Profile
A client conversation at an eye doctor’s office set the course of Heather Velasquez’s insurance career. The connection led to an internship at Risk Placement Services, then a full-time role after she finished her degree, and eventually to her becoming the first-ever recipient of the firm's Specialty Americas Outstanding Achievement Award. She says, “My career path wasn’t something I mapped out from the beginning. It developed through opportunities and my willingness to stay open to new experiences.”
That openness has been the engine of a fast rise. Now an area vice president and inside broker at RPS, Velasquez treated her early inexperience as a license to learn rather than a gap to hide. She asked questions, read widely, and absorbed everything she could, never feeling she needed all the answers. The result was knowledge and confidence built quickly, and a standing in the industry established well ahead of schedule.
The Specialty Americas award remains the achievement Velasquez is proudest of, and what it recognizes matters as much as the honor itself. “It is especially meaningful because it recognizes both technical expertise and contributions to the organization – two areas I’ve worked hard to strengthen throughout my career,” she says.
She points to her work ethic as her strongest professional quality. “I approach my role with accountability, consistency, and a willingness to go the extra mile when needed,” Velasquez says. Honesty, openness, and clear communication have done the rest, earning trust with clients and colleagues through transparency and dependability.
Velasquez never leaned on a single mentor. She learned instead from many, listening to and observing underwriters, leaders, and peers she respected and taking something from each. The approach has helped her work through complex situations, prioritize effectively, and keep developing in the role.
Success now brings its own tension: balancing the demands of the business with being present for her family. Generating new business, maintaining relationships, managing renewals, and supporting a team all compete for her attention, and staying engaged across them without burning out takes deliberate effort. She delegates where she can, invests in her team’s development, and guards family time while staying flexible when work calls for it.
Being named as one of IBA’s Rising Stars for 2026 has reinforced her approach rather than altered it. “I’m still focused on working hard, staying curious, and continuing to grow, and the recognition motivates me to keep bringing that same level of dedication to the rest of my career,” says Velasquez.
2850 Golf Rd, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
866 595 8413
RPS.Marcomm@RPSins.com
linkedin.com/in/heather-velasquez-54983372
RPSins.com
Heather Velasquez
Area Vice President/Inside Broker
Risk Placement Services
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Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
2009
2010–2017
2022
2024
2025–present
Joined RPS
2009
Multiple promotions within RPS
2010–2017
Promoted to Area Vice President
2022
Inaugural recipient of Specialty Americas Outstanding Achievement Award
2024
Co-manages Alliant’s San Francisco Benefits Office while contributing to AI innovation, benchmarking initiatives, and national public-entity leadership strategy
2025–present
Milestones
“By focusing on doing the best possible job for every client, they naturally tell their friends and family. That organic growth has been very rewarding”
Alan Borthwick,
DUX Financial Services
“Our goal is not to speed up transactions but to slow down where it matters, taking the time to truly understand each client’s situation and deliver thoughtful, personalised guidance”
Alan Borthwick,
DUX Financial Services
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