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Kristina RudezKristina Rudez, AAI CIC CRM
Account Executive
(407) 401-7171
krudez@egisadvisors.com

Kristina started her insurance career in July 2001 working for the largest private insurance agency in the nation, located in New York City. Originally from Serbia but raised in sunny Miami, a few winters in New York City were all that Kristina could handle. She ditched the winter coat and decided to defrost and move back to Florida. After four years in South Florida, she relocated to Orlando, all while continuing to work in insurance and earn her professional designations. Kristina joined Egis in 2014 as an Account Executive managing the insurance needs of Special Taxing Districts and Charter Schools, in North, Central, and West Florida. Kristina is a graduate of Florida International University. She holds the following professional designations: Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and Certified Risk Manager (CRM).

When not at work, Kristina likes to spend time with her husband Daniel and her two active boys. She also likes to travel, scuba dive, and watch documentaries.

 

Michelle ThomasMichelle Thomas, AAI
Account Executive
(561) 529-4614
mthomas@egisadvisors.com

Michelle services Egis’ clients in the role of Account Executive. She provides unsurpassed customer service to serve the needs of Egis’s clients and potential clients. Michelle manages Egis’s largest portfolio of Charter Schools and Community Development Districts located in South Florida. Michelle began her insurance career in 1996 working in the Public Entities department of a large commercial agency gaining experience working on wastewater and water treatment plants. Her book of accounts also included Fortune 500 companies. Michelle’s skills earned her a spot on a team that worked closely with Lloyds of London brokers to place complex shared multi-line property insurance for the global operations of high profile clients.

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Michelle now calls South Florida home and has been an integral part of Egis Insurance and Risk Advisors since June 2013. Michelle graduated from the University of Florida earning her Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude with a major in Criminology. She also holds the Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) designation.

 

Sue NewportSue Newport, CLCS
Account Executive
(561) 717-2927
snewport@egisadvisors.com

Sue Newport is an Account Executive at Egis Insurance and Risk Advisors. She developed a passion for insurance early on while working for Lumbermen’s Underwriting Alliance in their Governmental Affairs Department and attending her first year of college. After seven years working for this insurer, Sue moved to the retail agency side working for several large private and publicly held agencies throughout South Florida. Sue has held positions in customer service, marketing and sales, serving a host of industries plus a specialty in the life science industry.

Sue has been a licensed property and casualty agent since 1994. She earned a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 1998 and a Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) designation in 2018.

Sue is originally from Guatemala, lived in Arizona and Indiana before settling in Florida. When not at work, Sue enjoys spending time with her husband and blended family of five kids. Other interests include cycling, paddle boarding, golf, live music, and the arts.

 

Charisse BitnerCharisse Bitner, CLCS
Account Manager
(321) 320-7665
cbitner@egisadvisors.com

Charisse joined Egis in 2015 as an Account Manager. Providing outstanding customer care, Charisse focuses on serving the needs of Special Districts in Central Florida. Previously, Charisse worked as a Commercial Account Manager for fifteen years at a large insurance brokerage firm in Central Florida. As a seasoned account manager, Charisse mastered providing quality service with efficiency. She is knowledgeable of all of her accounts and their coverages.

Charisse is an Orlando native. She enjoys the beach, cheering on her favorite sports teams (New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox & Florida Gators) and spending time with her husband and two children.

 

Yvette NunezYvette Nunez
Account Manager
(407) 378-0632
ynunez@egisadvisors.com

Yvette Nunez joined Egis in 2023 as an Account Manager. She started her insurance career in September 2003 working for a local agency that later transitioned to be part of one of the Top 100 Independent Agencies in the United States, located in Florida. Her experience throughout the years has been in personal and commercial insurance, working in positions of customer service, sales, and management. Yvette emphasizes in providing quality and efficient service.

Yvette received her Associate of Arts degree and is currently completing her Bachelor’s in Business and Organizational Leadership from Valencia College. She is also a licensed Florida property and casualty agent with plans to pursue insurance designations upon the completion of her degree.

Yvette is originally from Connecticut but was raised in Central Florida. She enjoys spending time with her children and large Dominican family. She enjoys being a foodie around Orlando, kayaking, and traveling.

 

Ismary Cardoso, CPCU ARM AAIIsmary Cardoso, MBA CPCU ARM AAI
Vice President – Public Entity Risks
(561) 708-6288
icardoso@egisadvisors.com

Ismary Cardoso is a Vice President – Public Entity Risks with Egis Insurance & Risk Advisors. Prior to joining Egis, Ismary worked for Insurance Office of America (IOA), where she developed a specialty in contractor’s risk programs. She is passionate about understanding the ever-changing risk exposures of public entities; as well as sharing her expertise while helping organizations mitigate and transfer those risks through insurance. In addition to her role at Egis, Ismary also teaches commercial insurance to help aspiring insurance agents pass the Florida Commercial Lines licensing exam.

Ismary is a Business Management graduate from Western Governor’s University. She also obtained her MBA from the same school. Ismary is a licensed Commercial Lines Agent in the state of Florida and holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI), and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations.

Ismary is originally from Cuba where she developed a professional background in Translation and Linguistics, becoming fluent in English, Spanish, and German. She enjoys dancing, traveling, learning about different cultures, and even researching technical terms in several languages.

 

Hunter RedingerHunter Redinger
Jr. Account Manager
561-210-7634
hredinger@egisadvisors.com

Hunter Redinger joined Egis in 2023 as a Junior Account Manager. He started his insurance career working for the leading Flood Insurance agency in the US, helping new customers place flood coverage in 48 states. Hunter later progressed into a role focused on personal and small commercial lines for high-net-worth clients, allowing him to hone his skills in contract and coverage analysis. The complexities of these clients’ personal and business affairs required out of the box thinking to curate unique solutions to complex problems.

Hunter most recently worked for a commercial insurance consulting firm where he provided in-depth analyses of clients’ contracts against their insurance policies for compliance and coverage recommendations. Hunter prides himself in his ability to solve complex problems while offering best in class service to his clients.

As a Florida native, Hunter received his Bachelor of Science degree in Risk Management and Insurance from Florida State University. He is a licensed Florida property and casualty agent with plans to further his industry knowledge through the pursuit of insurance designations. He enjoys his free time exercising, spending time in nature, watching football, volunteering, and traveling whenever possible.

 

Sara WilsonSara Wilson
Account Coordinator
(561) 423-9990
swilson@egisadvisors.com

Sara is an Account Coordinator at Egis Insurance & Risk Advisors. In her prior role as Executive Assistant, she worked side by side with the executive team managing and overseeing administrative operations, providing administrative support, handling executive correspondence, and working on special projects. Her organizational skills and aptitude for insurance led to her recent promotion to Account Coordinator. Now Sara works with the Account Management team providing client support for agency renewals and new customer onboarding.

Prior to joining the Egis team, Sara worked in the hospitality industry as a manager and event coordinator in her home state of Ohio as well as in Florida. Sara previously attended The Ohio State University and studied Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition at Keiser University. Sara is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University and recently earned her RCSR designation and obtained her 4-40 license.

When Sara isn’t working or studying, she enjoys being active with her young daughter, traveling to Ohio to visit her family, weightlifting, and spending time with her two dogs, Olivia Benson and Rita.

 

Chelsea GriffinChelsea Oakes, AAI
Vice President – Public Entity Risks
(561) 708-6255
coakes@egisadvisors.com

Chelsea is a Vice President – Public Entity Risks with Egis Insurance and Risk Advisors. Her outgoing personality and organizational skills have earned her the roles of new member ambassador and conference planning committee member for the Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD) and committee member for the FASD Education Foundation. Chelsea previously worked at high-end retailers and was responsible for merchandising designer lines, organizing fashion events within the store, and offering one-on-one personal shopping. During her time there, she mastered predicting what people need before they know they need it. She now uses that skill set to better inform current and prospective Egis clients of their insurance coverage needs.

Chelsea received her Associate of Arts degree from the University of Central Florida and her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University. She is also a licensed Commercial Lines Insurance Agent in the State of Florida with an Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI) designation.

 

Brent GrimmelBrent Grimmel, AAI CIC CSRM
Sr. Vice President, Agency Operations
(321) 320-9866
bgrimmel@egisadvisors.com

Brent is a member of the Egis executive leadership team. He is responsible for overseeing all agency operations including outreach, agency services, client retention, and agency growth planning. He provides a consultative approach to identifying insurance needs to keep the clients of Egis well protected. Brent offers insurance solutions to new clients while maintains ongoing communication with current clients to ensure their changing needs are met. Prior to joining Egis, Brent worked in aviation for over a decade in several roles: commercial pilot, flight instructor, and flight school management. Working in the aviation industry, Brent learned how to keep calm and effectively multitask when placed in a stressful position, allowing him to handle any situation. Aviation can also be a risky field, lending its self to develop and promote awareness of risk management strategies. All relevant traits to the work performed with Egis.

Brent earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of West Florida. Brent is licensed in both Commercial Lines insurance as well as Life, Health, and Annuities in the State of Florida; and, has earned several professional insurance designations: Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM).

 

Ryan RupnarainRyan Rupnarain, ARM CPSI
Sr. Manager, Loss Control Services
(321) 273-2047
rrupnarain@egisadvisors.com

As the Senior Manager of Loss Control Services, Ryan is responsible for the oversight, development, and delivery of Egis’s tailored loss control services. As part of this role, Ryan works closely with Egis’ clients to assist them with risk identification and mitigation using a consultative approach. He provides guidance and training in the areas of safety, contractual risk transfer, hazard identification, and other loss control techniques to support Florida’s Special Districts and Public Charter Schools’ risk management efforts. Ryan got his start in risk management working for Liberty Mutual Insurance as a Risk Management Analyst. During this time, he was responsible for producing analytics that forecasted loss trends and supported the execution of loss control strategies. This included developing a risk management reporting process that leveraged key performance indicators, benchmarking, and gap analysis to provide a clearer picture of risk for senior leadership and stakeholders. Over the next 7 years, he honed his skills as a consultant, excelling at key risk management roles with large national accounts. Prior to joining Egis, Ryan worked as a Risk Engineering Consultant at The Hartford, further rounding out his creative and strategic approach to loss control.

Ryan earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business with a focus on Management Information Systems from the University of Central Florida and is an accredited Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI).

 

Andy Jimenez

Andres Jimenez Guzman, AIC AIS
Sr. Vice President, Risk and Trust Operations
(321) 323-0042
ajimenez@egisadvisors.com

Andy is a member of the Egis Executive Leadership team. He heads the Program Administration department and is responsible for overseeing Florida Insurance Alliance’s (FIA) day-to-day operations, which include underwriting, claims, re-insurance, loss control, compliance/reporting, and member advocacy. Andy also leads the Risk Services team, which specializes in providing Risk Management services to Florida’s Special Taxing Districts and Public Charter Schools.

Andy joined Egis Insurance & Risk Advisors in 2016 from Liberty Mutual Insurance, where, as part of the Claims Leadership team, he led a team of Casualty specialists who were responsible for the handling and defense of both non-litigated and litigated complex liability and first-party claims.

Andy has 20 years of experience in the insurance industry and has worked in a wide variety of positions including Sr. Casualty Specialist, Catastrophe Field Adjuster, and Risk Services Sr. Manager. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. He is a licensed All-Lines adjuster in the State of Florida and has earned several professional insurance designations including: Accredited Claims Adjuster, Associate in Claims, and Associate in Insurance Services. Andy has hosted several Risk Management webinars and is a frequent speaker at state and local conferences on issues related to charter school and governmental insurance and risk management. He is also an active member of the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA), Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRIP), and Risk Management Society (RIMS).

Andy is originally from Costa Rica but grew up in the Washington D.C. area. When he’s not in the office, you can find him hiking, kayaking, cycling, or recovering from injuries related to the aforementioned activities.

 

Richard Wardrip, Esq, SCLA, AIC, AIM, AISRichard Wardrip, Esq, SCLA, AIC, AIM, AIS
Sr. Claims Manager
(321) 396-5974
rwardrip@egisadvisors.com

As Sr. Claims Manager, Richard oversees the day-to-day claim operations of Florida Insurance Alliance, ensuring that the associated efforts and outcomes align with our standards, guidelines, and overall claims philosophy. In this role, Richard plays a key part in our integrated approach to serving the risk management needs of Florida’s public entities.

With over 20 years of experience in the insurance and TPA arena, Richard brings an impressive array of skills and expertise to our firm. He has held a variety of positions including Sr. Adjuster, Consultant, Claims Manager, and Director. Prior to joining Egis, he served as an AVP at Sedgwick, where he led a claims program responsible for handling both non-litigated and litigated third party claims.

Richard earned his Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University and his law degree from New England Law in Boston, MA. He is a licensed All-Lines adjuster in the State of Florida and has earned several professional insurance designations including Associate in Claims (AIC), Associate in Management (AIM), Associate in Insurance Services (AIS) and the Senior Claims Law Associate designation (SCLA).

Richard is originally from the New England area and grew up in R.I. When he’s not in the office, you can find him and his wife, Ann enjoying their two golden retrievers and exploring the FL coastline.

 

Charlen WadeCharlen Wade
Loss Control Consultant
(561) 717-0771
cwade@egisadvisors.com

Charlen is a Loss Control Consultant at Egis Insurance & Risk Advisors. Charlen has an extensive background in human resources, environmental health and safety, and industrial hygiene. She discovered her passion for risk management while serving as the Deputy City Clerk and Human Resource Assistant for the City of Bonita Springs. While serving the community of Bonita Springs, Charlen increased her knowledge and interest in public entities. Having had the opportunity to excel at safety administration and management, she accepted a role as an Environmental Health and Safety Industrial Hygiene Technician for a large private engineering consulting firm, allowing her to further develop her technical expertise. Charlen then transitioned into the loss control and insurance field serving Palm Beach County risk management prior to joining the Egis team. Charlen currently serves as president of the American Society of Safety Professionals’ Gold Coast chapter.

Charlen earned her Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and is currently pursuing multiple industry designations including an Associate in Risk Management. In her free time, Charlen enjoys staying active and trying new foods. She also enjoys reading and listening to true crime and wealth management podcasts.

 

Tyler BrightTyler Bright
Underwriting Team Lead
(321) 401-6480
tbright@egisadvisors.com

Tyler is the Underwriting Team Lead with Egis Insurance and Risk Advisors. He is responsible for the supervision of the Underwriting Department. Tyler has always excelled in the analysis of risk factors and statistical data. His strong attention to detail lends itself to reviewing final reports for reinsurers, as well as creating proposals for public entities in Florida. Tyler began his career in Insurance in 2016 as an Underwriting Assistant for Egis Insurance and Risk Advisors. Since then, Tyler’s duties and responsibilities have continued to grow as he demonstrates his willingness to learn different aspects in his insurance career. In 2021, Tyler was promoted to Senior Underwriter where he oversees the underwriting department. Prior to joining Egis, Tyler worked for five years handling concerns of customers in a fast-paced industry, which gave him a strong problem-solving trait.

He is a graduate of the University of Florida where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Major in Economics.

 

Yves Lexis, MBAYves Lexis, MBA
Field Underwriter
(321) 396-1965
ylexis@egisadvisors.com

As a Field Underwriter, Yves plays an integral role in the Egis risk selection process, leveraging his analytical and statistical acumen to ensure risks align with underwriting principles and goals. Yves also deploys this skillset as he leads our premium audit process. Supporting our holistic approach to underwriting, Yves works closely with the Risk Services team to incorporate loss control feedback into the department’s overall strategy and vision.

Yves is a graduate of the University of South Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Finance, and a Master of Business Administration. Prior to joining Egis, Yves excelled at roles including worker’s compensation premium audit and later as an underwriter with FCCI.

Yves enjoys playing soccer, watching professional basketball, and spending time in nature. As someone with a passion for embracing new ideas, reading, and learning, he is actively pursuing his Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation.

 

Kaitlin HennesKaitlin Hennes
Underwriter
(386) 490-4359
khennes@egisadvisors.com

As an underwriter, Kaitlin works alongside the Egis underwriting team evaluating risk and exposure data to ensure coverage solutions meet the unique needs of Florida’s special taxing districts and charter schools while maintaining competitive terms. Kaitlin also serves as our liaison to Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR).

Kaitlin began her insurance career with Liberty Mutual in 2014 where she developed her skills in policy and coverage analysis while managing complex bodily injury claims. An opportunity to broaden her commercial claims knowledge led her to Sedgwick, where she handled property and liability claims. Kaitlin’s claims experience brings a broader perspective to the underwriting team and its philosophy.

Prior to joining the insurance industry, Kaitlin worked for the Walt Disney Company where she was able to develop her customer service, management, and risk assessment background. She graduated from Stetson University with a Bachelors in Business Administration and is currently working towards completing her Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU) designation.

 

Stephanie Climer

Stephanie Climer
Controller
(321) 233-9939
sclimer@egisadvisors.com

Stephanie is the Controller of Egis Insurance and Risk Advisors. She is responsible for overseeing all accounting operations and financial reporting, establishing and monitoring internal controls, and enforcing policies and procedures. She also works closely with Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to make sure that Florida Insurance Alliance stays in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. Stephanie began her insurance career at Egis in February 2016 as a Staff Accountant. Since then, Stephanie’s responsibilities and duties have continued to grow as she expresses an interest in growing in the field of insurance. Prior to joining Egis, Stephanie worked in a fast-paced industry for five years solving customer concerns, which gave her creativity in finding solutions.

She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Stephanie is also a Notary Public in the state of Florida.

 

Caleb BeyersdorfCaleb Beyersdorf
Staff Accountant
(321) 399-0002
cbeyersdorf@egisadvisors.com

Caleb is the staff accountant at Egis Insurance & Risk Advisors. He works directly with the controller and all members of our team. Caleb is responsible for day to day accounting tasks of our firm and assisting in financial statement production.

Prior to joining Egis Insurance & Risk Advisors Caleb gained experience working as a lead analyst during client investigations and utilized asset, income, and market valuation methodologies for multi-million-dollar companies.

Caleb earned his Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the University of North Alabama and an Associate degree in Business from Shoals Community College. In his free time Caleb enjoys reading, playing cards and board games, and spending time with his wife and their cats.

 

Mark GrimmelMark Grimmel, AAI CIC ARM-Public Entities
President
(561) 693-4515
mgrimmel@egisadvisors.com

Mark Grimmel is the President and Founder of Egis Insurance & Risk Advisors (Egis) with offices located in Boca Raton and Lake Mary, Florida. Egis, established in 2008, provides insurance and risk management services to Florida Public Entities, Special Taxing Districts, and Public Charter Schools. In 2011, Egis created a public entity insurance trust called the Florida Insurance Alliance (FIA) and serves as the Trust Administrator.Prior to creating Egis, Mark served as the Vice President of Property and Casualty Insurance Services for Hilb, Rogal, and Hobbs. Additionally, he worked for over 12 years in the accounting profession providing financial reporting and accounting services to mid to large-sized businesses. During this time, he held the positions of Controller and Director of Operations for one of the largest privately held technical staffing firms in the country.

Mark earned a Business Administration Degree from Palm Beach State College and currently holds an Associate in Risk Management (ARM), Risk Management for Public Entities (ARM-P), Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designations.

When not at work, Mark likes to spend time with his wife Kimberly and their two kids. He also enjoys fishing, hunting, and riding his motorcycle.