INSGROUP - Key Persons
Adeel Rashid is the Accounting Director for Insgroup with responsibility for the strategic development of all finance-related functions, including accounting, treasury, and corporate financing. He also leads the Information Technology, Legal, Facilities, and Compliance activities for the firm.
He joined Insgroup in 2017 as Corporate Controller and was named Executive Vice President of Finance in 2019. Throughout his extensive career, Adeel has established a reputation for building and leading teams that support business strategy in high-growth environments. Prior to Insgroup, he spent nearly a decade in the audit and assurance practice at Ham, Langston & Brezina, LLP, where he served as Audit Manager and Recruitment Director.
The entrepreneurial culture of Insgroup drew him to the firm initially, but the core value that speaks to our Non-Negotiables is even more personal three years later. Adeel said, "I guess I'm a Non-Negotiables type of guy…which means the three tenets that support that particular value are really important to me."
Adeel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Houston - Clear Lake and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (Houston chapter).
On weekends, Adeel and his wife enjoy spending time together cooking, watching sports, fishing and floating. The Houston natives are also huge fans of the city's professional sports teams.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / San Antonio
Allison Walker is an Advisor for Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. She specializes in Property and Casualty Insurance for mid to large-market clients across various industries, with expertise in the manufacturing and nonprofit spaces. Allison is passionate about helping others by curating custom insurance program solutions specific to clients' needs. She understands that industry standards are only a starting point and that clients have nuances in their businesses that need attention from an insurance expert.
Before joining Insgroup, Allison worked at other brokerages but ultimately felt her clients could be better served with the resources and talent Insgroup had to offer. She holds her Certified Insurance Counselor, Certified Workers Compensation Advisor, and Risk Manager License with the State of Texas.
Allison is a native of Waco, Texas, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University. She loves spending time with her husband and two daughters involved in anything the girls are doing - whether it's sports, 4H, hunting, or fishing. When she's not momming or working, she enjoys running and yoga. She and her husband serve in ministry and love loving on people.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Partner
- Partner / Houston
Andrew Bean is a Partner at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. He specializes in Property & Casualty Insurance for middle-market companies and Private Risk Insurance for individuals and families. With more than a decade of experience in the industry, Andrew has forged strong partnerships with financial advisors and family offices to successfully strategize the right solution for shared clients.
Andrew joined the firm in 2009 as an Associate and was promoted to his current position in 2013. In 2016, he became a Shareholder. He has been in the insurance industry since graduating from college and credits his tenure to the enjoyment he finds crafting the right solutions to complex challenges.
His desire to provide clients with best-in-class service is evidenced by his receipt of the prestigious Power Broker Award in 2020 from Risk & Insurance Magazine. In the same year, he was named by the magazine as one of the industry's Rising Stars (under 40). Both awards were the result of positive feedback from a handful of Andrew's clients; making it not surprising that his favorite company core value is Business is Personal.
Andrew earned the designation of Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) from The National Underwriter Company, and he graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / Houston
- Commercial Risk Advisor
Bethany is a Commercial Risk Advisor for Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner specializing in Industrial Construction, Environmental, and Transportation industries.
As a college athlete, Bethany learned the value of hard work, determination, and most importantly, teamwork. She carries these life lessons into her professional career, teaming up with clients and working hard to guarantee their success. Bethany specializes in Industrial Construction, Environmental, and Transportation industries.
Being a third-generation insurance consultant, Bethany is well-versed in all aspects of commercial insurance and employee benefits.
She is an active member of Oil Field Connections International, The Transportation Club of Houston, and The Texas City Chamber of Commerce. When she is not at a networking event, you can find her saltwater fishing, working on home renovation projects, or spending time with family.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development
- Employee
- Director of Business Development Employee Benefits / Houston
Bill Bray is the Director of Business Development, Employee Benefits, at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. In his role, Bill is responsible for new business growth and leads a team of seasoned Employee Benefits professionals.
Bill has resided in Texas most of his life and has over 28 years of local market insurance experience. Having spent his entire professional career in Houston, the first 15 years were on the carrier side working for two major US insurance carriers in both a sales and management capacity. In 2007, Bill transitioned to being an independent insurance broker and has worked for both a regional broker, as well as a national broker before starting with Insgroup in June 2021.
Today Bill leverages his local market experience and carrier relationships to maximize his negotiations on behalf of his clients, advising on Employee Benefits as well as Commercial P&C. Bill holds a Self-Funding Certification from the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), served two terms as the Treasurer for the Houston Area Health Underwrites (HAHU) and is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in Finance. Bill and his wife live in Cypress, Texas with their four children.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / San Antonio
Bill Dehlinger is a Partner at Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. He has over 25 years of experience providing insurance solutions for individuals and businesses, with expertise in private client and large commercial risk.
Bill started his insurance career on the carrier side for a few years and then spent the remainder with one of the world's largest, most well-known brokerages.
Bill's process includes working with business owners and risk managers to assess a company's risk to develop commercial property and casualty programs specific to their unique needs. He utilizes a team approach involving colleagues and specialists throughout the organization with expertise in all industries and facets of insurance. Bill has extensive experience in the analysis, design, and implementation of life insurance for individual and business planning needs, including estate planning, wealth preservation, key person, buy/sell, executive benefits, and deferred compensation.
Bill received a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from the University of Texas at Austin and is a designated Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) through the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / Dallas
- Advisor With Insgroup 's Dallas
Blake Krause is an Advisor with Insgroup's Dallas office. His work on the carrier side provides him with a unique perspective for the development of solutions that meet the clients' needs, the needs of their people, and works within their budget. He also advises high-net worth individuals and families on their Personal Risk Insurance.
Prior to joining Insgroup in 2020, he sold Employee Benefits products for Guardian Life Insurance, a top rated ancillary carrier, and his territory included West Tennessee, Memphis, and North Mississippi. The position with Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner provided a pathway to moving back home to Dallas to be near family. He was also drawn to the company's culture and entrepreneurial spirit because it's a safe space where you can share ideas with one another.
He was excited to learn that Relentless Advocacy is a core value of Insgroup because he says, "This is what makes me as an agent different from others. I've heard people say that insurance is a commoditized industry, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Who your agent is matters. If you are not receiving relentless advocacy from your agent, then it's time to find another agent."
Blake attended the University of Georgia where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Risk Management and Insurance from the Terry College of Business.
Outside of work, most of Blake's passions are related to music - attending live music events, playing the guitar and piano. He's also content to just sit on a beach or a boat somewhere and relax.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / San Antonio
Brady Scott is a Partner at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. Brady has spent his entire career developing and executing strategies across Commercial Insurance, Retirement, and Employee Benefit solutions. Brady began his career in the K-12 School District market as a Financial Advisor and Account Executive for Riata Financial Group in 2001. When Riata Financial and U.S. Employee Benefits Services Group partnered in 2010, he was named Director of Operations for Central Texas. In 2013, Brady was appointed as a Director at U.S. Employee Benefits Services Group where he led his division to significant growth over his nine-year tenure in the role.
Brady received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Texas State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from Texas State University, McCoy School of Business. He is also a Certified Financial Planner, Life and Health Insurance Counselor, and maintains his FINRA series 63, 65, and 7 registrations.
Brady and his wife, Jenni, live in New Braunfels, Texas and have three amazing kiddos.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Manager
- in 2018 As Assistant Controller
- Senior Accounting Manager
Brett Todd is the Senior Accounting Manager for Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner with responsibility for leading the firm's financial and accounting functions. His expertise includes Database Administration, Financial Planning, and M&A Integrations - each of which has been extremely beneficial while Insgroup has grown at a rapid pace over the past few years. Brett has been a champion for many of the technologies utilized to manage the organization's financial data and planning tools.
Brett joined Insgroup in 2018 as Assistant Controller and was named to his current position in 2019. Prior to joining Insgroup, he spent four years in the audit and assurance practice at Ham, Langston & Brezina, LLP. While the majority of his accounting experience was in the Banking and Construction industries, he was drawn to Insgroup's culture and the organization's growth mindset (which also happens to be his favorite of the company's core values).
Brett earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his family and watching collegiate sports and NFL games, and if given the opportunity to dedicate half a day to something to relieve stress, he'll always choose golf, golf and more golf.
Job Titles:
- Retirement Advisor
- Regional President / Houston
- Southern Regional President
- Vice President of the Board of Trustees at Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services
Brian Kapiloff is the Southern Regional President at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner, and leads the organization with what colleagues would describe as a combination of fearlessness and an uncommon amount of trust in his Executive team.
Brian began his career with the firm in 1992 as a Personal Lines Risk Advisor, becoming the fourth generation in his family to work in the industry. Three years later, he began working with Commercial Risk Insurance clients and honed his expertise in Real Estate, Manufacturing, Wholesale/Retail Trade, Financial and Professional Services, and Not-for-Profit Organizations. He is regarded as an expert on the creative design, placement and servicing of large, complex, and catastrophe-exposed property risks, and is often invited to participate on thought leadership panels and industry advisory councils.
Brian became a Shareholder in 2001 and was named President in 2009. In 2018, he became CEO and the company has doubled in size under his leadership. In 2020, Brian was named as one of Houston's Most Admired CEOs by the Houston Business Journal.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Texas at Austin, and received the designation of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) from The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research.
With a passion for supporting local non-profit organizations, Brian has served as Vice President of the Board of Trustees at Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services, as well as Congregation Emanu El of Houston. Because of this, it's no surprise that the core value within Insgroup's Ethos that resonates the most with him is, "We help each other and our communities in times of need."
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Houston
Butch Novy is a Partner with Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner, specializing Property and Casualty insurance. His expertise resides in providing solutions to middle-market companies with a particular focus on the Real Estate and Construction industries.
Butch entered the insurance industry in 2010, but he previously owned a real estate consulting business. His real estate experience gives him a unique ability to understand client needs from an operational perspective - not just from an insurance standpoint. He has worked closely with owners, developers, property managers, and the full spectrum of the real estate industry on a daily basis for nearly 50 years.
He has served many clients for more than 25 years and believes it's the result of developing trust and delivering service with integrity. To him Business is Personal and it's the firm's core value that resonates deeply - after partnering with so many clients for two decades, how could it not be personal?
Butch graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Administration degree. He has been involved in many community organizations, including serving on the Board of Trustees and executive committee at Congregation Beth Israel of Houston. He is a member of the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), Texas Association of Realtors (TAR), National Association of Realtors (NAR), and National Multi Family Housing Council (NMHC).
Job Titles:
- Expert in the Design and Funding
- Managing Advisor / Houston, TX
Cody leads the team that consults with companies on all facets of design, implementation, and administration of employer-sponsored benefits programs, with an emphasis on middle-market companies.
Cody is an expert in the design and funding of self-funded group medical plans, as well as retirement plan design, compliance, and administration. He is particularly gifted in helping clients and their employees understand complex subject matters. Building on a career that began in underwriting and sales for an international insurance carrier, Cody's unique knowledge and insights are supported by 30 years of experience across all facets of the employee benefits arena.
Cody joined Insgroup in 2021 through the partnership with The Mid-Continent Companies, where he co-founded and oversaw Employee Benefits Practice since 2002. He is a 1992 graduate of the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas with a degree in business administration and a specialization in finance. Cody is an active member of the Retirement Plan Advisory Group and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Cody is a father of four and is active in his church and youth community activities.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / Houston
- Commercial Risk Advisor
Cole serves as a Commercial Risk Advisor at Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner, where his commitment goes beyond being a service provider-he believes in being a trusted advisor. With a focus on understanding customer needs and long-term outcomes, Cole shares insights that extend beyond immediate sales. His open and honest approach has earned the trust of clients, transforming transactions into collaborative, long-term partnerships.
Before joining Insgroup, Cole spent half a decade in the boutique sales transformation and training consulting space with Baker Communications, a Forrester Wave and Gartner Magic Quadrant leader in the market. Working in strategic accounts with a focus on Fortune 500 clients, he managed relationships and collaborated with clients like AWS, Cisco Systems, Stripe, Google, Procore, and Alzheimer's Association, among others. His customers consistently enjoyed 150%+ increases in pipeline, and 30%+ increases in revenue in pursuit of helping business leaders achieve their goals.
Cole graduated from the University of Houston with a BS in Business Management, Sales, and Entrepreneurship. A native South Texan, he enjoys hunting and fishing during trips home. In his free time, Cole volunteers with the University of Houston Athletic Foundation, Young Alumni Association, Houston Open, and serves on the board of directors for his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / Dallas
- Commercial Risk Advisor With
Dakota Durant is a Commercial Risk Advisor with Insgroup. Dakota specializes in Property and Casualty for middle-market companies in the Oil & Gas, Construction, and Transportation industries. Dakota is passionate about insurance and growing relationships with clients to learn their needs, wants, and goals.
Dakota is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and graduated in 2018 with a BBA in Business Management from Texas Tech University. He is an avid outdoorsman, golfer, and loves to watch sports on the weekends with friends and family. Dakota enjoys spending time with his wife, Grayce, and their two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Director of Sales, Dallas / Dallas
- Head of the BRP / Insgroup Dallas
Dave is the head of the BRP/Insgroup Dallas office. In this role, he is responsible for managing the efforts of our advisor colleagues, assisting with our clients' needs and service requirements, and recruiting advisors to join our team. He serves as a link to our clients for local, national, and worldwide resources and solutions provided throughout the BRP network.
Dave joined BRP/Insgroup in 2022 and has been in the insurance and risk management profession since 1983. Dave has significant leadership expertise within the insurance industry, along with direct client experience with many types of industry. He concentrates in the energy, manufacturing, and technology industries. Dave has specialized in the placement of difficult exposures, or those accounts with difficult historical loss experience within those industries.
Dave's brokerage experience includes representation of publicly held accounts as well as larger privately held businesses. These have included Maintenance, Inc., a national building services contractor, Marshall Gas Controls, a global manufacturer of LP gas accessories, Pengo Industries and Gray Wireline, energy servicing firms, United States Lime and Minerals (USLM), Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, Metrobank, NA (MCBI), Eagle Materials (EXP), the largest US based cement and aggregates manufacturer, and Fogo de Chao Restaurants.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Experience / Commercial
- Director of Client Experience Commercial Lines
Deborah Bishop a Director of Client Experience at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partners. Deborah leads the service teams responsible for Insgroup's commercial clients. She manages the operational activities for the department through the implementation of additional efficiencies, while also ensuring superior service delivery through the attraction of exceptional talent.
Deborah joined Insgroup in 2019 with more than 20 years of commercial insurance experience. Most recently, she served as the Commercial Lines Leader for USI. Prior to USI, she held positions with Hub International, Brady, Chapman, Holland and Associates, and Arthur J Gallagher Risk Management Services for nearly six years.
Her experience at all levels over the trajectory of her career provides her with a unique perspective for attracting, developing, and retaining the industry's best service team. Her favorite of Insgroup's core values is Relentless Advocacy. She says it's because, "in my role, I am looking to push the team to be their very best by thinking outside of the box. I am also looking to hire new people with those same ideals. As we continue to grow, we are stepping outside of our comfort zone and striving for more efficiencies through technologies and improved workflows which will allow us to be more proactive with our clients."
Deborah is a graduate of Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing and People Management. She also holds a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation from The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research and is a graduate of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas Leadership Academy through the University of Dallas.
Deborah's evenings and weekends are often spent watching her son and daughter play their sports, and she loves every minute of it.
Gary Ellison brings a diverse range of experience to his position as Advisor at Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. He has spent the last 10 years as a career development coach, as well as a consultant for small business owners. Through his own experience as a small business co-owner, Gary developed a passion to help family-owned businesses succeed.
His relationship-building and leadership skills were honed in his role as Lead Pastor of Tomball Church. As pastor, he not only brought diverse groups of people together, but he also was responsible for strategic recruiting and hiring, developing and meeting budgets, and annual reporting. While there, he helped a large congregation find its way back to serving a meaningful role in the community.
Gary's vision for community and his commitment to making sense of difficult situations are put to good use at Insgroup. A true people person, Gary is equally comfortable speaking one on one and in front of large audiences. He serves his clients well as a motivator, encouraging plan participation among employees, individually and in group meetings. As a communicator, Gary clearly conveys the importance of people being truly retirement ready, whether through estate planning or 401(k) plan education and involvement.
A graduate of Southwestern University, Gary is also pursuing a Master of Clinical Psychology from his alma mater. He serves on the Executive Board of Builder's International, a nonprofit organization that builds Bible colleges, orphanages, youth campgrounds and churches on every continent around the world. Gary and his wife are active members of North Central Church and proud parents of two children.
Job Titles:
- Retirement Plan Consultant / Houston, TX
Gary works as a consultant on the retirement plan service team helping clients with all facets of design, compliance, implementation, and administration of their retirement plan benefits. Gary has 29 years of experience in helping employees prepare for retirement.
Gary joined Insgroup Financial in 2021. Prior to joining the firm, he was the Houston, TX-based Relationship Manager of the retirement plan business for one of the largest defined contribution recordkeepers in the world.
Gary is a 1990 graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in Economics. He holds various insurance and securities licenses. Gary has achieved the Certified Retirement Counselor® designation from InFre. Gary has extensive volunteer experience in the Houston community with several non-profit organizations.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / Houston
George Strake is an Advisor for Insgroup focused on Real Estate and Energy companies in need of Property & Casualty insurance. He also works closely with high-net worth individuals and families seeking Personal Risk Insurance to craft custom programs to meet their unique needs.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Experience Employee Benefits
Holly Bozant a Director of Client Experience for Insgroup, A Baldwin RIsk Partners. She leads a team of service-driven professionals who have created organic growth for the firm through their dedication to best-in-class service.
Holly entered the insurance industry in 1981 and joined Insgroup in 2017. In between those years, she's held various leadership positions with some of the largest insurance brokers in the world. Most recently, Holly served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Southwest Region for the Marsh & McLennan Agency where she oversaw the development of organic growth and retention initiatives over a span of nearly four years.
Prior to Marsh, Holly was the Regional Marketing Director for Gallagher Benefit Services, and Vice President of Marketing and Strategic operations for USI Services' Southwest Region. Her experience with firms and clients of all sizes has been a valuable asset for managing the operational side of Employee Benefits at Insgroup.
Perhaps because she's worked for a number of very large corporations, she rallies behind Insgroup's core value of Business is Personal. She is a firm believer that people are NOT numbers and every individual possesses knowledge and talents that we can all learn and grow from.
As an entrepreneur herself once and co-founder of a fitness center in Houston, Holly understands the unique needs of small business owners seeking guidance on benefits for their employees. While she doesn't still own the fitness center, she remains very active in Martial Arts and is a 4 th Degree Black Belt.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / Dallas
- Advisor With the Insgroup Dallas Office
Jack Kelly is an Advisor with the Insgroup Dallas Office. He specializes in working with commercial clients to develop a program that matches their individual risk. Jack also works in personal risk insurance for high-net-worth individuals.
Jack was originally drawn to Insgroup because of the culture. He says, "the growth mindset made Insgroup stand out amongst its competitors. From day one, the collaboration and willingness to help each other provide the best program for the client was apparent."
Jack Joined Insgroup in January 2021. Prior to this, he was a student at Rollins College in Orlando, Florida, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business management.
Jack was born and raised in Dallas, TX. Outside of work he enjoys playing the guitar, golfing, or watching the Cowboys and Stars.
Job Titles:
- Associate Advisor / Houston
Jack Podsednik is a Property and Casualty Advisor at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. Joining the Insgroup team in 2023, Jack quickly distinguished himself through his dedication to learning and unwavering work ethic.
In his role, Jack creates customized insurance programs that cater to the unique needs of his clients, whether in the Commercial or Personal markets. With Insgroup's wealth of resources and expertise at his disposal, Jack ensures his clients receive comprehensive and tailored insurance solutions that exceed their expectations.
Before joining the Insgroup family, Jack embarked on his academic journey at Texas Christian University (TCU). There, he found his passion within the esteemed Neeley School of Business, majoring in Marketing while earning a certificate in Sales. This combination of marketing acumen and sales expertise equips Jack with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by business owners and individuals alike - enabling him to deliver valuable insurance advice.
As a Texas native, Jack has always been a devoted supporter of local sports teams, and you can often find him enthusiastically cheering on the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, or Houston Texans, depending on the season.
In addition to his love for sports and insurance, Jack is also an avid culinary arts enthusiast. He enjoys experimenting with different recipes and mastering the art of cooking. Whether he is hosting gatherings with family and friends or simply exploring new flavors in the kitchen, Jack's passion for cooking adds an extra layer of creativity to his life.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Director
- Director of Business Development / Property and Casualty / Houston
Jacob Crawford is the Business Development Director for Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. In this role Jacob is responsible for Insgroup's top-line organic growth and also the mentoring and coaching of our associate advisors.
Prior to Insgroup, Jacob spent a successful seven years at Arthur J. Gallagher's Lafayette Louisiana office. In his time at Gallagher he started as an intern and worked his way up to Area Vice President. A majority of Jacob's success was found on the client relationship side as he paved a new path to run after an untapped niche in Food & Agribusiness. From start to finish, Jacob doubled the size of the respective sector and earned the 2021 national award, Food & Ag Power Broker.
Jacob earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Outside of work, Jacob spends time with his wife exploring their new home in Houston and if the New Orleans Saints are playing rest assured he'll be around a TV.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / San Antonio
- Client Advisor
Jason Forks is a Client Advisor at Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. He specializes in providing employee benefits & HR consulting services to employers, employees, and their dependents. Jason is responsible for providing risk management support while assisting his clients with controlling and minimizing the total cost of risk. He strives to ensure that his clients have the appropriate lines of coverages, as needed, to both attract and retain top talent in their workforce.
Outside of work, Jason loves to be kicking rocks out in West Texas. A father of three perfect souls, He's taught them the joy and simplicity of just breathing the air and taking in the peacefulness of their natural surroundings. He takes pride in being their dad and learning just as much from them as they do from him.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Houston
Jay Gerstenhaber is a partner with Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. With more than 40 years of experience in insurance brokerage, he advises and services large Commercial Property & Casualty clients in a variety of industries.
Jay is the second generation of his family to work in the insurance industry, taking after his father who was an Allstate agent in Houston for 27 years. In 1978, Jay started his own insurance agency. Later that year, his agency was consolidated into Business Insurance Group (Insgroup's preceding name until 1990).
While serving on the Board of Directors for Partners Bank of Texas, he was involved in the successful sale of the bank to Sterling Bank in 2007.
He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Insurance.
Jed Schmidt is an Advisor at Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. In this role, Jed advises large Commercial Property & Casualty clients in the Real Estate and Construction industries.
He joined Insgroup in 1998 and over the course of the more than 20 years, he has been recognized as a thought leader in real estate insurance. He has spoken at the Texas Apartment Association Convention, among other speaking engagements.
Jed earned the designation of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) from The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. He is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / San Antonio
Jenni Haff is a Partner at Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. She specializes in Employee Benefits Insurance for middle-market and large companies across the State of Texas. As the Head of Office in San Antonio, she is responsible for growing all three divisions of Insgroup: Employee Benefits, Property & Casualty, and Private Client Services.
Jenni started her employee benefits sales career in 1995 with Eichlitz, Dennis, Wray, and Westheimer. Over her 28-year career, EDWW became Wortham Insurance, Marsh, and finally Marsh McClennan Agency (MMA.) Prior to joining the Insgroup San Antonio, she was leading the San Antonio Employee Health & Benefits practice at MMA.
Jenni grew up in San Antonio which allowed her to easily foster strong relationships with her clients and her local community. She continues to provide customized group insurance risk solutions, wellness plans, compliance audits, and complex claims analyses.
Jenni earned her degree from Texas A&M University, Class of '94. She and her husband, Will, have five wonderful children, a son-in-law, and two grandsons. Jenni enjoys daily exercise, vacationing at the beach, fine red wine, and spending time with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Experience / Claims & Risk Management
Jill King is the Director of Client Experience at Insgroup. She leads the firm's Claims Advocates and Risk Consultants, a team built around the delivery of Insgroup's most critical differentiator - relentless client advocacy.
Jill joined the firm in 2018 with more than 35 years of experience in claims and loss control. She provides a powerful combination of tactical and technical services to help clients drive down their loss costs and improve outcomes. In her first year at Insgroup, Jill's team delivered the Risk Management Center, a customized online portal available to Insgroup's Commercial clients.
Prior to Insgroup, she spent 13 years with Willis Towers Watson as an Area Practice Leader-Claims and was responsible for a multi-state region that included the catastrophe-challenged Gulf Coast. She was also an Account Director for the Caronia Corporation and a Claims Manager for the Texas Association of School Boards.
The diversity of her experience provides her with a unique viewpoint in working all types of claims and the ability to communicate with carrier leadership to drive prompt resolution. She prioritizes her team's focus on creating value for Insgroup's clients and pursuing solutions through commitment and determined execution, so it's no wonder that the Insgroup core value that resonates the most with Jill is Relentless Advocacy.
Jill earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising/Marketing from Texas Tech University, and she received the designation of Associate in Claims (AIC). The Dallas native is a fine arts photographer in her free time and an avid listener of Country, Americana & Roots music (especially if there's a live concert involved).
Job Titles:
- Director Employee Benefits / Houston
- Practice Leader
Justin Elmore is the practice leader for Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner, responsible for Strategic Operations, including underwriting, compliance, and benefits technology. He is also responsible for leading the team assigned to Insgroup's large and complex clients.
Justin has spent his entire career in Houston, TX, joining Insgroup on November 1, 2021. He began his career at Prudential as a group underwriter and then accepted a consulting position with a local boutique firm in 1995. Since then, Justin has worked for both local and nationally recognized consulting and brokerage firms.
Justin graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas with a B.A. in History.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / Dallas
- Commercial Risk Advisor With
Justin Largent is a Commercial Risk Advisor with Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. Justin specializes in Property and Casualty insurance for the middle-market space, focusing on the Oil and Gas and Construction industries. Justin is big on developing and maintaining great relationships with clients to benefit not only their short-term goals, but long-term as well.
Justin attended East Central University in Oklahoma on a Golf Scholarship and graduated with a BBA in Business Management from Tarleton State University in 2017.
He is an avid Golfer and Hunter, and enjoys watching anything sports-related on weekends with friends and family. Justin resides in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife, Jaden Rhodes Largent of The Thompson Clinic in Fort Worth.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Associate
- Advisor / Houston
Katelynn Diamond is an Associate Advisor for Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner, focusing on the design and implementation of high-quality Employee Benefits programs for organizations of all sizes.
Prior to joining Insgroup in 2020, Katelynn worked for ADP for nearly five years as a Major Accounts District Manager. She also was a Workforce Development Administrator with Vallourec for three years. With nearly a decade spent on the technology side of Human Resources, she provides valuable insight during the development of Benefits solutions that will not only attract top talent but retain them.
To Katelynn, Business is Personal - it's not only a company value, but it's also a personal mantra. She says, "No matter the situation it's always about the people. Strong and trusting relationships are what I always strive for in any relationship and I love knowing that I work for a company that feels the same way."
Katelynn grew up in San Diego but made her way to the Houston area as an adult. She has taken a number of Organizational Leadership courses from the University of Houston and three years of business classes with the Lone Star College System.
She enjoys traveling whenever possible and is someone who will always give a great recommendation on the pairing of food and wine. She also counts a day that involves any type of fishing as a successful one.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director Private Client / Houston
Ken Collier is a Managing Director at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner, and oversees the Private Insurance practice for the southern region of the firm. He is responsible for all aspects of the growth strategy and service delivery for personal risk management.
Ken has been with Insgroup for 30 of its 42 years in business. He would call himself one of the firm's historians, but he's served in various other positions before being named to his current role as Senior Vice President. Upon joining Insgroup, he helped to establish the firm's Marine Insurance Practice with the acquisition of Elton Porter Marine. Under his leadership, it became one of the largest brokers for pleasure marine insurance in the United States. He's still an avid boater and if given the opportunity to get his boat out in the Gulf, Ken can be found enjoying the hobby he loves most.
He is recognized within the industry and by clients as an expert on the design, placement and servicing of individuals and families who select Insgroup to mitigate risk and protect their assets. He advises and oversees many long-standing clients of the firm.
The core value that resonates most with Ken includes the Non-Negotiables - especially, "Act fast, think smart, and work hard!" This one, in particular, is special because it was often said by Insgroup's founder, David Kapiloff, who hired him back in 1991.
Prior to joining Insgroup, Ken was the founder of an insurance agency in the Houston area from 1983 to 1989. He also attended Texas A&M University, taking a number of courses before becoming an entrepreneur.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Experience / Commercial
- Director of Client Experience Commercial Brokerage
Kyle Lanigan is a Director of Client Experience at Insgroup. Kyle leads the commercial lines placement team and is responsible for cultivating carrier partner relationships. His team provides industry-leading solutions for a diverse grouping of middle and upper-middle market clients, including loss-sensitive and captive arrangements.
Kyle joined Insgroup in 2019 with more than ten years of experience in insurance brokerage. He held previous leadership positions with Lockton Companies, Marsh and QBE North America, with the most notable as Senior Vice President with Marsh managing a national placement team for nearly four years.
His favorite Insgroup core value is one of the company's Non-Negotiables - "Act fast, think smart, and work hard!" He said, "I see my team doing this every day and I couldn't be prouder of them."
Even though he grew up in Winter Park, Florida, he has lived in a number of states including New York and Alabama, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Auburn University.
When he's not at Insgroup's Houston office, he's passionate about spending time with his wife, Laura and their young son, Willie. He also enjoys fly fishing, quail hunting and playing tennis (although there's a lot less time for those things with a toddler in the house).
Job Titles:
- Managing Director and Sales Leader / Dallas
- Managing Director and Sales Leader for the Insgroup Dallas
Larry is a Managing Director and Sales Leader for the Insgroup Dallas office. In his role, he is responsible for teaching new advisors how to grow their books of business and maintaining the book of business he has developed over his 20-year career. Larry specializes in the Oil & Gas industry, handling insurance programs for both service contractors and operators ranging in size from start-ups to publicly traded companies.
Larry was previously a partner with John L. Wortham & Sons, which became Marsh through acquisition from 2010 to 2021. Here he grew and maintained a book of business, represented the Dallas office on the statewide Sales Committee, and was charged with mentoring new producers. Before that, he started his career in 2005 as a producer with Allied North America which was acquired by AON.
Larry is a native Texan who grew up in Dallas, Texas, and graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He was previously the President of the JJ Pearce Athletic Booster Club and served as a football commissioner & coach for SVAA for many years. He and his wife, Mechele, have been members of Northwest Bible Church for over 20 years and have two boys: Burke and Wyatt.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / San Antonio
Luke Healy is an Advisor for Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. He specializes in Property and Casualty Insurance for mid to large-market clients across various industries. In his role, Luke creates customized insurance programs specific to his client's industry and operations.
Luke is a native of Del Rio, TX and attended the University of Texas- San Antonio on a golf scholarship, and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. After graduation, he worked for Edward Jones Investments and did estimating and sales for a few small construction companies. In 2009, Luke joined Frost Bank in the commercial Lending Department, first as a Credit Analyst and then as a Relationship Manager in commercial lending. He worked with lending in multiple industries, including manufacturing, distribution, contractors, service companies, and energy industry-related businesses.
Luke enjoys spending time with family, playing golf, fishing, hunting, and staying active in various Faith related organizations. He has served as a board member for Golf San Antonio, the San Antonio Public Library Foundation, and been a member of the Nursing Advisory Council.
Job Titles:
- Managing Advisor / Houston
With an impressive proven track record of 40 years as a seasoned Benefits Advisor, Lyndon Smith joined Insgroup in 2020. Previously, Lyndon was the owner and president of Employer Plan Services, Inc., a third-party administration firm, and EPSI Benefits, Inc., an employee benefits broker/consulting agency, where he and his team established a solid reputation of professionalism, integrity and superior customer service.
Through his experiences, Lyndon has developed an extensive knowledge of employee benefits with a keen insight to the multiple applications of self-funding, while working with long term clients of various industries such as oil & gas, manufacturing, fabrication and automobile dealerships.
Lyndon states "I take great pride in bending every effort to provide my clients with guidance and counsel to provide the level of benefits they envision offering their employees while securing their company's bottom line. As a result, we establish a long-term relationship of trust with our clients that often exceeds 20+ years."
When not working on his clients' behalf, Lyndon enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. He is a native Texan, a graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, a Lifetime member of the 100 Club, and a Life Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner / Houston
- Managing Partner With
- Member of the Houston Community
Mace Meeks is a Managing Partner with Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. With more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, he has broad in-depth knowledge of Commercial, Personal and Employer-sponsored group benefit insurance programs.
Mace prides himself in being able to develop customized insurance programs specific to each one of his clients. "No two clients are the same and they all deserve the same great service," is the motto that he has built his insurance practice on.
Mace and his team joined Insgroup in January of 2015. Prior to becoming a part of the firm, he was a partner at Dean & Draper Insurance Agency, LP for over 20 years.
He graduated from Rice University with a triple major in Managerial Studies, Political Science and Sports Management. While attending Rice on a football scholarship, Mace also participated on the Rice Indoor Track team.
As a proud member of the Houston Community, Mace has served on various boards over the years including President of the "C" Club, the Harris County Sheriffs 287(g) task force, and the redistricting committee for the Mayor of Houston.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / San Antonio
Mark Keator is an Advisor for Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. In his role, Mark creates and manages customized insurance programs for his clients in both the Property & Casualty and Benefits spaces. Mark is hyper-focused on client satisfaction and has a passion for ensuring clients are mitigating risks properly.
Prior to his current role, Mark had a successful career in the banking industry. Before joining Insgroup, Mark was a community banker for almost 15 years. In that time, he specialized in commercial lending and business development in west Texas and the Texas Hill Country. He has helped business owners realize their financial goals for more than a decade and enjoys serving as a trusted advisor.
Mark is a native of San Antonio and earned both his Bachelor of Business Administration and MBA from Texas Tech University. In his free time, Mark enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing golf, hunting, fishing, and traveling. Mark holds a Life & Health as well as a Property and Casualty license.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / Houston
Mason Barker is an Advisor for Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. He specializes in Property and Casualty Insurance for mid to large market clients across various industries, with expertise in the Energy and Marine sector. In his role, Mason creates customized insurance programs specific to his client's industry and operations. Prior to his current position, Mason served as an Employee Benefits advisor focusing on the design and implementation of high-quality Employee Benefits programs for organizations of all sizes.
Before joining Insgroup, Mason held positions on the carrier side of the industry. He spent two years as an Employee Benefits Representative and top producer with Sun Life Financial, and two years before that as a Regional Sales Representative with Reliance Standard.
Mason is a native of Houma, Louisiana, and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Louisiana State University. If there's an LSU football game on TV, Mason can be found in front of it or driving to it if there's time and tickets available. He's also passionate about spending time with family, his faith, and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development
- Business Development Director for the PRM Group
- Director of Business Development Private Risk / Houston
Matt Miller is the Business Development Director for the PRM group at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. In this role, Matt is responsible for Insgroup's top-line organic growth and the mentoring and coaching of our associate advisors.
Prior to Insgroup, Matt began his insurance career at Frost Insurance/Frost Bank as a general insurance producer. He quickly gravitated toward the high-net-worth personal insurance space as he enjoyed discussions with his clients about their unique assets and how their personal insurance portfolio should successfully be managed. He was recruited by Hotchkiss Insurance Agency to serve as the sole advisor of the Private Client division for the entire agency. Matt was able to develop many meaningful relationships with COI's which led to significant growth in their private client book of business during his tenure.
Matt earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Tx. Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife Melanie, son Mason, and daughter Maddie. Matt was a founding member of the Wade Bowen band, so needless to say, he spends a lot of his time playing his guitars for his family when the Astros or Red Raiders aren't on TV.
Job Titles:
- Advisor With Insgroup 's Commercial Risk Insurance
- Managing Advisor & Development Leader / Houston
Matt Wren is an Advisor with Insgroup's Commercial Risk Insurance practice. He joined Insgroup in 2018 and works diligently to provide solutions that are unique to the Transportation and Logistics industries.
Prior to Insgroup, Matt worked as a Sales Consultant for seven years at Hines Real Estate, one of the largest real estate developers in the world. He has experienced the noticeable difference of working for a corporation of that size compared to Insgroup who is right sized to meet the needs of large clients but still able to quickly move programs through the right channels.
Relentless Advocacy is the Insgroup core value that resonates the strongest with Matt. He says, "Throughout my career I have always thought that customer service, and working on behalf of the client, should be the number one priority."
Matt attended Louisiana State University and earned a Bachelors degree in Economics. He can still be found on Saturdays watching LSU football games with his wife, Katie, and their Bernedoodle, Millie. Once in a while, he has time to enjoy a round of golf.
Max Mannetti is a Property and Casualty Advisor for Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. After joining Insgroup in 2022, Max quickly found his footing by way of his eagerness to learn and hardworking attitude. In his role, Max creates and manages customized Insurance programs for his clients in both Commercial and Private markets to meet and exceed their needs.
Before Joining Insgroup, Max was a student at Texas A&M University, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance with a minor in Economics. Having a background in finance and economics, Max understands what it takes for business owners to realize their financial goals.
Max is a native of Houston, and you can usually find him watching Astros, Rockets, or Texans games. Outside of work, Max enjoys playing golf, hunting, and spending time with his family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / Houston
Maylin Tovar is an Advisor for Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. In her role, she works closely with her clients to implement Employee benefit plans that are tailored to their current needs. She has over ten years of experience working closely with business executives to advise, implement, & improve areas of HR, human capital, payroll, recruitment, & employee benefits.
Building lasting business relationships is Vital to Maylin & understanding the importance of these relationships is key to her success.
Maylin graduated from the University of Phoenix with a bachelor's degree in Business Management.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / Houston
Meredith Huff is an Advisor for Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. Her extensive background in benefit, payroll and employee administration services allows her to design programs that alleviate the administrative burden on employers. Many of the executives that she works with on Benefits programs entrust her to service their Personal Risk Insurance as well.
Prior to joining Insgroup in 2019, she spent eight years with ADP in progressive roles leading up to Major Account District Manager. In that position, she helped clients achieve their goals through the utilization of industry leading people, technology and service as an extension of their current workforce. This background has been an extremely valuable springboard into her work in the employee benefits and insurance industry.
When asked to describe her favorite of Insgroup's core values, she had trouble choosing. Business is Personal is important to her because building lasting relationships has always been a priority. But also, Growth Mindset is meaningful because staying stagnate is not an option personally or within business. She says, "We're meant to evolve."
Meredith graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Business Management degree from McCoy School of Business.
She enjoys any activities that involve her husband and their two young daughters, Ryleigh and Reese. Exercise is a stress reliever that she also happens to love - so much so that she was once a spin instructor.
Job Titles:
- Managing Advisor / Houston, TX
Patrick Van Pelt has dedicated his career to helping people, companies, and communities thrive and succeed. As a proven managing advisor with a business degree from Marquette University and a master's degree from Rice University, his professional experience runs deep, encompassing financial consulting, data governance, risk management, real estate, residential construction, and historic restorations. Patrick is widely trusted and admired for his insightful consulting and guidance for an extensive range of closely held companies in a broad range of industries in Houston, throughout Texas, and across the United States.
With a strong desire to preserve and protect his clients' family assets and provide access to quality healthcare, Patrick also elevates families through sound financial management, estate planning, and employee benefits as a management consultant with Mid-Continent Companies, Ltd., a position he has held since 1991, and now as the Insgroup's managing advisor. Patrick's accreditations include Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65), Texas life and health insurance agent, certified Health Rosetta Advisor, and certified Product Manager. Patrick maintains capabilities in four foreign languages, most notably Portuguese and Spanish.
Patrick brings energy, insight, and enthusiasm to every endeavor he touches. His impressive history of rolling up his sleeves with a positive attitude to do what it takes for a successful outcome has inspired his peers, changed Houston's landscape, and enhanced the quality of life for countless individuals.
Phil Luebbehusen is an advisor for InsGroup specializing in Energy Insurance. Phil was previously a partner and Managing Director of Wortham Insurance and Risk Management. Prior to that he was President and owner of his own agency.
With over 50 years' experience in the Energy Industry he knows the Domestic and London Markets.
Phil is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter; Associate in Risk Management. He graduated from the University of Texas and attended TCU with degrees in Finance and Economics. Phil and Janice have been married for 50years and have two daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Senior Managing Partner / Property & Casualty / Houston
Philip Wise is a Managing Partner at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner, and oversees Property & Casualty for our Southern Region, leading the teams of Commercial Insurance Services, Placement, Claims and Risk Management, and Personal Risk Insurance. The combined work of these teams provides the growth strategy, execution, and service delivery for all P&C clients for Insgroup.
Philip joined Insgroup in 2006 as a Commercial Risk Advisor. Over time, he found a passion for working with Real Estate, Distribution, Retail and Manufacturing companies and still personally advises clients in those industries. He became a Shareholder in 2013 and was inducted into the Houston Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Class of 2015. Philip has held various positions over the past 14 years with Insgroup and in 2019, he was named to his current position.
Prior to joining Insgroup, Philip was the co-founder of a frozen food distribution company. The years he spent as an entrepreneur provide him with invaluable experience in helping other business owners navigate success while managing risk. Insgroup's core value, "Relentless Advocacy" is an integral part of how Philip approaches his role and why he believes gaining client confidence is truly an honor.
Philip earned the designations of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Certified Risk Manager (CRM) from The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance.
With a heart for service, Philip currently serves on the board of trustees for Congregation Beth Israel, the Kinkaid School Advancement Board, and Texas Inter-Faith Housing Corporation. When he's not working, he enjoys watching sports, hanging out with his wife, Allison, and their two children, or playing a competitive round of golf.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / San Antonio
Ryan Hardgrave is a Partner at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. He specializes in Employee Benefits and Property & Casualty Insurance for middle-market companies across the state of Texas and surrounding regions. In this role, Ryan is responsible for sales and the organic growth of the San Antonio office.
Starting his career in 2004 while still attending the University of Texas at San Antonio, Ryan has 18 years of experience in the insurance industry. He spent his first decade building his own insurance agency which he sold to Wortham Insurance in 2015. Wortham at the time was the largest, privately owned agency in the State of Texas. Wortham recently sold to Marsh and McLennan Companies and after staying on for 4 years as a managing director, Ryan is ready to jump back into an agency building mode using his network and carrier relationships to build out an Insgroup office in San Antonio.
Ryan married his college sweetheart, Tracy, and they have 3 handsome and athletic boys. They are a baseball family that regularly travels all over the state competing in youth tournaments. A few fun facts…. Ryan is a 3 rd generation Eagle Scout and a 3-time World Finalist in the sport of Long Drive. His longest drive in competition was 400 yards. In his free time, Ryan enjoys spending time with his boys on the ball fields, hunting, fishing, and taking trips with his family.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director - Business Development / Houston
- Managing Director for Baldwin
Ryan Smith is a Managing Director for Baldwin Risk Partner. In this role, he is responsible for developing the firm's annual and long-term business development and sales enablement plans for the southwest region of the U.S.
Ryan was previously the Managing Director at Wortham Insurance and Risk Management, which then became Marsh through acquisition, for seventeen years. Prior to this he served as the firm's statewide Sales Director in Texas and managed a book of business.
In 2014, Ryan earned the Power Broker Award from Risk & Insurance Magazine and 40 under 40 list.
He is a native Houstonian who attended Memorial High school and has both a BBA and MBA from Texas Tech University. He is on the Board of Directors for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and is involved in several charities. He and his wife Jill have two children: Lillie and Pearson.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / Houston
- Advisor With
Scott Watson is an Advisor with Insgroup who has spent nearly 20 years working within the industries of insurance and financial services. Scott joined the firm in 2019 and provides a highly-tailored approach to developing Property & Casualty solutions for Construction, Marine, Oil & Gas, and Manufacturing clients.
Prior to Insgroup, Scott held the position of Vice President with Marsh's Houston office. He has also been a Sales Executive for USI Insurance Services and a Director with Crystal & Company. Before he entered insurance brokerage, his experience included a number of finance-related roles, and he owned two companies within the real estate sector.
Scott's experience as an entrepreneur allows him to understand the challenges that business owners face at various phases of their lifecycle - from smaller start-ups to larger companies who have been in business for decades. This perspective makes business even more personal to Scott. He says, "Clients invest in my ability to create a risk program that best suits their needs and protects their balance sheet. This can only be achieved through a foundation of trust."
Scott volunteers with the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo and serves as a Vice Chairman on the International Committee. He graduated from the University of Houston with Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance.
He relishes any time spent with family and occasionally still plays a round of golf when the opportunity presents itself.
Job Titles:
- Managing Advisor
- Partner / Houston
Sonny Covington is a Managing Advisor at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. He joined the firm in 2018 and focuses on middle-market companies in a variety of industries including Oil & Gas, Transportation, and Construction. In this role, he creates customized insurance and risk solutions, and he also advises many of the same clients on their Employee Benefits programs.
Prior to Insgroup, Sonny spent nearly two decades with Dean & Draper Insurance Agency as a Texas Licensed Agent selling Business Insurance and Employee Benefits. While there, he had many long-standing relationships with clients which he believes were the result of treating people with respect and using the Golden Rule as a guidepost. He says, "When you do this, you will have relationships that last a lifetime."
Sonny earned the following designations: Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Certified Pension Consultant (CPC), and Certified Health Care Manager (CHM). He also attended Texas State University and is fluent in Spanish.
He is very involved in the community through his church and a number of other volunteer activities including youth sports. He has served as chairman for various committees with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) - Houston Chapter and is an active Free Mason.
Outside of work he thoroughly relishes the time he spends with his big family but likes to sneak away once in a while for some saltwater fishing.
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
- Human Resources Director
Stacy Figg is Insgroup's Director of Human Resources and is responsible for creating innovative ways to engage all colleagues in the company's culture initiatives, while also establishing systems and training that will develop and empower employees to support business growth.
Stacy joined Insgroup in 2019 to lead the development of Insgroup's talent management initiatives and articulate the firm's strategy to company leaders for attracting, developing, rewarding and retaining the best talent in the industry. She finds importance in each of the company's core values, but the tenet "People are not numbers, no matter how large we become" is the most meaningful to her. When asked to elaborate, she said, "We all have special gifts and talents that should be recognized and celebrated because it creates a sense of value and belonging. We all need to feel that our voices are being heard and that our contributions are making a difference."
With more than 15 years of human resources experience, Stacy previously held leadership positions with Wisenbaker Builder Services and Trendsetter Engineering, Inc. She was instrumental in the integration of HR initiatives into the strategic goals of those organizations - and at Insgroup.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources Management and Services from the University of Phoenix. She is also an active member of HR Houston and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Stacy has spent the last six years in leadership positions with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and is currently a Vice Chairman working year-round with more than 300 volunteers to successfully execute her committee's activities during the three-week event.
Stacy, her husband, and their two sons enjoy country life in Hempstead, TX, with their dogs, horses, and a miniature donkey named Chip.
Steve Hoech is a Partner at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. He Specializes in Employee Benefits and Property & Casualty Insurance for middle-market companies as well as Public Entities across the State of Texas. In this role, Steve is responsible for the organic growth of the San Antonio office and for building out the Public Entity Division for the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / San Antonio
Tanner Schorp is an Advisor for Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. In his role, he specializes in commercial risk solutions for both Employee Benefits and Property & Casualty. Tanner is a third-generation insurance advisor. His Grandfather and Mother have been servicing San Antonio and surrounding areas for over 50 years. He is excited to build upon the foundation of exceptional client advocacy that his family is known for in South Texas.
Tanner is a native of San Antonio and attended Texas A&M University as a student-athlete. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Mays business school while playing football for the Aggies. Before joining Insgroup, Tanner held positions as an Employee Benefits representative with Sun Life Financial and was an Advisor at Marsh McLennan Agency. His background in Insurance and college football helps him provide a team-like approach with his clients.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, hunting, fishing, and watching the Aggies on Saturdays.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / Louisiana
Taylor Robideaux is an Advisor for Insgroup who focuses on Oil & Gas and Construction companies in need of property & casualty insurance. He specializes in industry-specific coverages and requirements that are critical to his client's operations while building a customized insurance program that is tailor-made for his client's unique individual situation.
Taylor has a straightforward and direct approach to dealing with his clients and isn't afraid to have difficult conversations that he knows will benefit his clients in the long run. He knows how to manage customers' expectations in hard markets, helping them see the bigger picture. With that being said, he is always looking to do what is best for his clients and put them in the best position to succeed in their own business. He believes that transparency and honesty are paramount to building any type of long-lasting business relationship and he strives to provide that to everyone he encounters daily.
Taylor received his Commercial P&C license in 2015 and has been successfully selling commercial property and casualty business ever since. He is a native of Lafayette Louisiana where he attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette receiving a degree in business administration and finance.
In his free time, Taylor enjoys Hunting & Fishing and spending time with friends & family as well as playing golf in the summertime when the fish aren't biting.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Advisor / Houston
Thomas McCoy is an Advisor for Insgroup, a Baldwin Risk Partner. Thomas's expertise allows him to design benefits programs that alleviate many of the administrative burdens employers face. Many of the executives that Thomas works with entrust him to service their Personal Risk insurance needs as well.
Job Titles:
- Executive Benefits & Estate Planning Advisor / Houston
Todd Harris manages the firm's Estate Planning and Executive Benefits practice. He is responsible for advising clients and their own set of advisors on planning while also analyzing supplied data to develop strategies for plan implementation through client-selected practitioners.
With more than a nearly two decades of high-end financial and estate planning experience, Todd has worked with some of the nation's top estate attorneys in the refinement of planning concepts that utilize newly-created entity structures, specialized trusts, premium finance, captives, insurance and annuities from domestic and international sources.
Todd has been recognized for his ability to add a creative edge to traditional planning techniques and to innovative applications, such as AssetMax and Life Arbitrage strategies. His planning concentration has been with clients in Texas, Florida, Colorado, and California. He currently holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses.
Todd graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School, and is an active member of the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Houston, as well as the Braeburn Country Club.
He is constantly looking for ways to learn grow and believes whole heartedly in having a Growth Mindset. It's one of the company's core values, but he's been applying it to his personal life for as long as he can remember. He says, "If you're not growing, you're declining."
Todd volunteers with the Cub Scouts and various youth sports organizations. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf and bird hunting.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Managing Partner Employee Benefits / Houston
Tommy Harris is a Managing Partner at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner, and oversees Insgroup's Employee Benefits practice with responsibility for all aspects of development and delivery of benefits services. Under Tommy's leadership, this pillar of Insgroup's service offerings has become one of Houston's largest independent consulting practices for organizations seeking employee benefits.
A native of Arlington, TX, Tommy's entire professional career has been within the insurance industry while working for three Texas-based firms. He joined Insgroup in 2018 through the firm's partnership with the Fred Brown Insurance Brokerage and immediately became President of Insgroup's practice. As a Managing Partner with Fred Brown for 22 years, he was successful in delivering customized employee benefits programs for corporate and non-profit organizations of all sizes.
He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas Christian University, and a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Boston University. Tommy received the designations of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) from The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research, and Certified Employee Benefit Specialist.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / San Antonio
Travis Tucker is a Partner at Insgroup, A Baldwin Risk Partner. He specializes in Employee Benefits and Property & Casualty Insurance for middle-market companies and Public Entities across the State of Texas. In this Role, Travis is responsible for the organic growth of the San Antonio office and for building out the Public Entity Division for the Southwest Region of the U.S.
With a decade of experience in the industry, Travis has fostered strong relationships and provided customizable risk solutions for Public Entities and middle-market companies. Prior to joining Insgroup in 2022, Travis was President of Brown & Brown of Texas and focused on developing and managing the Public Entity solutions for the State of Texas.
Travis earned his degree from the University of Texas at Austin and is a father to a beautiful daughter, Tinley, and a loving husband to his wife, Meredith. Travis is an avid golfer, enjoys sports and the outdoors, and spending time with his family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner / Houston
Wesley Bryan is a Managing Partner specializing in Energy and Marine for Baldwin Risk Partners. In this role, he is responsible for building out the energy and marine practice throughout the southwest region of the U.S.
Wesley previously served as the Managing Director at Wortham Insurance & Risk Management and was named one of the youngest partners along with Ryan Smith. Before this, he spent two years as a third-party administrator handling claims for TODCO, Transocean, and Caldive.
In 2017 and 2019, Wesley received the Power Broker and Rising Star Award specific to Energy and Marine from Risk and Insurance Magazine.
Wesley grew up in Meridian, Mississippi, and received his bachelor's degree in Insurance and Risk Management from Ole Miss. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Houston Mariners Club as well as on the Seminar Committee for Houston Marine and Energy Insurance Conference (HMEIC).
Job Titles:
- Managing Advisor / Houston, TX
William H. Van Pelt IV brings deep industry knowledge and subject matter expertise to his engagement with BRP, Insgroup, and their affiliates. Bill provides strategic leadership to The Mid-Continent Companies, Ltd. In addition to board and management responsibilities, Bill directly manages a significant number of client assignments throughout the country. He has more than 35 years of experience working with the most complex business and estate planning situations involving the owners of family-controlled private and publicly held companies. Consequently, Bill is especially adept at identifying latent business planning, estate planning, people and tax issues, their likely impact on a company and its stakeholders, and devising strategies to effectively and efficiently preempt their manifestation. Bill possesses a broad, deep understanding of financial concepts, strategies and tools, and their creative application.
Bill serves as Chief Compliance Officer of the company's wholly-owned broker-dealer, has extensive outside board experience, and currently serves as a director of several market-leading companies in the financial services and marine products industries. An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Bill participates in the leadership of several unique projects at the nexus of the natural environment and outdoor lifestyles: The High Lonesome Ranch, LLC, The High Lonesome Institute, Inc. and, from 2009-2013, Deep Water Cay Club.
Bill graduated cum laude from Boston College's School of Management Honors Program with dual degrees in accounting and finance. He holds FINRA Series 7, 24, 28, and 63 registrations and Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations. Bill is a member of Young Presidents' Organization, The C Club of Houston, Lochinvar Golf Club, and The Holland Society of New York. He resides in Houston with his wife and four children and is a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church.
Job Titles:
- Area Practice Leader - Claims
Job Titles:
- Advisor / Houston
- Commercial Risk Advisor
Zack is a Commercial Risk Advisor for Insgroup and joined the firm in 2022 after graduating from The University of Houston with a bachelor's degree in finance and a minor in Sales.
Zack's belief in being a man of his word allows him to cultivate strong, lasting relationships with clients, earning their trust and loyalty. He recognizes that each client is unique and devotes his expertise to creating personalized insurance programs that cater to their specific needs.
In his free time, Zack is always looking for opportunities to volunteer and give back to the community. He believes that spending time in the outdoors with those he loves is time well spent!