Meet Our Team

Celeste Cobb

Celeste Cobb, CLTC is responsible for developing educational materials that support and enhance the work of CLTC members. It is her job to ensure that existing CLTCs continue to find value in their membership and their CLTC designation. Part of this work includes expanding the visibility and credibility of the CLTC brand with insurance professionals and consumers.

Celeste started her career working with insurance brokers and agents as a UNUM wholesaler, and then spent 7 years in the home office developing a variety of brokerage and sales support programs. From there she joined the MetLife LTCI organization, becoming part of the senior management team, driving the marketing strategy and sales for all of Met’s LTC insurance lines – AARP, large employer, the Federal LTCI Program and Individual product. Her last five years at MetLife were spent developing marketing programs for their Affinity and Association business.

Celeste graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Wheaton College, Norton, MA, with a B.A. in Economics. She was a Truman Scholar and Rhodes Scholar finalist. Celeste also completed a year of study at the London School of Economics.

Bill Comfort

Bill is the owner of Comfort Assurance Group, LLC - a long-term care specialty agency based in St. Louis, MO.

Bill holds the Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC) designation and has served as a Master Class instructor since 2001. Bill also serves as the CLTC Director of Training and Development.

Bill started his insurance career in 1991, has been a member of a top-selling employee benefits brokerage agency and sold his first LTC insurance policy in 1992. He has specialized exclusively in LTCi since 2000. He works with individual clients, financial planners, estate planning attorneys, CPAs, investment firms and other insurance agents to develop and fund effective, integrated LTC plans.

Bill has trademarked the phrase "The LTCpro®" to identify his expertise. A former radio and TV reporter, he brings his journalism experience to the complicated world of LTC insurance and long-term care planning as a dynamic speaker, educator and insurance planner.

Bill has been quoted in SmartMoney magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's Retirement Report, the St. Louis Business Journal, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and other consumer resources. He is also a frequent contributor to financial service industry publications, and consults nationally on LTC insurance issues with the home care industry.

Amber Pate

Amber oversees CLTC's operations and provides important oversight for the organization's important functions and programs, including sales and development, graduate benefits and retention, classroom and online training, communications, and more. She joined the organization in 2008 as Director of Graduate Benefits. 

Her passion for long-term care runs deep as she watched her grandmother's mental health deteriorate due to Alzheimer's and has witnessed the benefits of proper extended care planning and how it can protect a family. Her mission at CLTC is to provide professionals with the necessary tools to educate their clients on the importance of having a long-term care plan. 

Amber earned a BA in public relations and business management from the University of South Carolina. She currently resides in South Carolina with her husband and son.

Cynthia Vereen

Cynthia spent over a decade working with Genworth Financial before joining the CLTC team. Her background in the insurance industry allows her to quickly identify the member's needs so they receive the ultimate customer service experience.

Cynthia oversees all new student inquiries, new member processes as well as graduate renewals. She prides herself in providing a superior level of service for CLTC.

Harley Gordon

Attorney Harley Gordon is a nationally recognized authority on long-term care issues. He has been voted one of the "100 Most Influential People in Long-Term Care" by McKnight's Long-Term Care News and was also named one of the "10 Most Influential People in Long-Term Care" by Senior Market Advisor. His book, How to Protect Life Savings from Catastrophic Illness, with over 150,000 copies in print, along with his newest book, In Sickness & In Health, helps consumers understand the devastating emotional and financial consequences of long-term care. Mr. Gordon is also a founding member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, a professional organization that deals with legal and ethical issues facing the elderly.

Mr. Gordon’s views on long-term care financing have been featured in the PBS Frontline documentary, "Who Pays for Mom and Dad," The Wall Street Journal, and the CBS Evening News. He has lectured extensively to consumers and professionals alike, about the importance of planning for long-term care. He has been a featured speaker at Million Dollar Round Table’s (MDRT’s) "Top of the Table," the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), and the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU). He is currently working on a consulting basis with the Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance in order to reform Medicaid eligibility.

Cindy Harris

We are pleased to announce that Cindy Harris, CLTC® has joined the CLTC team as our new Director of Sales. In her new role she will be working with agents, agencies and carriers to promote the value of the CLTC designation for all employees and partners that discuss the importance of extended care planning.

Cindy has more than 25 years of sales and leadership experience in the Long-Term Care insurance industry and has worked with many insurance carriers, agents and agencies across the country. In past roles, she has led sales department strategies, new business development and agent recruitment. She has also directed agent support and licensing, worksite sales delivery, and national account teams. Her background also includes public speaking, agent training and LTCi sales.

In her free time Cindy enjoys spending time in both Michigan and Florida. She loves to travel, and spend time on the water paddle boarding and boating with her friends and family.

Cindy brings strong relationships, deep industry knowledge and a passion for long-term care planning to the CLTC team. We are excited to have her on board and encourage you to reach out to her at charris@ltc-cltc.com or 877.771.2582, ext. 1515.