Business & Leadership: HUB International Gulf South

Annette Dowdle, RHU, CCWC, CHRS

The right team can simplify benefits for employers and employees. The problem solvers at HUB International are readily available and equipped with common sense applications and insightful collaboration. “It’s so very rewarding to take the mystery out of employee benefits for people,” said Annette Dowdle, Senior Vice President of HUB International Gulf South.

After all, it’s people who inspire Annette to lead her team each day. “We want to go above and beyond. We take the whole experience and make it surprisingly better by streamlining the process, which helps employers create an engaged culture with their employees. Then, it becomes more than just benefits,” she said.

As the largest privately owned brokerage/ consultant within the U.S. and Canada, HUB aims to build high-performing companies through highperforming employees. Annette’s resources and consulting options include voluntary benefits, data analytics, health and performance, program design and implementation and much more.

“Employers want to retain and attract good talent. We create that for them with a little bit of art as well as science, but it always comes back to the human element of it all,” she said.

As a third party, HUB gives employees a point of contact to discuss sensitive topics.

“Someone who is dealing with a serious medical condition has a lot of claims. They might need some hand holding, and we do that for them,” Annette said. “This arrangement makes them feel comfortable enough that they can ask the questions they don’t really want to ask their employer.”

Employees can engage with HUB consultants wherever they prefer. “Because the world and technology have changed, we’re digital, paper and telephonic. We can meet each generation or person in whatever channel they are most comfortable,” Annette said.

The many stories of how HUB has made a difference in people’s lives drive Annette to continue learning and collaborating.

“I work with phenomenal team members who are passionate about what they do. They care about our clients and the work they do together,” she said. “All of that is very deliberate. Our HUB employees are just as much customers as our customers. They’re going to give our customers a really good experience and work really hard for them if they’re happy working for not only HUB, but for me.”

Annette is a graduate of Leadership St. Tammany and Leadership Louisiana. “Leadership training and networking give me avenues to connect with people inside and outside of network,” she said. “It allows us all to draw from each other’s experiences to help our businesses and our communities as well.”

Annette recently completed Loyola Women’s Leadership Academy and is co-chair for 2022 American Heart Association Northshore Heart Walk. Additionally, she is a member of National Women in Construction and serves on HUB’s National Best Practices Task Force.

“People take insurance for granted until it’s needed, but it’s then that it can change people’s lives. We are making a difference,” she said. “It’s not just about insurance. It’s about helping people get the right kind and having them understand it.”

Annette.dowdle@hubinternational.com. 504-491-5576