Our Team
Karen Gast
Co-Founder and CEO
Karen is an experienced Employee Benefits Solutions Specialist with over 20 years of delivering top-notch concierge service to her clients. Karen is a distinguished professional, having been selected as one of the "Peoria Area 40 Leaders Under Forty" for her remarkable leadership skills and outstanding contributions to the industry.
Karen's expertise in cost containment solutions is well-recognized, and she has been invited to speak at prestigious conferences such as the 16th Annual World Healthcare Congress in Washington D.C. and the Workplace Benefits Mania forum in Phoenix, AZ. Her innovative ideas and practical solutions have been widely applauded by industry peers, making her a sought-after speaker on healthcare cost reductions.
Karen's specialization in the partially self-funded market has helped numerous organizations achieve their business goals by designing customized benefit plans that balance employee needs and organizational objectives. She is also an early innovator in the Central Illinois market, having introduced the first on-site/near-site clinic, which has significantly reduced healthcare costs for her clients.
With her exceptional knowledge, experience, and passion for helping businesses thrive, Karen is an invaluable asset to K2 Benefit’s clients seeking to improve their employee benefits solutions.
Tom Hallam, PhD, MBA
Executive Vice President
Dr. Hallam is a solutions-driven and impactful healthcare executive with a proven track record of delivering exceptional results, specializing in marketing, corporate strategy, and operational execution. He is adept at growing companies from early beginnings to successful listing on Nasdaq. His track record of providing strategic advice to some of the world’s largest healthcare companies and developing strategic partnerships is an asset to K2 Benefits.
Tom brings a broad base of healthcare expertise. Prior to joining K2 Benefits, he served as CEO Palisade Bio (Nasdaq: PALI). Dr. Hallam attracted, trained, managed, and retained high performing leaders resulting in growth of the business from 3 founders to a globally connected organization achieving diverse corporate milestones. He excelled as corporate spokesperson and strategist for all investor and public communication, serving as the company’s representative to shareholders, employees, patient groups, business partners, and the regulators, through seminars, TV interviews, and podcasts. He previously served in the San Francisco office of C1 Consulting, helping healthcare companies launch and commercialize new products, and previously served as Medical Director at Saatchi & Saatchi Healthcare in New York, responsible for leading the healthcare professional marketing strategy team that was honored as “The Best Large Marketing Team of 2010” by Medical Marketing and Media Magazine. He has served as an adviser to 19 of the world’s leading healthcare companies, including Roche/Genentech, Pfizer, Sanofi, Astra-Zeneca, and Bausch & Lomb. Tom is a former Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research fellow. He received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from University California, Davis, holds an MBA from University of Southern California, and graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Illinois.
IL Insurance License #20658606 CA Insurance License #4282500
Kim Fauser
Co-Founder
Kim is a co-founder and Employee Benefit Specialist at K2 Benefits. Her experience in employee benefits spans over three decades with over 35 years of experience in employee benefits. Her career began at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and provided a strong foundation in the industry as quickly rose through the ranks, gaining valuable experience and knowledge along the way. After her time at Mass Mutual, Kim became the Marketing Director for Proctor Hospital in Peoria, Illinois where she honed her skills in client relations, marketing, and communications.
From there, she transitioned to become a group benefits consultant, where she focused on helping companies of all shapes and sizes design and implement successful employee benefits programs. Her ability to implement successful benefits programs has helped countless clients attract and retain top talent while controlling costs.
At K2 Benefits, we know that our success is built on the strength of our team. Throughout her career, Kim has remained passionate about her work and committed to her clients. With her broad knowledge of employee benefits, Kim has been instrumental in the evolution of K2 Benefits.