www.HartfordBusiness.com • June 10, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 3
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Stephen Repka
By Sean Teehan
steehan@hartfordbusiness.com
C
ompany benefits are often a major consider-
ation when people are deciding where to work.
But who administers those benefits is
something oftentimes overlooked.
That is where Stephen Repka comes in. Repka
is co-founder and principal
of Unionville-based third-
party benefits administra-
tor eBenefits Group North-
east, which administers
health savings accounts,
flexible spending accounts
and other employee benefits
for employers. He's also
co-founder and principal of
Advanced Benefit Strate-
gies Inc., a third-party administrator for pre-tax
programs.
Repka got into the business of handling
companies' benefits in 1993. One of the biggest
challenges he faces these days is keeping up with
technological changes within the industry.
Repka made headlines in April when he de-
cided to sell eBenefits Group to Virginia-based
The Hilb Group LLC for an undisclosed sum.
He says the move will add value to the company,
as well as the number of services it can provide.
What will the Hilb Group deal mean for eBenefits?
Hilb is a large national company, and when
you have a national firm behind you, you're able
to have all the bells and whistles. EBenefits will
now have services such as an in-house Employee
Retirement Income Security Act attorney.
We also maintain our autonomy, so we're
running bigger and better than we were doing
before.
How has technology changed how employees
receive benefits from their workplace?
The technology advances are fun to see. For
example, Advanced Benefit Strategies Inc. uses
software that is created by WEX, a payment pro-
cessing and information management services
company headquartered in Portland, Maine, with
a major office in Simsbury.
WEX's cloud software shows plan partici-
pants's real-time activity including debit-card
usage. This information is on a portal and on the
mobile app — which is very slick.
Tell us something about yourself that most
people don't know?
One of the biggest thrills of my life was playing
in a special hockey game for Gordie Howe's 65th
birthday.
I never played professional hockey, but I played for
the Hartford Whalers Alumni team for years.
Gordie Howe was a hero of mine, and I was lucky
enough to play on a team with him against the New
York Islanders Alumni team on his birthday.
VERBATIM
Cheers for more beer
"I applaud the Connecticut State Senate for supporting this pro-jobs, pro-craft
brewery measure. This bill represents the most significant updates to craft beer and
alcohol laws since the Prohibition-era."
Phil Pappas , executive director of the Connecticut Brewers Guild, reacting
to a bill passed by the General Assembly that significantly increases
the amount of beer consumers can buy directly from Connecticut craft
breweries; allows breweries to manufacture wine, cider, and distilled spirits; and gives wineries,
cideries, and distilleries the ability to sell craft beer.
Ignite your employees' interest with a modern plan design.
Learn more: Get "Does your re rement plan address these 6 essen al elements?" hhconsultants.com/ignite
Co-founder and Principal,
eBenefits Group Northeast
Stephen Repka
