Our History Corporate History
In 1982, ACS Consulting Services, Inc. was founded by Carl Harker and Ben Yeager as a result of their vision to provide clients with superior self-funded benefit plan administration. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the company has grown and developed to serve clients not only in North Carolina, but also in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia.
In February, 1997, ACS was acquired by PARTNERS National Health Plans of North Carolina, Inc., operating as a fully independent subsidiary.
On April 15, 2001, ACS Consulting Services, Inc. changed its name to ACS Benefit Services, Inc.
On October 2, 2001, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina acquired PARTNERS National Health Plans of North Carolina, Inc. and ACS Benefit Services, Inc. No organizational changes have been made at ACS.
About the Founders
Carlton (Carl) Harker graduated from the University of Iowa receiving his BA in 1950. Prior to founding ACS Benefit Services, Inc., he served as an actuarial officer in the life insurance industry from 1950 until 1973, focusing primarily on employee benefits. From 1973 until 1982 he served as an actuarial and employee benefits consultant to numerous insurance companies throughout the southeastern United States. Carl's professional designations include Fellow, Society of Actuaries and Member, American Academy of Actuaries. Carl has authored numerous materials including Self-Funding of Health Care Benefits, the five volume TPA Guide to Benefit Administration, and texts on Underwriting, Managed Care, Claims Administration, Medical Terminology, Disability, and Fraud.
Ben Yeager, RHU, having founded ACS in 1982 with Carlton Harker, has been president of ACS since 1985. Educated at East Carolina University, he began his career as a marketing representative with a large TPA of fully insured group plans. Ben is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters. He has lectured on self-funded plan administration at numerous trade association meetings and has served on the Administrator's Advisory Boards of two of the largest underwriters of reinsurance in the United States.
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