Biographies

Joseph Knudsen, President & Founder

I have been a licensed agent since 1973.  Through the mid-70’s I worked full-time selling insurance.  Following that time I worked as software engineer, all the while selling insurance on a very limited basis. In 1996 I decided to go back to the insurance business and this time start my own agency.

I have lived in Danbury for over twenty years now with my wife and four children, three of whom still live with me. I am currently the only one in my house who is not enrolled as a full-time student, though I make it my business to be a permanent student of the insurance marketplace.  In order to be successful I have to be aware of the constant changes in the field and get certified regularly to sell new products in demand.

I specialize in health and life insurance and have chosen not to sell property, casualty, or mutual funds.

Charles Anderson, CT Agent/ Producer

I’ve been an agent for 10 years and got my start with Mutual of Omaha. I have written Health insurance from start but my background includes Life, Disability and Long Term Care insurances with experience in Financial Planning or Retirement and Buy-Sell agreements.

Suzanne Candee, CT Agent/ Producer

I am a Producer with HIQS Group, and have been with the agency since 2001.  My professional and sales experience also includes over 12 years as a Certified Personnel Consultant.  My practice includes a broad spectrum of commercial and personal clients, but of special interest are small businesses and difficult to place risks.  I attended Russell Sage College, am married and a mother of two children, and live in Newtown, CT.  I am an active member of the Family of Women, an international women’s mentorship organization.

Ellie Parzuchowski, CT Agent/ Producer

I have been employed with HIQS for ten years as a licensed Connecticut health agent and producer. I specialize in group sales, service and retention. During the 1970’s I became a licensed LPN and worked in hospitals and nursing homes in Connecticut and New York. I am married and have two children. During the “stay at home years” I was a CT certified day care provider, exploring the world of sign language in the very young.  In 1999, I transitioned from nursing and childcare to my current career in insurance with HIQS.