Ascende Adds Compliance Consultant

September 24, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Kenneth Powell has joined the HR and benefits solutions firm Ascende as a compliance consultant.

Powell’s role is to provide guidance on employee benefits, human resources, employment law and merger and acquisition issues to Ascende clients. The firm says it hopes to leverage his expertise in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) compliance and other employee benefit plan governance issues.

Powell will also support the firm by reviewing plan documents, contracts, and merger and acquisition agreements. In addition, he will be responsible for ongoing compliance training and publications meant to keep Ascende clients up to speed on regulatory changes impacting employee benefit plans.

Kenneth brings seven years of experience advising on plan design, administration, compliance, nondiscrimination, disclosure requirements and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining the firm, he served as vice president of ERISA compliance for MBM Advisors, where he was responsible for drafting, restating and amending qualified retirement plans. He also managed the firm’s staff of compliance consultants.

Kenneth earned a bachelor’s of business administration degree in finance and management from the University of Houston and received his juris doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

More information about the firm is available at www.ascende.com.

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