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MARKETING PERSONNEL


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Geoffrey L. Adams
Executive Vice President

As Executive Vice President, Mr. Adams leads our Corporate Client Division, which includes our employee, executive and voluntary benefit practices. He has been consulting on a wide range of health and welfare benefit plan issues for over 20 years.

Prior to joining The Warner Companies, Mr. Adams held several management positions with Aon Consulting and Mercer Human Resource Consulting where he was instrumental in successfully serving the executive compensation and benefit plan needs of corporations in the Fortune 500 marketplace. He has extensive experience in all aspects of executive welfare benefits and nonqualified benefit plans, including Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans and Deferred Compensation arrangements.

Mr. Adams earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with honors from Rutgers University and has completed post-graduate work at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. He is an active member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and is past President of the Baltimore Chapter of WEB and past Instructor in the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) program through Towson University.


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Chester N. Bullard, Jr.
Executive Vice President

As Executive Vice President, Mr. Bullard leads our Voluntary Benefits Division. He is responsible for national marketing and overseeing the enrollment and communication solutions for corporations. Mr. Bullard develops strategic partnerships with other professionals to deliver industry leading strategies, and innovative approaches to voluntary and core benefits communication.

Mr. Bullard has over 20 years of experience in working with strategic partners and third parties to deliver comprehensive results for clients. In the areas of voluntary benefits, benefits administration, benefit communication and enrollment strategy, he is recognized as an expert throughout the industry. He has the technical skills and capabilities to help guide benefits professionals and corporations to meet their established goals. Mr. Bullard is passionate in his pursuit of knowledge and applying the most current technology and strategies to optimize outcomes.

Before joining The Warner Companies, Mr. Bullard spent the last seven years with Unum serving as a Large Case Voluntary Benefits Specialist. He began his career providing fee based financial planning to physicians and business owners, then moved to the insurance carrier side of the business in 1990 with Provident Life and Accident. He received the highest award for achievement in 1996 while serving in a management capacity. Mr. Bullard went on to provide leadership through two mergers that resulted in combining Provident Life and Accident, Paul Revere, and Unum. He was recognized as a top market manager (Office of Year, 2000), and regional manager for executive benefits and voluntary benefits.

Mr. Bullard earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Business from Western Maryland College. He completed the Corporate Finance portion of Embry-Riddle's MBA program in Frankfurt Germany. He received his CLU designation from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Bullard has been a sought after speaker nationally, and has presented on topics ranging from, "The Impact of Convergence", to "The Consequences of Passive Enrollments for Employers and Employees".


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Benjamin S. Carson, Jr.
Vice President

As Vice President, Mr. Carson focuses on total financial planning for individuals with an emphasis on investment management and insurance planning. He also serves as a consultant for the design and implementation of executive and employee benefit programs for corporations of varying sizes.

Prior to joining The Warner Companies, Mr. Carson worked as a Financial Consultant with an international financial services firm. He has held sales and account management positions in varying other industries, and has received several awards and honors for excellent client service and his entrepreneurial spirit.

Mr. Carson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Entrepreneurial Leadership from Tufts University. He also maintains Life and Health insurance licenses in the state of Maryland, New York and the District of Columbia, and is a registered representative with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm holding the Series 6 and 63.


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Frank A. Casagrande
Senior Vice President

Mr. Casagrande specializes in executive compensation and benefits. He has consulted with a wide range of organizations, but is primarily focused on clients in healthcare, education and tax exempt sectors. He has more than 30 years experience in consulting and education.

Prior to joining The Warner Companies, Mr. Casagrande worked with Hay Group for more than 10 years leading their Institutions of Higher Education Sector in the U.S. and a key contributor to Hay Group's work on executive compensation and benefits at tax-exempt organizations. He has more than 25 years experience with a variety of firms including KPMG Peat Marwick and Buck Consultants where he worked as a tax compliance consultant, employee benefit plan audit specialist and actuarial consultant. He also worked for the Passaic Board of Education as a secondary school mathematics teacher and Rutgers University and Montclair State University as an adjunct professor. He is author of Career Transitions: Your Guide to Career Transition and a frequent speaker at association meetings including Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, College and University Professional Association of Human Resources, Career College Association, Connecticut Conference for Independent Colleges, and Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from Union College and a Master's degree in Teaching from Montclaire State University. He holds an Executive Compensation Certficate from WorldatWork and is also a retired Enrolled Actuary.


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Bernard D. Fish, CLU
Senior Vice President

Mr. Fish specializes in estate planning, business succession planning, qualified plan distribution planning, and retirement planning for professionals, business owners, and corporate executives. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter, an Insurance Advisor in the State of Maryland, and a registered representative with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority [FINRA] member firm.

For thirty years, Mr. Fish provided design, actuarial and administration services for qualified retirement plans for corporate business and professional clients. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Pension Consultants and Administrators, Inc. during the early years of ERISA (1974-76). Later, he served as an adjunct member of the Baltimore Bar Association's Subcommittee on Pensions until selling his pension practice in 1990. Mr. Fish is a member of the Baltimore Estate Planning Council and serves as Immediate Past President; the Baltimore Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals; and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors of Baltimore. He is a past president of the Baltimore Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and the Maryland Association of Health Underwriters.

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Rick Galvin
Senior Associate

Mr. Galvin specializes in Corporate Employee Benefits and serves as a consultant for the design and implementation of employee benefit plans for corporations of varying sizes.

Prior to joining The Warner Companies, Mr. Galvin worked with Corporate Synergies focused on new business development for employee benefit programs. He has more than 15 years experience with a variety of firms including Lockton Companies and Wachovia.

Mr. Galvin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Portland State University. He holds life insurance licenses in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

He is a member of HOCO, NOVA, Dulles and Southern PA SHRM. He is also a member of the board of the Montgomery County Airport Association.


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Ed Gerace
Senior Vice President

Mr. Gerace specializes in the development and implementation of employee benefit and welfare plans. He has over twenty-five years of experience working in the Human Resources field.

Mr. Gerace was the Human Resources Director for a large manufacturing company in the Baltimore area where he managed a department of professionals responsible for all employee benefits, legal compliance, labor negotiations, manpower staffing, and development along with other managerial responsibilities. In 1990, he accepted a position with a local benefits company in the Employee Benefits Department, and joined The Warner Companies in 1995. He is an active member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and Baltimore Life Underwriters Association.

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Barbara Gilbert, CFRE, CA
Senior Vice President

Ms. Gilbert specializes in comprehensive financial planning and wealth management for individuals with substantial wealth. She has been involved in the business world for over 25 years. Ms. Gilbert has a background in finance and institutional investments with the nonprofit sector, and has executed many of the major Capital Campaigns in Pennsylvania and Florida. She has been working in wealth management for the last 13 years, with specific experience in high level private banking, estate planning, investments and insurance. She has a passion for Family Office, and continually speaks on "Women and Wealth" and law firms.

Prior to joining The Warner Companies, Ms. Gilbert held the position of Senior Banking Advisor and Vice President, Wealth Management at PNC Wealth Management. She has worked for several other prominent private banking organizations, including Wells Fargo as National Sales Wealth Strategist (PA & FL), Commerce Bank Private Banking – Managing Director, Bank of America Private Bank – VP (PA & FL), and Fleet Private Client Group.

Ms. Gilbert studied business at Bauder College and Barry University. She is a registered representative with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm holding the Series 7 license. In addition, she is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and most recently completed her Certified Advisor (CA) designation in 2011.

Ms. Gilbert is very active in both the Philadelphia, Main Line, and South Florida communities. Her philanthropic involvement includes: The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Academy of Music, The Pennsylvania Ballet, PAFA, St. David's Church, Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis, and other animal or children related causes. She is also involved with the Palm Beach Heart Ball, Cleveland Clinic Ball, American Lung Association, Peggy Adams Animal Clinic, and the Melanoma Society in Palm Beach. She is also active in the equine community in Wellington, FL.


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Thomas J. Gramigna
Senior Vice President

Mr. Gramigna specializes in comprehensive financial consulting services to High Net Worth individuals and successful corporations. Prior to joining The Warner Companies, he provided financial planning for clients for one of the Top 28 largest insurance companies.

Mr. Gramigna holds a Bachelor of Business Administrative Degree from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1991 and 1992 he was named N.C.A.A. Academic All-American by the Golf Coaches Association of America. He is a registered representative with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm holding the Series 6, 63, and 65 designations and insurance licenses for life, health, disabiity and long term care.

In addition to Mr. Gramigna’s business and professional activities, he is an avid golfer. A former New Jersey Amateur and Mid-Amateur Champion, he has been named “New Jersey Golfer of the Year” and competeted in several USGA events. He currently serves as finance chairman on the Board of Tavistock Country Club.


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Arthur P. Jensen, CPA
Senior Vice President

Mr. Jensen specializes in advanced tax, financial and estate planning. His background includes advising on reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, compliance and technical rulings and advice at both the District Director and National levels. He has assisted both corporate and individual clients with particular attention towards creative tax and financial planning and tax minimization strategies.

Prior to joining The Warner Companies, he worked for prominent CPA firms, including over twenty successful years in large international accounting firms, including KPMG Peat Marwick and Deloitte & Touche. Most of his years were as partner in charge of tax services for the local office. He added to his valuable experience when he was selected for a one year assignment in the Washington National Tax Office of KPMG dealing with complex and unusual tax situations. He also served as liaison between his firm and the IRS and United States Treasury Departments.

Mr. Jensen is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants, the International Association of Financial Planners, and the Wealth Counsel LLC Study Group. He is a past president of the Baltimore Association of Tax Counsel, a past Chairman of the Chesapeake Tax Conference, past Co-Chairman of the Advanced Tax Institute and former Treasurer of the Baltimore city Rotary Club. In addition to his CPA license, he holds health and life insurance licenses, and is a registered representative with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm. He has spoken before numerous groups on tax and financial topics.


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Kelly Marcus
Senior Vice President

As Senior Vice President, Ms. Marcus is responsible for developing collaborative relationships with other professionals in the Voluntary Benefits arena. She works directly with our strategic partners to drive business activities, creating alignment and execution on shared goals.

Ms. Marcus has over 15 years of experience in Voluntary Benefits sales and account management. Prior to joining The Warner Companies, she was State Manager for The Abacus Group and held several sales and management positions with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and American Fidelity Assurance Company. Her accomplishments as an Account Manager are extensive. She has received numerous awards for sales production and leadership.

Ms. Marcus attended Oklahoma State University and University of Central Oklahoma, and she holds Life and Health insurance licenses.

Apart from Ms. Marcus’s business and professional activities, she has dedicated her time as a volunteer for Team in Training, a fitness training program designed to help participants complete marathons, half marathons, and triathlons, all to support fundraising efforts for children suffering from Leukemia and Lymphoma.


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Rick Oliver
President of Sports Management

Rick works closely with all clients on contract negotiations, arbitration, as well as managing the overall operations of TWC Sports Management.

Rick played third base for seven years in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Following his career as a professional baseball player, Rick worked with Shapiro, Robinson and Associates (SRA), which represented some of the most high profile players in baseball, including Cal Ripken Jr., Kirby Puckett, Eddie Murray, Willie Randolph, among others. During his 15 years with SRA, Rick worked with some of the top draft choices including Trot Nixon (Boston Red Sox), Brian Anderson (Anaheim Angels), Jake Westbrook (Colorado Rockies), Sean Casey (Cleveland Indians), Scott Elarton (Colorado Rockies), Michael Tucker (Kansas City Royals), and Gavin Floyd (Philadelphia Phillies), among others. Rick was successful in identifying and recruiting some of the best college and high school players in the country.

Since joining The Warner Companies in 2006, Rick has excelled in exceeding standard signing bonus offers on behalf of our clients. He used his strong international ties to sign Seth Greisinger, a major league pitcher in Japan, to a huge two year contract worth $6.5 milllion. Seth has been one of the most productive pitchers to ever pitch in Japan. He also negotiated a $14 million multi-year guaranteed contract for Minnesota Twins starter, Nick Blackburn.

Rick's extensive experience as an agent and professional baseball player gives him a unique perspective to share with clients and contributes to client success on and off the field.


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Jeff Randazzo
Vice President of Sports Management

Jeff works closely with clients on and off the field, by providing top level draft advisory services, personal services, and career development advice before, during, and beyond their professional baseball careers.

In 1999, Jeff received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee to play basketball and baseball. During his career at Cardinal Ohara High School, Jeff was named MVP in both baseball and basketball, and then was named Athlete of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily Times. The Minnesota Twins selected Jeff in the 4th round of the amateur draft, just after he graduated high school. Jeff decided to forgo his college career and pursue his dream of playing professional baseball.

A left handed pitcher, Jeff spent 6 years playing professional baseball, two of which he was an All-Star. He was also the Twins number eleven prospect. On his way to spring training in 2002, Jeff was involved in a near fatal car accident, which shortened his career as a professional baseball player.

Jeff currently resides outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he is active in his community organizing baseball leagues for youth and supplying equipment for surrounding community leagues.

Jeff's professional baseball career, business expertise, athletic background and his ability to handle adversity has given him a special perspective on not only the game of baseball, but also the game of life.


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John Russell, CFP
Vice President

Mr. Russell specializes in estate planning, including business continuation planning for family owned and closely held businesses. He provides his clients with the investment and insurance products necessary to implement a financial plan.

Mr. Russell completed the curriculum of the College of Financial Planning in 1992 and earned the designation of Certified Financial Planner in March of 1993. He served in the U.S. armed forces and is a Veteran of the Vietnam conflict. Prior to joining The Warner Companies, Mr. Russell was successful in implementing and managing a retail investment department for a regional bank in Pennsylvania. He is a member of the International Association for Financial Planning and the York County, PA Estate Planning Council. He has been an active member of the Board of Directors for the Towson University Foundation and is on the Board of Advisors for the Towson University School of Business and Finance.


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Ilene Salcman
Executive Vice President

As Executive Vice President, Ms. Salcman is responsible for developing collaborative relationships with other professionals in the wealth strategies arena, as well as recruiting additional personnel for the company. She brings a highly unique perspective to counseling affluent clients and successful companies since she was first introduced to The Warner Companies from the perspective of a client.

Prior to joining The Warner Companies, Ms. Salcman served as Executive Vice President of one of the largest Health Systems on the East Coast, where she was a proven business leader with various types of health care organizations. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, development and marketing.

Her accomplishments as an executive in the health care field are broad. She implemented and managed executive compensation and benefit plans, and has been honored by the Academy of Health Care Marketing and received awards for several marketing campaigns.

After receiving a BA from Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, Ms. Salcman received her MBA/MPH from Columbia University, New York, New York. She is a Registered Representative with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority [FINRA] member firm, and holds health and life insurance licenses. Her current Board activities include the Fund for Educational Excellence, where she is a member of the Executive Committee as well as the Chairman of the Marketing/Development Committee. She is also a board member and Vice President of the Friends of Modern Art at the Baltimore Museum of Art.


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Phillip Snyder, CLU
Senior Vice President

Mr. Snyder specializes in the design and implementation of non-qualified programs designed to meet the specific needs of executives and professionals. Since 1973, he has served a broad-based clientele, including both privately held and publicly traded companies.

Mr. Snyder received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Maryland at College Park, with follow-up study at The Johns Hopkins University. He received his Chartered Life Underwriter designation from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He is a registered representative with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority [FINRA] member firm.

Mr. Snyder is a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters, the Baltimore Association of Life Underwriters, the Baltimore Estate Planning Council, The Society of Financial Service Professionals, and the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting. In addition, he is a Past President of the Baltimore Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and is a past board member of the Baltimore Association of Life Underwriters.


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Kenneth A. Ward
Senior Vice President

As Senior Vice President, Mr. Ward is the senior case analyst and is responsible for new business development, client management and plan design. He specializes in executive benefits and has significant experience with qualified and non-qualified retirement programs.

Prior to joining The Warner Companies, Mr. Ward was a Vice President in the Executive and Professional Benefits Division at USI Consulting Group focusing on advanced case design and new business development for executive benefit programs associated with tax-exempt organizations. He has more than 10 years experience with a variety of firms including Ernst & Young LLP where he worked as a senior manager and consulted with a variety of clients on their qualified and non-qualified retirement programs.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Science from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. He holds Series 6, Series 63, and insurance licenses for life, accident and sickness and variable products. He is also a retired Enrolled Actuary.


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Lee Warner
AEP, CLU, ChFC, CFP
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
As Chairman, Mr. Warner provides corporate leadership to the organization for company expansion, strategic alliance relationship development, contractual negotiations, and financial controls.

Mr. Warner has specialized in comprehensive financial consulting for affluent individuals, public and privately held companies since 1977, with a specific focus on creative estate tax planning, executive benefit and compensation design.

Mr. Warner has been frequently quoted in national print and has spoken locally on radio and television. He also speaks nationally on various aspects of financial planning, and is listed in the Who's Who Registry of Global Business Leaders, Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in the East, and International Who's Who of Professionals.

He has served as President and member of the Board of Directors for both the Baltimore Association for Financial Planning and the Baltimore Estate Planning Council. Additionally, he served as the Legislative Affairs Chairman for The Baltimore Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. Nationally, he served as Chairman of the Executive Field Advisory Board for two major insurance companies and as a Board Member of the Practitioners Council for the International Association of Financial Planners.

Among his memberships, Mr. Warner lists the International Association for Financial Planning, The National Association of Life Underwriters, The Association for Advanced Life Underwriters, and Society of Financial Service Professionals. He is also a member of the Top Of The Table and the International Twenty-five Million Dollar Forum.

Mr. Warner serves as President of The Carson Scholars Fund and formerly served as Chairman of AmericasBANK.

Mr. Warner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Economics from Western Maryland College, and has earned professional designations as an Accredited Estate Planner, CLU, ChFC, and Certified Financial Planner. He is a licensed insurance advisor with the State of Maryland and many other states nationwide. He is also a registered representative with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm.


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Matthew Werden
Vice President

Mr. Werden specializes in Corporate Employee Benefits and serves as a consultant for the design and implementation of employee benefit plans sponsored by corporations of varying sizes.

Mr. Werden's experience in the insurance and benefits industry has been grounded in the belief that exceeding his client's expectation is paramount. Prior to joining The Warner Companies, he worked as a Benefit Consultant for a Baltimore-based employee benefits administrator where he helped build and mentor the firm's direct sales force. Mr. Werden also developed his client service expertise while employed by one of the prominent organizations in the National Football League.

Mr. Werden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of Maryland, College Park. He also holds a Maryland Life and Health insurance license.


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Jay Witasick
Director of Baseball Operations

Jay takes a proactive approach to the many issues that clients face on a daily basis with a focus on career guidance before, during and after their baseball careers.

Jay's professional baseball career spanned over 15 professional seasons, including 10 years in the Major Leagues as a right handed pitcher. The Houston Astros selected Jay in the 1991 MLB Free Agent Draft, but he decided to complete his education and further develop his baseball skills. In 1993, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Jay in the second round of the MLB Draft. After a few years in the Minor Leagues, Jay made his MLB debut on July 7, 1996 with the Oakland Athletics. In addition to having two stints each with the Athletics and the San Diego Padres, Jay played for the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He appeared in two World Series during his career.

After the 2007 MLB Season, Jay made the transition into sports management working for Beverly Hills Sports Council, recruiting some of the nation's current top players.

As a student in high school, Jay earned distinction in both baseball and football, and was among the first alumni to be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. He attended Brevard (FL) Community College and the University of Maryland Baltimore County on full academic and athletic scholarships, studying business management. Jay is active in local baseball programs and is an honorary board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford County.

Jay's Major League Baseball career, leadership qualities and knowledge of the industry provide a solid foundation that qualifies him as a baseball agent and advisor.


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