Principal Profiles

Judy Besse

Judy Besse founded Paradigm Benefits Group (formerly Benefits by Design) in 1998.  Prior to establishing this company, Judy served as Director of Sales for several years at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island – Rhode Island’s dominant health insurance carrier insuring over 60% of the regional market.  This experience complemented her previous employment with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care – Massachusetts’ #1 and #2 health insurance carriers.

Throughout her 14-year corporate career, Judy always worked in a sales capacity being held personally responsible for the sale and retention of employer groups, both large and small.  She consistently exceeded sales quotas while retaining 99+% of her assigned books of business in spite of a highly competitive, continuously volatile market.

Continuing her niche in the sales arena, Judy’s primary focus at Paradigm remains the customer.  She is the ‘face’ of Paradigm Benefits Group and manages all facets of the external side of the business.

Her deep industry knowledge coupled with the value of the many relationships that Judy has developed over the years is most evident in her ability to cut through the bureaucracy.  She acts as the customers’ personal advocate and is intimately involved in each task she undertakes on behalf of Paradigm’s employer-clients.

Judy attained her Certified Health Consultant (CHC) designation in 1992 from Purdue University.  She also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

Bill Besse

Bill Besse joined Paradigm Benefits Group in February 2003.  His joining the firm brought to Paradigm a wealth of financial, management and business development experience.  He previously held the position of Senior Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at Pawtucket Credit Union.  With over $1 billion in assets, Pawtucket Credit Union is the second largest credit union in Rhode Island.

In Bill’s previous position as Senior Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, he played a pivotal role in the daily business operation of the organization.  He was personally responsible for developing and implementing several corporate initiatives, and he was intimately involved in the strategic planning process.  Bill held several management positions covering an array of disciplines in the financial industry over a period of 20 years.

At Paradigm Benefits Group, Bill manages every aspect of the internal side of the business – marketing, operations and finance.  Additionally, he produces and designs all of Paradigm’s presentation materials – from the basic to the extraordinarily comprehensive.  His non-industry background provides an all-important ‘making-the-complex-simple’ perspective.

Bill holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

JUDY and BILL have been married for 28 years and they reside in New Bedford, MA. They have two sons, Justin and Nate.