About Empyrean
We’re driven by the belief that everyone deserves a workplace that supports their total well-being. Since our founding in 2006, Empyrean has combined innovative technologies and a service-first approach to help organizations build a connected culture that empowers their people to thrive.
Company Snapshot
2006
Founding Year
900+
Employees
98%
Client Retention
4.5/5 Implementation Satisfaction
Headquarters
+ Main Office in Houston, Texas
+ Additional Office in Minneapolis
+ Remote Teams Nationwide
Parent Company
Company Snapshot
2006
Founding Year
900+
Employees
98%
Client Retention
4.5/5 implementation satisfaction
Headquarters
+ Main Office in Houston, Texas
+ Additional Office in Minneapolis
+ Remote Teams Nationwide
Parent Company
Our Mission:
Connecting Benefits, Enriching Lives
At our core, Empyrean exists to help each of our clients connect their employees and their families to the best benefits programs available to them, building a workplace culture focused on employee well-being both in and outside of work.
We believe that benefits are one of the most tangible expressions of company culture, and our mission is to connect employees to those life-enriching benefits while driving positive outcomes for employees, their loved ones, and our client organizations.
Our mission is what guides the actions we take as a company. It drives every business decision we make, both large and small.
We believe that benefits are one of the most tangible expressions of company culture, and our mission is to connect employees to those life-enriching benefits while driving positive outcomes for employees, their loved ones, and our client organizations.
Our mission is what guides the actions we take as a company. It drives every business decision we make, both large and small.
Our Leadership Team
Empyrean’s success is guided by an experienced executive leadership team dedicated to innovation, service, and results. Together, they bring deep industry expertise and a passion for transforming the way people experience benefits.
Richard Wolfe
CEO and Co-Founder
Richard Wolfe co-founded Empyrean in 2006, building on his over 20 years of senior-level management expertise in HR outsourcing. Previously serving as Empyrean’s Chief Operating Officer, Richard took over as CEO in 2011, and brings a wealth of expertise in business process outsourcing, benefits administration, and systems implementation from his experience working with some of the largest firms in the industry.
Prior to founding Empyrean, Richard was Senior Director for outsourcing firm Synhrgy HR Technologies, where he provided significant business operation and product development leadership. Synhrgy was later acquired by Mercer, where Richard served as Senior Operations Director and Principal, responsible for solution architecture and service delivery to large outsourcing clients. Richard also served as Senior Implementation Manager at Hewitt, implementing outsourcing services for large clients.
Richard has been named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist three years in a row, was recognized as one of Employee Benefit News’ Technology Innovators (2017), and was listed as one of Employee Benefit Adviser’s Top Benefit IT Power Players (2016).
Richard earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance and Economics from The University of Pittsburgh.
Colleen Waymel | Chief Operating Officer
Colleen Waymel brings over 30 years of expertise in leveraging outsourcing solutions to help companies achieve strategic benefit goals. As Empyrean’s COO since 2011, she focuses on enhancing client satisfaction, driving growth, and scaling operations while launching new products and services. Previously, Colleen held senior roles at Aon Hewitt, where she led teams, implemented best practices, and delivered outsourcing solutions across various industries.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in International Economics, Cum Laude, Trinity University
Certification
Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
Previous Experience
Senior leadership roles at Aon Hewitt, including Vice President and North American Health and Welfare Operations Leader
Expertise
Operational scaling, client retention, and service delivery innovation
Jim Priebe | Chief Strategy Officer
Jim leads Empyrean’s Sales, Marketing, and Product teams, driving solutions that simplify benefits and enrich lives. With 30 years of experience in the employee benefits industry, Jim has developed successful market solutions, new businesses, and product lines, reflecting his commitment to streamlining and educating all users of the insurance and benefits ecosystem. He has also played key roles in shaping legislative change at both state and federal levels. Before joining Empyrean, Jim held executive roles at Bloom Health, UnitedHealth Group (Optum), Mayo Clinic, and Acclaris.
Education
B.A. in Marketing and Communications, Concordia University
Military Service
U.S. Army Reserves; earned Army Achievement Medal during Desert Storm
Industry Impact
Actively involved in influencing benefits legislation
Experience
30 years in benefits leadership, including roles at Bloom Health and Optum
Trey Noel | Chief Financial Officer
Trey oversees Empyrean’s finance and accounting strategies, leveraging 25 years of experience in consumer goods, medical devices, and healthcare. Before joining Empyrean in 2016, Trey served as CFO and Head of Operations at NextGxDx, leading capital raises, organizational development, and customer operations. He also held senior roles at McKesson, managing pharmaceutical relationships, federal vaccine programs, and supply chain operations.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and MBA, Southern Methodist University
Leadership
Financial entrepreneur, angel investor, and mentor in leadership programs
Advisory Roles
Serves on multiple advisory boards
Keith Wilson | Chief Client Officer
Keith Wilson leads Empyrean’s Client Experience team, ensuring a seamless, service-first journey for clients from onboarding through the entire relationship. Acting as a client advocate, he brings their feedback to inform executive decisions, fostering a unified approach across all interactions while building strong market relationships. With over 20 years of expertise in operations management, Keith’s career spans implementations, administration operations, corporate strategy, and channel partner development.
Experience
20+ years in benefits administration and operations management
Previous Roles
Principal and Operations Director, Mercer Human Resources Services
Senior Implementation Manager, SynHRgy HR Technologies
Specialties
Client advocacy, implementation management, and strategy development
Tenure at Empyrean
Joined in 2007
Kelly L. Clark | Chief Information & Technology Officer
Kelly Clark, Chief Information & Technology Officer, leads Empyrean’s strategic technology innovation initiatives, providing the strategic vision for digital transformation across the organization. For over two decades, Kelly has been a proven technology leader in the HR and employee benefits space, driving business transformation through IT modernization and by leveraging innovative technologies while improving people and process knowledge. His collaborative mindset and philosophies have also enabled him to build high-performing teams, gain alignment across business groups, and develop strategic relationships that elevate brands. Prior to joining the Empyrean team, Kelly held several c-level positions at organizations like Maximus, OptumHealth, and OptumHealth Financial Services, and most recently served as the Chief Information & Digital Office at Alight Solutions. There, he led the group’s digital transformation to solve highly complex business and client needs while improving technology capabilities and overall operational excellence.
Education
Bachelor of Arts and Master's Degree, University of Manitoba
Program on Negotation, Harvard Law School
Experience
20+ years as a technology leader in the HR and employee benefits sector
Previous Roles
C-level positions at Alight Solutions, Maximus, and OptumHealth
Tenure at Empyrean
Joined in 2021
Karen Bailey, JD | Compliance Officer
Karen Bailey serves as Empyrean’s Compliance Officer, focusing on ensuring all Empyrean solutions and services comply fully with the legal landscape governing health and welfare benefits. Karen’s responsibilities include HIPAA privacy and security matters, contract matters, and providing general legal and overall compliance support to Empyrean’s teams and clients. She also provides consulting services to Empyrean clients regarding health and welfare compliance matters. Karen joined Empyrean in 2012 with over a decade of experience managing regulations surrounding health and welfare benefits. Her previous experience includes serving as General Counsel/ERISA attorney for Hewitt Associates, where she managed legal outsourcing delivery for defined contribution, defined benefits, and health and welfare practice areas. Karen also served as Health and Welfare Requirements Consultant at Hewitt and Health and Welfare Domain Manager at Aon Hewitt. Karen holds a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she received the American Jurisprudence Award for Research Analysis, and Writing. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
JD, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Experience
Over a decade managing regulations surrounding health and welfare benefits
Previous Roles
Health & Welfare Requirements Consultant, General Counsel/ERISA Attorney at Aon Hewitt/Hewitt Associates
Tenure at Empyrean
Joined in 2012
Angel Seufert | Executive VP, Human Resources
Angel Seufert serves as Empyrean’s Executive Vice President, Human Resources, leading the organization’s strategic and administrative HR function. She plays a key role in identifying and developing people-centric strategics, programs, and systems that support Empyrean employees both inside and outside of work. Angel has more than 20 years of diverse HR experience, including total rewards, employee development, and HR systems and technology. She began her career as a Benefits Administrator, spending several years at brands including Smart Online, Inc. and ExxonMobil. Angel then moved on to join Kansas-based Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System (SCL Health) for six years as Manager, Flexible Employee Benefits for the 24,000-employee healthcare system. Since 2018, Angel has held several roles of escalating responsibility throughout Empyrean’s HR organization, providing her with a unique perspective and institutional knowledge that drives her leadership effectiveness. She is an Empyrean thought leader and regularly serves as a subject matter expert in the areas of benefits, compensation, talent attraction and retention, compensation, HR compliance, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Angel earned an M.S.M. from Baker University.
Eductaion
Master of Science in Management, Baker University
Experience
20+ years of diverse HR experience, including total rewards, employee development, and HR systems and technology
Previous Roles
Manager, Flexible Employee Benefits at Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System
Benefits Administrator at Smart Online, Inc. and ExxonMobil
Tenure at Empyrean
Joined in 2018
Closed-Loop Payroll
Automate payroll reconciliation and recover uncollected premiums with our Closed-Loop Payroll solution. We validate deductions against enrollment data, identify variances, and adjust future payroll files—removing the burden from your team while mitigating costly mistakes.
Verification Services
Enhance the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of your benefits program with comprehensive verification services for dependents, documents, and Evidence of Insurability (EOI). Our team ensures only eligible individuals are covered, protecting your plan’s financial and legal stability while controlling costs.