Our Management Team

Richard P. Bannister
Executive Area President

Rich has over twenty-five years of experience in the employee benefits field.  Prior to founding Providium, he was with a major international consulting firm, serving as a Vice President and consultant.  He also spent nine years with a national insurance company in a variety of sales and management positions. 

Based on his diverse background, Rich is involved in all areas of employee benefit consulting for mid-to large-size employers.  His areas of expertise include health care, cafeteria plans and funding alternatives. 

Rich has been involved in a number of local activities including United Way, American Cancer Society, Visiting Nurse Foundation,  and The Make-A-Wish Foundation.  He currently serves on the board of directors of Catholic Charities, Compeer, and the New York Employee Benefit Conference, (NYEBC.)  He is also a member of the National Human Resource Association (NHRA) and the Business Council of NY.

Keith Williams
Executive Area Vice-President

Keith has over twenty years in the employee benefit arena.  Prior to founding Providium, he was with The Guardian for fourteen  years, four as a Human Resource Generalist and ten years as a Regional Group Sales Director.  He is responsible for consulting with clients in respect to marketing of group insurance products, medical funding alternatives, flexible benefit programs and benefit  administration issues.

Keith has a B.S. in Human Resources from West Virginia University.  He is currently working towards the (C.E.B.S.) Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation through The University of Pennsylvania Wharton business School. He is active in the community and coaches freshman football or Fairport.  Keith is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management (S.H.R.M.) He and his wife, Michelle reside in Fairport, New York with their two children, Ryan and Mary Kate.

Michael Martone
Area Vice-President

Michael Martone leads the Health Care Consulting funct-ion for Providium Consulting Group, LLC. With a decade of hands-on experience, Mike’s strong focus within the healthcare segment allows the delivery of unique benefit solutions.  Mike helps both the company and employee groups understand the choices available to them in selecting the most cost-effective quality health care option.  Once a company has selected the appropriate solution, Mike and his team provide support with the implementation process and on-going assistance with the management of the plan.

Prior to joining Providium Consulting Group, Mike’s career focus has been various corporate Human Resource positions covering several different industry types to include health care, manufacturing and technology.  He has both tactical and strategic experience managing corporate compensation and benefits for domestic and International companies.  Additionally, Mike brings technical expertise in the assessment and implementation of health insurance plan design and funding arrangements.  Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Roberts Wesleyan College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the State University of New York College at Brockport. He currently resides in the village of Spencerport with his wife, Kendra, and their three children. 

Elaine McKenna
Area Vice President

Elaine leads the Professional Recruitment and OfficeCareers divisions of Providium Consulting Group. She helps Providium clients develop recruitment strategies, job specifications and candidate profiles, along with targeted candidate identification and recruitment activities. Her team recruits for virtually all functional areas, from individual contributor to executive management levels. 

Prior to joining Providium in August 2006, Elaine owned and operated Weterrings & Agnew, Inc., a premiere professional recruitment firm, for 15 years.  She brings more than 20 years of senior and executive level management recruitment and search experience to Providium Human Resource Group. Elaine holds a B.A. in psychology from Roger Williams University and serves on the Board of Career Development Services.  She is active in many youth and church related activities and lives in Bloomfield with her husband, Bill, and their two children.

Marylane Bianchi
Area Vice-President 

Marylane is responsible for new and existing national business development. Prior to joining Providium in June 2006, Marylane was employed by HR Works, Inc., from 1999 –2006 as Vice President of Sales.  There she was responsible for business development in Upstate New York. Before that, Marylane held positions as Sales Manager for Kelly Services and Manpower, Inc.

Marylane is active in the community.  She is a former Board Member of the Rochester Small Business Council, and currently Chair’s the Business Person of the Year  Nominating Committee.  She is a past Board Member of The Women’s Council, where she also served on the Athena Steering Committee. Outside of work Marylane volunteers for Hillside Children’s Center and enjoys outdoor sports and gardening.