Leadership Team

Julie Turpin joined The Advocator Group in August 2012 from GCG Risk Management Consultants, where she was a Principal and Head of Operations. Prior to GCG, she was the Senior Vice President and Head of Operations in the Midwest Zone for Marsh USA. Julie brings over 14 years experience in executive roles with legal, energy, and insurance brokerage companies with US-based and global operations to her new role. Throughout her career, Julie has led organizations to achieve process improvements, productivity gains, and higher output. With Julie’s ability to build high performance teams and to motivate employees to provide superior customer service, The Advocator Group continues to be dedicated to successfully helping individuals apply for and obtain Social Security Disability Insurance. jturpin@advocator.com | LinkedIn

Mike joined the Advocator Group in 2014, after several months of working with the company as a strategic leadership consultant through his advisory firm Shunney and Associates, LLC. Mike brings with him over 20 years of experience as a senior executive with Sun Life Financial, including roles as P&L leader of their Employee Benefits Group and Presi­dent of U.S. Distribution. His expertise includes business strategy, particularly knowledge in distribution & sales, profit building, mergers & acquisitions, and organizational development. He is known for recognizing and rewarding talent and instilling strong competitive drive in team members to achieve organizational success. Mike graduated from Merrimack College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance. He currently serves on advisory boards at Mobile Health Consumer (corporate health management technology) and Assist America (global emergency travel assistance provider), and on the Board of Directors for the Doug Flutie Jr. Autism Foundation. mshunney@advocator.com | LinkedIn

Nelson Acosta joined The Advocator Group in January 2011 from Agero, where he served as Team Manager and Principal Lead during several strategic IT implementation initiatives. As the Director of Technology, Nelson is responsible for technology development and information technology and infrastructure. During his time at the Advocator Group, his commitment to innovation has supported key business growth and operational optimization. Nelson graduated from Universidad Simon Bolivar in 2001, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering with concentrations in database design, operating systems, and software engineering. Nelson earned his Master’s Degree in Computer Information Systems from Boston University in 2004, receiving the Distinction for Academic Excellence award upon graduation. His graduate work with the Information Security Lab enabled Boston University to be named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. nacosta@advocator.com | LinkedIn

Megan joined The Advocator Group in 2016 with the acquisition of Social Security Advocates for the Disabled (SSAD).  She currently serves in the role of Vice President, Legal & Compliance and SVP, Operations for SSAD. With 17 years of SSDI advocacy experience and an extensive background in SSDI and LTD benefit integration, Megan is responsible for leading our legal strategy and managing our internal compliance team.  Megan graduated from Stonehill College earning a Bachelor’s Degree in English. mreid@ssadreps.com | LinkedIn

Joanne comes to The Advocator Group with over 20 years of professional experience in client service, ensuring exceptional customer experiences and optimal results. She is deeply experienced at providing high quality client service at scale, including running large-scale contact center operations alongside continuous improvement and quality metrics. Joanne’s notable career includes 16 years at the Walt Disney Company as well as serving as the Executive Vice President of Professional Development, Employee Engagement and Human Resources at the Chelsea Jewish Foundation. jroach@advocator.com

Gina Schreiber joined The Advocator Group from Sun Life Financial, where she spent 15 years developing a deep understanding of the employee benefits industry through a variety of roles in Risk Management as well as Distribution. Gina leads multiple teams and serves various audiences within and outside of the organization; she drives her teams to execute for strong results while also working to continually increase customer satisfaction ratings. Gina’s expertise includes relationship management, leading high performing teams, and developing innovative strategies to drive growth. She is known for building strong relationships and for bringing people together to achieve results. gschreiber@advocator.com | LinkedIn

Courtney has 15 years of experience in all aspects of consumer marketing and direct to consumer communications, as well as extensive senior management experience, including leading small to mid-sized organizations through periods of ambitious growth. She served as the Director of Marketing at both FirstGiving, a leading online fundraising platform, and Gentle Giant Moving Company, the largest residential moving company in New England. Previously, she filled several professional service and client-facing roles at MediaMap, a PR software and media consulting agency. She holds an Masters of Business Administration from the FW Olin School of Business at Babson College and a Bachelor of Arts in French and Spanish language from Bates College. She serves on the board of ArtCorps and previously served on the board of Read to a Child Boston. cscott@advocator.com | LinkedIn | Twitter

Sean joined The Advocator Group in 2006 and currently serves in the role of Vice President of Operations and Performance. In this role, Sean oversees the entire operation from the moment a new client is onboarded through their SSDI award and reimbursement. He also manages company-wide data analytics, focusing heavily on metrics and forecasting. During his tenure with The Advocator Group, Sean has managed several departments and has spent a considerable amount of time working directly with corporate customers. Sean works to turn data into information that drives the business forward. He is able to build strong teams that push for results and execution. Sean graduated from Dartmouth College earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Government, while participating as a member of multiple leadership tribunals. He also received a Juris Doctor from New England Law and acts as an Authorized SSDI Representative. spsullivan@advocator.com | LinkedIn

Stacy Williams joined The Advocator Group in 2009, bringing more than fifteen years of progressive accounting experience with emphasis on corporate accounting, financial planning, analysis and reporting. She has extensive knowledge in building the foundations of accounting operations in smaller, rapidly growing organizations. Her experience includes managing system implementations and analytical reporting tools, developing accounting operational efficiencies, Sarbanes Oxley and internal controls, SEC reporting, investor relations, international accounting, and financial statement consolidations. Prior to joining The Advocator Group, Stacy has held various positions with venture capital-backed, privately-held, and publicly-traded companies in the software, medical device, and advertising industries. Stacy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Nichols College and a Masters of Business Administration from the FW Olin School of Business at Babson College. slwilliams@advocator.com | LinkedIn

Melissa Prudente joined The Advocator Group in 2003 as one of the original members of staff. In her years with the organization she served in a number of capacities prior to moving into her current role. Melissa graduated from Framingham State College in 2001, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Deviance. Melissa earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley University in 2007 and has certificates in Project Management as well as Human Resources Management. mprudente@advocator.com | LinkedIn

As Director of Human Resources, Holli is instrumental in both engaging current teammates for retention and professional growth, as well as in attracting tremendous new talent to the team. Prior to joining The Advocator Group, Holli served in HR leadership roles for Bridgewater Associates in Westport, CT and she held senior recruiting roles for UBS Investment Bank and Staffwriters Plus, Inc. She has expertise in all aspects of HR, with depth of experience in HR operations, training and development, recruiting, and technology systems that power highly effective HR functions. Holli is a graduate of Sacred Heart University. hsannito@advocator.com | LinkedIn