John O'Connell
Co-Owner
President, Employee Benefits
joconnell@cmsmith.com
860-657-5914
John O'Connell is a co-owner of the C.M. Smith Agency, Inc. He joined the firm in 1986. An alumnus of Trinity College, Class of 1981, he has earned industry designations as a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). He is a member of the International Foundation of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists, the American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters, the National Association of Life Underwriters, the Connecticut Benefit Brokers and the Benefit Advisors Network, where he serves on the Board of Directors.
O'Connell served on the board of the VNA Health Care, Inc. from 1994-2002, and was chair from 1999 to 2002. He also served on the Board of Renbrook School in West Hartford from 1998-2006 and was chair from 2003-2006. John currently serves as co-chair of "Setting the Course", the Endowment Campaign for Renbrook School.
John brings strategic perspective through his service on the boards of several local institutions. He served on the Financial Committee of the Connecticut Health First Authority, an entity authorized by the Connecticut General Assembly to evaluate and recommend health care reform initiatives for Connecticut.
John is active in other community and industry organizations, including service as a Corporator of Hartford Hospital and a Corporator of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.