About

Jeff Smedsrud

Founder

Jeff is the co-founder of Healthcare.com and Pivot Health, the former Chief Marketing Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President of The IHC Group, and the President of American Independence Corp. He has written extensively for national publications about health insurance and is active on several non-profit boards, including Undue Medical, a non-profit that has erased $10.4 billion of medical debt for more than 7.1 million individuals as of 2023. Jeff’s passion is playing a role in wiping out medical debt for millions of middle-class Americans.

Brian Dow

President and COO

Brian has three decades of experience in health insurance operations, sales and marketing. He brings a pragmatic perspective, often looking to simplify and streamline complicated insurance practices. A master’s degree in venture management has fueled a career of building new ventures in the corporate world – most recently serving in the role of Chief Operating Officer for IHC Specialty Benefits, a leading insurance distribution company.

“It’s amazing what can be done when key systems are designed for flexibility and transparency.  You shouldn’t have to cut corners. To do it right, you just have to imagine the possibilities.” – Brian

Tyler McClosky

Advisor & Investor

Tyler has 15 years experience growing and leading large health insurance marketing organizations. He was Chief Operating Officer of First Family Insurance, a large marketing organization that was acquired in 2020 by United Health One, a division of United HealthCare, the world’s largest health insurer. Since then he has been building a new company, RocketHealth.com, into one of the fastest growing field marketing organizations in the USA, focusing on ancillary and alternative health insurance plans. The acquisition of FlexBenefits is part of a strategic horizontal growth initiative that combines disciplined, high margin distribution with best-in-class proprietary product design.

Scott Wood

Executive Advisor

Scott brings 40+ years of health insurance management experience to Flex Benefits. He has held C-level positions in the industry (insurance companies, TPAs, MGUs, retail and wholesale brokerage). His expertise includes strategic planning, product development, pricing, underwriting, claims, compliance, reinsurance, and operations. In the employer-sponsored market, he has led marketing and operations for medical, ancillary, voluntary benefits, and wellness, and in the individual insurance market: major medical, short-term medical, fixed indemnity, dental/vision, accident, critical illness and disability. Scott’s passion is to help organizations and individuals lower their costs by improving their health. He gets great joy from developing strategies and moving them into action plans and finds hope in living his mantra which revolves around trust: “I say what I’ll do and I do what I say.”

Crystal Dorsey

Actuary

Crystal Dorsey has more than 30 years of experience in actuarial consulting, performing and reviewing financial analyses, projections, reserve setting, accrual forecasts, experience and trend studies along with product development and rating. She is founder and CEO of Dragonfly Actuarial, a boutique actuarial firm managing several profitable lines of business for the past 12 years. She and her team thrive on providing meaningful expert support by bringing clarity to complex financial and actuarial challenges, helping carriers and reinsurers grow business profitably. Crystal’s passion is connecting with nature by growing and cooking from her garden. She finds great joy in connecting with family, friends, and pets and finds hope in the kindness and compassion present everywhere when one has eyes to see and ears to hear.

Frank Fugiel

Product Management

Frank is a skilled veteran health plan warrior, with experience in life and health insurance underwriting, product development, sales, claims, medical management, and insurance compliance activities. Frank’s passion is to craft innovative product solutions to overcome longstanding norms. He gets great joy from being blessed with grandchildren and children who enjoy Frank establishing and hosting family and friend events that, hopefully, the young will carry on as traditions in memory of the family.

Sid Christensen

Contracting Specialist

Leveraging his administrative experience in the insurance industry, Sid looks forward to assisting brokers and agencies with completing FlexBenefits contracting and appointment paperwork to ensure they can quote and enroll. With his experience, contracting, and commissions are a natural fit. In his free time, he enjoys all sports and spending time with his family.

Kellsey Steeves

Agency Services

Kellsey has worked in various aspects of agent contracting and commissions for the past six years. Her attention to detail ensures agents and agencies are properly set up to market the products offered by the company. She looks forward bringing her skills to the Flex Benefits.co team. Outside of work, Kellsey enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering with various local civic groups.