Iredell EDC Hosts Their Industry Leaders Council Sponsored BY NFP At Merino Mill
On June 3, Iredell EDC opened the doors of Merino Mill for the Industry Leaders Council sponsored by NFP, a leading insurance broker, consultant, and wealth manager recognized as the 13th largest broker in the United States and the seventh largest benefits broker by revenue. Approximately 40 of Iredell County’s business and industry leaders gathered at Picasso Taqueria to discuss an issue they have identified as a growing concern, the increasing costs of insurance and benefits.
When Iredell EDC conducted their recent Business Pulse Survey, 80% of respondents expressed concern about the rising costs of health insurance and employee benefits. In fact, employer-sponsored health insurance costs were estimated to have had as much as a 25% increase from 2020 to 2025. Peet Poillon, Vice President Property & Casualty for NFP, and Nancy Perri, Vice President Corporate Benefits, offered insights into the causes of these increases as well as potential strategies employers could implement to control their costs.
Having predominantly worked with private equity groups, contractors, manufacturers, and other complex risk clients with the primary focus of protecting his clients’ balance sheet, while utilizing unique strategies to drive total cost of risk down, Poillon initiated the conversation with key factors driving the increases in property and casualty coverages before diving into the current state of the market. He then shared pros and cons of alternative funding strategies to assist businesses in controlling their costs.
Nancy Perri, however, focused on employee benefits, sharing how issues such as regulatory changes, the rising costs of medical services, prescription utilization, and issues such as labor shortages, increasing wages, and inflation, that hospital systems are combatting are all combining to create something of a perfect storm for businesses trying to provide a competitive benefits package for their employees. After examining some of the old strategies employers utilized to combat rising costs, she introduced suggestions for innovative approaches for long-term, sustainable savings.
After NFP’s presentation, DEHN, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of DEHN SE, a family-owned electrical engineering company based in Neumarkt, Germany and one of the newest tenants of Merino Mill, opened the doors of its new manufacturing facility.
With its comprehensive product portfolio, DEHN addresses major trends in its industry, from e-mobility and renewables to the protection of critical infrastructure. The company offers solutions and services for lightning and surge protection as well as safety equipment. The company holds more than 1,100 patents, cementing its reputation as a leading innovator in the fields it covers. The company’s project in Mooresville will establish a U.S. headquarters and production facility to manufacture components for a wide range of products. The R&D unit will develop new products for the U.S. market and explore research collaborations with universities in the United States.
As Merino Mill is a virtual maze of unique businesses with a startling list of products, Jasmine Bay, Human Resources Specialist for Merino Mill, led her own tour of the Small Business Innovation Hub, a business incubator offering small businesses a unique space to launch their endeavors before committing to long-term leases.
The Industry Leaders completed their morning with an opportunity to network with one another and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by Picasso Taquaria.
Industry Leaders Council is a key component of Iredell EDC’s Existing Industry Program. A quarterly, invitation-only program, the Industry Leaders Council provides a platform for business leaders to discuss topics and trends impacting their businesses and an opportunity to share best practices. Meetings rotate at various industries across Iredell County and include tours of local industry. The Council has a distribution of 180+ representatives and targets existing industry and economic development service providers.
NFP was the first to take advantage of the new sponsor opportunities Iredell EDC opened for Industry Leaders Council meetings. Sponsorships include:
$1,000 Industry Leader Sponsor
- 2 Registrations
- Company Logo Included in Event Promotion
- Company Logo and Recognition at the Event
- Opportunity to Introduce, Moderate or Present at Event
- Option to Provide Materials or Promotional Items to Attendees
- Recognition in the Iredell EDC Newsletter and on Social Media
If you are an industry leader and would like to sponsor or be included in this unique and informative program, contact Todd Black, Existing Industry manager, [email protected]
You can review the presentation from the Industry Leaders Council here…
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