Longtime Insurance and Benefits Execs Launch Firm Aiding San Antonio Businesses
Spire’s business model does not include downsizing the companies it acquires, he said. Instead, he plans to increase their staffs.
Morris serves as Spire’s chair. Pete Villemain, who served as president of EBS since 2004, will serve as president of employee benefits for Spire. Villemain’s parents, Art and Billie, founded EBS in 1986.
Two days after he graduated from college in 1995, Villemain started working for EBS. His father told him: “That was enough vacation. Now get to work,” he quipped.
EBS has made large investments in its consumer-facing technology, Villemain said, making it easy for small businesses – who are strapped for time and resources – to onboard employees, adjust benefits, and more.
“The clients we focus on might not have a [human resources] person, maybe don’t have a benefits person” dedicated to finding the employees and the company the best deal, he said. Spire and companies like it become a “benefits arm of a company.”
Spire aims to serve companies that have anywhere from two to 1,000 employees.
Villemain said he expects Morris’ new company will one day become one of the largest of its kind in San Antonio. “I don’t think we would have done this deal if I didn’t think that was a real possibility.”
In the meantime, Morris will continue his consultant work for the City as it negotiates a contract with the fire union through binding mediation sessions.
SOURCE: Rivard Report
Longtime Insurance and Benefits Execs Launch Firm Aiding San Antonio Businesses