Principal Consultant/Owner:  Gardner G. Cook

With 31 years of experience designing health & welfare programs, Gardner is the Principal Consultant and Owner of Cook & Associates. He is an expert in the employee benefits field. Gardner’s experience demonstrates his ability to work with many different clients in providing cost effective benefit programs.  As the Principal Consultant and Owner of Cook & Associates, Gardner focuses his efforts on managing his firm & creating a positive work environment with an emphasis on being your employee benefits consultant & advocate for he believes in providing the very best to his clients. Among other areas, Gardner focuses on maintaining & enhancing client relationships, managing and promoting the educational aspects of benefits planning. His specialties include self funded programs, HRA administration, voluntary benefits, cost reduction, and benefits research. His company has specialized in serving the winery community since its inception.   

Prior to joining Cook & Associates, Gardner began his career at Travelers Insurance Company as a Senior Sales Executive after attending a three month certification course to become an employee benefits specialist. After 5 years with Travelers, Gardner became a Senior Consultant serving large group clients over 100 employees at New York Life.

Gardner is an avid hiker, backpacker, flyfisherman, and licensed pilot.

Gardner has a BA from Lake Forest College.