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
Shannon Stefanski, executive vice president and casualty specialist, works out of the RT Specialty Philadelphia office.
She joined RT Specialty as an assistant vice president when it was formed in 2010, and has significantly contributed to the firm’s tremendous growth, making her one of the leading wholesale brokers in the insurance industry. In managing a large casualty book of business, she has created an intense focus on real estate, construction, and manufacturing.
As the leader of her team, Stefanski guides and mentors a large group of brokers to grow professionally and advance every day. She received the RT Specialty Patrick G. Ryan award in 2014 and 2022, the 2020 Business Insurance Women to Watch award, and was recognized as an RT Specialty Top Performer from 2018 to 2024.
She and her husband, Bob, reside in Pennsylvania with their three wonderful children: Molly, Bobby, and Ryan.
155 N Wacker Dr., Suite 4000, Chicago, IL 60606
312 784 6001
sstefanski@rtspecialty.com
linkedin.com/in/shannon-stefanski-85098550
rtspecialty.com
Shannon Stefanski
Executive Vice President
RT Specialty – Philadelphia
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Milestones
“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
2006
2010
2013
2020–2021
2022–2023
Began her career in casualty wholesale at CRC
2006
Joined RT Specialty as an assistant vice president on the firm’s founding team
2010
Promoted to senior vice president at RT Specialty
2013
2020: Honored as a Business Insurance Woman to Watch
2021: Promoted to executive vice president at RT Specialty
2020–2021
2022: Received the Patrick G. Ryan Casualty Award
2023: Honored as an Elite Woman by Insurance Business
2022–2023
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.