Meet your ELT Team

Edward B. Lee, President & CEO

Ed manages our firm and is the lead broker on our key accounts.  He is responsible for overseeing the team in all key aspects of our client partnerships.  He supervises the information gathering, RFP, benefits strategizing, carrier negotiations and wellness processes.  Ed is proud to lead an awesome team of dedicated insurance professionals to deliver employee benefits excellence to our clients. 

Ed has over 19 years of experience as a licensed insurance agent.  He holds Life and Long Term Care licenses in California, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia.  Ed received his Group Benefits Disability Specialist (GBDS) designation and is enrolled in the REBC certification program through the American College.  Ed is also an MDRT Qualifying Member signifying his commitment to excellence and professionalism.

Ed received his BA degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from University of California, San Diego.

Tracy Podzimek, Director of Client Services

Tracy is responsible for the overall management of our accounts, with specific emphasis on our key accounts, which include clients ranging from 100 to 2000 employees.  Her primary responsibilities include partnering with our key client’s HR teams to develop, implement and service customized employee benefit programs.  Tracy’s experience includes analyzing, evaluating and implementing a wide range of employee benefits plans as well as facilitating enrollment meetings and ongoing administrative training.  In addition, Tracy is well-versed in the implementation, training and utilization of web-based employee benefit systems such as BeneTrac and ClearBenefits.  She supervises our Account Management and Client Services personnel to resolve claims, billing and service issues.  Tracy applies her excellent attention to detail and proactive planning approach to consistently exceed our clients’ expectations.

Tracy has over 5 years of employee benefits experience working with Ed and his team and 3 years of benefits experience within the HR departments of both large and small companies. Prior to joining ELT Insurance Services, she worked in the HR department for AMN Healthcare administering benefits for traveling nurses nationwide. 

Tracy received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is licensed as a Life agent in California

Andrea Durazo, Account Manager

Andrea’s responsibilities include renewal benefit analysis, RFP development, implementation/auditing of the web-based benefits administration systems, assisting in claims and billing resolution and open enrollment support.  Andrea’s experience includes 6 years as a licensed insurance agent with expertise in selling and servicing individual and group benefits.  She has worked with Ed and his team for 2.5 years.  Andrea received her BA in Communications-Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton and is licensed as a Life and Long Term Care agent in California

Julia Lee, Account Manager

Julia assists our clients with eligibility issues, claims and billing resolution and ongoing service issues.  In addition, Julia helps develop employee communications and benefit packages.  Julia’s experience includes human resources, customer service and call center management.  Before joining the ELT team over one year ago, she spent 5 years as a call center manager for RedEnvelope.com.  This experience provides great insight into the call center environment that is helpful in servicing our clients with call centers.  Julia received her BA degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and is licensed as a Life agent in California.

Kim Kawai, Account Manager

Kim brings over 6 years of employee benefits management experience for publicly traded companies K2 and Callaway Golf. She was responsible for administering the benefits open enrollment process, educating employees on their benefit plan choices, and assisting with the implementation of new health and retirement plans. This invaluable experience has helped us hone our services to be able to offer our law firm clients the highest levels of benefits expertise and support.

Kim received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara.

Lisa Bernales, Client Services Representative

Lisa’s diverse experience is comprised of over 12 years of combined experience in executive assistance, marketing and customer service.  Lisa’s primary responsibilities include supporting our President and Director, overseeing our web-based systems, open enrollment  support, website administration, coordinating activities for a variety of meetings, conferences, committees, and special projects.