The class of 2016 impresses with its size and quality.
Judging the talent employed by commercial insurance brokers leads us to one conclusion; optimism is the order of the day.
As we discovered this year, not only are the ranks of high-achieving younger brokers as strong as ever, they are increasing in number.
We’ve renamed our Power Broker® “Under 40” category to “Rising Stars” to better celebrate this wave of talent and to focus on an important point. Yes, this is a younger group of professionals, all of them under 40, but it’s more on point to think of them as the future leaders of this profession.
As Power Broker® winners and finalists, this set of Rising Stars demonstrated a superior level of creativity in finding solutions for their clients, unflagging customer service and a devotion to learning more about their industry.
Just four years ago, the number of brokers honored by this designation hovered around 40. Last, year, there were 54 Power Broker® winners and finalists recognized in the Under 40 category.
Over the next few pages, you will see the names and affiliations of 77 brokers we recognize as Rising Stars. Since the launch of this category in 2009, more than 250 brokers under 40 received the designation.
The average age of the Rising Stars designees is 36. They represent a powerful wave of talent that is bolstering a profession, which like many other professions will be challenged to replace talent as the baby boomers retire.
For this group of Rising Stars, a career in commercial insurance brokerage is a compelling challenge that results in rich rewards.
“I really enjoy telling ‘the story’ on behalf of my client to the insurance carrier, to pique their interest in an account,” — Ashley De Paola, assistant vice president, Alliant
We first came to know Lockton’s Christopher Keith when he broke into the Power Broker® ranks as a winner in the Workers’ Compensation category in February 2013.
In those days, Keith worked for the Philadelphia-based Graham Co. Keith, 39, said it’s the “entrepreneurial” nature of the business that he finds so rewarding.
“I like the fact that I am managing my own profit and loss statement,” said Keith, who this year achieved Power Broker® status in the Aviation category.

Ashley De Paola, assistant vice president, Alliant
At Lockton’s annual President’s Dinner, he was recognized as the “prototype” Lockton producer.
“I’m very proud of that,” he said.
Alliant’s Ashley De Paola, 33, a 2016 Power Broker® in the Real Estate category, said it’s the quick-paced, evolving atmosphere of commercial insurance brokerage that excites her.
“I really enjoy telling ‘the story’ on behalf of my client to the insurance carrier, to pique their interest in an account,” De Paola said.
Earlier in her career, a client expressed his concern over her age and experience. Her review of his insurance program changed his mind.
“It was very rewarding when he later asked me to work on his business,” she said.
Beecher Carlson’s Joe Roberta, a 2016 Power Broker® winner in the Private Equity category, has several reasons he likes working in this industry. Top of the list is that this is a very “social industry.”
“I truly enjoy working with people that I’ve been fortunate enough to build long-term relationships with,” he said.
Justin Wiley, 32, Power Broker® winner in the Public Sector category, works for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., which prides itself on its mentoring efforts.
The company sent Wiley to Orlando, Fla., to work with veteran Rich Terlecki, himself a multiple Power Broker® winner.
“My goal was to learn and gather from him as much intellectual capital as possible,” Wiley said.
Clearly, Terlecki taught him well.

The 2016 Power Broker® Rising Stars

Morgan Anderson, 38
Arthur J. Gallagher
Irvine, Calif.
Real Estate

Peter Ballas, 33
Aon
Morristown, N.J.
At-large

Brooke Barnett, 37
Marsh
Los Angeles
Entertainment

Herman Brito Jr., 26
Marsh
New York
Marine

John Byers, 34
Aon
Franklin, Tenn.
Employee Benefits

Sandy Carter, 32
Beecher Carlson
Atlanta
Automotive

Brandon Cole, 31
Arthur J. Gallagher
Irvine, Calif.
Nonprofit

Edward Conlon, 37
Aon
New York
Financial Institutions

Chris Connelly, 32
Arthur J. Gallagher
Orlando, Fla.
Public Sector

Anne Corona, 38
Aon
San Francisco
Technology

Cara Cortes, 35
Aon
Pittsburgh
At-large

Uri Dallal, 37
Aon
New York
Financial Institutions

Ashley De Paola, 33
Alliant
New York
Real Estate

Brian Dougal, 38
Aon
San Francisco
Real Estate

Justin Dove, 29
Arthur J. Gallagher
San Francisco
Real Estate

Patrick Drake, 27
Aon
Southfield, Mich.
Utilities, Alternative

Dan Edelstein, 37
Willis Towers Watson
New York
Manufacturing

Tim Farward, 36
Marsh
Philadelphia
Utilities, traditional

Larissa Gallagher, 28
Aon
Southfield, Mich.
Manufacturing

Dominic Gallina, 39
Aon
New York
Real Estate

Kevin Garvey, 37
Aon
Cleveland
Automotive

Matthew Giambagno, 26
Marsh, New York
Energy/Downstream

Blake Giannisis, 36
Aon
New York
Real Estate

George Gionis, 33
Aon
Philadelphia
At-large

Debbie Goldstine, 39
Lockton
Chicago
Manufacturing

Sarah Goodman, 36
Marsh
New York
Pharma/Life Sciences

Jessica Govic, 30
Arthur J. Gallagher
Itasca, Ill.
Public Sector

Robert Hale, 39
Aon
London
Utilities, traditional

Joshua Halpern, 34
Aon
New York
Private Equity

Matthew Heinz, 39
Aon
New York
Private Equity

Charlie Herr, 25
Arthur J. Gallagher
Kansas City, Mo.
Education

Blythe Hogan, 31
Aon
New York
Fine Arts

James Jackson, 35
Willis Towers Watson
New York
Financial Institutions

Sarah Johnson Court, 35
Aon, Miami
Fine Arts

Christopher Keith, 39
Lockton
Blue Bell, Pa.
Aviation & Aerospace

Charlie King, 36
Alliant
Houston
Energy/Upstream


Jonathan Kosin, 37
Aon
Southfield, Mich.
Construction

Tyler LaMantia, 29
Arthur J. Gallagher
Itasca, Ill.
Education

Jeanna Madlener, 37
Wells Fargo
Portland, Ore.
At-large

Kimberly Mann, 27
Marsh
Philadelphia
Environmental

Kristina Marcigliano, 27
DeWitt Stern
New York
Fine Arts

Matt Medeiros, 34
Arthur J. Gallagher
Media, Pa.
Retail

Mary Mulhern, 33
Marsh
Chicago
Health Care

Dennis Nevinski, 31
Aon
Chicago
Aviation & Aerospace

Lee Newmark, 28
Arthur J. Gallagher
Itasca, Ill.
Health Care

Jake Onken, 26
Aon
Houston
Health Care

Joanna Paredes, 28
Rekerdres & Sons
Dallas
Marine

Stephen Pasdiora, 27
Cottingham & Butler
Rosemont, Ill.
Employee Benefits

Stefanie Pearl, 35
Marsh
New York
Financial Institutions

Jason Peery, 37
Aon
Newport Beach, Calif.
Real Estate

Adrian Pellen, 32
Aon
Chicago
Construction

Chris Rafferty, 36
Aon
Chicago
Manufacturing

Daniel R’bibo, 36
Arthur J. Gallagher
Glendale, Calif.
Entertainment

Brent Rieth, 30
Aon
San Francisco
Technology

Joe Roberta, 35
Beecher Carlson
New York
Private Equity

Robert Rosenzweig, 30
Risk Strategies
New York
Technology

Patrick Roth, 35
Aon
Denver
Pharma/Life Sciences

Laura Rubin, 33
Beecher Carlson
Boston
Utilities, Alternative

Ian Schwartz,31
Aon
Los Angeles
Real Estate

Christopher Shorter, 36
Aon
Houston
Energy/Downstream

Brian Simons, 34
Aon
New York
Financial Institutions

Andrew Smith, 28
Marsh
New York
Marine

Timothy Sullivan, 38
Willis Towers Watson
Boston
Financial Institutions

Kurt Thoennessen, 37
Ericson Ins. Advisors
Washington Depot, Conn.
Private Client

John Tomlinson, 37
Lockton
Encino, Calif.
Entertainment

Kaitlin Upchurch, 30
Wortham
Houston
At-large

Liz Van Dervort, 30
Gillis, Ellis & Baker
New Orleans
Nonprofit

Rene Van Winden, 36
Aon
Houston
Energy/Downstream

Ben Von Obstfelder, 30
Aon
Wauconda, Ill.
Retail

Michael Walsh, 35
Marsh
Boston
Real Estate

Emily Weiss, 29
DeWitt Stern
New York
Fine Arts

Jeremiah White, 38
Aon
Frederick, Md.
Transportation

Joshua White, 28
Gulfshore Insurance
Naples, Fla.
Private Client

Casey Wigglesworth, 37
Aon
Washington, DC
Fine Arts

Justin Wiley, 33
Arthur J. Gallagher
Orlando, Fla.
Public Sector

Wendy Wu, 38
Aon
Shanghai
Automotive

Susan Young, 30
Marsh
Seattle
Retail