Professional services
10 Gallagher benefits leaders
These ten Gallagher benefits leaders have held area vice president, area senior vice president and senior vice president roles in the firm's employee benefits and health and welfare consulting work. A reader can learn how the health and benefits practice at Gallagher approaches its work from people who have worked in it.
Professionals to explore
01—10Al Phelps
LinkedInExperience: Area Senior Vice President · Gallagher
Area Senior Vice President at Gallagher since 2022, a role their profile headline describes as Area Senior Vice President and Global Benefits Consultant, after serving as Area Vice President there (2013–2022). Earlier they were Global Consultant and Client Manager at Buck Consultants (2007–2013). Their profile describes a focus on linking HR and benefits strategy with business success.
Barb Vasko
LinkedInExperience: Area Vice President, Health and Benefits Consulting · Gallagher
Area Vice President, Health and Benefits Consulting at Gallagher since 2019, based in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Earlier they were Partner, Lead Health and Benefits Consultant at Marsh People Solutions (2017–2018), Vice President, Health and Benefits Account Executive at Aon (2003–2017) and Director Of Employee Benefits at UnitedHealth Group (1995–2002).
Brenda Armour, LIC
LinkedInExperience: Area Vice President, Employee Benefits Consulting | National Accounts Team · Gallagher
Area Vice President, Employee Benefits Consulting | National Accounts Team at Gallagher since 2023, which their profile describes as lead consultant and strategic advisor to large employers with complex benefit programs. Earlier at Gallagher they were Employee Benefits Consultant & Advocate (2013–2022), Senior Account Executive (2011–2012) and Senior Underwriting Consultant (2009–2010).
Josh Jolley
LinkedInExperience: Area Vice President, Health & Welfare Consulting · Gallagher
Area Vice President, Health & Welfare Consulting at Gallagher since 2014, based in the Jacksonville area. Their profile describes them as an employee benefits professional focused on helping organizations improve the lives of their employees. Earlier they were a Technical Recruiter at Aerotek (2012–2014).
Katrina Johnson
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits · Gallagher
Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits at Gallagher since 2026, a role their profile describes as Senior Vice President and Employee Benefits Consultant working with employers on complex benefits challenges. Earlier they were Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits at AssuredPartners (2014–2026) and Disability Insurance Consultant at MCM (2011–2014).
Keith Franklin
LinkedInExperience: Benefits & HR Consultant, Area Vice President · Gallagher
Benefits & HR Consultant, Area Vice President at Gallagher since 2019. Their profile says they help organizations get the most value from their employee benefits programs and solve their most pressing benefits challenges. Earlier they were Vice President, Corporate Benefits at NFP, an Aon company (2018–2019) and Vice President, Group Benefits at DentalPlans.com (2015–2017).
Kerry Hands
LinkedInExperience: Area Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits · Gallagher
Area Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits at Gallagher since 2015, based in Boston. Earlier they were Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits at WGA (2013–2015) and Vice President at Marsh McLennan Agency (2004–2013). Their profile writes about employers supporting employees' physical wellbeing, financial health and work/life balance.
Kevin Scott
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Benefits & HR Consulting · Gallagher
Senior Vice President, Benefits & HR Consulting at Gallagher since 2026, after serving as Vice President, Benefits & HR Consulting there (2021–2026) and Employee Benefits Consultant (2016–2021). Their profile says that before moving to consulting they were an underwriting analyst for the South Atlantic region.
Kristen Brace
LinkedInExperience: Area Vice President, Client Consultant · Gallagher
Area Vice President, Client Consultant at Gallagher, a role listed from 1992, based near Seattle. Their profile names the role at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and says they provide a results-oriented approach to health and welfare benefits strategy. It is the only work entry shown for them in the listing.
Shannon Gilbert-Kearney
LinkedInExperience: Area Sr. Vice President · Gallagher
Area Sr. Vice President at Gallagher since 2013, in Fort Lauderdale, a role the listing describes as employee benefit consulting. Earlier they were Employee Benefits Team Leader at Brown & Brown (2012–2013) and Employee Benefits Advisor at Baldwin Connelly, LLC (2004–2012).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's client base to your situation, since consultants who serve national accounts and large employers face different questions than those who serve mid-sized organizations. Consider their region and background as well, because benefits markets vary by state and some consultants came from underwriting or carrier roles.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does a benefits consultant help an employer prepare for a health plan renewal?
- 02When does it make sense for a mid-sized employer to consider self-funding its health plan?
- 03How do employers decide which benefits matter most for attracting and keeping employees?
Reaching Gallagher benefits leaders
How can I contact one of these Gallagher benefits leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Gallagher, based on profile data retrieved on October 10, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Gallagher benefits leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Gallagher benefits leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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