a TRG client.

“I am very excited to have Ross back at TRG” stated Tom Scull Vice President, Employee Benefits. “As we continue to expand the service offerings to our clients, we increasingly have realized the need many of our clients have for human resources and management training support” Tom continued, adding “and Ross’ thirty plus years of senior level HR and training experience compliments the team exceptionally well”.

Ross will continue to work with clients in assisting in their leadership development and human resources offerings. Ross works directly with executives and leadership teams in delivering widely acknowledged training and development programs that are aimed at increasing leadership effectiveness. As Ross has stated many times “any organization is only as strong as its leaders”. Additionally, Ross consults on a variety of HR issues including retention strategies, succession planning, recruitment and many more.

Prior to having previously worked for TRG, Ross was Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources at World Learning, a global academic institution and Non-Governmental Organization with over 1,300 employees. Over the past 30 years working in the Human Resources field, Ross has held several senior level positions including Vice President, Learning and Organizational Development at Charles River Labs and Vice President, Human Resources at both American Superconductor and Cambridge Neuroscience, Inc. In addition, Ross is a certified facilitator in several of the award-winning and internationally recognized Franklin Covey courses including the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Ross is past president of the Northeast Human Resources Association and is currently an at-large member of the Vermont State HR Council. Locally in Brattleboro, Vermont, Ross is on the boards of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce and the Strolling of the Heifers as well as an active member of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Brattleboro. Ross can be reached at (802) 451-6445 and rgibson@therichardsgrp.com.

Established in 1867, The Richards Group is one of the region’s leading insurance, employee benefits and retirement plan advisory firms, serving over 15,000 clients in the tri-state area of New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. The company currently has eleven offices in Vermont and New Hampshire.

The Richards Group Joins The Northern United Agents Alliance

The Richards Group Joins Davis & Towle Insurance Group and Eaton & Berube Insurance Agency as Owner of Northern United Agents Alliance

Concord, N.H. – The Northern United Agents Alliance (NUAA) announced today that The Richards Group of Brattleboro, VT, is an owner of the NUAA. The Richards Group joins the Davis & Towle Insurance Group of Concord, NH, and Eaton & Berube Insurance Agency of Nashua, NH, at the ownership level of the aggregation.

A third-generation family business, The Richards Group has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm employs roughly 120 professionals throughout its 11 offices and serves more than 20,000 clients.

 “We are thrilled to partner with such prominent agencies in the area that share our core values,” said Drew Richards, Vice President of The Richards Group. “We are eager to leverage this partnership to combine our resources, enhance our operations, and better serve our clients.” 

“It is with great excitement that we welcome The Richards Group as a NUAA owner,” said Marc Berube, President of Eaton & Berube Insurance Agency. “We are confident that together we will bring the NUAA to the next level as a stronger, more complete Northern New England aggregation.”

Headquartered in Concord, NH, the Northern United Agents Alliance is an alliance of independent insurance agents in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont dedicated to providing the highest level of client service through the group’s longstanding relationships with its insurance carrier partners.

The NUAA was formed in 2011 by four independent insurance agencies and has grown to include 14 agencies. 

Media Contact:
Alyssa Turcotte
Eaton & Berube Insurance Agency, LLC
603-689-7222
aturcotte@eatonberube.com
www.nuaalliance.com

HIPAA Cyber Attack Response Checklist

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a covered entity that experiences a ransomware attack or other cyber-related security incident must take immediate steps to prevent or mitigate any impermissible release of protected health information (PHI).  

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued a checklist to help HIPAA-covered entities determine the specific steps they must take in the event of a data breach.

Entities subject to HIPAA should become familiar with the OCR’s checklist and other guidance for handling cyber security breaches involving PHI. These entities should also ensure they have plans for mitigating the effects of breaches.

OCR Quick-response Checklist

In the event of a cyber attack or similar emergency, a covered entity must do the following:

• Execute its response and mitigation procedures and contingency plans.
• Report the crime to appropriate law enforcement agencies.
• Report all cyber threat indicators to federal and information-sharing and analysis organizations. 
• Report the breach to affected individuals and to the OCR as soon as possible.

Reportable Incidents

HIPAA regulations also require covered entities to report certain cyber-related security incidents to affected individuals, the OCR and other agencies. In general, a reportable breach occurs anytime PHI was accessed, acquired, used or disclosed. 

For more information about this rule and its potential impact on your company, please contact The Richards Group.