LifeStyle Business
A CUT ABOVE Spotlight on The Forza Insurance Group By Molly Golubcow
AS CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF The Forza Insurance Group, John D’Angelo has been delivering outstanding voluntary supplemental insurance for 29 years. In addition to decades of leadership and experience, D’Angelo impressively placed $125 million in voluntary benefit premiums for blue and grey collar clients from labor unions (local and national) to other large employer groups. In 2015, the Atlantic City native moved Forza’s East Coast operations from Florida and New York to his hometown. The move solidified D’Angelo’s industry presence since he has been servicing Atlantic City casino employees for the last 25 years. What is Voluntary Supplemental Insurance? Whether full-time or part-time, employees working for a company or union participating in supplemental benefit plans, can elect to add on to his/her benefit menu. Supplemental options, ones that fill gaps that union and/or employer benefits do not cover, vary. For example, traditional voluntary coverages may include Medical and Hospital Gap, Accident, and Life Insurance, just to name a few. In addition, Forza, who partners with leading national insurance providers, developed non-traditional benefit options such as Telemedicine, Wellness, Life Style Benefits, and Identity Protection. What Makes the Forza Team a Cut Above? From an operations standpoint, Forza may be small, but definitely mighty. The company prides itself on realizing large deals while maintaining a stellar reputation. D’Angelo explains how Forza’s compact team has been able to move forward with such success, “This allows us to be nimble and move quickly to address and adopt to opportunities without layers of bureaucracy. Additionally, our proprietary “state-of-the-art” enrollment and benefit design technology. Finally, relationships — our business’ foundation is built 100% on solid relationships that have been earned over time.” How Can the Forza Team Help You Prepare for the Unexpected? Forza lives by their mantra; “Success means being prepared for the unexpected.” At no time has this concept hit home to so many people at one time. The COVID pandemic impacted, directly and indirectly, over 85% of Forza’s clients — many who are essential workers on the front lines. D’Angelo and his team had to adapt quickly without warning. By continuing to work
remotely, Forza continued to serve their clients in tough times. D’Angelo feels “blessed” to have been able to not only serve clients in dire need during the pandemic, but also keep 100% of his workforce paid. “We deployed technology and equipment to our rank and file employees’ homes to support this initiative while adding dedicated self-serve, agent assisted websites.” How Does Forza Insure and Ensure the Community? In addition to providing supplemental benefit options to thousands of employees and their families, The Forza Group believes in helping those in the community needing a hand. As the CEO, D’Angelo sets the example as a dedicated volunteer and fund raiser for organizations such as The Schultz-Hill Foundation, Johnny D’Angelo Annual Scholarship for Local Music Students, Atlantic & Cape May County 200 Club, The UFCW 152 Scholarship Fund, CASA, The Forza-John Devlin Family Youth Winter Coat Drive, The Tara Miller Foundation, Atlantic County Toys for Kids and Atlantic County ARC. During the COVID crisis, Forza Group established a UFCW Covid-19 Relief Fund across five states to help feed and support UFCW front line Super Market Workers. In addition, they also provided meals for the three Atlantic County area Hospitals, AC Police and AC EMT workers during the early stages of the shut-down. D’Angelo talks about the importance of helping those in need in and around his community, “It was crucial for us to help local restaurants who survive on week to week cash flow and had been devastated. We made a habit of over ordering for staff and family, buying gift certificates, and moreover, placing massive orders for the groups we were targeting to help and feed.” n
The Forza Group — Custom Benefit Plans Built Through Relationships
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Summer 2020 |
LIFESTYLE
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