http://houze.org/new/index.php en {latest_author} Copyright 2011 2011-11-08T21:47:38+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/houze_associates_appear_at_georgia_association_of_school_business_officials http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/houze_associates_appear_at_georgia_association_of_school_business_officials#When:21:47:38Z Bill Houze and Elke Bonin represented Houze & Associates at the Georgia Association of School Business Officials (GASBO) Conference in Augusta, Georgia. For the third consecutive year, Houze supported GASBO as a service provider to school systems and a vendor to the conference. Two attendees were drawn during lunch on Wednesday for gift certificates provided by Houze & Associates. GASBO membership consists of Business Services and Financial Services Divisions in most of Georgia’s school districts. Departments represented are Purchasing and Supply Services, Financial Services, Audit Services, School Nutrition and Fiscal Services. Members are Associate Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Directors, Coordinators, CPAs, Financial Officers, Bookkeepers and clerical positions from the school district and the RESA area. 2011-11-08T21:47:38+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/cobb_workers_face_changes_to_insurance http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/cobb_workers_face_changes_to_insurance#When:17:27:21Z By Geoff Folsom, courtesy of The Marietta Daily Journal MARIETTA — Cobb County's more than 4,000 employees have been showing more proof than in the past in order to make sure family members can claim health benefits. The county has also introduced surcharges for tobacco use and for people who take out coverage for spouses who can get it at their own workplace. While spouses are still eligible for benefits, employees must now show a marriage certificate and a signed income tax return from the most recent year. County spokesman Robert Quigley said spouses’ social security numbers and other personal information can be marked out to maintain privacy. For dependent children or stepchildren, employees now have to provide a birth certificate, legal guardianship final decree, legal custody decree or final adoption decree. The changes are among several the county is implementing, including a surcharge for tobacco users of around of $50 a month and a fee of $100 a month for employees who claim a spouse on their coverage who works for a company that provides coverage. “All of these are cost-control measures,” county Human Resources Director Tony Hagler said. “We’re looking at ways to keep our costs in line.” So far, the spousal surcharge has brought in an additional $300,000 for the county, Hagler said. Quigley said the county has had four incidents in the past five years of employees claiming someone as a dependent who didn’t meet qualifications. “It happens more frequently in the private sector, and now it is starting to happen more in the public sector,” he said. The county is using LaGrange-based Houze & Associates to provide employee education on the changes, as well as enrollment and administration services. Quigley said Houze doesn’t charge the county, but the company makes a commission on insurance policies sold. On Wednesday, the last day for enrollment in the county’s health plan for 2012, Hagler said all but about 400 eligible employees had signed up for benefits, which is on par with previous years. “Some people have struggled with producing documents,” he said. “Most everybody has done what they need to do.” County Manager David Hankerson said the changes were made because of rising health care costs, which have gone up between 10 and 12 percent a year. He is hopeful that the changes will keep employee costs stable for 2012. “We tried to implement the changes to try to keep it at the (20)11 levels,” he said. “We won’t know until the end of the year, but we think it will.” Hankerson said the county has been looking at ways to control insurance costs for years, and passed this idea by the county’s Citizen Oversight Committee before implementing it. Hankerson said he hasn’t heard negative comments about the plans from anyone. “I think there’s been concern,” he said. “I don’t think the numbers (of complaints) have been as great as people thought they’d be.” 2011-10-06T17:27:21+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/cobb_county_appoints_houze_associates_as_broker_of_supplemental_benefits http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/cobb_county_appoints_houze_associates_as_broker_of_supplemental_benefits#When:17:23:15Z The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved item 21 / Human Resources on the Consent Agenda to award a five year contract (3 years with 2 year extensions) to Houze & Associates, Inc.as the sole provider of their Supplemental Benefits offerings, previously provided solely through Aflac. Houze & Associates has handled the group insurance benefits with voluntary individual life insurance for Cobb County since 1991. 2011-08-09T17:23:15+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/houze.org_wins_best_of_show http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/houze.org_wins_best_of_show#When:18:56:21Z On behalf of Houze & Associates, Inc. Kelsey Advertising & Design, a local advertising firm, entered the world's largest and oldest advertising competition -- the 2010 Addy Awards -- and earned Best of Show, the top honor in media broadcast from the Chattahoochee Valley Chapter of the AAF. The coveted J. Tom Morgan "Best of Show" award was given for the Houze.org website for Houze & Associates, Inc. The Addy Awards represent a global search for advertising excellence in all types of media. The contest, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, a national advertising trade association in operation for over one hundred years, represents fifty thousand advertising professionals. The competition is fierce and considered the toughest contest of its kind. 2011-06-16T18:56:21+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/cobb_county_government http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/cobb_county_government#When:16:49:02Z Marietta, Georgia - The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved a 3 year contract, with 2 additional year extensions for their Employer Paid Life and Long Term Disability Plans. The committee recommended and approved the Insurance Carrier, The Hartford, with Houze & Associates, Inc. as the patterning broker for employee education, enrollment and ongoing administration. Houze & Associates, Inc. has been providing those and additional services to the county since 2000. Houze has partnered with different carriers who have been able to provide the best product at the lowest cost for the county. We look forward to another 5 years of service to Cobb County and their employees. 2010-06-22T16:49:02+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/putnam_county_schools_eatonton_ga http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/putnam_county_schools_eatonton_ga#When:17:19:12Z Houze & Associates, Inc. supports the Retirement and Recognition program for Putnam County Schools employees. Twelve former employees were recognized in a retirement ceremony for their dedication and support of the school system in Eatonton. Houze & Associates, Inc. is honored to be a partner of Putnam County Schools. 2010-06-07T17:19:12+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/twin_cedars_youth_and_family_services http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/twin_cedars_youth_and_family_services#When:18:10:51Z LaGrange, GA - Houze & Associates, Inc. is honored to support the future of Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services. Twin Cedars sponsors programs like Chattahoochee CASA, TRUST, Parents As Teachers, The Troup County Prevention Coalition, Circle of Care and Community Counseling. 2010-06-04T18:10:51+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/coweta_county_board_of_education http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/coweta_county_board_of_education#When:21:23:51Z Newnan, Georgia - The Coweta County Board of Education voted unanimously to re-appoint Houze & Associates Broker of Record for The Systems' employee benefits package. Houze & Associates will continue to provide active and new hire employees benefits education, online and face to face benefits enrollment, Flexible Spending Account management, and ongoing administration. These services are in addition to the agent/broker duties of evaluation of benefits, obtaining competitive offers from interested insurance carriers and negotiating with those Carriers for benefits and products on The Systems behalf. 2010-05-11T21:23:51+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/gaspa_conference_stone_mountain_ga http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/gaspa_conference_stone_mountain_ga#When:18:23:55Z Houze & Associates, Inc. is a Business Partner for the Georgia Association of School Personnel Administrators on the coast of Georgia. Stacey Weldon and Patricia Cromer were present as a Partner Sponsor at the Conference held at The Marriot Evergreen, Conference Center and Resort. The mission of GASPA is to build alliances and structure processes for ensuring a quality work force for Georgia’s schools. These attendees will cultivate environments that positively impact the classroom and support student learning through the implementation of best practices in recruiting and retention, employee selection, training and maintenance, leadership development, employee satisfaction, and quality service. Houze & Associates, Inc. is honored to be able to partner with such a great organization for our school system partners. 2010-05-07T18:23:55+00:00 http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/troup_county_schools http://www.houze.org/index.php/latest/troup_county_schools#When:18:21:53Z LaGrange, Georgia - Troup County Schools Retirement Reception honors the men and women who have dedicated their careers to the education of students throughout Troup County. We were able to support this cause and take part in making the event special for the extraordinary people in our community. This event through donations ensures a unique send-off to the educators who have given their time and talents to the children of Troup County for many years. 2010-05-05T18:21:53+00:00