Pat Heffernan is a Partner at Wheeler Associates, where he has worked since 2003. He specializes in employee benefits and individual insurance, and values most the strong and lasting relationships—with clients, colleagues, and strategic partners. Pat is a proud “employee benefits nerd,” as he tries to stay ahead of the industry’s constant change through continuous learning. He holds both the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation from the Wharton School and the Certification in Long-Term Care (CLTC®).
Pat is deeply committed to the Duluth and Minnesota communities. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Minnesota Alumni Association and the Duluth East Foundation, and as a trustee for the Boreal Waters Community Foundation. He was Board Chair of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce in 2013 and led a flash mob at the annual dinner. He is a graduate of both the Leadership Duluth and Leadership Minnesota programs and was recognized in the Duluth News Tribune’s “20 Under 40” in 2010. In 2016, Pat served as spokesperson for Hockey Day Minnesota when it was held in Duluth.
Pat likes to move and be outdoors, ideally with awesome people including his treasured immediate family—wife Carrie, three teenage boys, Ben, Nick, and Ashton and pup Maple—as well as a pack of wonderful lifelong friends, several since age 4. Pat has run seven Grandma’s Marathons and one Tough Mudder, but these days he’s more likely to be found on short trail runs, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, wake surfing—or simply floating—on the lake. He values tradition and connection, cherishing annual family trips and a ski trip with college friends that has held strong since 1999.