Headquarters:
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Year founded:
2001
Number of employees:
350
Phone:
1 866 788 3500
Email:
sales@payworks.ca
Website:
payworks.ca
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/450070
“While we enjoy growing, we really focus on improving our underwriting expertise to be sure we’re delivering greater than expected returns on capital for our carrier partners”
Ross Bowie,
Orchid Insurance
“Having capacity in a [catastrophe-prone market] has provided comfort to our agents – knowing Orchid is always the first choice when it comes to coastal homeowners”
Kathy Cody,
Orchid Insurance
Select Risk Services targets hard-to-place energy, environmental, construction, manufacturing, marine and transportation risks, but can also help retail agents to place just about any type of account. Since its inception, the company has maintained the highest standard of quality and work ethic in the industry. By doing so, the wholesale E&S insurance brokerage firm has achieved a seven-figure revenue in less than two years of being in business. Its revenue continues to grow by more than 60% year over year, enabling it to place more than $20 million in premium in 2021.
Entering its fourth year in business, the company has contracted over 100 market appointments and works with around the same number of agencies across the US. Select Risk Services has several exclusive market appointments that help differentiate its product offerings from those of competitors.
Select Risk Services is known for its speed and expertise as well as a consultative approach to client relationships. Often, the company’s brokers can produce same- or next-day quotes that are some of the best negotiated in the industry. Their expertise enables them to get the coverage, rate and premium needed to execute a bind order.
At Select Risk Services, the top priority is to protect the assets and liabilities of every insured in the most sincere and thorough manner while being an exceptional partner to agents, underwriters, and insurance carriers. The company’s relationships with underwriters and agents are strengthened every day by the way they do business, which is outlined in its mission statement: create loyal partnerships through a disciplined approach of hard work, focus, honor, and integrity.
Read on
IB Top Brokerages
Award Winner
SHIELDED INSURANCE BROKERS
Award Winner
SELECT RISK SERVICES
Keith Ross
Chief Executive Officer
Brandi Ross
Chief Financial Officer
James Debenport
Vice President
Leadership
Keith Ross has been in the insurance industry since 2005 and on the wholesale E&S side of the business since 2006. During this time, he has consistently been a top-producing broker and leader by maintaining a commitment to hard work and success.
Keith is honored to serve on the board of the advisory council of the University of Houston-Downtown’s Insurance and Risk Management program, where he helps to recruit the next generation into the insurance industry. In his career, he is most grateful for the relationships with underwriters and agents that he has been able to establish and grow over the years. Since it is a relationship business, he is always looking for new ways to strengthen old relationships while establishing new ones.
He holds a BBA and an MBA from Texas Tech University. He is married, has three children, and enjoys spending time with family when not in the office. He has won Insurance Business America’s Top Specialist Broker award for the past two years.
Chief Executive Officer
Keith Ross
Brandi Ross has a technical background in the engineering oil and gas industry for more than eight years and has been in the wholesale insurance industry since 2018. During this time, she has developed the company’s accounting system, maintains compliance, manages the licenses and surplus lines taxes for multiple states, as well as the human resources.
She holds a BS in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University. Married and the mother of three children, she enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors when not in the office.
Chief Financial Officer
Brandi Ross
James Debenport has been in the insurance industry since 2000 and on the wholesale E&S side of the business since 2003. He has consistently been a top-producing broker and leader in the industry and successfully expanded the national footprints and brokerage products of several brokerage firms. His ability to penetrate new markets and structure complex insurance programs in a highly competitive market has enabled him to build strong value-based relationships with a high level of confidence and trust.
James enjoys service work and has been involved with the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston and the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas. He has acted as a mentor at various stages throughout his career. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas State. He is married with two children, and enjoys coaching youth sports and spending time with his family when he’s not in the office.
Vice President
James Debenport
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
“While we enjoy growing, we really focus on improving our underwriting expertise to be sure we’re delivering greater than expected returns on capital for our carrier partners”
Ross Bowie, Orchid Insurance
“Having capacity in a [catastrophe-prone market] has provided comfort to our agents – knowing Orchid is always the first choice when it comes to coastal homeowners”
Kathy Cody,
Orchid Insurance
Read on
Award Winner
SELECT RISK SERVICES
Jose Salinas
Account Executive
Brandi Ross
Chief Financial Officer
Keith Ross
Chief Executive Officer
Leadership
Headquarters:
6575 West Loop South, Suite 470 Bellaire, TX 77401, USA
Year founded:
2018
Number of employees:
8
Phone:
713 589 4747
Email:
kross@selectriskservices.com
Website:
selectriskservices.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/select-risk-services-inc
Keith Ross has been in the insurance industry since 2005 and on the wholesale E&S side of the business since 2006. During this time, he has consistently been a top-producing broker and leader by maintaining a commitment to hard work and success.
Keith is honored to serve on the board of the advisory council of the University of Houston-Downtown’s Insurance and Risk Management program, where he helps to recruit the next generation into the insurance industry. In his career, he is most grateful for the relationships with underwriters and agents that he has been able to establish and grow over the years. Since it is a relationship business, he is always looking for new ways to strengthen old relationships while establishing new ones.
He holds a BBA and an MBA from Texas Tech University. He is married, has three children, and enjoys spending time with family when not in the office. He has won Insurance Business America’s Top Specialist Broker award for the past two years.
Chief Executive Officer
Keith Ross
Brandi Ross has a technical background in the engineering oil and gas industry for more than eight years and has been in the wholesale insurance industry since 2018. During this time, she has developed the company’s accounting system, maintains compliance, manages the licenses and surplus lines taxes for multiple states, as well as the human resources.
She holds a BS in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University. Married and the mother of three children, she enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors when not in the office.
Chief Financial Officer
Brandi Ross
Jose Salinas has a passion for providing excellent customer service and going the extra mile for his clients. He began his insurance journey 10 years ago with a non-standard auto insurance company. In the following years, he would work for State Farm and Allstate, the two largest auto and home carriers in the country, as a sales associate, commercial insurance specialist, and customer service manager. In 2018, Jose decided to pursue a career in the insurance industry and in 2020, received his BBA in risk management from the University of Houston-Downtown. In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer, playing video games, and spending time with his wife and one-year-old dachshund.
Account Executive
Jose Salinas
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
For the second year running, Shielded Insurance Brokers has claimed the number-one spot among IB’s Top Brokerages. In 2020, it was record-setting growth that drove the company’s impressive success. This year, says managing director Stuart Brady, the key ingredient behind the win is the Shielded culture. Brady is proud of the shared vision for constant improvement across all aspects of the business. “We are thrilled to take out the win again, and it’s hats off to the team for their hard work over the past year,” he says.
“Having capacity in a [catastrophe-prone market] has provided comfort to our agents – knowing Orchid is always the first choice when it comes to coastal homeowners”
Kathy Cody, Orchid Insurance
“While we enjoy growing, we really focus on improving our underwriting expertise to be sure we’re delivering greater than expected returns on capital for our carrier partners”
Ross Bowie, Orchid Insurance
Read on
Award Winner
SELECT RISK SERVICES
Delayne Sartison, QC
Founding and Managing Partner
Brandi Ross
Chief Financial Officer
Keith Ross
Chief Executive Officer
Leadership
Headquarters:
6575 West Loop South, Suite 470 Bellaire, TX 77401, USA
Year founded:
2018
Number of employees:
8
Phone:
713 589 4747
Email:
kross@selectriskservices.com
Website:
selectriskservices.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/
select-risk-services-inc
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
Keith Ross has been in the insurance industry since 2005 and on the wholesale E&S side of the business since 2006. During this time, he has consistently been a top-producing broker and leader by maintaining a commitment to hard work and success.
Keith is honored to serve on the board of the advisory council of the University of Houston-Downtown’s Insurance and Risk Management program, where he helps to recruit the next generation into the insurance industry. In his career, he is most grateful for the relationships with underwriters and agents that he has been able to establish and grow over the years. Since it is a relationship business, he is always looking for new ways to strengthen old relationships while establishing new ones.
He holds a BBA and an MBA from Texas Tech University. He is married, has three children, and enjoys spending time with family when not in the office. He has won Insurance Business America’s Top Specialist Broker award for the past two years.
Chief Executive Officer
Keith Ross
Brandi Ross has a technical background in the engineering oil and gas industry for more than eight years and has been in the wholesale insurance industry since 2018. During this time, she has developed the company’s accounting system, maintains compliance, manages the licenses and surplus lines taxes for multiple states, as well as the human resources.
She holds a BS in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University. Married and the mother of three children, she enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors when not in the office.
Chief Financial Officer
Brandi Ross
Jose Salinas has a passion for providing excellent customer service and going the extra mile for his clients. He began his insurance journey 10 years ago with a non-standard auto insurance company. In the following years, he would work for State Farm and Allstate, the two largest auto and home carriers in the country, as a sales associate, commercial insurance specialist, and customer service manager. In 2018, Jose decided to pursue a career in the insurance industry and in 2020, received his BBA in risk management from the University of Houston-Downtown. In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer, playing video games, and spending time with his wife and one-year-old dachshund.
Account Executive
Jose Salinas
For the second year running, Shielded Insurance Brokers has claimed the number-one spot among IB’s Top Brokerages. In 2020, it was record-setting growth that drove the company’s impressive success. This year, says managing director Stuart Brady, the key ingredient behind the win is the Shielded culture. Brady is proud of the shared vision for constant improvement across all aspects of the business. “We are thrilled to take out the win again, and it’s hats off to the team for their hard work over the past year,” he says.
Jose Salinas
Account Executive
Jose Salinas has a passion for providing excellent customer service and going the extra mile for his clients. He began his insurance journey 10 years ago with a non-standard auto insurance company. In the following years, he would work for State Farm and Allstate, the two largest auto and home carriers in the country, as a sales associate, commercial insurance specialist, and customer service manager. In 2018, Jose decided to pursue a career in the insurance industry and in 2020, received his BBA in risk management from the University of Houston-Downtown. In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer, playing video games, and spending time with his wife and one-year-old dachshund.
Account Executive
Jose Salinas
James Debenport
Vice President
James Debenport has been in the insurance industry since 2000 and on the wholesale E&S side of the business since 2003. He has consistently been a top-producing broker and leader in the industry and successfully expanded the national footprints and brokerage products of several brokerage firms. His ability to penetrate new markets and structure complex insurance programs in a highly competitive market has enabled him to build strong value-based relationships with a high level of confidence and trust.
James enjoys service work and has been involved with the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston and the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas. He has acted as a mentor at various stages throughout his career. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas State. He is married with two children, and enjoys coaching youth sports and spending time with his family when he’s not in the office.
Vice President
James Debenport
James Debenport
Vice President
James Debenport has been in the insurance industry since 2000 and on the wholesale E&S side of the business since 2003. He has consistently been a top-producing broker and leader in the industry and successfully expanded the national footprints and brokerage products of several brokerage firms. His ability to penetrate new markets and structure complex insurance programs in a highly competitive market has enabled him to build strong value-based relationships with a high level of confidence and trust.
James enjoys service work and has been involved with the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston and the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas. He has acted as a mentor at various stages throughout his career. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas State. He is married with two children, and enjoys coaching youth sports and spending time with his family when he’s not in the office.
Vice President
James Debenport
Delayne Sartison, QC
Founding and Managing Partner
Delayne is a managing and founding partner at Roper Greyell. A trusted advisor, negotiator and advocate, she advises employers on all aspects of management-side labour, employment and human rights issues in the workplace. Delayne is a creative and focused lawyer who efficiently and effectively applies her vast experience to address a wide variety of workplace law challenges facing both public and private organizations. She is particularly known for her experience in health sector labour relations, and advising on the application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to collective agreements and collective bargaining.
Founding and Managing Partner
Delayne Sartison, QC
Delayne Sartison, QC
Founding and Managing Partner
Delayne is a managing and founding partner at Roper Greyell. A trusted advisor, negotiator and advocate, she advises employers on all aspects of management-side labour, employment and human rights issues in the workplace. Delayne is a creative and focused lawyer who efficiently and effectively applies her vast experience to address a wide variety of workplace law challenges facing both public and private organizations. She is particularly known for her experience in health sector labour relations, and advising on the application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to collective agreements and collective bargaining.
Founding and Managing Partner
Delayne Sartison, QC
Jose Salinas
Account Executive
Delayne is a managing and founding partner at Roper Greyell. A trusted advisor, negotiator and advocate, she advises employers on all aspects of management-side labour, employment and human rights issues in the workplace. Delayne is a creative and focused lawyer who efficiently and effectively applies her vast experience to address a wide variety of workplace law challenges facing both public and private organizations. She is particularly known for her experience in health sector labour relations, and advising on the application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to collective agreements and collective bargaining.
Founding and Managing Partner
Delayne Sartison, QC
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/select-risk-services-inc
Website:
selectriskservices.com
Email:
kross@selectriskservices.com
Phone:
713 589 4747
Number of employees:
8
Year founded:
2018
Headquarters:
6575 West Loop South, Suite 470 Bellaire, TX 77401, USA
“We recently launched our Merlin rating platform that allows us to price risks at a 1 sq km grid – making sure we do not become overexposed in any areas. We can also be [precise] about where and at what price we deploy our capacity. We strongly believe our innovative underwriting techniques along with our amazing team allows us to continue to outperform our competitors.”
Established in 1998, Orchid Insurance has blossomed to become a leading program administrator underwriting over $300m of premium in 2022 through its various divisions. Headquartered in Vero Beach, FL with additional offices in Tampa and Houston, the company designs, markets, underwrites and administers insurance policies on behalf of third-party carriers through an independent network of more than 7,100 experienced agents and brokers.
Since its inception, Orchid has experienced steady growth by representing best-in-class insurance and reinsurance partners, and through successful partnerships with qualified independent retail brokers and select wholesale brokers. Orchid utilizes its homegrown pricing software that allows for better allocation of capital costs and has provided significant underwriting returns to carrier partners through best-in-class segmentation even as the frequency of natural catastrophes has increased.
Recent years haven’t always been easy, with land-falling hurricanes causing billions in losses to carriers across the Gulf of Mexico and Florida.
“Since 2017, we really haven’t had a quiet year,” says Kathy Cody, president and COO at Orchid Insurance. “Quite a few significant carriers have stopped writing wind coverage in catastrophe-prone states, causing MGAs to non-renew portfolios or close completely. Through the recent years, Orchid’s underwriting results have shone through. There isn’t another MGA in our space that can say they added new capacity in core wind states like Florida, the Gulf, and the Southeast like we did in 2021. Having capacity in a market like this has provided comfort to our agents – knowing Orchid is always the first choice when it comes to coastal homeowners.”
Today, Orchid is positioned for future growth through a focused approach in the continued development of proprietary insurance products and programs. A committed team of seasoned executives, the utilization of advanced analytics, and a data-centric approach sets Orchid apart in the marketplace. The company is committed to investing, developing, and solidifying its position as the leading platform in property and casualty insurance products in the US.
“We recently launched our Merlin rating platform that allows us to price risks at a 1 sq km grid – making sure we do not become overexposed in any areas. We can also be [precise] about where and at what price we deploy our capacity. We strongly believe our innovative underwriting techniques along with our amazing team allows us to continue to outperform our competitors.”
Established in 1998, Orchid Insurance has blossomed to become a leading program administrator underwriting over $300m of premium in 2022 through its various divisions. Headquartered in Vero Beach, FL with additional offices in Tampa and Houston, the company designs, markets, underwrites and administers insurance policies on behalf of third-party carriers through an independent network of more than 7,100 experienced agents and brokers.
Since its inception, Orchid has experienced steady growth by representing best-in-class insurance and reinsurance partners, and through successful partnerships with qualified independent retail brokers and select wholesale brokers. Orchid utilizes its homegrown pricing software that allows for better allocation of capital costs and has provided significant underwriting returns to carrier partners through best-in-class segmentation even as the frequency of natural catastrophes has increased.
Recent years haven’t always been easy, with land-falling hurricanes causing billions in losses to carriers across the Gulf of Mexico and Florida.
“Since 2017, we really haven’t had a quiet year,” says Kathy Cody, president and COO at Orchid Insurance. “Quite a few significant carriers have stopped writing wind coverage in catastrophe-prone states, causing MGAs to non-renew portfolios or close completely. Through the recent years, Orchid’s underwriting results have shone through. There isn’t another MGA in our space that can say they added new capacity in core wind states like Florida, the Gulf, and the Southeast like we did in 2021. Having capacity in a market like this has provided comfort to our agents – knowing Orchid is always the first choice when it comes to coastal homeowners.”
Today, Orchid is positioned for future growth through a focused approach in the continued development of proprietary insurance products and programs. A committed team of seasoned executives, the utilization of advanced analytics, and a data-centric approach sets Orchid apart in the marketplace. The company is committed to investing, developing, and solidifying its position as the leading platform in property and casualty insurance products in the US.