10 Guardian Life operations leaders
Head of Multi-Life Disability Operations, Head of Group Service and Initiatives and Head of Operations Transformation and Strategy are among the roles held by these ten Guardian Life operations leaders. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Guardian Life from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Dawn Gensits
LinkedInExperience: Director, Individual Markets Life & DI Operations · Guardian
Dawn Gensits has been Director, Individual Markets Life & DI Operations at Guardian since November 2021, based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Dawn Gensits also held the Guardian roles of Director, Individual Markets Compliance (2019 to 2021), Director, Life & DI New Business Oper (2018 to 2019), Sr Manager, Individual Markets, Life & Disability (2016 to 2018) and Manager, Case Management Services (2006 to 2016).
Iryna Papalamava
LinkedInExperience: Chief Operating Officer, Guardian Direct (Direct-to-Consumer Business of Guardian Life) · Guardian
Iryna Papalamava was Chief Operating Officer, Guardian Direct (Direct-to-Consumer Business of Guardian Life) at Guardian from April 2020 to December 2023 and has been Managing Director, Head of Enterprise Engagement at Guardian since December 2023, based in the New York City area. Iryna Papalamava also held the role of Principal at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) from 2018 to 2020.
Kevin Sherman
LinkedInExperience: Head of Multi-Life Disability Operations · Guardian
Kevin Sherman has been Head of Multi-Life Disability Operations at Guardian since March 2023, based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and the profile also lists Director, Multi-Life Operations and Service at Guardian from April 2021. Kevin Sherman also held the role of Claims Manager, Individual Disability at Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, a Guardian Company, from 2004 to 2021.
Lori Fanning
LinkedInExperience: Head of Operations, Group Benefits · Guardian
Lori Fanning has been Head of Operations, Group Benefits at Guardian since April 2026, based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Lori Fanning also held the Guardian roles of Head of Advisory Implementation & Transformation (2022 to 2026), Director, Core Market Operations (2016 to 2022), Manager, Broker Planholder Customer Response Unit (2015 to 2016) and Manager, Customer Eligibility and Payment Services (2011 to 2015).
Matthew Darula
LinkedInExperience: Head of Business Operations and Experience, Financial Protection and Retirement Solutions · Guardian
Matthew Darula has been Head of Business Operations and Experience, Financial Protection and Retirement Solutions at Guardian since January 2026, based in the Greater Boston area. Matthew Darula also held the Guardian roles of Head of Product, Strategy, and Offerings, Group Benefits (2025), Head of Product and Digital Offerings, Group Benefits (2022 to 2025) and Head of Strategy and Business Development, Group Benefits (2021 to 2022).
Mayra Garza
LinkedInExperience: Head of Service and Operational Enablement, Financial Protection & Retirement Solutions · Guardian
Mayra Garza has been Head of Service and Operational Enablement, Financial Protection & Retirement Solutions at Guardian since May 2026, based in New York. Mayra Garza also held the Guardian roles of Head of Group Benefits Strategy and Retail Segment (2024 to 2026) and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives (2021 to 2024), and the Kearney roles of Manager (2020 to 2021) and Associate (2019 to 2020).
Michael Jacobs
LinkedInExperience: Head of Operations Transformation and Strategy · Guardian
Michael Jacobs has been Head of Operations Transformation and Strategy at Guardian since July 2026, based in the Green Bay area, responsible for modernizing Group Benefits Operations through technology, data, automation and AI. Michael Jacobs also held the Guardian roles of Head of Implementation (2020 to 2026), Director, Group Eligibility (2018 to 2020) and Business Analysis Manager II (2015 to 2018).
Rich Pagliarini
LinkedInExperience: Head of Group Service and Initiatives · Guardian
Rich Pagliarini has been Head of Group Service and Initiatives at Guardian since January 2024. Rich Pagliarini also held the Guardian roles of 2nd Vice President, Head of DTC Operations and EOS Initiatives (2022 to 2024) and 2nd Vice President and Leader of DTC Contact Center & Service Automation (2021 to 2022), and the MetLife roles of Director - Lead Optimization and Management and Director Of Client Relations, CRM, New Business Strategies.
Sandra McKenna
LinkedInExperience: Hea of Operations, Service, Claims and Transformation, Shared Services, Group Benefits · Guardian
Sandra McKenna has been Hea of Operations, Service, Claims and Transformation, Shared Services, Group Benefits at Guardian since July 2026, based in Boston. Sandra McKenna also held the Guardian roles of Head of Claims and Service, Shared Services, Group Benefits (2024 to 2026) and Head of Claims Shared Services, Group Benefits (2023 to 2024), and was VP, Clinical and Vocational Rehabilitation Services at Lincoln Financial from 2018 to 2023.
Timothy C.
LinkedInExperience: Head of Inforce Operations & Services Customer Engagement · Guardian
Timothy C. has been Head of Inforce Operations & Services Customer Engagement at Guardian since March 2024, based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with the profile headline Head of FPRS Operations & Services Customer Engagement at Guardian Life. Timothy C. also held the Guardian roles of Leader, Customer Engagement, Inforce Operations & Process Improvement (2023 to 2024) and Director, DTC Operations (1993 to 2023).
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose own role best matches the operations question you have, and check whether they hold it now or held it before. Weigh scope as well as title, because a head of operations for a whole business and a director over one area see different parts of the work.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What took most of your time in your current operations role, and what did you change first?
- 02How did you balance service levels, accuracy and cost when volumes changed?
- 03What did you carry over from earlier roles that changed how you run operations at Guardian Life?
Reaching Guardian Life operations leaders
How can I contact one of these Guardian Life operations 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: Guardian, based on profile data retrieved on October 18, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Guardian Life operations leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. 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 Guardian Life operations 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. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. 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; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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