Testimonials
Aristotle International
Aristotle International is a Washington, DC-based technology company specializing in software for advocacy groups and political campaigns. Potomac Companies has worked with Aristotle for many years providing employee benefit options. Kim Ulrey, a Product Manager for Aristotle, has had a very personal experience working with Potomac Companies.
“As the mother of a special needs child, affordable health care is essential to my family. In 2012, I was informed that the life-saving medication my daughter needs would increase in cost to nearly $30,000 per month,” says Ulrey. “Joe and the team at Potomac Companies stepped in, and through countless hours of research and phone calls, they were able to get my daughters medication covered by Medicaid.” Ulrey goes on to say, “To the average consumer, how health care really works is a mystery. Potomac Companies has provided me with invaluable education and has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure my daughter receives the medication she needs to survive.”
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Kim Ulrey, Product Manager, Aristotle International
The Centech Group
Since 1988, The Centech Group, Inc. (Centech) has been a proven, successful provider of systems and solutions on over 5,000 federal government contracts/task orders and 150 mission critical software development projects.
“Potomac is always available, day and night. They deeply care about their clients. We are like family! The Potomac team gets right on it and solves any claims issues we have. Potomac Companies has made a huge impact on our HR team and our organization overall. It's difficult to name just one person because the entire team is always shining! They have provided consistently excellent client service throughout our entire relationship.”
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Linda J. Galaviz, Benefit Specialist, The Centech Group
CDG Hospitality
CGD Hospitality has built an impeccable reputation for developing and operating both quick-service and full-service restaurants in and around the District.
"Between selecting plans, determining affordability and estimating total company liability, Potomac Companies handled our ACA compliance process all the way through open enrollment. They made a daunting and complex issue very manageable and customized our compliance plan to our organization. We continue to review and revise our benefits each year to make sure we stay competitive for talented employees who are in the market.
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The Potomac team is very responsive to our questions and issues. Late night, early morning, or even weekends, I never have to wait to get a response. They understand the challenges unique to my organization and find the best solution. There is a genuine "caring about the client" mindset in all they do, which is very rare for an insurance broker!"
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Victoria Collar, Director of Operations & Human Resources, CGD Hospitality
Chapman Cubine and Hussey
Chapman Cubine and Hussey (CCAH) is helping shape the future of multichannel marketing with impactful direct mail, interactive and telemarketing strategies.
“Consolidating our health insurance, benefits, and payroll information in one place has been a big challenge. Potomac introduced us to their KISS – Keep It Simple Solution™ concept. They then negotiated on our behalf the best plans and modules, worked with the vendor to design products that would work for us, uploaded employee benefits information and data into the system, and managed the vendor relationship.
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The Potomac team is so responsive to our needs. They go out of their way to provide the best client service imaginable. They make our work so easy, and our employees so happy. We have the best team working with us.”
John Wanda, Principal & Vice President
“Upon joining CCAH, I saw there was no true continuity with benefits and payroll systems. There were no expectations for employees to be responsible and use a self-service system. When Potomac’s KISS – Keep It Simple Solution™ concept was implemented, their team helped us set up one system for everything: payroll, benefits, ACA reporting, time and attendance, FSA, and performance & recruitment. Having one point of entry for these applications has streamlined Hr processes, and employees are more self-sufficient.
I have had an awesome experience with the Potomac team, especially compliance and the LBU teams. My weekly interactions with the compliance team are invaluable. They’re very client service-oriented and go above and beyond to answer my questions and provide support.”
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MJ Johnson, SHRM-SCP, HR Manager
Ian Altman, LLC
Organizations rely on Ian Altman to modernize their sales approach to align with how buyers make decisions, earn the role of trusted advisor, and dramatically grow revenue.
"With recent changes in healthcare laws, our premiums were skyrocketing, deductibles rising, and benefits were decreasing. The impact on our business would have been impossible to sustain.
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The team at Potomac Companies identified alternatives that improved coverage, reduced deductibles, and dramatically reduced premiums. Now we can offer fantastic benefits to attract and retain top talent."
Ian Altman, CEO, Ian Altman LLC
IntelliDyne, LLC
IntelliDyne is a progressive government contractor enabling better mission performance through innovative technology solutions. IntelliDyne manages public sector programs which deliver higher operational efficiency and measurable value to clients.
"We left Potomac to explore what other brokers had to offer. We rehired them less than two years later.
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I don’t care about special treatment for myself as the CEO. I love that Potomac treats any requests or issues from my employees exactly as they do from me, with the same care and high-level attention to detail. My expectations are not only met, they are consistently exceeded. Our experience is tailored to what we need, allowing us to keep doing what we need to do for our clients."
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Tony Crescenzo, CEO, IntelliDyne, LLC
Guernsey Office Products
Guernsey Office Products is an independently owned and operated provider of office products, furniture, break room products, promotional products, and related services. Since 1986, Potomac Companies has worked with Guernsey Office Products to provide creative employee benefit services.
“Potomac Companies has been a true partner over the years and has consistently provided us with strategic health care options for our employees,” says David Guernsey, President and CEO of Guernsey Office Products. "They think outside the box and present us with new ways to save money and improve our benefit offerings. Joseph Appelbaum and his team take the time to work through multiple scenarios with us and to ensure we fully understand each option and the market landscape. They provide quick and knowledgeable responses that have the best interest of our company at heart.” Guernsey goes on to say, “Potomac Companies has extensive expertise in the industry and I am always confident in their work. I look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come.”
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David Guernsey, Chief Executive Officer, Guernsey Office Products
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) is a DC- based trade association providing advocacy and promoting awareness of the role recycling plays in the global economy and sustainable development. Potomac Companies has a long-standing relationship with ISRI and provides the organization with comprehensive benefit plans.
We actually switched brokers at one point, only to quickly return to Potomac once we realized what we were missing!
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Potomac has been wonderful in helping us keep our benefits costs down and offering competitive benefits to our staff. They are terrific at taking the time to understand our benefits needs and then identifying all viable options. Most importantly, they clearly lay out the costs to BOTH employer and employees of different ages and income levels for each option. We have been fortunate to work with Potomac for many years, and I would recommend them highly."
Robin Wiener, President, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
“The team at Potomac Companies truly understands who we are and the culture of our organization,” says Sherry Pursch, Vice President of Human Resources and Office Administration at ISRI. “Potomac Companies works with us closely and has saved significant amounts of money for ISRI through alternative plans we had not previously considered. Potomac Companies offers creative health care options and provides us with a variety of ways to reduce our costs.” Pursch adds, “Potomac Companies takes the time to educate us on our choices. They are particularly thorough in anticipating and preparing for future changes that may impact our organization.”
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Sherry Pursch, Vice President of Human Resources and Office Administration
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
Jorden Burt, LLP
Jorden Burt, LLP is a nationally recognized law firm providing litigation and counseling services to the financial services and insurance industries. Potomac Companies has worked closely with Jorden Burt for over 15 years to deliver a comprehensive suite of employee welfare benefit services.
“Our firm is not large enough to participate in the group savings that are available to larger employers. Potomac Companies has always proactively provided us with innovative ways to save money on our health care plan while continuing to offer our employees comprehensive benefits,” says Jo Cicchetti, Chief Operating Officer at Jorden Burt. “The team at Potomac Companies has educated us on how to greatly reduce costs on our prescription drug plan and has offered suggestions to provide our participants with much needed cost-savings as well.” Ms. Cicchetti goes on to say, “The experts at Potomac Companies are extremely responsive and available at any time to answer any questions that may arise. Throughout our relationship, Joseph Appelbaum and his team have taken the time to connect with our firm and truly understand our internal culture.”
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Jo Cicchetti, Chief Operating Officer, Jorden Burt LLP
Joseph Smith
& Sons
Joseph Smith & Sons is the top choice for scrap recycling among contractors, homeowners, and government agencies alike in the DC area.
“We’re a scrap company with high turnover. The Potomac team understands our organization and proactively anticipates our unique needs. The team continually evaluates our benefits programs and makes them cost-efficient. They educate our staff—including leadership—so we better understand how to structure our benefits.
Throughout the years, while the rest of the scrap industry is experiencing double-digit increases, Potomac has kept our insurance increases to 3% on average.
Cost savings, compliance assistance, and excellent employee advocacy make Potomac an invaluable partner."
Steve Epstein, HR & Benefits Manager (Retired)
Joseph Smith & Sons
The Madeira School
The Madeira School is an independent boarding and day school that educates girls in grades 9-12. The scenic 376-acre campus is just 12 miles from Washington, DC.
"Potomac's team helped tremendously with the structuring and roll-out of our organization's benefit plans and bringing a new HSA option to our offerings, making something we thought would be difficult for our community quite easy.
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The proof of a great relationship is how effectively issues are handled over time. The Madeira School is pleased with our experience navigating what can at times be a difficult process. Once a problem is correctly identified, Potomac assigns the right personnel to assist us and knows the right personnel within the insurance companies to get things resolved. I am particularly pleased with the renegotiation efforts of our rates.
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Our desire in talking with new a new benefit company was to hear fresh ideas and seed a more productive relationship. Joe and his team took the time to get to know us, provide thoughtful and useful suggestions, and work with us at our pace to bring them to fruition. When a partner delivers for you, it is easy to provide a testimonial and we are happy to do it.
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Joe Appelbaum has been terrific in leading the engagement. The team members at Potomac are easy to work with and responsive, but personally working with Joe over time has been a terrific experience."
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Alexander Heiberger, CEO, The Madeira School
The National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
The National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCA) is a 109-year-old labor union representing 104,718 American rural letter carriers. The NRLCA was founded to improve the methods used by rural letter carriers, to benefit their conditions of labor with the United States Postal Service, and to promote a fraternal spirit among its members.
"Great, hands-on client focused team! All Potomac staff have been delightful to work with and have made every effort to make sure we have what we need, get questions answered in a timely manner and resolve issues as soon as possible.
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The Potomac team has always been ready to assist and resolve. They regularly follow up until an issue is resolved. Issues have been few and far between.
As an organization we have been very pleased with the service provided by Potomac. As Director of Benefits, I appreciate the robust offering, level of support and candor that Potomac Companies provides.
The entire Green Team has been fantastic to work with. We truly appreciate the level of service and candid guidance Potomac provides."
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Cameron Deml, Director of Insurance Programs, NRLCA
Pheonix Color
Corporation
Phoenix Color Corporation is a premier full-service, full-color printer with over 38 years of superior print experience.
“Education, detail and delivery. When we asked Potomac to quote health plans for our organization we were given a variety of options. Included in this process was important information which helped educate us about what our company could expect for future contracts. Potomac’s presentation supplied very important analytics aiding us in the decision-making process. Additionally, Potomac delivered outstanding client service in assisting us with any questions and claims processing for our employees.”
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Peggy Marfilius, HR Director, Phoenix Color Corporation
Professional Association -
Washington, DC
Potomac Companies provides human resources consulting and brokerage services to a Washington, DC-based professional association comprised of more than 80,000 members.
“Our relationship with Potomac Companies is a true partnership,” says the association’s Human Resources Manager. “Not only do they help us navigate through open enrollment and provide us with excellent benefit options, they also educate us on changes in the health care market and offer assistance with a number of general HR questions. Potomac Companies helps save our organization money while improving the benefits options we are able to offer. Their diligence in understanding our association and our culture helps me do my job better.”
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Human Resources Manager, Washington, DC-based Professional Association
WDG Architecture
WDG provides architecture, master planning and interior design from offices in Washington, DC and Dallas, TX. Their award-winning work can be found in major metropolitan areas around the United States as well as overseas.
"Potomac has the resources and ability to provide services to our main operation in Washington as well as our branch office in Dallas.
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We transitioned from a typical health insurance plan type to a High Deductible Health Plan and several employees were confused as to how our company was insuring the first dollars of the deductible costs. Potomac developed a multi-year strategy to educate our employees on the value of consumer health plans. The team at Potomac shared strategies not only explaining the structure of the deductible process, but also engaging our employees in the management of their healthcare, and have the potential to generate true cost savings to employees.
Potomac has given us terrific service going on 10 years and we appreciate it.
The account management team has been Potomac's ambassador to our firm in explain how the plan works and what the changes have been from year to year. We always receive positive comments from our employees as to how well they provide information to them after each office presentation.
Potomac always keeps us informed as owners of the firm on healthcare trends and plan options. They serve as an advocate for our firm during renewal periods and have helped us to continue to provide cost effective plans with appropriate benefits to our employees."
Jeff Morris, Managing Partner, WDG Architecture
XML
Financial Group
XML Financial Group is an independent financial services and wealth management firm, with offices in Maryland, Virginia and Colorado.
"I was referred to Potomac and Joe Appelbaum several times and did not pursue as there was always something else to manage. Finally—twice in one day—my partner and our personal insurance broker referred Joe. It was a sign to connect with Joe and Potomac at last. I wish I made the call to Potomac the first time I received the referral. Joe and his team did an unbelievable job of handling the needs of two merging companies. Their analysis cut through the noise of two companies with disparate systems, benefits, and contributions and was executed with a pragmatic and empathetic approach for our employees. Additionally, because Joe and Potomac found savings for us, we were able to add additional benefits for the firm that all employees welcomed. I cannot thank him and his team enough. Anyone who doesn’t sign on with Potomac—don’t be like me, sign up the first time."
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Brett Bernstein, CEO & Co-Founder, XML Financial Group
