New Assistant VP, Paid Family and Medical Leave, comes from MetLife to support brokers across the ever-changing paid family leave landscape.
The DBL Center has appointed Gina Rutledge Assistant Vice President, Paid Family and Medical Leave Solutions, effective immediately.
With 28 years of experience in the insurance industry, Gina Rutledge is a renowned industry PFML expert. She is dedicated to helping brokers and employers navigate the evolving landscape of PFML as it expands across the US.
A frequent speaker at conventions, brokerage meetings and events, Rutledge often leads her sessions with the words, “Hi, I’m Gina and I’m a caregiver.”
A member of the sandwich generation, Rutledge spent years raising children and caring for her husband who suffered several accidents and injuries. After her children were grown, she cared for her mother with breast cancer and a sister who was seriously injured in a car accident. This lived experience, combined with her education and training, gives her unique insights into both the complexities and importance of PFML.
“It can be challenging for employers with four distinct generations of workers who have different expectations of employee benefits,” she said. “With a growing number of statutory states that need family and medical leave, it’s important for employers to know how to be successful and compliant.”
Helping Brokers and Businesses Grow
In her role with The DBL Center, Rutledge will help brokers understand the nuances of mandated benefits to grow their book of business while helping clients roll that cost-savings into ancillary benefits.
“Getting those mandated benefits correct establishes a strong foundation and can lead other things they can do to help support their clients, encourage business growth, and be successful,” she said.
Rutledge is the daughter of former small business owners in rural Missouri. Her background drives home the importance of education on employee benefits, but it helps her understand the needs, questions and concerns of this demographic.
“When reviewing the state leave laws, I think about what my parents would have needed to know since they did not have a human resource expert to rely on,” she said. “Our 4th-generation family business ended up closing due to federal regulations and changes to the farming industry in the mid-80s. If they would have had better guidance, it may have been able to survive the changing landscape.”
This common goal of helping businesses understand complex and changing laws drew Rutledge to The DBL Center as the next stage of her insurance industry career.
“What really attracted me to this opportunity is that Michael Cohen understands the challenges and wants to make sure people can make educated decisions. We’re focused on making a difference,” she said.
MetLife Experience
Rutledge comes to The DBL Center from MetLife, where she worked her way up through various roles to become a manager, director and national practice leader. She has led product development in the fields of life insurance and short-term disability and, in the past eight years, dedicated her time and knowledge to paid family & medical leave.
During her time at MetLife, Rutledge said, “I’ve honed my skills in business architecture, marketing and training programs. This experience allows me to break down complex components of the laws and regulations into manageable nuggets to build a program and explain it clearly to brokers and employers, alike.”
Rutledge holds her Florida Life & Health License and Charter Life Underwriter (CLU) from The American College and has a Master’s degree from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Respect, Resilience, and Results
Rutledge’s mantra is “Respect, Resilience, Results,” which are values The DBL Center upholds, maintaining a tight-knit, family-friendly business environment even as the company expands across the US.
“I immediately liked Gina’s communication style, drive, professionalism, and extensive industry knowledge,” said DBL Center president and CEO Michael S. Cohen. “Her experience on the carrier side, coupled with her reputation as a renowned industry expert in the PFML landscape is exactly what The DBL Center needs as we enter our next stage of growth.”
