History

For over a decade, Group Benefits Strategies (GBS) has helped our clients realize significant savings in their health, life, dental, and disability benefits programs without shifting costs to employees and retirees.

John R. Sharry

Jack is the sole owner and CEO of Group Benefits Strategies. For over 20 years, Jack has been an industry leader, fighting for municipal entities and private groups as they wage their battles against large health insurers such as BlueCross BlueShield, Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts Health Care.  He has accomplished this with innovative methods designed to put the power back into the hands of the municipality, and ultimately improving the health care services for the employees and their families.

Jack is a graduate of Clark University in Worcester, where he received his degree in Business Administration.  He lives in Paxton, Massachusetts with his wife, Marilyn.  They also enjoy a summer cottage at Cape Cod.  They have two children and four grandchildren. 

Jack has always found special time for charitable endeavors to go along with family and business responsibilities.  He has served on the Board of Directors for several social service agencies and charitable organizations helping those less fortunate in the Central Massachusetts area.  One charity that Jack served in recent years was Sherry’s House.  Providing a safe haven for kids and their families while receiving treatments for cancer, Sherry’s House is a nationally recognized program and facility. Jack not only served on the board of Directors, but also ran the 2000 Bermuda Marathon, which raised well over $ 250,000 for this amazing charity.

Jack was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts by a very political family.  His grandmother was a high-ranking official in the Massachusetts Democratic Party, and Jack followed her lead into political life.  He served three consecutive four year terms as Worcester County Commissioner, providing needed leadership during Massachusetts' last days of County Government. 

Before becoming Vice-President of Insurance Cost Control in 1984, Jack was Vice-President of Human Resources for Harrington & Richardson Firearms Company for 14 years.  He left H & R to join ICC, and within 6 years, Jack bought the company, changed the name to GBS, moved to Auburn and began to lead GBS to where it stands today, as the largest municipal health insurance consultant in New England.  GBS now represents many of the largest and most influential municipalities in New England and the country.  The City of Boston, Massachusetts and The City of Manchester, New Hampshire are among the many cities and towns that look to Jack Sharry and GBS for guidance to save money and provide the best employee benefits package for their employees.