Jerry joined Bearingstar as an Insurance Consultant in 2019.  He brings over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry.  Jerry prides himself as being the “go to” person for all of his clients’ needs,  and specializes in the personal consultative process to develop strategies for his clients for now and in the future. 

 In his free time, he enjoys golfing, racquetball, and spending time with his wife, Laurie, and daughter Julia.

Carol has been in the insurance industry for several years.  Her family motto has always been “Knowledge is Power”, and she applies this philosophy in everything she does. She believes educating her clients helps them understand the unique products offered to fit their specific needs.

Carol graduated from Three Rivers Community College with an Associate’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Carol is fluent in Spanish and lived in Peru for fifteen years. She has worked in the insurance industry since 2017, specializing in personal and commercial lines.

In her spare time, Carol enjoys meeting new people and has found a recent passion for cooking.

Tanya Ballestrini joined Bearingstar in 2015 as an Insurance Consultant in the Mansfield office. She has worked in the insurance industry since 2012.

Tanya believes in protecting her clients’ financial futures. She prides herself on taking the time to guide her clients through the insurance process by educating them about proper coverage and the different products available to them.

Tanya is a graduate of George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism and Event Management. With a background in marketing and event management, she is always eager to meet new people and is a big believer in the power of social media. She is active in the Young Professionals of Eastern Connecticut, Polka Dot Powerhouse Norwich, CT chapter, and the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. She was awarded Young Professional of the Year in 2018 and is currently on the leadership team of Polka Dot Powerhouse. She currently resides in Windham, CT, with her boyfriend. In her free time, Tanya enjoys singing, dining out, painting, vacationing in Florida, and spending time with her family.

Tammy joined Bearingstar Insurance as a personal Insurance Consultant over 10 years ago. During this time she has won Bearingstar’s “Top Producer” three years in a row and has earned her ACSR accreditation. Tammy has been in the insurance industry for 21 years. Her many years of experience have helped her build long lasting relationships with her clients. Tammy is committed to ensuring that her clients are protected with customized home and auto protection plans that fit their individual lifestyles.

Tammy is an active member of the Greater Norwich Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys networking and meeting new people.

Tammy grew up in Baltic, CT where she currently resides with her husband. In her free time, Tammy enjoys reading, traveling and spending quality time with her two sons and grandchildren.

TJ Brown joined Bearingstar in 2018 as a personal lines Insurance Consultant. He specializes in personal lines property and casualty insurance. He truly enjoys educating clients about the coverage they need to protect themselves and their family. In fact, TJ’s favorite aspect of his job is building a relationship with his clients.

Hailing from Framingham, MA, where he lives with his wife and children, TJ is a graduate of UMass Dartmouth. Prior to joining Bearingstar, he helped run a family landscaping and construction business, as well as coaching hockey at Framingham State University.

Madison joined Bearingstar in 2019 as an Insurance Consultant. She has a over five years of sales and customer service experience. Madison worked in the beauty industry and owned her own business for about four years in Waterbury, CT. She made the switch to the insurance field in 2018. The switch came with her profound joy in helping others.  Her top goal is help people find the correct protection for their auto, home and life insurance needs. 

Madison currently resides in Bristol, CT. While she’s not at work she loves teaching yoga classes, and trying out new restaurants in the community. She also spends her time volunteering teaching gymnastics.

Jennifer has worked in the insurance industry since 1999, after completing military service in the US Navy. She joined Bearingstar Insurance in 2008. She has obtained the Certified Insurance Counselor designation and graduated from Eastern CT State University with a BS in Business and a BS in Communication.

Jennifer enjoys the relationships that she builds with her clients. She educates individuals, families, and groups on insurance and helps them find the best personalized insurance plan to suit their needs.

Jennifer and her family reside in Enfield. She is involved in her community as a volunteer for the Enfield Girl Scouts and on the Loan Review Committee for the Town of Enfield Office of Community Development.

Evan joined Bearingstar Insurance as a personal Insurance Consultant in 1999. She has been in the industry for over 25 years. Since then, she has won many company awards and achievements. Including, being Bearingstar’s Producer of the Year in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012. With her experience and knowledge she has built long lasting relationships with her clients. She understands the importance of insurance and the consequences of not having the proper coverage. Evan is committed to ensuring that her clients are protected with customized home, auto and personalized insurance needs.

Evan enjoys networking and meeting new people. She is an active member of the Canton and Simsbury Chambers of Commerce, Connecticut Association of Land Surveyors, Farmington Valley BNI, Avon-Canton Rotary Club and is the current secretary of the Canton Education Foundation.

Evan and her family reside in Barkhamsted, CT. She and her husband have been actively involved in the Litchfield County community for over 25 years. Her husband and two sons are proud Eagle Scouts. Evan and her family love nature and during their free time are members of the Audubon Society.

In 2017, Adam Cote joined Bearingstar to head the agency’s growing life and financial services division. Through Bearingstar, Adam provides a single-source comprehensive insurance and wealth management solutions to companies, institutions, families, business-owners and professionals. The Bearingstar approach to financial management is straightforward: listen closely to clients in order to factor all aspects of their financial lives, including goals, objectives, desired timelines and risk-tolerance.

Adam graduated with a B.A. in English and Mass Communications from Quinnipiac University in 2001. He was a journalist and news editor for five years before changing careers. He owns Life Accident and Health licenses as well as FINRA, Series 6, 7 and 63 securities registrations. Adam resides in Bristol, RI with his wife Jennifer, son Dylan and daughter Dessa.

Ronald Crooks joined Bearingstar in 2015 as an Insurance Consultant. Prior to joining Bearingstar, Ron worked at another agency, specializing in commercial trucking insurance. Ron specializes in providing personal lines solutions to his customers, taking the time to listen to them and learn how he can help protect their livelihoods. He prides himself on his relationships and giving exemplary service to all his clients.

Ron has received several out-of-industry awards for sales performance, customer service, and has even received recognition for opening a first-ever “Green Concept Business” for Yum Brands. In his spare time, Ron enjoys spending time with his family in Wilbraham, MA, playing music, and watching Boston sports teams.

David joined the Bearingstar Insurance Agency in Southbury as an insurance consultant in 2008. He has 21 years experience as a financial service representative and property casualty specialist. He graduated Cum Laude with his B.B.A from Central Michigan University. David is a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Life Underwriter. He obtained his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation in 2014. David was the top producer for Arbella Insurance Group (Bearingstar) in Connecticut for 2009 and 2010 as well as winning several monthly and quarterly awards.

David’s goal is to provide the proper insurance protection at a cost effective rate and to provide each client with a customized plan that meets their individual needs.

David and his wife Karen live in Gaylordsville, CT with their two children Joshua and Jessica. He is actively involved in the men’s ministry at Walnut Hill Community Church, having served in numerous capacities. In his free time, David enjoys softball, golf, hiking and reading.

Lorina joined Bearingstar Insurance in 2014 as a Personal Lines Insurance Consultant. She has over six years of experience as a personal lines insurance specialist. Prior to her insurance career, Lorina was a business owner in the telecommunications industry. As a business owner, she learned the importance of ethics and integrity in business.

Lorina enjoys working with her clients, getting to know their insurance needs and customizing insurance plans for them. She feels that every client has individual needs and that it is critical to take the time to understand those needs. Her motto is to go “above and beyond”.

Lorina is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University with a degree in Sociology. She resides in Southington with her family. In her free time, she enjoys biking, sewing, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Sean Flanders is the Director of Sale for Massachusetts and oversees the commercial team.  Aside from coaching his staff, Sean also provides exemplary customer service, product knowledge and insurance advice to the customers he interacts with. Prior to joining Bearingstar in 2012, he spent 25 years in biotech sales.

When Sean isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children in their hometown of Braintree, MA. He coaches hockey, baseball, softball and soccer, and plays in a local golf league and men’s hockey league.

Since joining Bearingstar in 2010, Lucille Flynn has worked closely with her clients to give them the best coverage to meet their individual needs. She offers her service to them whenever they need it, allowing her to build trusting and long-lasting relationships with her customers. She specializes in personal insurance coverage.

A Boston University graduate and lifelong Massachusetts resident, Lucille grew up in Stoneham, MA and now lives in Peabody, MA with her husband. She enjoys traveling, dining out, reading, singing and music.

Melany has worked in the insurance industry for over 13 years. Prior to becoming an Insurance Consultant, she was a Customer Service Agent in our Mansfield office. She received numerous awards and achievements during that time for sales and service.

Specializing in personal lines, Melany takes pride in making sure that her clients are properly covered with a focus on educating them throughout the insurance process. She uses her experience and insurance knowledge to customize personalized insurance plans to meet her clients’ specific needs.

Melany is active in the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce. Originally from Northern Maine, she currently resides in Andover, CT with her family. In her free time, Melany enjoys snowmobiling, camping and meeting new people.

Caragh joined Bearingstar in 2018 bringing with her over 20 years of insurance and customer service experience.

Caragh has received numerous awards for exceptional customer service, and prides herself on the relationships she builds with her clients. Her goal is to empower her clients with clear information, and ensuring they have the best coverage at an affordable price.

Over the years Caragh has worked with and supported several charities including The Special Olympics, Susan G Komen, and locally Mayor Mikes foundation whose goal is to provide affordable sports and after school activities for inner city youth.

Caragh lives in Tolland, CT with her son Michael, boyfriend Erik and English Bulldog Boogie. She enjoys cooking, baking and her extensive music collection as well as snuggles with her bulldog.

Diana brings over 35 years of insurance knowledge and experience to her Bearingstar clients. Since returning to sales in 2009, Diana has relied on her deep understanding of personal, commercial and life insurance in order to provide her customers with the support and service they need.

Being a member of the Reading Chamber of Commerce allows Diana to connect with her customers and community. She has held the designation CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) since 1996, and also belongs to the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors and has won numerous awards for sales and sales management over the years.

Diana is a graduate of Simmons College in Boston, MA. She lives in Reading, MA and enjoys spending time with family, watching baseball and reading.

Cedric is our Premier Client Group specialist and has an extensive personal insurance background. He is licensed in MA, CT, RI, NH, VT and ME.  Cedric has a long history of working with personal lines clients with higher-value and more complex needs.  He has a caring and consulting approach with risk management solutions.   Each of his clients find a great benefit in his comprehensive coverage needs assessments.

Cedric lives in Stoughton, MA and is a proud dad of two children, Emily (14) and Gregory (11). He’s a soccer coach, scuba diver, and avid hiker.  He is also an amateur watchmaker and loves collecting watches.  Cedric is also fluent in French.

Emmett Higley joined Bearingstar in October 2017. Emmett specializes in personal lines and strives to provide a consultative approach to his clients, to educate them and customize an insurance plan specific to their individual needs.

Emmett is an active member of the Avon Chamber of Commerce where he serves on the Marketing Committee, as well as an event coordinator for their Valley Young Business Entrepreneur group. He is also involved with the Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs group and serves on their Personal and Professional Development Committees.

A graduate of the University of Connecticut, Emmett lives in Rocky Hill with his girlfriend and two cats. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, hiking, climbing and adventuring to new places.

Randy Hodson began his insurance career over 30 years ago and has an excellent understanding of the insurance industry. His experience, coupled with his commitment to creating and maintaining long-lasting relationships, allows him to provide a superior level of service to all of his customers.

Randy has been honored with local and national industry awards several times throughout his career. He truly enjoys taking the time to get to know his customers and to help them protect their livelihoods.

Randy lives in Norwood, MA with his wife and two children, and enjoys golfing and playing basketball.

Bob Ketchen has been in the insurance business for over 45 years. His many years of experience have given him the opportunity to learn the intricacies of the industry, which he translates to his customers with the highest level of personal service and attention to detail. He offers his customers personal, commercial and life coverage.

Bob is active in his community, both professionally and personally, as a member of the Whitman Kiwanis and Knights of Columbus organizations. He has won numerous industry awards and recognition over his career.

Bob is a lifelong resident of Whitman, MA, where he lives with his wife. When he is not working, he enjoys golfing, boating, and spending time with his family at his summer home in Martha’s Vineyard.

Jennifer has worked in the insurance industry for over 20 years. Specializing in personal lines, her insurance experience helps her educate her clients on the importance of having the proper insurance coverage. Her focus is to provide a comprehensive personalized insurance program to protect assets and future earnings.

She prides herself on the relationships she has developed with her clients. That relationship, built on trust and compassion, has resulted in numerous referrals from friends and family.

In addition to being an Insurance Consultant, Jennifer works closely with the Bearingstar Charitable Fund in Connecticut. The charitable fund supports numerous non-profit organizations including the Connecticut Association of Schools, the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association, !MPACT and Connecticut Special Olympics, to name just a few.

Jennifer lives in New Hartford with her husband, Jeff, and their two children, Jordan & Alex.

Michelle joined Bearingstar Insurance in 2013 as a personal Insurance Consultant in our Mansfield office. She is licensed to provide auto, home, life and health insurance.

Prior to joining Bearingstar, she was in the automotive industry, first in sales and then moving up to management and then to the position of business manager. The automotive industry provided Michelle with the opportunity to assist clients with their financing needs. Now she has come full circle, assisting clients with their insurance needs.

Michelle enjoys networking and working with people. She is thrilled that her position at Bearingstar Insurance will enable her to immerse herself in the local community. Michelle grew up in the Willimantic area and currently resides in Chaplin with her family. In her spare time she enjoys spending time at home, fishing, watching UConn women’s basketball and spending time with her two dogs.

Lynda Lowell brings over 30 years of insurance experience to her role as Insurance Consultant for Bearingstar. She has worked with all lines of personal and commercial insurance. Lynda takes the time to get to know all of her customers so she can make recommendations and give advice based on their personal needs. She enjoys building and maintaining long-lasting relationships with her customers.

Lynda received her Bachelor’s Degree from The College of the Holy Cross. She grew up in Boylston, MA and currently lives in Charlton, MA with her husband and their son.

Nick McCummings has been providing insurance and advice to his friends, family and clients since 1991. In 2004, Nick joined Bearingstar, and transitioned from Team Manager to Insurance Consultant in 2014. Nick specializes in personal lines and takes special care when advising his clients to make sure they are protected.

Nick is a 1995 graduate of UMASS Boston.  He is a past president of the Brockton Rotary Club and current member of the Rotary Club of the Bridgewaters.  He enjoys camping, hiking and the beach.  In his spare time he enjoys being active in the community by coaching the Boston Shamrocks and Spaulding Sledgehogs sled hockey teams.  He currently serves as the USA Hockey and Massachusetts Hockey Adaptive Hockey Representative.

Laurie McLaughlin started with Bearingstar in 2014. She prides herself on providing her customers with outstanding customer service and helps get them the coverage they need to protect themselves and their possessions. Laurie enjoys connecting with her community and helping people get the coverage they need.

A resident of West Bridgewater, MA, Laurie enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, as well as entertaining family and friends, cooking, and snowmobiling.

Jim joined Bearingstar in 2019 as an Insurance Consultant and has long history of helping people with their insurance needs. Prior to joining Bearingstar Jim worked for Liberty Mutual and MetLife Auto & Home. He has received numerous leadership and sales awards throughout his insurance career.

Jim is knowledgeable in all lines of insurance, but focuses mainly on personal lines. Customer service and building relationships within the community are a passion for him.

Jim married his wife, Judy, in 2011. They have a passion for travel and go on frequent adventures. When they are not traveling they love to spend time on the golf course.

Kathy Piro is one of Bearingstar’s most experienced sales consultants, with over 40 years of industry experience. She maintains licenses in property & casualty and life & health insurance. Kathy is very involved with her community and takes pride in volunteering and helping others all year round.

A Fairfield Rotarian and member of the FBN (Fairfield Business Group) networking group, Kathy also organizes an annual golf outing to raise money for Homes for the Brave – a veteran’s homeless shelter in Bridgeport. She has previously held a number of leadership positions with many local organizations including the Building Hope Foundation and HBRA, the Home Builders Remodeling Association, in Fairfield County.

Kathy was most recently named 2017 Bearingstar CT Insurance Consultant of the Year for sales and outstanding service to her customers. She prides herself on the relationships and trust she has developed with her clients throughout her career. Kathy was honored by being named the 2011 HBRA Fairfield County WOMAN OF THE YEAR. This prestigious award is based on a member’s community involvement, professional stature and reputation within their industry and support of HBRA’s legislative agenda.

Kathy lives in Monroe, CT with her husband Robert and their two children, Robert & Michelle.

Dana Quigley has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry and joined Bearingstar as a licensed insurance consultant in 2011. She has a BA in social science from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven and is a recent graduate of Post University where she earned an MBA in leadership and marketing. Dana has obtained the Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist designation, and in 2016 received the Helm award for producers who exhibit outstanding skills. She strives to help both individuals and families with personalized insurance products that fit their needs. Dana also has had success working with employees of small and mid-size companies that need group discounted programs.

Dana is in a leadership positon with her networking group, Better Business Networking Quinnipiac, and has held many different roles within the group in her five years with them. She also serves on the Girls Inc. of Meriden Board which helps girls become strong, smart and bold with educational programs designed for young girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas. Dana has also worked with Special Olympics to raise money for her team by rappelling down the 34 stories of the Mohegan Sun Casino Hotel. She is an active member of the Meriden Chamber of Commerce and enjoys their many networking opportunities.

Dana lives in Wallingford, Connecticut, with her husband Martin, and her step son, Evan. She also has a daughter Brittany who lives in New York, and a son Levin who lives in Florida.

Jason joined Bearingstar in 2019 as a personal lines Insurance Consultant specializing in property & casualty insurance.  He has been helping clients with their insurance needs since 2010.  His goal is to help educate his clients, and to find the right coverage for each families unique needs.

Jason is a graduate from Worcester State University where he was an Assistant Captain of the Men’s Hockey Team.  He is from Lynn where he lives with his wife and 3 children.  When he is not working or spending time with his family, he enjoys playing baseball, hockey and golf.

Sally joined Bearingstar Insurance as a licensed Insurance Consultant in 2002. Since that time, she has won numerous company awards and achievements. Sally was named Bearingstar CT Insurance Agent and Producer of the Year for sales and outstanding service to her customers in 2009, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Sally has also qualified numerous times for the prestigious Helm award in which is given to top producers who exemplify outstanding skills. With over 16 years of experience in the insurance industry, Sally specializes in providing cost effective insurance solutions to individuals and families. In addition, she provides group discounted insurance products to businesses and municipalities.

Sally is an active member of many local organizations, and was awarded the Stamford Police Association Presidents Award for 2017. The award recognizes a civilian who goes over and beyond in volunteer service to assist and aid Stamford Police Officers and their families. A former President of the Stamford Chapter of Business Networking International, she is currently the Membership Chairperson and has won numerous networking awards. She is the current President of Up for Business – Stamford.  She works closely with the Chambers of Commerce in Norwalk and Stamford, the Stamford Board of Realtors and not-for-profit organizations such as St. Jude’s, Healing Hearts, the Umbrella Club and Person to Person. Through her involvement with community activities for the Stamford & Darien Police Departments, she was instrumental in developing group insurance programs for police department employees in Stamford, Darien, Greenwich, Westport, Wilton, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull and Glastonbury.

A lifelong resident of Stamford, Sally is a graduate of Pace University with a BBA in Marketing. She enjoys spending time with her children, Kaela and Dylan, her Pilate classes, exercising and traveling.

William Shivers joined Bearingstar in 2016 as an Insurance Consultant, but he has been servicing and helping protect his customers in the insurance industry since 2002.  He specializes in personal lines of insurance and truly values the education aspect of what he does.  William takes the time to make sure that clients understand what they are covered for and that they make the right decisions for their families.

William is a native of Boston, MA. In his spare time, he serves as the President of Operations for the Taunton Gladiators Football Program. He is also an active Board Member of the Eastern Football League of Massachusetts. William also enjoys spending time with his wife, Zena, and their three daughters, Elizabeth, Victoria, and Anastasia.

Vicki joined Bearingstar Insurance as a personal Insurance Consultant in 2013. She started her insurance career in 1987 and owned her own insurance agency in Trumbull. She has an extensive background in personal and commercial lines of insurance which enables her to assist her clients with personalized insurance products to fit their needs.

Vicki is a graduate of Marymount College with a BS in Business Administration and Economics. She is a member of the business networking group, G.R.O.W., and has held several leadership positions in the organization over the past four years.

She is a lifelong resident of Trumbull where she lives with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys meeting people, traveling, boating, cooking and her vacation home in Vermont.

Specializing in providing his clients with all their personal insurance needs, David Smith takes the time to educate them to make sure they understand their policies and know how to make the right coverage choices. David has over 16 years of experience as an Insurance Consultant and gives all his clients the personalized, tailored service they deserve.

David is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. A resident of Attleboro, MA, David enjoys spending time with his family.

Pam joined Bearingstar Insurance in 2001 as a Personal Lines Sales Specialist. Her 30 year insurance career is highlighted with many industry accomplishments. She was named the Bearingstar Agent of the Year in 2011 and again in 2012.

Prior to joining Bearingstar, she worked as a Director of Group Auto & Homeowners sales for a large regional broker and was recognized as the number one producer in Connecticut for Middlesex Mutual Insurance Company. For twenty years prior, she served as an agency principle with CSA Insurance Group.

Pam is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a degree in elementary education. She has served on the Corporate Fund Raising and annual Gala committees for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Pam is also the Program Manager for Arbella’s Chamber Home & Auto @ WORK insurance program, sponsored by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce.

Pam resides in Beacon Falls with her husband Carl, who is a commercial insurance executive. Her daughter Kristin and husband Ryan live in Southeast Asia with their twin son and daughter. Her son Ken and his wife Jamy live in Connecticut with their son. In her free time, Pam enjoys interior design, travel and serving her community.

Joseph Tavella joined Bearingstar as an Insurance Consultant in 2015, but he is no stranger to the insurance industry. Joe has been working with the Arbella Insurance Group since 1987 as an independent property claims adjuster before going to work for Arbella directly from 1995 until 2003. In 2003, Joe left Arbella to join Dow Roofing Systems (“DRS”), but he also handled property claims in a part-time capacity. Joe is looking forward to using his claim experience to help his customers choose the best insurance coverage that meets their unique needs, thus giving them peace of mind protecting their assets.

Joe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Springfield College. In his free time, he enjoys working out, coaching baseball and hockey, fishing, golfing, and spending time with his three children, Dave, Jackie, and Jonny.

Doug Wenz joined Bearingstar in 2017 as an Insurance Consultant. He has over five years of sales and customer service experience. Doug worked as a Loan Officer for two years in Milford, CT. He then made the switch into the Digital Marketing field working with business owners throughout Connecticut. In 2016, he was given an opportunity to run the sales department for a startup Digital Marketing company out of Brookfield, CT. Doug is excited to begin a career in the insurance field and is focused on building long lasting relationships with his clients in an effort to protect their assets and future.

Doug attended Pace University and University of Bridgeport where he studied Criminal Justice and was a pitcher for both collegiate baseball teams. He currently resides in Wolcott, CT. In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, playing softball and traveling.

Nichole Wheeler joined Bearingstar as an Insurance Consultant in 2017.  Although new to the team, she brings years of insurance and education experience to the agency.  Nichole enjoys getting to know her clients and taking the time to find out what is most important to them in order to provide customized insurance solutions to fit their specific needs.

Prior to working in insurance, Nichole began her professional career graduating with a double degree in Elementary Education and English from Southern Connecticut State University and taught Kindergarten for 4 years.  Upon making the career change into insurance Nichole realized what her true passion was and now enjoys educating each individual that she speaks with about their specific insurance coverages and what options they have to protect their most valued assets.

Nichole currently resides in Bridgeport, CT with her husband and dog. She is an active member of the BNI – Professional Referral Team in Fairfield, CT. In her free time, Nichole enjoys long walks with her family at St. Mary’s by the Sea, vacationing to tropical destinations, and meeting new people everywhere she goes.