Bud Elias

Mr. Elias founded the Advantage Group in 1979 after a distinguished insurance career with industry leaders Marsh McLennan, Washington National Insurance Company and the William Mercer Company. Mr. Elias received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University. He served as a Ford Foundation Intern in the Illinois State Legislature and as a consultant to the Illinois Budgetary Commission and the Commission of Spanish Speaking Affairs. 

An active member of the community, Mr. Elias is a graduate of Leadership St. Petersburg and Leadership Pinellas.  He served as president of Leadership Pinellas and is past chairman of the board and current board member of the Suncoast YMCA.  He is the immediate past chairman of the board of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and is president of his homeowners association.  He is past chairman of the board of governors of the Countryside Country Club, charter member of the East Lake Rotary Club, a member of the Pinellas County Economic Development Council, past board member of the Florida Prostate Cancer Education Network and a City of Clearwater’s “Friends of the Phillies” committee member. Mr. Elias was selected as “Mr. Countryside” in 1999 and is involved in the Sigma Chi alumni association and serves as a Sunday school teacher at the Heritage Methodist Church.