Matthew Harmon enjoys team environment at J.C. Penney

Matthew Harmon/ KAREN CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Aside from being named Business Insurance's 2013 Benefit Manager of the Year®, Matthew C. Harmon, benefits delivery and retirement director for J.C. Penney Co. Inc., also is a new father.

He and his wife, Nicole Grisafi Harmon, welcomed Viviana Nicole about nine weeks ago. She has an older sister, Mattlina Louise, who is 2 years old.

Mr. Harmon became attracted to benefits management after working “in a secured vault” for Harris Corp., a defense contractor in Melbourne, Fla.

While performing financial program management on government contracts, Mr. Harmon decided, “I am more of a people person and love interacting in a team and people environment.”

His first job in benefits was as a quality assurance analyst at Hewitt Associates Inc. in Orlando, Fla. He joined J.C. Penney as benefits director in 2009.

Mr. Harmon, 38, holds degrees in financial and business management, graduating with honors from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1997.