Our Leadership Team

Russ is a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, business development, management and private equity fundraising. His experience cuts across the media, advertising, professional services and insurance sector. Most recently, Russ founded and ran ForeverCar.com, a national direct-to-consumer retailer of vehicle service contracts. Prior to starting Forever Car, Russ spearheaded national advertising revenue for multiple top-tier, national media brands in the U.S. including; The Economist, Crain Communications and Investing Channel.  Before his stint in the national media business, Russ was Director of New Business Development for Robert Brandt and Associates, a full-service advertising and public relations agency, based in Chicago. Russ earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Bradley University and has completed coursework towards a Master’s Degree from Northwestern University.

Jermell Williams has over 20 years of experience working in the various facets of the employee benefits industry. From Marsh McLennan Companies—one of the leading premier employee benefits brokerage firms in the nation—to the Financial Services Sector working for the Principal Financial Group, a Fortune 500 Insurance & Investment Company, overseeing a Principal Financial Group d/b/a, McKnight & Williams, as the Chief Operating Officer & Lead Benefits Consultant.

Throughout Mr. Williams’ career he has garnered a substantial amount of knowledge in employee benefits, business analytics/ processes, and financial consulting.  This allots for clients to have a direct resource for their Health & Welfare Programs at the executive level.  Jermell has worked his way up the industry ladder from the Coordinator/Account Manger level to Co-Founder of his own brokerage firm.

Mr. Williams has an extensive background in developing Complex Benefits Programs for fortune 100 and 500 Beverage Companies, Hospice Systems, Construction Firms, Physician Groups, Engineering Firms, Hospitality Groups, etc. 

In addition, Mr. Williams is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, he has a FL 2-15 Health & Life (Including Annuities & Variable Contracts), HIA Designation (Health Insurance Associate), Series 6 Securities License (Mutual Funds, Variable Annuities, Insurance…), Aetna Accelerated Underwriting Training Program Certificate, etc. 

Jermell earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut. 

It is his mission to be on the cutting edge of innovation in the Employee Benefits marketplace and implement strategic operations that result in efficient service, and optimal profitability.

Alex has over 20 years of professional inside and outside sales experience serving both the business-to-consumer and business-to-business markets. Alex started his sales career in mortgage brokerage, as a senior loan officer at InBank, a boutique retail-bank located in Chicago. Alex led his division in production for 3 consecutive years during his tenure with InBank.  Following his stint in banking, Alex became licensed as a Life, Health, Property and Casualty Insurance Producer.  After leaving the banking industry in 2009, Alex spent the last 6 years in the insurance sector, working primarily within property and casualty with both State Farm and Nationwide Insurance. Alex holds a B.S. in Marketing from Bradley University.

Salvatore is a versatile professional with a background in Finance, Risk & Safety Management, and Marketing. Salvatore started at Goldman Sachs, where he worked in risk management & compliance, before transitioning into a private client services & wealth management role. Motivated by the aftermath of 9/11, Salvatore moved from finance to public service, by joining the FDNY as a firefighter. Salvatore was stationed directly across from the World Trade Center site and was responsible for work in the surrounding area. Following his time at the FDNY, Salvatore moved into safety management consulting protocols on major projects in NYC, such as the World Trade Center and One Vanderbilt. After retiring from the FDNY, Salvatore relocated to Naples, Florida, where he became VP of National Marketing at LevelFunded Health. Sal earned a B.S. Degree in Finance, from Iona University.

Ned has over 25 years of experience in the health benefits industry. Ned started his career at UnitedHealth Group back in the 1990s - where he was intimately involved in various aspects of the business. After his time with UHC, Ned moved on to Davis Vision, (Superior Vision Services) where he acted as both a Regional Sales Manager, and eventually; Senior Client Manager for dozens of middle-market clients. After his stint with Davis, Ned was hired by Wellnet as an Account Manager, where he was responsible for managing numerous small and mid-market self-funded accounts.

Christina has over 20 years in employee benefits and financial services, and has most recently had successful positions at Principal Financial Group and USI. Her roles include overseeing business development and account management for LevelFunded Health.

Vesna has over 20 years of accounting and insurance licensing experience. Vesna started her career with Chase Bank in the life insurance and annuities sector. She transitioned to AccuQuote, a large life insurance brokerage, where she oversaw licensing for the agency and its 50+ agents.

In 2011, she left the agency with the birth of her first child. Vesna opened an insurance licensing service where she oversees contracting and licensing compliance for insurance agencies. Vesna holds a B.S. in Accounting from Illinois State University.

Jon has over 25 years experience in marketing, design and web development. Previous to Level Funded, Jon had managed creative teams and designed award-winning projects for some of the world’s most respected advertising and interactive agencies.

Jon solves online and offline marketing and business challenges, producing results through web, direct marketing, identity design, and marketing campaigns. Jon’s career has netted him a valuable network of designers, developers, writers and industry movers-and-shakers which allows us to assemble specific teams of specialists to execute on our goals quickly and effectively.

Robert Kilpatrick has been in the auto industry his entire life. He joined a private equity group with more than $1 billion under management and rose to the partner in charge of the automotive vertical.  Since then, he’s established a private equity group managing $250 million dollars that purchased more than 80 distressed franchised dealerships representing most manufacturers.

Jim O’Brien is a licensed health insurance provider who has more than two decades of experience in Financial, Business and Estate Planning for high net worth clients.  He has extensive experience with Employee Benefits Programs from working for a Top 20 US Insurance Brokerage Firm.  Jim also brings a perspective and significant breadth of knowledge to any employer organization of 100 to 5000 employees that is looking for a move to a SAAS model full employee life cycle implementation for employers considering outsourcing payroll, benefits and HR support.