Headquarters:
South Carolina
Year founded:
1979
Number of employees:
50
Phone:
+1 (415) 788 9810
Email:
cvondrasek@isusteadfast.com
Website:
isusteadfast.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/isu-steadfast
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Dan McCarthy
Chief Executive Officer
Stephanie Risk
Senior Vice President and Member Experience Leader
Doug Penley
President
Leadership
Daniel F. McCarthy serves as the chief executive officer of ISU Steadfast Insurance Agency Network, where he brings over 37 years of experience in the insurance and financial services sectors. Prior to his current role, he held senior executive positions where he was instrumental in building underwriting systems, advancing claims processing, risk management, and operational efficiencies. He also founded Insurex, a successful national commercial insurance brokerage that was later acquired by NSM Insurance Group.
Chief Executive Officer
Dan McCarthy
With 26 years of experience, Stephanie has cultivated deep and multifaceted expertise in the property and casualty (P&C) industry. Her experience includes 12 years as a Commercial Lines Underwriter in the wholesale sector before joining ISU Steadfast in [2012]. Stephanie continues to be a driving force at ISU Steadfast, successfully developing effective procedures, enhancing member relationships, and advising independent agencies on optimizing carrier relationships.
Senior Vice President and Member Experience Leader
Stephanie Risk
With over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, Doug Penley’s career spans both insurance carrier and agency roles, including ownership of an agency and leadership in risk placement and carrier relations for a top 75 insurance agency in the US. He also spent significant time with a national carrier, where he held a range of roles in sales and distribution, as well as claims. Penley holds an undergraduate degree in risk and insurance from Appalachian State University and has achieved professional designations, including Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM).
President
Doug Penley
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Leadership
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Leadership
Curt Vondrasek
Executive Vice President, New Member Development
Curt Vondrasek leads the new business development team at ISU and has over 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry, specializing in recruiting and sales leadership. His previous roles include SVP at MarshBerry, SVP at AIG, and VP at HUB International. Vondrasek has served on several boards, including ABIA, CIMRO, and RRHOA. He is also the past president of the Chicago chapter for the American Association of Inside Sales Professionals.
Executive Vice President, New Member Development
Curt Vondrasek
Jason Smith
Managing Partner
Jason Smith is the managing partner of American Safeguard Insurance Group, where he oversees all operations. With 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Smith specializes in agency operations, processes, acquisitions, and talent recruitment. Outside of work, he is a passionate outdoorsman, family man, and entrepreneur.
Managing Partner
Jason Smith
ISU Steadfast empowers independent insurance agencies to thrive, protecting your autonomy while offering the resources needed to grow. Our network connects you with the tools, expertise, and support to elevate your agency’s success – all while staying true to your independent roots.
Financial incentives: unmatched rewards
Unlock industry-leading financial incentives that drive profitability. ISU Steadfast provides unparalleled opportunities for members to share in the success of the network from day one. With no volume or loss ratio minimums, your agency starts benefiting immediately, translating your growth directly into rewards.
Expanded market access: find the best value for your clients
As a full member of ISU Steadfast, you have access to over 60 top-rated commercial and personal lines carriers, allowing you to offer the best value and coverage options to your clients. ISU Steadfast pays full members 100 percent of carrier commissions on all business transacted. Premiums written through our carriers are also eligible for additional financial incentives. This access lets you expand your offerings without needing direct appointments. See what markets you can access here.
Collaborative community of members: join forces with industry innovators
You’re never alone when you join ISU Steadfast. Our community thrives on collaboration, where agencies connect, learn, and grow together. Work directly with dedicated regional managers, build relationships with high-performing peers, and discover new ways to succeed alongside forward-thinking business owners.
ISU Steadfast member success
“If you’d asked me three years ago whether joining a network was right, I would have hesitated. But ISU Steadfast is different. We kept our independence, gained resources, and became part of something bigger without giving up control,” says Eric Weedin, manager of Weedin Agency.
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Tony Bird
Chief Risk Officer
Mark Hewitt
General Manager, Industry and Partnership Development
Brad Wearn
Chief Technology Officer
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Tony Bird has been working in the banking and finance industry for 25 years, predominantly in credit risk, collections and portfolio management. His strength is bringing creative, data-driven solutions to safely grow retail portfolios. He develops strong relationships with internal and external partners to maximise profit after capital charges. Bird’s management style is collaborative and focused on achieving ambitious targets.
Chief Risk Officer
Tony Bird
Mark Hewitt has a wealth of knowledge and industry experience, with 40 years of experience in financial services. He is a member of the executive team at aggregator Australian Finance Group (AFG), which he joined in 2006 as general manager of broker and residential and is currently AFG’s general manager of industry and partnership development.
Prior to joining AFG, Hewitt spent 20 years with ANZ, including four years in ANZ’s third-party distribution area, and later became national manager of key broker relationships. He has also recently been co-chair of the Combined Industry Forum and has played a key role in the industry reform process.
Hewitt’s significant skills encompass operations, communications, relationship management, credit management, asset finance, human resources, contract and sponsorship negotiation, and sales. He was named on the MPA’s Global Mortgage 100 list in both 2020 and 2021. He is also a director of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA), Think Tank Group and Mortgage Processing Services.
General Manager, Industry and Partnership Development
Mark Hewitt
Brad Wearn, serving as the chief technology officer, brings extensive expertise and forward-thinking approaches to the evolving landscape of IT services procurement and management. With a keen eye on industry trends and organisational needs, he recognises the shift toward purchasing IT capabilities “as a service,” acknowledging both its agility and potential security risks.
In his role, Wearn navigates the challenges posed by “shadow IT” and the impact it can have on organizational spending and security. Embracing an IT delivery model focused on flexibility and efficiency, he champions the adoption of “as a service” platforms. This approach ensures transparency in usage and enables the implementation of necessary controls to safeguard critical data and systems.
By spearheading this transformation, Wearn moves away from defending a large IT budget toward facilitating the adoption of tailored technology solutions aligned with evolving business needs. With an unwavering commitment to driving innovation and maximizing value, he sees himself at the forefront of an exciting journey as a CIO, navigating the ever-changing landscape of technology with enthusiasm and expertise.
Chief Technology Officer
Brad Wearn
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
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Medal
Small business
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Turnaround time – claims
BDM support
Broker communication, training and development
Overall service level
BDM support
BDM support
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
ISU Steadfast empowers independent insurance agencies to thrive, protecting your autonomy while offering the resources needed to grow. Our network connects you with the tools, expertise, and support to elevate your agency’s success – all while staying true to your independent roots.
Financial incentives: unmatched rewards
Unlock industry-leading financial incentives that drive profitability. ISU Steadfast provides unparalleled opportunities for members to share in the success of the network from day one. With no volume or loss ratio minimums, your agency starts benefiting immediately, translating your growth directly into rewards.
Expanded market access: find the best value for your clients
As a full member of ISU Steadfast, you have access to over 60 top-rated commercial and personal lines carriers, allowing you to offer the best value and coverage options to your clients. ISU Steadfast pays full members 100 percent of carrier commissions on all business transacted. Premiums written through our carriers are also eligible for additional financial incentives. This access lets you expand your offerings without needing direct appointments. See what markets you can access here.
Collaborative community of members: join forces with industry innovators
You’re never alone when you join ISU Steadfast. Our community thrives on collaboration, where agencies connect, learn, and grow together. Work directly with dedicated regional managers, build relationships with high-performing peers, and discover new ways to succeed alongside forward-thinking business owners.
ISU Steadfast member success
“If you’d asked me three years ago whether joining a network was right, I would have hesitated. But ISU Steadfast is different. We kept our independence, gained resources, and became part of something bigger without giving up control,” says Eric Weedin, manager of Weedin Agency.