Profile
“Being true to who we are is key; we are purely a referral-based business. There is zero marketing or advertising”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
Shani Markus is a principal, senior vice president, and broker at Brown & Riding, specializing in construction, products, real estate, and energy. With over two decades of industry experience, she has created meaningful and lasting relationships with partners based on mutual trust, integrity, and grit.
Markus takes a strategic, contract-driven approach to construction placements, beginning every submission with a thorough 24-hour review and building coverage directly from contractual requirements rather than accepting generic language. She values intentional market selection, technical rigor, and transparent communication.
Markus has earned a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation and holds a Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designation. She has served on the IICF Houston Chapter Board of Directors, IIAH Board of Directors as energy forum chairman, Houston Marine & Energy Insurance Conference committee, and as past chairman of the TSLA Host Committee.
She is deeply committed to team development, investing in training with the goal of enabling every team member to excel in their career.
2194 Highway A1A, Suite 206, Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937 and 920 Memorial City Way, Suite 725 Houston, TX 77024
727 342 6786
smarkus@brcins.com
linkedin.com/in/shani-markus-255a42101/
brownandriding.com
Shani Markus
Principal, Senior Vice President, Broker Brown & Riding
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Bio
Milestones
“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
2002
2014
2016
2022
2023
Began her insurance career
2002
Served on IIAH Board of Directors as energy forum chair
2014
Served as Chairman of the TSLA Host Committee
2016
Joined Brown & Riding
2022
Became a Brown & Riding shareholder and principal
2023
Milestones
Milestones
ELITE WOMEN 2024 JUDGE
“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day,” he says.
While at the helm of a rapidly growing business and a family that includes two young children at home, Rakowski has learned to manage what he calls a “never-ending list of commitments” that consists of a new team member each month, a new interstate office and two to three new referral partners monthly.
“Our business is a human business, so investing genuine time in every person can be draining on a personal level. Balancing it all is a challenge,” he says. “Simply put, do what you say you will do, and act at all times with honesty and integrity, being respectful and empathetic. The financial outcomes are a byproduct of the human interactions we have.”
Attracting, retaining and delivering exceptional client outcomes and service starts with a sincere interest in their journey and remaining relevant to them as their lives and needs evolve, notes Rakowski. He points out that he and his team put in most of the work upfront in building meaningful relationships, which is a testament to its 99% client retention rate.
He says, “We are clear in the types of clients we work best with and our value proposition. We also look for a cultural alignment with all of our referral partners, and we are acutely aware of our strengths and how different we are from our industry peers.”
Rakowski recently opened a Queensland business and plans a foot in every other capital city. He strives to establish the brokerage as a national business with on-the-ground representation in every state by the end of 2025.