Aaron Thorburn – Vice President/Partner
Aaron received his group health and welfare experience principally while serving in a variety of senior sales and regional management positions with a national health and welfare insurance company in Houston and Dallas. He is vastly experienced in helping mid to large employers evaluate and manage their group health plans, with a particular expertise in helping develop and manage all aspects of ASO plans.
Kirk Ashy – Vice President/Partner
Kirk established the Austin office of SWL following 11 years of experience in employee benefits, working for both a national health and welfare insurance company, as well as a national insurance brokerage firm. He is very skilled in helping all sized employers evaluate and manage their group health plans.
Bob Shepard– President
Bob has served Texas clients as a broker for 35+ years. His knowledge and experience is extensive, and as a founding partner in the agency, Bob is devoted to ensuring the benefits team continues to develop and offer services that meet the ever changing needs of our employer groups.
Norma Padilla –Senior Account Manager
Norma has been the group account management lead at SWL since 1990. Norma will be the primary day to day contact for your HR Benefits team, and both her technical knowledge and focus on carrier service delivery will provide your group with an extremely valuable liaison, and a partner who takes ownership in helping her client’s find solutions.
Wendy Cheng – Account Manager
Roanne Perez – Sr. Account Service Representative
Odie Laurel –Account Service Representative
Odie joined SWL in January 2010, after 15+ years of working in the HR departments of several private companies. Odie is responsible for helping HR teams and their members resolve challenges, primarily in the areas of plan level benefits, eligibility, and billing.
Jennifer Ezzell – Marketing Specialist
Jennifer Ezzell is a Marketing Specialist for Shepard Walton King’s Benefits Division. Jennifer’s responsibilities include marketing and daily client service for small group accounts. Jennifer has been in the insurance industry since 1996 and joined Shepard Walton Life in 2011. Jennifer was in large, commercial lines insurance at two globally recognized insurance and risk consulting firms for 14 years prior where she managed sales and marketing efforts in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma regions and in the natural resources industry.
Dalton Hobbs – Producer
Dalton has worked exclusively with employer groups and their employee benefits plans for 35+ years. Dalton has played a key role in the SWL benefits team for more than 20 years, after spending 12+ years with BCBS of Texas in a variety of management/sales roles.
