About Our Team
Austin James | Managing Director
Austin started his insurance career on the retail side as a producer, after graduating with a degree in Finance from Florida State University. Eventually he moved into the wholesale space working for two large national brokerages. In 2014, he joined McGowan to launch McGowan Risk Specialists. Since then, he has focused on building the organization to be a best in class property wholesaler to serve the needs of independent agencies nationwide. Outside of work, Austin enjoys golf, biking, traveling and spending time with his family. He currently resides in Central Florida with his wife and two young boys.
Larry Porter | Manager – Small Business Division
Larry has been in the insurance industry since 1979 and brings to this division a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Larry began his career as a State Farm agent. From the late 90s he was a partner in a successful MGU agency for property and casualty package products. He joined McGowan in 2012 as an independent contractor, instituting and managing a successful habitational program with MPA-MD. Recognizing that the small business arena can be underserved by qualified program administrators, he will endeavor to make McGowan a leader in a variety of retail, wholesale, service and institutional classes.
Will Jayne IV | Assistant Vice President
Will grew up in the Turks and Caicos Islands at his family’s fishing lodge where he developed a love for fishing, surfing, and traveling. He attended the University of Central Florida where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations. Since joining MRS CAT, Will has had the privilege of serving clients across the country, ranging from hurricane exposed coastal risks, to mid-west hail, to West Coast builders risk projects. Will takes pride in developing and nurturing strong relationships with his retail and underwriting partners, and focuses on providing quality service with speed and integrity.
Will currently resides in central Florida with his wife, Audrey.
Darin McClure | Broker
Darin started his insurance career in the Northeast working with a HPR property carrier. He soon moved into retail commercial insurance sales in the Southeast. Ten years ago he became a wholesale broker. He has developed and run several a national programs for habitational property and liability coverages. He joined the MRS CAT team July of 2019 as a broker. He currently enjoys spending time restoring old buildings. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two teenage children.
Brian Hogge | Broker
Brian joined McGowan in 2015 and has over 25 years of property and casualty experience. Combined with outstanding customer service, he consistently exhibits a high level of integrity and keeps agents in the loop as he scours the marketplace. From our long list of carrier partners, Brian consistently seeks the best options available for his clients for any line of business: Property, GL, Wind Deductibles or Parametric. Brian currently resides in Weston FL with his wife and son.
Ross Hackney | Broker
Ross was born in Central Florida and continues to live there today. He attended the University of Central Florida where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He has experience in political consulting and strategy development. He joined the MRS CAT team in July of 2020 as a Broker. His primary focus is to cultivate and maintain good relationships with his clients by providing exceptional service. In his free time, Ross enjoys exercising, golfing, woodworking, and spending time with his family.
Frank Menucci | Broker
Frank is the newest addition to the MRS CAT team as of April of 2021 and will transition into wholesale brokerage. He brings almost 7 years of industry experience, as he began his insurance career at Allstate working on personal lines auto claims in the state of New York. Frank made the move into underwriting after working in claims for a year and a half. He worked at GNY Insurance Companies in NYC and most recently at Western World Insurance Group in New Jersey for a total of over 5 years. Frank graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and a minor in Italian. He will be working from our New Jersey office where he also resides. In his free time, Frank enjoys sports, music, and spending time at the beach.
Jacqueline Stultz | Account Executive
Jacqueline comes to us with 12 years of experience in the Property & Casualty Industry. Her career started in an Allstate office in small town Pennsylvania where she started off selling homeowners and auto insurance. Jacqueline soon realized she wanted to live in an area that offered more opportunity and decided to move to Virginia Beach in 2009 where she met her husband. His career in the military/government has taken them to many different states with the most recent relocation being in South Florida. Throughout the moves Jacqueline has maintained and grown in her career in the insurance industry which has given her a unique perspective on insurance markets and needs across the country. Jacqueline is excited to bring the insurance knowledge and skills acquired throughout the years to the clients of McGowan. In her free time she enjoys being outdoors with her daughter and husband exploring Florida.
Christina Vargas | Senior Account Manager
Born and raised in South Florida, Boynton Beach. Started in the industry at Bright way Insurance (Boca Raton) as a receptionist in 2011 and stuck with insurance since (Personal Lines). Currently a dog mom to two rescues. I love to always learn something new and being outdoors preferably the beach.
Nicole Mueller | Account Manager
Nicole has worked for the McGowan Companies for over 5 years. She graduated with a bachelor of arts in Classical Civilizations and a Bachelor of interdisciplinary Anthropology from the University of Akron. She has lived the majority of her life in Northeast Ohio and plans to stay there the rest of her life. She loves to read but only stories with happy endings. Her only child is her black cat Sasha who is anti social and will only be petted on her own terms.
Kimberley Brownstein | Technical Assistant
Kimberley was born in South Florida and continues to live there today. Kimberley first joined the wholesale insurance industry back in 1999 as a temp, becoming full time in 2000 as a policy typist and later as a receptionist. In 2003, she left and rejoined the wholesale insurance industry back in 2006. In 2007, I began my current role where I facilitated a myriad of office tasks as a Technical Assistant. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, family and 4 legged children, fishing, bowling, swimming, playing bingo, reading & am a Huge Disney Fan!
Tiffany Bryant | Underwriter
Coming soon.
Alba Abrao | Technical Assistant
Coming soon.
Jettie Jackson | Underwriting Assistant
Coming soon.
Karen Redfearn | Underwriting Assistant
Coming soon