John Kohanek

Email: abqoj1@r.postjobfree.com

Address: ** **** ****** ******

City: Howell

State: NJ

Zip: 07731

Country: USA

Phone: 732-***-****

Skill Level: Director

Salary Range: $120,000

Willing to Relocate

Primary Skills/Experience:

See Resume

Educational Background:

See Resume

Job History / Details:

JOHN D. KOHANEK, CEBS, CLU, CHFC, RHU

51 Pine Needle Street, Howell, New Jersey 07731 732-***-**** abqoj1@r.postjobfree.com

PRODUCT MARKETING & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Senior executive with an exemplary record in the development and management of group employee benefits. Creative, passionate leader who develops and executes on a winning product and strategy. Visionary in developing and implementing multi-million dollar product lines consistently realizing double digit increase in sales. Talented leader with vast experience establishing relationships and managing external vendors. Highly skilled in building and developing high performance teams, along with an expertise in formulating effective product training and education.

NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

AMERICAN GENERAL LIFE

Within 30 days of hire, and as Vice President, Product Development, created a comprehensive dental product assessment and strategy which established baseline for future growth of a $100M dental block.

Directed all aspects of comprehensive product update with emphasis on regional price competitiveness and product training, resulting in sales increase of 30% from 2007 to 2008.

Influenced an external vendor to expand dental PPO network resulting in a top 5 industry network offering.

MUTUAL OF OMAHA

Developed and implemented DentaBenefits, a unique dental product - collaborating with United Concordia, a group dental carrier leader. Implementation resulted in a 25% larger network offering, and 8% reduction in administrative expenses.

Designed and implemented a new product development process, used throughout the Group Operation - resulting in 20% shorter product development / implementation cycles.

Managed executive "Product Review" team consisting of senior Group Operation personnel, evaluating product / project viability and setting project priorities.

CORE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Strategic Planning & Execution Leading Multiple Complex Projects Concurrently Strong Problem-Solving Analytical Capability Leading All Initiatives in a Product Segment Supporting Field Force in New Initiatives including "Closing The Deal" Oversight of Ongoing Product Management Activities Ability To Think & Act Strategically Working With Cross-Functional Teams Serving as an Industry Expert Maintaining Relationships with Industry Organizations Assessing the Competition Developing Relationships with Outside Vendors / Partners Articulate Speaker / Presenter Business Plan Development Project Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, Howell, NJ

Employee Benefits Consultant - Dental Specialist, 2011 - Present

Provide dental product expertise for Nationwide Employee Benefits. Conduct dental product line assessment and make product specific and product management recommendations. Enhance top and bottom line dental product performance and improve product management process to stabilize block of business, and promote profitable growth.

COLONIAL LIFE, Howell, NJ

Agency Development Manager, 2010 - 2011

Marketed employee benefit expertise, healthcare cost containment strategies, and worksite benefit products and enrollments to businesses. Teamed with benefits brokers to present complete employee benefit solutions to clients.

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, East Brunswick, NJ

Financial Services Associate, 2009 - 2010

Prospected for clients and made sales presentations for life, annuity, long-term care and other insurance and financial products and services to meet their unique needs.

AMERICAN GENERAL LIFE, Neptune, NJ

Vice President, Product Development - Dental Product, 2007 - 2009

Directed all dental product development and management activities. Developed and executed product strategy, including business case rationalization. Managed and influenced all aspects of product development process from competitive intelligence research to product rollout (including promotion, communications and product training). Tasked with expanding market place group size offering from 10-50 to 10-1,000 lives. Supervised - Dental Project Manager.

Conducted complete review of voluntary dental product design and implemented structural product changes, improving price competitiveness by 12%.

Developed and executed annual business plan, including strategic and tactical analysis.

Led 6 all day regional product training sessions.

GUARDIAN LIFE, Bethlehem, PA

Market Development Manager, 2005 - 2007

Maximized profitable revenue growth within Northeast market segments by developing and implementing standard, cross-functional market planning strategies.

Created discounting / pricing strategies resulting in sales office increases of up to 10%.

Increased the use of internal data / analytics to drive better decision-making on portfolio mix, pricing, underwriting guidelines and sales strategies for the collective Northeast offices. Territory exceeded sales and profit targets during tenure.

Developed a deep understanding of northeast geographic market segments through intense market research and interaction with the Sales division.

MUTUAL OF OMAHA, Omaha, NE

Marketing Manager, 1998 - 2005

Life Products (1998 - 2000) / Dental Products (2000 - 2005)

Managed all product marketing activities for the group Life / Dental products, focusing on product development, pricing, communications and training. Supervised marketing staff and leveraged other internal functional areas to complete projects.

Conducted regular Home Office and field-based product training sessions increasing field product knowledge. Developed on-line, self-study dental product training program reaching over 100 sales and service personnel.

Enhanced target market development through conceptualization and implementation of Preferred Risk Guidelines for the Life products, resulting in up to 20% more competitive product pricing.

Researched, re-developed and implemented a market competitive Accidental Death & Dismemberment product.

Product Manager, 1994 - 1998

Created and implemented Master Series, a successful small group, multi-line product for Sumitomo Life Agency America Inc., resulting in more than $1M annual profit for nearly 10 years.

Developed and implemented annual business plans for the $20M Sumitomo block and managed the national distribution relationship (New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago).

Manager, Group Product Development, 1991 - 1994

Recruited and managed a staff of five Product Development Coordinators responsible for research, update and implementation for all employee benefits products.

EDUCATION

B.A., Business Administration, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE - Emphasis on Marketing and Management

INDUSTRY DESIGNATIONS: Certified Employee Benefit Specialist, Wharton School - University of Pennsylvania; Chartered Financial Consultant, The American College; Chartered Life Underwriter, The American College; Registered Health Underwriter, The American College

Contact this candidate