WILSON COUNTY, NC – Wilson County recently earned Gallagher’s High Performing Employer Award at the company’s 2026 High Performance Employer Summit. Gallagher is a leading global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firm that supports renewals for the N.C. Health Insurance Pool, of which Wilson County Government is a member.

“Wilson County Government cares for and appreciates our employees. This award speaks to the hard work of our Human Resources team. Comprehensive benefits and wellness are at the heart of quality employee recruitment and retention,” said County Manager Ron Hunt. “I greatly appreciate the vision of our Human Resources leadership and staff for their constant engagement and valuing our most precious asset – our people.”

Wilson County began working with Gallagher in 2022 and has exemplified what it means to be an employer of choice. County leadership continues to invest in innovative programs that enhance the employee experience while thoughtfully managing costs, allowing the county to sustain a strong and competitive benefits offering for employees. Gallagher recognizes employers that are intentionally advancing organizational well-being through innovative strategies, strong workplace cultures, measurable outcomes and a commitment to supporting the whole employee.

“Employee engagement and innovation thrives when creativity fuels the vision, buy-in from our Board of Commissioners is provided, and caring makes that vision human and meaningful,” noted Assistant County Manager Tim Bilderback. “We have an outstanding Human Resources staff and leadership team that works hard and is fiscally responsible without leaving our staff behind. Through upper management support of that vision, we were given the tools to not just succeed, but to thrive.”

Over the last year, Wilson County Human Resources implemented and sustained a comprehensive benefits and well-being strategy that improved employee access to care, strengthened engagement through governance and local partnerships, and protected the long-term sustainability of the county’s health plan. These efforts were reflected in low single-digit renewal outcomes, disciplined reserve growth, expanded high-value programs such as the Well Care Clinic, and measurable pharmacy savings achieved through transparent, audit-supported strategies. This work strengthened Wilson County’s culture of well-being by treating benefits and wellness as a long-term investment in employees’ health, financial security and career sustainability, with an intentional focus on improving access to care and resources.

In addition, Wilson County’s leadership team serves in key roles on committees beyond the county and is widely regarded as a thought leader and go-to organization among local governments in the region.

Human Resources Director Tim Kerigan and Assistant County Manager Tim Bilderback attended Gallagher’s 2026 High Performance Employer Summit in Orlando, Florida, to receive the award. The event brought together industry leaders, innovators and strategic thinkers to explore what it takes to build and sustain high-performing organizations.

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