Jun 2012 – Present · 13 yrs 10 mos · Somers, CT

• The mission of the Southern New England Athletic Association is to create content-filled events for the distance running community and provide turn-key race development services to those looking to create an endurance event of their own or enhance their existing event.

Jan 2010 – Present · 16 yrs 3 mos · Worcester, MA

• In 2010, amidst the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression and the softest insurance market in recent history, I opened an independent commercial liability insurance agency of my own, with the backroom support of two business partners. The agency’s original name was The Howes Insurance Group and we started from scratch. Literally, from $0. It was an enormous bet, especially with a single-income home with two kids and my wife counting on me. But I was confident in my abilities as a business developer and the relationship building groundwork that I had laid over the years. Through tireless effort, the agency began operating “in the black” by the end of the year.
• Fast forward to 2014 – When I bought out my partners. I immediately moved the company to my old stomping grounds of Worcester, MA and renamed the agency to Strategic Risk Transfers. This new badge will allow for greater universal branding as we continue to extend our market reach throughout the U.S.
• In 2017, Strategic Risk Transfers began to move into its next evolutionary phase - the creation of our own products. Based on my experience in the distance running race production community, we created two programs for that industry:
• 1) TimerInsure, our liability insurance program for race timing service providers;
• 2) RaceInsure, our race/event liability insurance program, run off of our own API-driven agency automation software.
• Both programs required the development of software and heavy coordination with our partner carriers.
• Today is an exciting time for Strategic Risk Transfers. Our operational footprint extends nationwide. Organic growth is strong. Creation of our own intellectual property will remain in the forefront. The agency is light and flexible – adapting to the market’s curve.

May 2005 – Dec 2009 · 4 yrs 7 mos

• Moving to Chittenden provided me with countless multi-faceted opportunities. Since Chittenden was a bank-owned independent agency, I developed a deeper understanding of the mechanics behind commercial lending. Simultaneously, I was able to cultivate relationships with both standard and captive underwriters throughout the nation... specifically with carriers like Energi, Harleysville, Peerless, One Beacon, Hanover, Liberty Mutual and CNA.
• Later in 2007, I began managing Chittenden's office in Worcester, Mass. This new position opened me to new layers of access to our underwriting partners and throughout People's United Financial, one of the nation's largest banks. Using these new tools as leverage, I was successful in creating unprecedented cooperation between both the bank and our underwriters.
• My experience at Chittenden would provide the confidence I needed to finally fulfill my dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

Sep 2001 – May 2005 · 3 yrs 8 mos

• After graduating from college and enjoying my final summer as a lifeguard for the National Park Service at Sandy Hook, NJ, I began my career in commercial insurance. That fall, I packed up my Firebird and moved to Owatonna, Minnesota, where Federated Insurance is headquartered, to attend their Marketing Development Training (MDT) Program – an intensive 8-month long workshop, designed to educate their future sales representatives how to market the Federated product and compete on the streets. I chose Federated because it was a more natural fit for me. Having driven an oil truck through most of college and Federated being the largest insurer of retail heating oil in the nation, I knew that I could find success.
• After completing the MDT Program, I accepted a territory that included the western four counties of MA. I knew that it would be a tough assignment. Federated was brand new to New England, providing me with little brand recognition to point to. Also, insurance buying decisions are heavily dependent on relationships. To add to the challenge, I did not grow up in or go to college in the area, so I had zero relationships to lean on. That said, for the first year, I didn’t sell much – meaning I received little commission – meaning I had little money… and I do mean little. That first year, I lived in an apartment, with no furniture. To eat, I could only afford to buy enough cans of Campbell’s Soup and bread to get me to the next paycheck. I gave up every distraction and pleasure, all to focus my energy, attention, and what little capital I had left over, into growing my territory and myself professionally. It all paid off. Nearly four years later, I would be able to buy an engagement ring, propose to my wife, and put a proper down payment on a house (that had plenty of furniture and food in the fridge). Around the same time, I realized that I had learned every lesson that Federated could offer. I moved on to my next challenge – working in an independent agency.