Jim Better & Steve Mallette entered the insurance industry as individual life and disability sales agents for New England Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1981 and 1982 respectively. Both Jim and Steve quickly became top producers for The New England and the recipients of many company and industry awards for sales and customer satisfaction. In 1985, they teamed up to provide their business clients with group benefit programs. Their employee benefits consulting and brokerage business has steadily grown one client at a time over the past 23 years, with a total premium base of over $75 million in 2007. Jim and Steve take great pride in what they have been able to accomplish and owe it all to their professional team and the trust and faith that clients have put into them and their organization.

Individual Biographies

James P. Better, Partner

Along with his partner, Steve, Jim incorporated NEMIS Insurance Agency, Inc. in 1989 and served as President for 11 years. In February of 2000, the name was changed to New England Medical Insurance Agency, LLC and is an insurance benefit consulting and brokerage firm with its office in Chelmsford, MA. The company manages employee insurance plans for several hundred employer groups throughout New England.

“Everybody’s got to serve somebody” is an old Bob Dylan refrain that Jim has built his career around. Nothing is more important than being engaged with clients and always looking out for their well being. The key is to recognize what insurance benefits are all about: employers protecting employees from the economic consequences of acute chronic poor health.

Jim has earned the designation of Registered Health Underwriter (RHU). This designation recognizes advanced studies in health insurance. He also is a Group Disability Benefit Specialist (GDBS) which rewards advanced work in group disability plans (and really likes it). Jim currently is working towards a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS).

Jim has served with the following organizations: the first elected president of the New Hampshire Association of Health Underwriters (NHAHU) and served for two years. This is an organization of insurance benefit specialists who work for affordable health insurance. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the Healthy Kids Corporation. This is a quasi-state agency responsible for outreach programs to provide uninsured children with necessary health insurance coverage. In conjunction with this effort, he served on the Healthy Adults Committee. This is a legislatively created body responsible for suggesting programs to insure uncovered adults. In the past, he has also served on the Board of Directors of the Make a Wish NH Foundation.

Jim currently serves on the Government Affairs Committee of the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, as the Secretary of the North Hampton Business Association and on the Board of Trustees of the Seacoast Repertory Theatre, which is a wonderful live theater experience.

Jim is married to Linda Kemner, and lives in North Hampton, New Hampshire. Together, they have four children and six grandchildren.

Stephen J. Mallette, Managing Partner

As a Managing Partner, Steve is responsible for all facets of the day-to-day operations of the business end of the agency. His advanced sales skills combined with his strong business background and carrier negotiating skills have helped New England Medical Insurance Agency and their clients take advantage of every possible cost saving opportunity. Steve's appreciation of what it takes to run a successful business is always in the forefront of his mind. He knows that every dollar that we can save a client drops directly to the bottom line of the balance sheet. His strong sense of making the client experience the Agency’s number one service priority has made New England Medical Insurance Agency a leader in the employee benefit brokerage community.

Steve is active in industry and community affairs. Steve was a charter member and served on the board of directors of the Massachusetts Association of Health Underwriters. He also served for many years as an active member of the producer's advisory board for Anthem BCBS, Allmerica Financial and currently is an active participate at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Broker Forums. After serving 2 years as Co-Chairman, Steve is Immediate Past Chair of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce where he sits as an Executive Board member and is a current member and Health Care liaison to the Chelmsford Business Association.

New England Medical Insurance Agency is the endorsed broker for the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce and the Chelmsford Business Association. Although not directly endorsed, many Chamber and trade organizations refer their members to New England Medical Insurance Agency for employee benefits. New England Medical client base serves over 400 businesses with over 15,000 employees throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Steve has been an invited speaker at many business and civic organizations on topics related to his extensive knowledge of healthcare market mechanics and trends. His presentation of how the industry and the rating methodology works for the business has given not only New England Medical Insurance Agency’s clients, but the community as a whole, a better understanding of how healthcare dollars are spent in this country and more specifically New England.

Steve donates his time and expertise to many worthwhile charitable and non-profits groups in the Merrimack Valley. As an amateur auctioneer Steve uses his talents of persuasion to raise thousands of dollars for these organizations each year. Steve also serves on the Board of Directors of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, works with Lowell General Hospital, Saint’s Medical Center and the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Greater Lowell with their fund raising efforts each year.

Steve is past Chairman of the Chelmsford Public Library Board of Trustees, past Chelmsford Town Meeting Representative, a Member of the Chelmsford Police Foundation, past Billerica Rotary President, and recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow and Rotarian of the year. Steve has served for many years as an Adult Youth Ministry Board member at St. Mary's Church in Chelmsford. Steve and Judy were a host couples for St. Mary's Marriage Preparation program for over 15 years.

Steve has been married to Judy Barbo Mallette for 32 years. They live in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and have 2 grown daughters. One is a salon owner in Westford the other is a veterinarian working in research.

Anne Vallette, Senior Account Executive

Anne joined NEMIA in 1997 as a Senior Account Manager after a successful career with Rogers Benefit Group, a marketing arm of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company. Her five years experience with Principal along with her 11 years at NEMIA gives her a very unique perspective on industry trends and market positioning that has been invaluable to New England Medical Insurance Agency’s Clients.

As a Senior Account Manager, Anne was responsible for taking the sales process from the time of sale, through the enrollment and communication process until a policy is issued. This included monitoring all case submissions and communicating the process back to the client and their employees. Each time a new case was sold or a current client changes carriers, she was our in-house liaison between the carrier and a client's employees. Anne is an expert at making changes in plan design and carriers changes a smooth and informed process.

In 2004, Anne’s role changed to Senior Account Executive. In addition to the enrollment and communication process, she provides clients with complete renewal analysis of their benefits to insure they are receiving the best plan designs with the best value for the client and their employees. She also is involved in the sales process for new clients’ as well as adding benefits to existing clients plan portfolios.

Anne has expanded her role within the human resource community and is currently the President of the Seacoast Human Resource Association (SHRA), Exhibitor Chair of the 2008 Granite State Human Resources Conference, Vice President Elect of the 2009 Granite State Human Resources Conference and SHRM NH State Council member. Her talents have been invaluable to these organization and the members they serve.

Anne is the mother of two boys and a girl. She and her husband, Bob, live in Beverly, MA. She is the co-chair of their children’s school golf tournament, member of the Greater Beverly YMCA Board, and a soccer and softball coach.

Iritza Perez, Senior Account Manager

Iritza joined New England Medical Insurance Agency, LLC March of 2002 as Manager of Small Group Operations and then in 2003 was promoted to Senior Account Manager. She has over 10 years experience in employee benefits.

Iritza came to us with hands on experience as the Benefits Administrator and HR Representative for a National Software Internet Company. She also worked as an Associate Account Executive with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England, where she was responsible for quoting and servicing accounts & brokers.

As a Senior Account Manager and licensed producer in NH & MA she has become an intricate part of our organization. She is always looking for the best way to provide our clients with the information and tools to assist them with their day to day duties as benefits administrators. To assist our clients in selecting the best benefit packages with the most value to their organization and employees, she provides extensive renewal analysis. Part of this process is to provide strategies to contain rising health insurance costs, along with sharing working knowledge of the services offered by each carrier. She also facilitates open enrollment presentations to explain the necessary reasons for the plan changes and how they may impact the employees. She continues to work directly with the insurance carriers throughout the implementation process to insure a smooth transition. Our clients find her knowledge and dedication essential in managing their employee benefits programs.

She is a current member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Greater Nashua Human Resources Association.

Iritza lives with her husband John of 14 years along with their two children in Manchester, NH.

Susan DiStasi, In-House Account Manager

Susan has been with New England Medical Insurance Agency for fifteen plus years. She began as a part time assistant to all staff members, she then became an assistant to managing partner, James Better. Her former duties included: sending out marketing materials for prospective clients, updating census information for new and existing clients, requesting quotes for proposals, and preparing the proposals for the sales presentation. She assisted Jim in every facet of the sales and marketing process.

In 2008, Susan was promoted to an In-House Account Manager working closely with Iritza Perez during the renewal process and the implementation of any plan changes. She continues to be responsible for the annual census audit for all of New England Medical’s clients.

Susan has always been an active community member in Chelmsford where she lives with her husband Lou. They have two grown children and two grandsons.

Kelley Szmyt, Senior Service Administrator

Kelley joined New England Medical Insurance Agency in October of 2000 as a Customer Service Specialist. She has a strong background in all areas of human resources in both service and manufacturing environments, with an emphasis on benefits administration.

Coming from a human resource background, Kelley first-handedly recognizes the importance of a reliable and professional broker as a valuable resource for both Human Resource departments and employees. She is currently the Senior Service Administrator and keeps in close, constant contact with our clients and their employees to help research and solve any claims or enrollment and billing issues as they arise.

Kelley's "out of work" priority is her family - husband and two daughters. She served as a board member for a school-aged day care program and also volunteers to support her local schools.

John Goffin, Manager of Small Group Operations

John joined the company in 2003 and brings with him a variety of experience in sales, marketing, office administration, and distribution. His responsibilities for New England Medical are managing the day to day service, marketing, and selling of new clients in the small group market from 1-9 employees. He is also responsible for chamber networking, as well as the contact person for our chamber clients.

John is active in local politics as a town meeting representative and is the President of the Chelmsford Historical Society. He is married to Judy a retired school teacher together they have four grown boys, a granddaughter and enjoy golf, tennis and baseball.

Brian Betsold, Facilities Manager/In-House Account Manager

Brian joined New England Medical in July of 2004, after graduating from University of Massachusetts’ Isenberg School of Management. Brian initially worked in the customer service department assisting Kelley with employee enrollment, change, and claims issues. Brian’s first move to the Facilities Manager position in January of 2006, where he maintains the overall operation of New England Medical Insurance Agency.

In 2008, Brian added another role to his responsibilities for NEMIA. In addition to his overall operation of the business, he now has the responsibilities of an In-House Account Manager working closely with Anne Vallette during the sales/renewal process and the implementation of any client plan changes.

Brian and his wife were married in October of 2007 and they currently reside nearby in Lowell.

Patti McAvoy, Customer Service Representative

Patti joined as a Customer Service Representative in August 2007. Working directly with employees she efficiently resolves claims and service issues. She works closely with our clients to ensure that their enrollment and service needs have been met.

Patti has a background in customer service as well as human resources. Prior to working at New England Medical Insurance Agency, she worked for Partners Healthcare where she worked in human resources in the employee benefits area. She most recently worked for Lowell General Hospital in which she worked in patient registration dealing with customer, as well as insurance and billing issues. When not at work Patti enjoys spending time with her daughter Lordan and her son Corey.

Constance Festo Lafond, Marketing Manager

Constance Festo Lafond joined NEMIA in March of 2008 as Telemarketing Manager. Connie was previously employed as an inside sales representative for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. There she supported the new business sales team for 16 years. She also worked closely with the marketing communications department on direct mail campaigns.

Connie is responsible for targeting prospective clients and is the initial contact in that effort. She brings both creativity and enthusiasm to that task. She is also involved in developing NEMIA’s marketing strategy for expanding the agency’s client base.

Connie is a watercolor artist whose work has been exhibited and sold throughout New England. She enjoys skiing and golf with her husband, Bob. They live in Wakefield MA.