Connor Bench joined Pillar in 2020 after serving nine years as a commissioned officer in the US Navy. He brings extensive leadership and management experience to his role as Principal and the firm’s General Manager. In addition to managing the firm on a day-to-day basis, he advises business owners and executives on continuity planning, to include recruiting, retaining, and rewarding talent.

Connor is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds advanced degrees from the University of Washington and the Naval Postgraduate School. A Seattle native and proud Lakeside Lion, he enjoys spending his free time on the golf course, ski slopes, and his bike.

Rod Bench is a seasoned financial services executive with extensive experience in succession planning, wealth management, and executive compensation. He founded and led RA Bench, a successful financial services firm in Seattle, before its acquisition by USI Kibble & Prentice in 2010. Previously, he served as an executive officer at New England Financial, overseeing marketing, insurance product development, and employee benefits administration. In 2016, he became an equity principal in the acquisition of USI Kibble & Prentice’s individual life and disability insurance business and now serves on the management committee of PILLAR International Insurance Advisors.

Rod advises family-owned enterprises in the U.S. and internationally, specializing in executive compensation, benefit planning, and financial structuring. He has held leadership roles as a trustee and finance committee chair for Seattle University and served on boards for Lakeside School, AALU, and other industry and charitable organizations. A Chartered Life Underwriter with advanced designations in business tax, pension, and estate planning from the American College, Rod splits his time between Seattle, WA, and Napa, CA, with his wife, Mary Jo.

Connie Carroll brings 30 years of experience in designing and implementing life and disability insurance solutions for affluent families, high-income professionals, and institutions. As an advisor to businesses, she specializes in succession planning, key employee and executive benefit plans. Connie also works closely with individuals and families, offering guidance on tax-efficient income protection strategies, retirement, and estate planning.

Before joining Pillar, Connie was a partner at The Lyman Group, where she was responsible for business development and client relationship management. Prior to that, she spent a decade with M Financial Group, where she led the sales and marketing team.  Connie’s career journey began at RA Bench, marking a return to her professional roots with Pillar International.

Connie is a dedicated member of Finseca, advocating for financial security for all. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is actively involved in her community through philanthropic initiatives and has served on several boards.  Connie is a Pacific Northwest native, attended the University of Washington, and enjoys spending time outdoors on the water with her family and friends.

Adriana Courts brings over 15 years of expertise in workplace retirement advising.  As a dedicated Fiduciary, she focuses on optimizing retirement plan outcomes through customizing multilayered benefits programs, plan design and communications strategy.   She began her financial services career in 2008 after graduating from the University of San Diego.

A member of Women in Pensions Network (WIPN) and the Association of Financial Educators (AFE), Adriana is passionate about serving her community and providing financial education to all.

Adriana holds certifications as an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®), and Nonqualified Plan Consultant™ (NQPC™).  Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, she enjoys traveling with her family and exploring the outdoors.

Karen Dacek has degrees in Politics and Spanish from Miami University (Ohio) as well as a Master’s in International Management from the AGSIM (Thunderbird). Karen began her career in life and disability insurance when she joined Paul Revere brokerage in 1991. After three years of serving as an individual disability sales consultant at Paul Revere, she left for an opportunity to lead a new corporate/executive benefits sales division for UNUM Life Insurance. At UNUM from 1995-2000, Karen was consistently within the top 10% nationally of individual sales consultants, and earned the designation of Representative of the Year in 1998. It was at UNUM that Karen honed her knowledge of combining traditional group and individual product lines to better address income replacement benefits.

Karen joined RA Bench in 2000 to support the firm’s efforts in disability/LTC sales as well as establish a general agency for long term care products. When RA Bench was sold to Kibble and Prentice/USI, Karen elected to accept a position near her home on Bainbridge Island as a project manager with Clark Construction, LLC. In 2017, Karen joined forces again with her insurance “family” at Pillar International. She focuses her practice on lifelong income protection in the business (multi-life) and individual markets. Product expertise includes life, disability and long term care insurance concepts.

Karen has three children and lives on Bainbridge Island. When not assisting clients, she enjoys riding her horses and working on her “little farm.”

Morgan Donnelly has over a decade of experience guiding clients through complex health and benefits plans. As a Principal at Pillar’s Employee Benefits division, she collaborates with teams to design and implement customized solutions that drive business success and enhance employee experiences.

Morgan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Western Washington University and an MBA in Sustainable Business from Presidio Graduate School. With a background in marketing and development, she brings a unique, strategic perspective to employee benefits, emphasizing impactful, sustainable, and inclusive workplace strategies. A passionate advocate for professional growth, she has served as a mentor and program leader, fostering career development and workplace inclusion.

Morgan lives on Vashon Island with her husband and two children.

Shannon Hahn brings nearly 25 years of experience in the life insurance industry, beginning her career in technology and agency operations. A member of the M Financial community since 2004, Shannon traveled extensively across the U.S. to over 60 M Financial Member Firms, gaining valuable insights into the complexities of life insurance and the entrepreneurial spirit of the firms.

As a risk analyst, Shannon designs personalized life insurance plans for professionals, business owners, and service firms, focusing on lifelong income protection in both multi-life and individual markets. Her expertise includes advanced life insurance planning, underwriting for multiple health impairments, complex disability planning, and long-term care planning for businesses and individuals. Her approach is educational and goal-based, ensuring that each client’s unique needs are met.

Shannon is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in Finance. She is an active member of ProVisors and leads the Chicago Women’s Affinity Group. An advocate for the insurance industry, Shannon regularly travels to Washington, D.C. on behalf of Finseca. She holds the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designation, FINRA Series 6 & 63 licenses, and insurance licenses in 23 states.

Living in Arlington Heights, IL, with her husband, two children, and two puppies, Shannon values long-term planning in both her professional and personal life, especially as she has a younger sister with special needs. Outside of work, she enjoys supporting her kids at hockey and baseball/softball events or playing golf.

Gordon E. “Chip” Hammond is a seasoned insurance professional based in Honolulu, Hawaii.  He specializes in assisting private and public enterprises, affluent families, and trusts with acquiring and managing large insurance portfolios that resolve succession, executive compensation, and tax concerns.

Chip began his practice in 1987; on January 1, 2025, he merged his long-standing Carlson Hammond office with Pillar to provide continuity for his existing and new clients.  He accepts new business through professional or client referrals.

Chip is deeply involved in civic and charitable organizations in the islands. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hawaii Pacific Health Medical Group and spent nine years on the Board of Directors of Straub Clinic & Hospital, six of which as Chairman. He has been a Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii since 2003, previously serving as Board Chairman and was the founding President of Positive Coaching Alliance-Hawaii. Additionally, he has served as an Ambassador for the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry.

A graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University, Chip lives in Honolulu with his wife and has two adult children. Outside of his professional and philanthropic work, he enjoys fly fishing in Hawaii and around the world.

Nancy Kokenge brings over 27 years of expertise in employee benefits consulting, earning a reputation as a trusted leader in the industry. As Principal of the Employee Benefits Division at Pillar International Insurance Advisors, she specializes in strategic plan design, analytics, and client advocacy. She leads a dedicated team focused on guiding businesses through insurance and wellness solutions, offering personalized support, comprehensive options, and strong partnerships to help organizations, employees, and their families make informed benefits decisions aligned with their health and financial goals.

Beyond her professional role, Nancy serves as Board President for Yakima Neighborhood Health Services and Community Living, where she is committed to driving meaningful change and advancing the organization’s mission. Her leadership in the nonprofit sector underscores her passion for community engagement and making a positive impact beyond the workplace.

She lives in Yakima, Washington, with her husband and their dog, Annie.