2013 40 Under 40: Mike Noyes
Southwest Region Reprints
Partner
The Noble Group Ltd.
Age: 38
In addition to starting two health and welfare brokerage practices — one as an independent agent in Tyler, Texas, and another for The Noble Group Ltd. in Houston, Mike Noyes has authored two e-books for benefits and human resources professionals and obtained the alphabet soup of benefits-related designations. He is a certified employee benefits specialist, group benefits associate and compensation management specialist, and a certified benefits consultant with the state of Texas.
Mr. Noyes also is on the advisory board for UnitedHealthcare, and is an active member of the local and national chapters of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists and the National Employee Benefits Advisory Forum.
Mr. Noyes, a partner with Noble Group, was bitten by the benefits bug right after college when he started working on the insurer side at Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co. He thinks his experience working with many different types of brokers and consultants on the insurer side has helped him determine which firms delivered excellence and which fell behind, and he has applied that knowledge as a benefits broker.
Mr. Noyes' philosophy is to treat benefits management as a strategic initiative, partnering with clients to gain a better understanding of their organizational goals and employees in order to develop a long-term strategy.
This philosophy helped the Coastal Conservation Association, a Houston-based marine resources and fishery management nonprofit organization with 65 employees, avoid layoffs during the recent economic downturn, said Judy Shaw, director of operational services.
“In the economic downturn, we were looking at cost-cutting measures and were introduced to Mike. He helped us reduce our premiums while keeping quality benefits for our employees and without having to downsize,” she said.
