Title: Associate Director and Operations Lead
Company: Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
Location: Lithonia, Georgia, United States
Marlando E. LaGuins, Associate Director and Operations Lead at Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in the Insurance Industry.
Mr. LaGuins is recognized for his success and tenure in the insurance and health care industries, lauded for his expertise in request-for-proposal processes and operational leadership. As the associate director and operations lead at Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada since 2023, he has played a pivotal role in advancing the company’s public sector business. Mr. LaGuins’s responsibilities include authoring a comprehensive manual to guide employees in preparing public-sector proposals, establishing standardized procedures that distinguish public-sector from private-sector approaches and spearheading a project to help the board of directors achieve billion-dollar corporation status.
Instrumental in building and operationalizing the public sector department within the Center of Excellence, Mr. LaGuins collaborates with internal departments to align proposal strategies with organizational growth goals and partners with external vendors to source the majority of public sector business opportunities. He also evaluates and selects additional sourcing platforms to expand reach and efficiency, and strategically manages departmental budgets to optimize investments in proposal and sourcing capabilities. Mr. LaGuins is currently positioned to lead the entire public sector department as part of Sun Life’s long-term growth strategy.
Before joining Sun Life, Mr. LaGuins was affiliated with MetLife Services and Solutions LLC for nearly a decade. He began as a senior proposal specialist in 2014, then pivoted to the senior proposal consultant role from 2014 to 2019. Mr. LaGuins then served as senior product consultant at MetLife Services and Solutions LLC until 2023. In this capacity, he supported sales teams across eight Southeastern states, focusing on strategies that enabled sales representatives and vice presidents to close significant business deals. Mr. Laguins’s adaptability was evident as he collaborated with various departments, including underwriting and legal, tailoring his approach to meet daily operational needs.
Recruited to MetLife from McKesson Technology Solutions, McKesson Corporation, Mr. LaGuins spent 2009 to 2014 as a senior request for proposal solutions consultant and project manager for the health care organization. There, he wrote proposals for software used by medical offices to organize patient charts within the robotics division, marking his only professional experience outside direct health care services but still closely aligned with health care technology.
Earlier in his career, Mr. LaGuins worked at Humana as a senior proposal manager from 2001 to 2009. His most notable achievement occurred during this period when he single-handedly authored the winning proposal for one of the largest requests for proposals in Humana’s history. This contract continues to generate substantial revenue for the company.
Mr. LaGuins began his professional journey as an accountant at the University of Georgia from 1997 to 1999, where he developed foundational skills in financial management that would later inform his strategic approach to departmental budgeting and resource allocation.
Mr. LaGuins’s educational background includes a diploma from Oconee County High School in Watkinsville, Georgia, followed by a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northcentral University in San Diego, California. He remains an active member of the National African American Insurance Association, reflecting his commitment to professional development and industry engagement. Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. LaGuins is civically engaged as a volunteer with the Atlanta Community Bank, demonstrating a commitment to giving back to his community.
Throughout his career, Mr. LaGuins has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in request-for-proposal processes, earning recognition as an expert in this specialized field. Known for his problem-solving abilities and proactive approach to addressing issues, he has built a reputation for honesty and straightforwardness, qualities that have resonated with colleagues and hiring managers throughout his career. Mr. LaGuins takes pride in maintaining high standards while balancing perfectionism with progress.
Mr. LaGuins’s career reflects a trajectory marked by dedication and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Looking ahead, he aspires to advance into senior management roles at Sun Life or another organization, aiming to reach C-suite leadership positions and continually expand his leadership skills and impact within the industry.
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