LISA SIMIONI
Beach Park
Summary
Professional compliance consultant prepared for high-impact roles. Skilled in regulatory analysis, risk management, and policy development. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results. Reliable, adaptable, and effective in dynamic environments.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President/Senior Compliance Consultant and Manager
The Segal Group, Inc.
Chicago, IL
07.2021 - Current
- Provide strategic consulting related advice in all areas of group health plan matters in multi-employer, public sector and corporate markets, including but not limited to the Affordable Care Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, COBRA, Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, and related tax laws
- Support clients on qualified retirement plan issues
- Ensure quality control standards are met relating to compliance-related employee benefits deliverables
- Present compliance related updates to external clients and internal staff
- Manage team members, train and support development of compliance staff
Senior Compliance Consultant
The Segal Group, Inc.
Chicago, IL
12.2016 - 06.2021
- Serve as subject matter expert in all areas of employee benefits compliance for multiemployer, governmental, and corporate clients, including employer/plan sponsor requirements, plan document and notice requirements, plan design requirements and improvements
- Routinely draft and amend/update plan documents, summary plan descriptions (SPDs), and Summaries of Benefits and Coverage (SBCs)
- Provide regular counsel and guidance to internal and external clients on a variety of compliance-related issues impacting health and welfare plans, including, but not limited to, HIPAA privacy and security compliance, state law mandates, mental health parity and addiction equity act issues, consumer-directed health plans’ compliance and design issues, relevant tax law, the Affordable Care Act, claims and appeals, operational and administrative issues
- Provide compliance-related advice to qualified retirement plans on various issues, such as optional forms of payment, missing participant issues, and correction matters
- Review, draft and comment upon a variety of agreements, such as vendor arrangements and administrative services agreements
- Research and provide support on labor and employment matters for unionized and governmental clients in areas including, but not limited to Title VII, FMLA, and general employment law
- Attend client meetings and participate in external marketing speaking events
Area Asst. Vice Pres., Compliance Counsel
Gallagher Benefit Services/Arthur J. Gallagher
Itasca, IL
05.2013 - 12.2016
- Served as subject matter expert in all areas of health and welfare compliance for governmental, multiemployer, and corporate clients, including, but not limited to all areas of health care reform, cafeteria plans, COBRA, FMLA, voluntary benefits, and plan design matters for both insured and self-funded clients in both the large group and small group markets for the company’s Midwest region
- Provided compliance expertise to educate both internal and external clients on various employee benefits compliance requirements
- Assisted consultants in promoting client engagement in employee benefit plan compliance
- Attended prospect meetings with producer/consultant teams to promote compliance capabilities, tools, and resources
- Provided guidance and assistance to sales and service teams on compliance topics and resources
- Assisted in the development of compliance-related tools and resources
Writer/Analyst/Attorney
CCH/Wolters Kluwer
Riverwoods, IL
06.2010 - 04.2013
- Served as subject matter expert on compensation and employee benefits, health and welfare, and retirement plan matters on behalf of external and internal clients
- Researched and provided guidance to internal and external clients on health and welfare, compensation and benefits, and retirement plan matters
Associate
Freeborn & Peters, LLP
Chicago, IL
09.2008 - 04.2009
- Performed due diligence on behalf of corporate clients focusing on compensation and employee benefits, health and welfare, and retirement plan matters
- Reviewed benefit plans to ensure compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and related laws
- Laid-off
Associate
Lewis, Overbeck & Furman, LLP
Chicago, IL
06.2005 - 08.2008
- Successfully progressed cases in federal court through all stages of litigation, focusing on federal employee benefit litigation matters
- Conducted legal research, drafted written advice memoranda, and counseled clients on broad range of employee benefits and employment-related matters
Staff Attorney
Central States Benefit Funds
Rosemont, IL
08.2002 - 05.2005
- Provided legal advice to clients focusing on employment and employee benefit focusing on the country’s largest ERISA-governed, multi-employer defined benefit plan and health and welfare plan on behalf of over 350,000 participants
- Counseled client on escalated matters from various departments and benefits committees and ensured compliance with best practices
- Conducted legal research, drafted written advice memoranda, and counseled clients on broad range of employment and employee benefits related matters
Education
LL.M. - Employee Benefits
The John Marshall Law School
Chicago, IL01.2008
J.D. - undefined
The John Marshall Law School
Chicago, IL01.2002
Skills
- Team leadership
- Relationship building
- Decision-making
- Critical thinking
- Coaching and mentoring
- Results-driven
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of three staff members.
- Achieved revenue growth through effectively supporting external and internal clients on broad range of employee benefits projects.
Timeline
Vice President/Senior Compliance Consultant and Manager
The Segal Group, Inc.
07.2021 - Current
Senior Compliance Consultant
The Segal Group, Inc.
12.2016 - 06.2021
Area Asst. Vice Pres., Compliance Counsel
Gallagher Benefit Services/Arthur J. Gallagher
05.2013 - 12.2016
Writer/Analyst/Attorney
CCH/Wolters Kluwer
06.2010 - 04.2013
Associate
Freeborn & Peters, LLP
09.2008 - 04.2009
Associate
Lewis, Overbeck & Furman, LLP
06.2005 - 08.2008
Staff Attorney
Central States Benefit Funds
08.2002 - 05.2005
J.D. - undefined
The John Marshall Law School
LL.M. - Employee Benefits
The John Marshall Law School