David C. Smith

Senior Vice President, Eben

David C. Smith is the senior vice president of Eben. A native of Banner Elk, North Carolina, he is a graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1991 and completed his law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law’s competitive Evening Program in 1999 while working full-time.

He began his career in the early 1990’s as policy and research advisor to Lieutenant Governor Dennis A Wicker, where he was responsible for drafting North Carolina’s Small Group Health Insurance Reform laws. He remains actively involved with the NC Department of Insurance on issues effecting employers and agents within the state. From 1997 until 2002, David worked with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in numerous capacities in the sales and marketing division. David practiced law on a full-time basis from 2002 until 2009.

Today David directs our compliance matters and assists with our risk management strategies for larger clients. In addition, he spearheads strategy and data analysis for the agency’s self-funded clients. He is widely acknowledged as a national authority on employee benefits, including ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA Privacy, Wellness, and the Affordable Care Act. David has authored articles in national magazines on the impact of the privacy rules, wellness regulations, PPACA Compliance issues and strategies for agencies to be prepared for new regulatory requirements, and is frequently quoted in numerous media outlets on these topics. David authored the top compliance article in Employee Benefit Advisor for 2014.

He also has been recognized nationally for his public speaking, winning the William G. Wetzel Excellence in Public Speaking Award for 2011, and is a very active member of the National Association of Health Underwriters, serving in leadership positions at the local, state and national levels for the organization. David has been certified by NAHU as a Specialist in the Affordable Care Act, Worksite Wellness, HIPAA Privacy & Security and Self-Funded Health Plans, having not only completed the necessary educational requirements for each, but also by co-authoring three of the certification programs.

David was named the 2013 Health Plan Advisor of the Year by Employee Benefits Advisor Magazine, and has recently been named to the Hot 100 Insurance Professionals for two consecutive years by Insurance Business America. He was recognized for his lifetime contributions to the North Carolina Association of Health Underwriters in April 2014 when he was given the Frederick W. Joyner Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.