Headquarters:

2850 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Year founded:

1997

Number of employees:

3,000

Phone:

866 595 8413

Email:

ContactRPS@rpsins.com

Website:

rpsins.com

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/risk-placement-services-inc

“RPS is fueled by a culture of creativity and collaboration”

EMILY HATHCOAT, Vice President, Marketing

RISK PLACEMENT SERVICES

Joel Cavaness

President

Katie Rossbach

Chief Financial Officer

Sean Glennon

Vice President, Human Resources

Leadership

After cofounding Risk Placement Services in 1997 as a scratch operation with just four employees, Joel Cavaness has been instrumental in driving its rapid growth to become one of the largest US wholesale brokers, MGAs and program managers. A graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a BS in business administration, he additionally holds Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations and served on the board of directors of the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association for over 10 years, including as chair of the board.

President

Joel Cavaness

Katie Rossbach serves as chief financial officer at Risk Placement Services where she partners with executive and field leadership to drive and influence strategy and results. She holds an MBA from DePaul University, a BS in finance and insurance from Illinois State University, and her CPCU designation. In 2022, Rossbach was named one of just 40 US Women to Watch by Business Insurance.

Chief Financial Officer

Katie Rossbach

Sean Glennon leads all aspects of our talent agenda at Risk Placement Services, including people strategy, learning and development, recruiting, compensation, employee relations and M&A. Throughout his career, he has worked across various industries, including insurance, energy, pharmaceuticals, and real estate, and in numerous geographies, both domestic and international. He holds a master’s degree in human resources and industrial relations and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Vice President, Human Resources

Sean Glennon

“RPS is fueled by a culture of creativity and collaboration”

Emily Hathcoat, Vice President, Marketing

“When working with RPS, clients and partners can expect to find a partner in what’s possible”

Emily Hathcoat, Vice President, Marketing

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“When working with RPS, clients and partners can expect to find a partner in what’s possible”

Emily Hathcoat, Vice President, Marketing

“RPS is fueled by a culture of creativity and collaboration”

Emily Hathcoat, Vice President, Marketing

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Emily Hathcoat

Vice President, Marketing

Emily Hathcoat serves as vice president of marketing at Risk Placement Services where she is responsible for advancing business priorities through strategic and creative marketing programs that position the brand in the marketplace, drive client engagement and generate demand for RPS products and services. She holds a BA in history from Creighton University and an MBA from Saint Louis University. Hathcoat served on the board of directors of the Insurance Marketing and Communications Association for over 10 years, including as chair of the board.

Vice President, Marketing

Emily Hathcoat

Francisco Moraga

Sales Director, RightRater Sales Division

Francisco Moraga has 14 years of insurance experience, with the last four years working at RIGHTSURE. In 2007, he began his career in the insurance industry at an independent agency. Since that time, he has held various positions of increasing responsibility throughout several insurance organizations. He is the sales director for the RightRater sales division of RIGHTSURE. Along with his property and casualty insurance license, Morage holds several educational insurance certifications, in addition to his accreditations from both Harvard University and Columbia Business School.

Sales Director, RightRater Sales Division

Francisco Moraga

“Today, the RPS leadership team is comprised of a diverse group of professionals who work together aligned to the growth mindset Joel established from the very beginning,” says Hathcoat. “That growth mindset ensures that all strategic initiatives are aligned to the single objective and are prioritized accordingly. Our associates are prioritized as our number one audience for engagement and support. If we focus on our talent, then we know our clients will feel the RPS difference and choose us as their first call every time. “Our promise to independent agents and brokers is to help them come through for their clients. More than 25,000 independent agents and brokers place their trust in RPS to help them come through for their clients.” Recently, RPS has undertaken a talent strategy to recruit and develop talent at all stages of their careers. College intern and early talent programs help train young people. Diversity and inclusion programs help empower previously overlooked demographics. Meanwhile, a learning and development (L&D) program and SkillsHub platform enabled employees to take charge of their careers.

“When working with RPS, clients and partners can expect to find a partner in what’s possible”

EMILY HATHCOAT, Vice President, Marketing

Jaime Almazan, ChFC, CLU, CPCU

Senior Agent

Cheryl Forman

Senior Agent

Scott Crozier

Vice President, Product

Simon Williams

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

Jaime Almazan, ChFC, CLU, CPCU, senior agent at RIGHTSURE, has been in the insurance industry for 32 years. He has worked in many facets of the insurance industry. He retired from a “large name brand” insurance company. Knowing that he wanted to continue to work, he joined RIGHTSURE in 2017 as an independent agent. Almazan’s area of expertise is in the commercial arena, but she has created a good business catering to a niche market of hard-to-place personal and commercial line clients.

Senior Agent

Jaime Almazan, ChFC, CLU, CPCU

Cheryl Forman has 20 years of insurance industry experience. She began her career at a captive agency as an agency assistant for the first five years but has been on the independent side for the last 15 years, with the last 13 years being at RIGHTSURE as a senior agent. She is licensed in all lines, from personal and commercial to life and health. Forman attended Pima College and Northern Arizona University, where she earned a degree in business management.

Senior Agent

Cheryl Forman

Scott Crozier, who joined Orion180 in January 2023, brings a strong passion for leadership and service to his role. With more than 25 years of experience in property and casualty insurance operations, he has expertise with national, regional, and Florida-specific insurers. Crozier held leadership positions in underwriting, customer experience, product development, and sales. He holds a BA in History from Rhode Island College and esteemed designations such as CPCU, AIC, and API. Crozier’s dedication to service extends beyond insurance; he’s a former U.S. Army Infantryman and officer. As the operations officer for a 3,500-Soldier Infantry Brigade Combat Team, he served in the Florida Army National Guard. With extensive experience, leadership capabilities, and a commitment to service, Crozier contributes to Orion180’s growth and success.

Vice President, Product

Scott Crozier

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

Sarah M Stewart

Associate Vice President, Leasing and Call Centre Operations

Karen Bannister, CM

Vice President, Marketing

Dave Longbottom

Chief Technology Officer

Alex Ventura

Head of Marketing

Damian Palovick

Senior Vice President of Underwriting AXA XL – Delegated Authority Programs, North America

Dr. Mary Lavoie

Head of Risk Management and Senior Vice President AXA XL – Delegated Authority Programs, North America

Mark Bernacki

Chief Underwriting Officer

Ryan Armijo

Chief Operating Officer, Underwriting Division

Bob Petrilli

President, Underwriting Division

In 1997, Joel Cavaness cofounded Risk Placement Services (RPS) with four employees and just two carrier appointments. Cavaness and his partners spent the first year traveling around the country trying to recruit the best talent and secure the strongest partners to deliver outstanding service to independent agents and brokers. That entrepreneurial spirit still lives at RPS today. “RPS is fueled by a culture of creativity and collaboration,” says Emily Hathcoat, vice president of marketing. “RPS isn’t like every other wholesale broker and MGA, and we built it to be that way. Our professionals are recognized for their expertise and industry knowledge, and they are also recognized for their approachability and passion for their work.” RPS brings enthusiasm and expertise to every challenge, leveraging knowledge and specialization in various industries and product lines developed through ongoing education and professional development. Employee digital and data tools and an internal reward system enable collaboration across product lines and business divisions.

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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.”

At the same time, a customer experience strategy empowers employees to deliver excellent customer service throughout the customer journey. “When working with RPS, clients and partners can expect to find a partner in what’s possible,” says Hathcoat. “We take on challenges that others do not and focus on finding a home for every risk. We know that when our retail clients visit us, they want us to handle that risk with the same level of care that they would themselves. We understand the importance of that trust they place in us. “Clients and partners can also expect a level of deep expertise. Our professionals aren’t generalists; they choose an area of expertise so they can be a stronger partner to their clients and also a strong partner within our organization, where creativity and collaboration are rewarded. Our professionals enjoy what they do, and it shows in every interaction.”