GEORGE PETERSEN INSURANCE AGENCY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Life & Individual Products Account Executive
Andrea McGinnis began her insurance career in 2003 at NorthWest Insurance, where she helped develop the Employee Benefits department at the agency. Andrea joined the George Petersen Insurance team during a merger with NorthWest in 2010, as an Employee Benefits Account Executive. Over the years, Andrea has gained extensive knowledge in Individual Health, Medicare Supplement, Life, Disability and Long Term Care products. In Andrea's current role as a Life and Individual Products Account Executive, she works closely with individuals while utilizing her knowledge of products and the marketplace to find an affordable solution for their needs. Andrea is a graduate of UC Davis, and enjoys spending time outdoors and with her family which includes her husband and two sons.
A Bay Area native, Angela McLaughlin moved to the Eureka area 13 years ago to study Elementary Education at Humboldt State University. She started her insurance career 8 years ago at Allstate Insurance, and she joined George Petersen Insurance Agency as a personal lines producer in 2014. Outside of work, Angela enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and sharing in new experiences with her two young children.
In 1976 Beverly began her career in insurance with St. Paul Insurance Company. After spending time with two agencies and attaining her Certified Insurance Service Representative designation, Beverly came to George Petersen in 2004. She lives in Rohnert Park with her husband.
Brad started his insurance career in 1979 when he joined CNA Insurance. He joined George Petersen Insurance in 2010 when they merged with NorthWest which he joined in 1991. Brad obtained his Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 2003. Brad has a vast knowledge of insurance and focuses on construction and septic.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Account Executive
Brendan Snyder, a Commercial Account Executive in the agency's Santa Rosa office, joined George Petersen Insurance Agency in 2020. Brendan quickly moved from a support role to the Commercial Lines Rater where he gained an in-depth understanding of the agency's carrier partners and insurance marketplace overall. As a Commercial Account Executive, Brendan enjoys connecting with his clients on a personal level and learning about their business, industry, and associated risks in order to offer a protection plan designed specifically for their business. In Brendan's free time he enjoys graphic design, cars, listening to rock and country music, and spending time with his wife and two kids.
Job Titles:
- Benefits Account Executive
- George Petersen Insurance in 2017 As an Account Executive
Carmi Woods joined George Petersen Insurance in 2017 as an Account Executive in the Employee Benefits Department. Prior to joining George Petersen, her career in insurance began at Fireman's Fund in Novato as a Benefits representative. Carmi then moved back to Sonoma County and continued her career in employee benefits coming to George Petersen in 2017. With over 20 years of industry experience, Carmi supports both small and large employer groups in the areas of medical, dental, vision, disability, life, EAP and FSA.
Woods is a Healdsburg native, who attended Ursuline High School, before relocating to Oregon to pursue her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration at the University of Oregon. She later returned to Santa Rosa, where she now resides with her husband and three children.
Job Titles:
- a Workers' Compensation Claims Administrator
- Workers' Compensation Claims Administrator
Charlene Dunlap has more than fifteen years of experience in workers' compensation claims administration. She became a Workers' Compensation Insurance Technician at State Fund in 2004, where she actively managed a caseload of 50 to 100 claims at all times. During her tenure at State Fund, she focused on quickly moving claims to closure through active claims management, and was able to close nearly 80% of all claims within the first six months. In addition, she employed an aggressive and proactive approach to return-to-work policies, resulting in significant return savings for employers.
Charlene joined George Petersen Insurance Agency as a workers' compensation claims administrator in 2013. A seasoned veteran in the field, Charlene has an in-depth understanding of the claims process and a proven track record in effective claims management and timely settlements. In order to stay current with workers' compensation laws, medical guidelines and share her knowledge, Charlene joined the WCIRB's Broker Advisory Board in 2015 and became a member of the NBWCA Board in 2017.
With more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Cheryl Griggs is a seasoned veteran with an in-depth understanding of both contract and commercial bonds. She began her career in policy administration at State Farm Insurance Company. Cheryl's past positions also include; bond controller and bond manager at two Sonoma County agencies, and assistant branch manager at HCC Surety Group. Her duties in these positions included marketing and managing all of the aspects of bond transactions.
Cheryl joined the George Petersen Insurance Agency team in 2015, where she uses her comprehensive understanding of surety bonds to lead the day-to-day operations of the agency's bond department.
Christian joined the George Petersen team in 2019 as a Commercial Lines Producer out of the agency's San Rafael office. Prior to joining George Petersen, Christian spent 5 years on the carrier side of the industry where he quickly learned the basics of insurance and developed a knack for managing relationships with retail agents. His territory included most of the Western States.
Christian has always had a desire to be in the insurance industry. When he was 3 years old, he started going to the office with his dad and would tag along on the occasional client visit or business trip. "Insurance has been an integral part of my life. It's a fascinating industry and the relationships are second to none.''
Outside of the office you can find Christian helping with local non-profits as well as coaching football and baseball. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys fishing, mountain biking, and spending time with his family out at their cabin.
A 30 year resident of the North Coast, Christina came to NorthWest in 2013. NorthWest transitioned to George Petersen Insurance Agency in 2019. Christina has three sons and enjoys keeping up with their various activities. Christina stays involved in my community and volunteers with the following clubs and organizations such as the Point Arena High School Booster Club, Arena Elementary Site Council, The Bond Oversight committee, Coast Youth Little League, and the Gualala Rotary Club.
Christina started her career in insurance in 2005 as receptionist for NorthWest Insurance. A hard worker, she quickly moved her way up to her current position in personal lines by excelling at building relationships with clients old and new. In her own time, she enjoys exploring new foods and adding to her wine collection.
Job Titles:
- Benefits Department Manager & Principal
Colby began his employee benefits career soon after graduating from CSU Chico, where he received a degree in business with an emphasis in marketing. A second-generation insurance agent, Colby began joining his father on appointments when he was 15, and formally joined his father's insurance agency, Ritch Insurance Services, in 2003. While there, Colby wrote life insurance, long-term care, disability insurance, and employee benefits for a wide range of business sectors. Colby joined George Petersen Insurance Agency's employee benefits team in January of 2015.
Colby has also been a member of the Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa #50 since 2004, and recently served as the club's president in fall of 2014. Outside of the office, you'll find Colby spending time with his wife and two children, volunteering at the Kid Street Learning Center, or enjoying the outdoors fishing and camping.
Born and raised in a predominantly agricultural community in Central California, Colin focuses on writing Farm and Commercial Agribusiness Insurance, and excels at working with both new and established businesses across many industries. In 2012 he began his insurance career as an Agent with Nationwide Insurance while living in Denver, Colorado. Colin started working for George Petersen Insurance Agency in 2014 and moved to Ukiah where he and his wife Ashley live with their two sons, William and Charlie, and enjoy being active participants and volunteers in the community.
Daniel graduated with a Business/Accounting Degree from Sonoma State University and started in the insurance industry with George Petersen Insurance Agency in 2002. During his time with the organization, Daniel initially focused on contractors, building services companies, and manufacturers, but over the past several years has diversified into placing insurance for many industry sectors. Daniel became a Stock Holder of GP in 2015, and in 2021 was invited to join the leadership group at George Petersen on the Board of Directors. When Daniel is not working, he enjoys coaching his kid's sports, mountain biking, skiing, and spending time outdoors with his wife and children.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Account Executive
Danika joined George Petersen Insurance during a merger with Shaw & Petersen Insurance in 2020. She began her career in insurance while still in high school, in 1992, where she worked as an Assistant at Shaw & Petersen Insurance. Obtaining her Property and Casualty License in 1996, she began working as a Personal Lines Account Manager. In 2005 she was promoted to the Officer Manager and transitioned to a Commercial Lines Account Manager. During the 2020 merger of George Petersen and Shaw & Petersen Insurance, Danika assumed the role of an Account Executive where she enjoys assisting her new and existing clients with all their commercial insurance needs. Danika was born and raised in Humboldt County. In her free time you can find her spending time with her husband, going to drag races and car shows, hunting, traveling in her travel trailer with her dog and family, and painting dog portraits.
Job Titles:
- Workers' Compensation Claims Administrator
Deborah's career in claims management began in 1998 at State Compensation Insurance Fund where she excelled in her position so much that she received the "Adjuster of the Year" award in 2010 and "President's Award for Corporate Excellence" in 2002. In addition to being a Certified Claims Adjuster, Deborah is also a licensed insurance Agent. She grew up in Sonoma County and still lives in Sebastopol with her husband and two children, where all four are students of American Kenpo.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Account Executive
Dylan started his career in insurance with George Petersen in 2001, but that wasn't his first exposure to the insurance industry. As a 4th generation insurance agent and great-grandson of one of the first Farmers Insurance agents in California, he has taken great pride in continuing the family tradition. Over the years Dylan has developed a deep understanding of both the insurance marketplace and specific industries to better serve his clients and identify their risks. While Dylan offers insurance coverage for any business, he focuses on contractors, loggers, restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, and wholesalers. Outside the office, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, you can also find him out in nature either hunting, fishing, or boating.
Job Titles:
- Benefits Service Manager & Senior Account Executiv
- Benefits Service Manager & Senior Account Executive
Elaine Madson joined George Petersen Insurance in 2006, bringing 26 years of industry experience with her. Elaine is the Employee Benefits Service Manager and Senior Account Executive, where she services accounts for many large, local employers. She enjoys helping her clients, and guiding them through the complex world of Employee Benefits while helping keep their businesses compliant. In her free time Elaine enjoys playing tennis, hiking, skiing, family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Producer
- George Petersen Insurance in 2021 As a Commercial Producer
Elisabeth joined George Petersen Insurance in 2021 as a Commercial Producer, focusing on insurance for the agriculture industry. Passionate about supporting agriculture, she utilizes her unique experience and background in the industry to connect with her clients and find insurance solutions that meet their specific needs whether it be farm, crop, or agribusiness. She is a graduate from CSU Chico, earning a B.S. in Crop Science, Horticulture, and Resource Management.
Prior to joining the agency, Elisabeth worked farm and ranch jobs along the West Coast, including organic row crops, grass fed cattle, horse breeding and boarding facilities, and hay production. She also worked as a Biologist for the California County Agricultural Commissioner, focusing on pesticide use enforcement, certified farmers' markets, and pest exclusion. Elisabeth volunteers as a mentor with the Sutter County Juvenile Probation Program and is excited to be involved with the Colusa County Farm Bureau. In her free time, Elisabeth enjoys hiking with her dogs and husband, gardening, and doing yoga.
Job Titles:
- George Petersen Insurance in 2013 As a Commercial Account Administrator
- Personal Lines Producer
Elizabeth Bohanan joined George Petersen Insurance in 2013 as a Commercial Account Administrator. Prior to joining the Agency, Elizabeth was a Licensed member of the Sales Team for State Farm. Elizabeth transitioned into a Personal Lines Producer role in 2017, where she enjoys advocating for her clients. As a resident of Ukiah since 1995, Elizabeth loves to help the community she lives in. Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys photography, health and fitness and is a certified CrossFit Level 1 Trainer.
Fred originally started Vitas Insurance Agency in 1976. He proceeded to grow his business and expand his insurance knowledge by earning his Accredited Adviser in Insurance, Agribusiness & Farm Insurance Specialist, and Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow designations. Fred is also a 3 time agent of the year for CalFarm Insurance Company. In 2003, Vitas Insurance Agency, LLC became affiliated with George Petersen Insurance Agency, as a partner agency. Vitas then transitioned to George Petersen Insurance Agency in 2019. Fred enjoys spending time with his wife and his two children as well as numerous outdoor activities. Always eager to give back, Fred is actively involved with Auburn Gold Country Rotary (25 yrs), the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Placer County.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Account Executive
Job Titles:
- Property & Casualty Claims Administrator
Job Titles:
- Commercial Safety Administrator
Job Titles:
- Benefits Account Executive
Job Titles:
- Commercial Producer & Principal
Job Titles:
- Commercial Producer & Corporate VP
Job Titles:
- Commercial Account Executive
Job Titles:
- Commercial Account Executive
Job Titles:
- Commercial Account Executive
Job Titles:
- Commercial & Benefits Producer
Job Titles:
- Benefits Producer & Principal
Job Titles:
- Benefits Account Executive
Job Titles:
- Commercial Producer & Chief Operating Officer
Job Titles:
- Commercial Account Executive
Job Titles:
- Benefits Senior Account Executive
Job Titles:
- Commercial Producer & Principal
Job Titles:
- Commercial Account Executive