Veteran adviser strives to share culture with young brokers

As the founding partner of Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners, Elizabeth Krystyn is a veteran of the benefit advising industry. With more than 25 years of experience, she continues to be profound impact to her organization’s culture.

“As a firm that is consistently recognized as a “Best Place to Work,” [by Insurance Journal, Business Insurance, Tampa Bay Business Journal and Florida Trend] we put a lot of emphasis on creating a culture of growth and support of our colleagues,” says Jacklyn Massrock, benefits director at Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners. “She focuses on highlighting an individual’s strengths, coaching areas for development and cheering each accomplishment along the way.”

To select this year’s honorees, EBA editors asked readers to submit the names of thought leaders who are making their mark on the benefit business through their unique approaches to client relations, benefits technology and/or mentoring other women. From the dozens of submissions received, the editors chose 30 benefit advisers to recognize for their outstanding achievements.

Elizabeth-Krystyn
Elizabeth Krystyn

Prior to forming BKS Partners, Krystyn started her career with DavisBaldwin Insurance and Risk Management in 1988. That’s where she met Lowry Baldwin, now a founding partner alongside Krystyn at BKS.

Baldwin says Krystyn is a cultural evangelist who demonstrates strong values to the rest of the business. “Elizabeth and I started working together back in 1988, and she really has a gift for taking difficult problem sets and breaking them down in way that allows the business to develop opportunities,” he says.

Also see: This adviser is preparing the next generation

Once DavisBaldwin was acquired by Wachovia in 2000, she was responsible for leading both sales and service for the employee benefits group.

“Elizabeth was senior vice president of Wachovia Insurance Services and led both their benefits administration operations and bank sales integration efforts,” Massrock says. “During her 12 years in this role, revenues grew 12 fold.”

As a founding partner of BKS, Krystyn has often held multiple positions at the same time. “In the last year, Elizabeth has embraced her new role as COO, successfully formed and developed our human resources team in addition to recruiting and transitioning her replacement for employee benefits business segment leader,” Massrock says.

women cover 2017.png

30 leaders whose unique client management strategies, innovative data manipulation and other industry-leading skills are transforming the field

1 Min Read

On top of wearing multiple hats within the organization, Krystyn developed BKS-Partners’ Objectives and Key Results to define and track objectives and their expected outcomes. “This process allows us to measure our success and establish timelines for goals,” Massrock says.

Krystyn has obtained her Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and has also taught a number of CEBS courses, while also being chosen as one of Tampa Bay’s 40 under 40 in 2001.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Elizabeth for 11 years and couldn’t imagine a day that didn’t include her knowledge, support and love,” Massrock says. “As a colleague, newer to the industry, she was patient and encouraging; and she helped me believe I could accomplish anything with hard work, confidence and faith.”

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Practice management Advisor strategies Workforce management Top Women in Benefit Advising
MORE FROM EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS