Joanne Donnelly
Market Strategist
925.296.8847
With over 30 years of industry exposure, Joanne found her passion in ensuring the best benefit solutions for brokers and their clients across many market segments with diverse business needs. Prior to joining Claremont in 2015, Joanne held strategic sales roles with BenefitMall, Lincoln Financial, Lafayette Square Insurance, New York Life and Aetna. This experience helps Joanne bring an unparalleled breadth of perspective in developing strategic market and customer-specific solutions. Joanne likes to compare her job to that of a Charcuterie board. The next time you see her, make sure to ask her about it!
Raquel Contreras
Broker Service Representative
925.296.8824
Raquel came to Claremont as a temporary employee. With over seventeen years of small group benefits experience under her belt, she joined the team fulltime in 2019. As a Broker Service Representative, she focuses on the processing and completion of service requests and administrative services. Perhaps it’s blasé, however Raquel wants to be sure that even minor requests are processed and completed, timely and error-free. Spanish-language services are also provided by Raquel, when needed at the office, or requested by a group for an open enrollment meeting. Overall, Raquel enjoys working the back-office. On weekends, Raquel enjoys the quiet life, with cooking, hanging out with friends and family, and enjoying a walk outside or listening to music.
Beverly Daniel-Patton
Broker Service Representative
925.296.8851
Beverly grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to California with her family in 1985. Her first position was with California Casualty Insurance Company. During her employment with CCIC she realized how much of an interest she had in the insurance industry. Later she became an independent insurance agent because she wanted to educate families who wanted to protect their families but didn’t understand how, what and why the need was so important.
Kimberly Dantono
Broker Service Representative
925.296.8813
Kim joined Claremont in 2015. Previously Kim held various sales and customer support positions at companies including BenefitMall and IBM. When not working at Claremont, Kim keeps her hands full with running after her two small children.
Autumn Hersey
Broker Service Representative
925.296.8842
Autumn Hersey has been with Claremont since July, 2019 as a Broker Service Representative. Autumn helped transition and train team members on new database and CRM software. Before joining the team, she worked as a research coordinator for a national research study on Dual Language Learning Preschoolers. There she developed skills of coordinating large teams of examiners across multiple states, and maintaining a database of over 8,000 children over the course of a multi-year study. She graduated with her BA from California State University Channel Islands in Ventura.
Maria Mallari
Broker Service Representative
925.296.8815
Before joining the Claremont team in August of 2018, Maria began her career in health care in 1993 at Health Net. What started out as a receptionist/switchboard position turned into a 25-year career. Over the course of those 25 years at Health Net, Maria was promoted to many different roles within the organization. After briefly providing administrative support for the Vice President and the Human Resources Director, she quickly began her career in customer service by supporting the Small Group account management team. She then began managing her own small group book of business. In 2004 she began working in the large group market sector where she provided day to day support for many large group clients and then began managing her own book of business in the Labor & Trust division. Personal interests include being with family and friends. Maria likes to bake, hike, go wine tasting, attend concerts, festivals, plays/ cirque du soleil shows and she loves to shop.
Crystal Nelson
Broker Service Representative
925.296.8826
Crystal joined Claremont in 2017. Previously, Crystal worked in a private dental office for four years coordinating treatment coverage with carriers. Crystal holds an Applied Science Degree in Dental Assisting. Crystal loves spending time with her twin daughters and friends either at home with games and movies or outdoor activities like camping, horseback riding and hiking. Ask Crystal about Snickers, the family Mini Holland Lop bunny.
Derek Fahlman
Customer Engagement Manager
925.296.8837
Before joining Claremont, Derek was a benefits consultant for Brown & Brown Insurance where he delivered cost containment and self-funding solutions to the small and large group markets. Derek started his employee benefits career with OneDigital Health and Benefits focused on small group, level funded products, and bringing companies into the digital era. Prior to the insurance industry, he was a sales manager in the Denver, CO hospitality industry. Derek attended Regis University in Denver with a focus on Business Administration. A native Californian, Derek enjoys being active in his community as a board member of the De La Salle High School Alumni Association. He’s also an avid outdoors enthusiast, downhill skier and snowboarder.
Jessie Gonzalez
Customer Engagement Manager
925.296.8835, My Calendar
Jessie comes to Claremont from Anthem Blue Cross, where for seven years he was part of the Anthem large group new sales team. Prior to Anthem, Jessie spent two years with Health Net, also in large group new sales. Jessie also has experience in retail banking and agency insurance sales, having worked at Wachovia Bank as a licensed personal banker and as a products representative with State Farm Insurance. In his spare time Jessie likes to play basketball with his son Santana, enjoy family day trips, and occasionally bang on the drum set in his garage.
Lea Torres
Broker Service Representative
925.296.8825
Lea brings over 5 years of experience in the employee benefits industry having spent that time at an independent brokerage serving as a Senior Benefits Analyst and Account Manager. “Lea has a strong acumen for analyzing benefits and assisting clients to best meet employee and company needs. She will be an asset to Claremont and will provide stellar service to our clients,” said Karlee Navarro, Assistant Manager, Service.
When not working, Lea and her husband enjoy scuba diving, traveling, and spending time with their fur-babies — cats Ava (Tabby) and Otis (Russian Blue), and their Pomeranian puppy Loki.
Suzie Wirths
Broker Service Representative
925.348.0856
Suzie has over six years of employee benefits experience and has worked with Third Party Administrators as well as brokerage firms. “Her experience and knowledge are only part of what Suzie brings to the table. She strives to provide the best possible experience to everyone that she interacts with and she is eager to make an impactful contribution to our customers. Our clients are already saying how much they enjoy working with her.” said Laura Hogsed, Service Manager.
Suzie loves the outdoors. In her spare time, you may find her hiking, kayaking, caving and exploring the mountains.
Rebecca Hernandez
Broker Service Representative
925.296.8822
Claremont is excited to welcome Rebecca Hernandez as the newest member of the Service Team. Rebecca brings with her 6 years of industry experience. Most recently she held the position of Small Business Senior Renewal Specialist with eHealth Insurance, where she provided service in all 50 states, to over 9,000 groups. “Rebecca is the perfect addition to help round out our team,” says Laura Hogsed, Service Manager. “Her experience in renewal analyzation is a great asset which will take our ability to provide wholistic service to our brokers to a higher level.”
In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys taking Zumba classes, gem collecting or listening to self-improvement books.
