After beginning his insurance career as a life-health agent, Chris Amrhein graduated to property-casualty sales, where he first met the greatest mine of comedy material extant today—the ISO forms. Following several years as a producer and independent agency manager/owner, Chris spent many years as a full-time educator, as VP Education for the Florida Association of Insurance Agents and VP Education for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. Those years found him traveling about the country teaching seminars on everything from agency management to the claims made CGL. It has also taught him the absolute truth of Jimmy Buffet’s famous observation about those who make a career of the property-casualty business: “If we weren't all crazy we would go insane.”

Kevin Amrhein began his insurance career as a marketing representative and then commercial lines agent for a large independent agency in Orlando. While furthering his education, Kevin spent time creating ad campaigns for the local clients of a major radio broadcasting company. He credits this experience for the solution-based writing style that has enabled him to publish hundreds of original articles annually for insurance industry publications. In addition to writing, Kevin is a technical instructor, teaching classes on industry subjects ranging from ethics, property and casualty lines of coverage, and risk management.

Mark Bentley spent 15 years in high-tech marketing-communications management before becoming a film and television professional. Mark now produces corporate, non-profit, special-event and music videos for an array of clients around the country. He also works on feature films (Wedding Crashers, Syriana and The Good Shepherd), television (Monday Night Football, Psychic Detectives) and national commercials (Nike, Honda).

After a successful career as an economist and arms-transfer analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency, Maureen Brody is enjoying a second profession, as editor of Aartrijk’s numerous private-label newsletters and other editorial products, and News & Copy Chief of Leader’s Edge magazine.

John Campbell has more than 30 years experience in journalism, public relations, marketing communications and research, with a deep understanding of strategic planning in the fields of financial services, health, housing and technology. In the past 20 years, Campbell Communications has provided consulting services to more than 60 trade and professional associations, to corporate organizations in a variety of industries, and to federal government agencies.

Laurie Donohue brings 25 years of experience in sales and marketing management to her role as executive director of I-Marketing Management. Prior to launching I-Marketing, she was corporate communications manager for The Main Street America Group, where she planned and implemented all external communications for this $800 million company. In addition, Laurie worked with many MSA Group independent agents to develop and implement marketing plans for their individual agencies. Laurie has a BA from the University of New Hampshire and a Certificate in Project Management from Boston University. She is currently working toward obtaining her CIC certification.

Noah Talesnick is the managing executive of Web Solutions of America, which works with Aartrijk to provide comprehensive Web site analysis, development, and search-engine optimization. Noah has more than nine years of experience programming and managing web projects for such varied organizations as careershop.com, Collegis, Brintech and Notre Dame University. He graduated University of Central Florida with a degree in Finance.

Greg Smith has more than 17 years experience in visual communications. As the long-time creative director of the Independent Insurance Agents of America, he developed a cohesive image for all of the association’s communications, including its national magazine. As a freelance graphic designer, he has created logos, annual reports, media kits, print ads, brochures and newsletters for a wide range of clientele, including educational, insurance, high-tech and financial investment firms. His work has earned an ADDY and an Insurance Marketing and Communications Best of Show Award. Greg is a graduate of West Virginia University, with a Bachelor of Science in journalism and advertising.

Ellen Wallace joined Aartrijk in 1999 as Office Manager. In her career she has helped run operations of various services firms from a financial services sales operation to an audiovisual specialist.

Dave Willis is a seasoned writer and communicator with 25 years of experience in the insurance and risk management community. For more than 11 years, he held communication and operations management positions with CIGNA. Since then, he has served in a variety of freelance and other communication and management roles, serving technology, publishing, association and corporate clients. In 1997, he co-founded PropertyAndCasualty.com, and served as editorial director for that and other business-to-business websites. A Taylor University alumnus, Willis is involved in local non-profit and community endeavors.

This purebred Yellow Labrador Retriever, trained to attack with fierce licking, is Aartrijk’s on-site corporate watchdog. Molly joined the firm in 1999, and in 2001 she was promoted to Chief Security Officer. This was after an internship that involved harassing the cleaning crew, UPS, Deer Park deliveryman and certain clients. In 2004 she assumed the additional title of Chief Napping Officer—well earned and a relief to all.