Meet The Team

Melissa Cuzzone is the epitome of dedication and expertise in the world of employee benefits consulting. With over 16 years of experience in insurance, healthcare finance, and benefits compliance, Melissa has established herself as a trusted partner for organizations navigating the complexities of health and welfare benefits. Her passion lies in helping clients optimize their benefit offerings, control costs, and enhance employee satisfaction—all while delivering exceptional levels of empathy and service.

Melissa’s deep knowledge spans a wide range of areas, including healthcare finance, benefits technology, administration systems, and compliance with state and federal laws, including ACA and ERISA. She holds a degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa, complemented by certifications from the WNE Law program and the UBA. This breadth of expertise enables her to craft innovative and tailored strategies for each client, ensuring they attract and retain top talent while minimizing turnover and related costs.

Melissa’s clients describe her as a problem-solver with an unwavering commitment to their success. She combines a sharp eye for detail with a genuine passion for making a difference in the lives of employees and their families. Whether it’s advising on benefits technology solutions, refreshing benefit programs, or ensuring seamless compliance, Melissa approaches every challenge with creativity, professionalism, and care.

A resident of Western Massachusetts since 2010, Melissa balances her professional dedication with her role as a devoted mom to her 10-year-old daughter and two beloved bulldogs. On weekends, she embraces New England’s seasonal beauty or travels to Florida to connect with family.

For Melissa, employee benefits aren’t just a career—they’re a calling. Her unwavering commitment to helping organizations and their employees thrive makes her an invaluable asset to every client she serves.

With over fifteen years in the industry Maryellen knows how to get things done and is someone you want on your team. Managing projects, tracking massive amounts of data, advocating for positive problem resolutions, and making things right are her specialties. If you need help, decision support or just a shoulder to lean on, Maryellen is your person. Few have such a strong moral compass for good. Outside of work, Maryellen is a wife, mom, and dedicated exercise ‘boot-camp’ warrior whose self-proclaimed weakness is birthday cake.

Karen exemplifies leadership, determination, and a passion for problem-solving. A standout athlete in both high school and college, Karen served as captain of the Bates College women's soccer team, where she inspired her teammates with her leadership and became a role model for countless student-athletes. Her athletic career taught her the importance of discipline, teamwork, and perseverance—qualities she has carried into her professional life.

After college, Karen transitioned her competitive drive into a successful career as a 401(k) retirement plan expert. With a meticulous approach and a genuine passion for solving complex challenges, Karen helped many of her clients expertly manage their retirement plans. Her ability to simplify the complexities of retirement plan operations while delivering personalized, results-driven strategies earned her much trust and respect.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Karen takes immense pride in her two sons, both Saint John’s Prep alumni, who are excelling in their academic and athletic pursuits at the collegiate level, competing in both NESCAC and Ivy League football. She is also a devoted daughter and a passionate lover of Labrador Retrievers.  

Karen’s unwavering commitment to excellence—whether on the field, in the boardroom, or at home—makes her a trusted expert and a true inspiration to those around her.

From the moment Dr. Gold was in high school, he knew he wanted to become a physician. His journey into medicine was deeply personal, inspired by the close bond he shared with his grandmother, who largely raised him while his parents managed a demanding retail business. When his grandmother developed early-onset dementia at the age of 68, Jeff watched helplessly as the healthcare system failed the person he loved most. Her struggle became the catalyst for his commitment to pursuing a career in medicine—and to ultimately redefining what high-quality, patient-centered care should look like.

Guided by the belief that “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” (Milton Berle), Dr. Gold channeled his passion into action. After completing his undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and earning his medical degree from UMass Medical School, he trained in Family Medicine, completing his residency in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2005. He began his career in a traditional primary care setting, but quickly grew frustrated with the constraints of a system that prioritized billing codes and shortened appointments over meaningful patient relationships and creative problem-solving. Determined to break free from the "assembly-line" approach to healthcare, Dr. Gold decided to forge a new path.

In 2015, he founded Gold Direct Care (GDC)—one of Massachusetts' pioneering Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices. DPC eliminates the middleman of insurance, allowing for simpler payment models, longer visit times, and deeper, more trusting doctor-patient relationships. For Dr. Gold, this model represented a return to medicine as it was intended to be: a partnership built on reliability, empathy, and trust. Since opening its doors, Gold Direct Care has grown to include Dr. Carmela Mancini and now serves over 1000 patients, revitalizing Jeff’s passion for medicine and reinforcing his belief in the power of the DPC model.

Dr. Gold is more than a physician—he’s an entrepreneur, an innovator, and an advocate for healthcare reform. His expertise spans healthcare finance, health and welfare benefits, compliance with state and federal laws, and the integration of cutting-edge technology to improve patient outcomes. Platforms like RubiconMD and Twine Health enable him to enhance care delivery while keeping costs manageable for patients and employers alike. He is committed to helping employers navigate the complexities of healthcare economics, offering simple, effective solutions to reduce costs and improve employee well-being.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Jeff stays energized by spending time with his kids, staying active, and enjoying the company of his family and their dog. He remains a passionate advocate for the Direct Primary Care movement, driven by the belief that healthcare should be personal, accessible, and centered on the unique needs of each patient.