Headquarters:

Los Angeles, CA

Year founded:

1968

Number of employees:

Phone:

800 437 6616

Email:

mail@gorstcompass.com

Website:

gorstcompass.com

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/gorstcompass

“We will leverage data and insights, along with AI and machine learning, to better understand the needs of our clients and work even closer with our carrier partners”

Danny Kaufman Burns & Wilcox 

GORST & COMPASS

Mike Heagerty

Chairman and CEO

Bryan Clark

President

Paul Laufer

Chief Operating Officer

Leadership

Mike Heagerty has been part of the insurance industry since 1972. In 1992, Mike and Jane Heagerty purchased The Gorst Company and Compass Insurance. In 1996, under their leadership, Compass Insurance became the wholesale brokerage division while The Harry W. Gorst Company continued to serve as the underwriting authority. In 2016, the two companies were combined and rebranded as Gorst & Compass Insurance. Today, Heagerty continues to serve as the company’s chairman and CEO. He is a past president of the California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA) and earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University Northridge.

Chairman and CEO

Mike Heagerty

Bryan Clark joined Gorst & Compass in 1997 as an underwriter trainee and embarked on a path to learn wholesale insurance business from the ground up. He served as executive vice president prior to becoming president of Gorst & Compass in 2015. Clark’s leadership approach is all about empowering others to build their own success. He is genuinely enthusiastic about the insurance industry and has a passion for developing new industry talent. Clark is a board member and past president of the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA). He is a past president of the California Insurance Wholesale Association (CIWA) and a former AAMGA board member. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from San Diego State University.

President

Bryan Clark

Paul Laufer joined Gorst & Compass in 2007 and became executive vice president in 2017. He was named chief operating officer in 2022. From the beginning, he consistently demonstrated his commitment to building a great and successful company. His contributions expand to all departments, and his efforts have been crucial to multiple operational areas and important strategic initiatives. Laufer is a board member and a past president of the California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA) and a legislative committee member of the Surplus Lines Association of California. He earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from California State University Northridge and a professional designation in personal financial planning from the University of California Los Angeles.

Chief Operating Officer

Paul Laufer

“We will leverage data and insights, along with AI and machine learning, to better understand the needs of our clients and work even closer with our carrier partners”

Danny Kaufman Burns & Wilcox 

“I am proud of our commitment to deliver the industry’s best expertise – our teams lean into the extensive relationships they have built with our longstanding carrier partners to bring products to the market that meet specific needs”

Danny Kaufman Burns & Wilcox 

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Danny Kaufman Burns & Wilcox 

“We will leverage data and insights, along with AI and machine learning, to better understand the needs of our clients and work even closer with our carrier partners”

Danny Kaufman Burns & Wilcox 

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Jennifer Clark

Vice President of Human Resources

Jennifer Clark joined Gorst & Compass in 1997. She started as a commercial underwriter for the company, and for the past 10 years has served as vice president of human resources, overseeing all HR functions within the organization. As a member of the executive leadership, she plays a key role in aligning HR strategies with the company’s vision. Clark is passionate about philanthropy and strongly believes in the importance of giving back and supporting the community. Prior to joining Gorst & Compass, she worked for Scottsdale Insurance. She earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

Vice President of Human Resources

Jennifer Clark

Chip Pohill

Chief Underwriting Officer

Chip Pohill joined Gorst & Compass in 1993 and became the company’s chief underwriting officer in 2018. He began his insurance career in 1986 as an underwriter for Marine Office of America/Continental Insurance. Pohill later served as a risk management consultant for KPMG and as regional manager for excess property, Transamerica Insurance. He earned a BA degree from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in international business administration from the American Graduate School, Arizona State University.

Chief Underwriting Officer

Chip Pohill

Founded in 1968, Gorst & Compass Insurance is a wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products. The company is independently owned and operated, offering unique solutions for property, casualty, personal lines, professional lines, transportation, garage, and standard commercial lines. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, the company partners with over 100 carrier partners. Gorst & Compass has earned a solid reputation in the industry for providing exceptional service and expertise. It continues to adapt to an ever-changing and dynamic insurance landscape, with strategic plans to expand its product offerings and business footprint. With over 70 employees today spread across seven states, Gorst & Compass is well positioned for continual growth and success. “What sets Gorst & Compass apart is our unique company culture, and our unwavering dedication to client satisfaction and carrier partner relationships. We prioritize transparency, integrity, and reliability in every interaction, striving to build lasting relationships built on trust and professionalism,” says Bryan Clark, president.

Danny Kaufman Burns & Wilcox 

Donna Hargrove

General Counsel

Mark Bernacki

Chief Underwriting Officer

Julie Prewitt

Senior Vice President, Marketing

Simon Williams

Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955

Since 2008, Donna Hargrove has served as general counsel of Amwins and is responsible for identifying and managing all legal risks for the company. She advises executive leadership and the board of directors on a range of business issues, including corporate governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining Amwins, Hargrove served as corporate in-house counsel for BB&T Insurance Services. Earlier in her career, she served in private practice with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, concentrating on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters.

General Counsel

Donna Hargrove

Mark Bernacki is the chief underwriting officer of Amwins, the first to serve in the role. Prior to that, he served as president of Amwins Special Risk Underwriters. In addition to his leadership in underwriting, Bernacki runs the Amwins Alternative Risk Transfer Team for Amwins.

Chief Underwriting Officer

Mark Bernacki

Julie Prewitt has worked on nearly every aspect of marketing and advertising in her nearly 20 years in the industry. Her team at REInsurePro manages branding, advertising, events, content, digital campaigns, and agent engagement and plays a key role in product development.

Senior Vice President, Marketing

Julie Prewitt

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

Partner

Kimi Shah

Partner

Kimi Shah

In 2023, Burns & Wilcox delivered its best year on record and fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth:   • Achieving $3.6B in sales, the annual growth for Burns & Wilcox climbed by 19%. • Two of the office’s teams now place more than $100 million in annual premium.   • The firm continued to grow its property practice and expects it to be an important growth driver in 2024.  Speaking on the firm’s expanded property offerings, Kaufman adds, “The Burns & Wilcox Personal Lines Practice launched two new property programs out of London – an inland property program and a combination of coastal and inland. The big win is that very few new programs were launched from London last year. Only the organizations with the best track record are being given these programs and capacity.” Burns & Wilcox also provides coverage for emerging risks. The firm benefits from a relationship with Node, a London-based Kaufman company that specializes in cyber and privacy liability solutions. Additionally, Burns & Wilcox collaborates with other Kaufman companies, including insurance provider RB Jones, to provide clients with access to specialty solutions for markets like renewable energy. The firm’s standalone general liability offering provides coverage for a broad spectrum of risks including wind, solar, biodiesel, and hydroelectric. “I am proud of our commitment to deliver the industry’s best expertise – our teams lean into the extensive relationships they have built with our longstanding carrier partners to bring products to the market that meet specific needs. It’s about understanding the market conditions and reacting with what best serves our clients and their insureds,” says Kaufman.

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“We will continue to strengthen our service proposition and customer experience as a key differentiator, as we build on the momentum we have achieved to date across multiple business lines and territories,” says McLean. “Our im is to continue to grow our market relevance and strengthen our partnerships with our strategic brokers as we expand our leadership position in key sectors. “We will also continue to invest in talent. We are committed to drawing from the broadest pools of talent, and to creating an environment that attracts and retains stellar employees. We recognise the importance of building teams that are diverse, collaborative, and innovative and are dedicated to cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture in which all our employees can thrive.”