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.