Business Briefs - July 19, 2018
JAPAN KARATE INSTITUTE TO ADD CLEMENTS FERRY LOCATION
After 15 years on Daniel Island, Japan Karate Institute is expanding to a second location off Clements Ferry Road on Deanna Lane. According to a letter sent to students last week, as well as an announcement on JKI’s Facebook page, the second dojo will allow the instructional facility to offer its “Transported After School (TASK)” program to students and families of Philip Simmons Elementary and Middle Schools.
“We will be working hard to get the dojo ready to open for classes by the beginning of the new school year,” stated JKI owner Sensai Glenn Raus, a Daniel Island resident, in his letter. “It will operate like our current TASK program at DI. We will also be forming evening classes as well.”
Sempai Michael Brannan and Sempai Angus MacIver will be heading up the daily operations of the new location. The new Deanna Lane facility will accept only 14 students in the inaugural fall 2018 TASK class, added Raus, and they will only be picking up at PSES and PSMS.
Due to the expansion, JKI is looking for support staff to help with both locations. To inquire, or for additional information on class registration at either facility, visit www.japankarateinstitute.com. The address for the new location is 454 Deanna Lane Suite C.
KEN HADERER JOINS BENEFITFOCUS AS EXECUTIVE VP
Benefitfocus, Inc., a leading cloud-based benefits management platform and services provider, recently announced the appointment of Ken Haderer to the newly created role of executive vice president, global operations. Haderer has decades of experience leading world-class, global benefits brokerage and consulting firms, stated a press release.
In this role, Haderer will leverage his deep industry and operational experience to drive core process improvements and evolve customer best practices. He will also further accelerate adoption of BenefitsPlace™, Benefitfocus’ new offering that unites brokers, employers, carriers and suppliers on a single technology platform.
“Ken joins Benefitfocus at a pivotal time in our growth and transformation as the market-leading benefits platform,” stated Ray August, president and chief executive officer of Benefitfocus. “For over two decades, Ken has built an impressive track record of accomplishments at some of the industry’s top firms. Adding Ken to our executive team demonstrates continued investment in world-class talent. We are absolutely committed to growing our market-leading position, strengthening our customer and broker relationships and achieving operational excellence. He will be a tremendous asset to our customers, a strong ally with all of our broker partners and a great mentor to our Benefitfocus associates.”
Haderer adds, “Benefitfocus has the right strategy and leadership to strengthen its position as the industry’s leading benefits platform. I’m excited to work alongside such a talented team to deliver an exceptional customer experience and serve the benefits community.”
Prior to joining Benefitfocus, Haderer was President of North America at Mercer, a leading, global brokerage and human resources consulting firm. He also previously served as Mercer’s Chief Operating Officer and oversaw its benefits administration business. Haderer led more than 5,000 colleagues who provided consulting, broking and other professional services solutions to major U.S. and global employers. Before joining Mercer, he was an executive vice president overseeing Aon Hewitt’s Global Benefits Solution. Prior to that, Haderer led Aon’s benefits administration business and served on the Americas Executive Committee. His extensive customer service, technology and professional services background also includes Operations Leader at Mellon/PWC and various customer service and operational roles at Prudential and Verizon. Haderer will be based in the company’s Daniel Island headquarters.