Agency Partners
Russ Schweikert is an Oregon native who has been working in insurance and risk management since leaving the U.S. Navy submarine service in 1993. He retired from the Navy/Navy Reserve in 2008 with 21 years of service, finishing as a Master Chief Electronics Technician (ETCM) (SCW/SS). He spent 10 years with the Ashland insurance firm Reinholdt & O’Harra as producer and partner serving clients in Oregon, Washington, and California, where he focused primarily on commercial and business coverage.
In 2003, after a mobilization recall to active duty for the Navy, he transitioned to work for Ashland Insurance. He services all lines of coverage and has added a significant focus on life insurance and retirement planning as well.
His primary responsibilities as a principal of Ashland Insurance include performing as Chief Development Officer, including recruiting and training new inside and outside producers, overseeing the company training plan, and pursuing inorganic agency growth opportunities.
Russ graduated from Southern Oregon University (SOU) in 2013 with a BS in Business Management and earned his MBA from SOU in 2015. He has earned the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) credential and the Certified Risk Management (CRM) credential to better assist clients with more complex commercial accounts with their growth management, asset utilization, and disaster recovery planning processes. He is also a national faculty member for the National Alliance for Insurance and Education.
He makes his home in Ashland, where he enjoys lifelong learning, and loves spending time exercising and traveling with his wife Kristina of 31 years, and their grown children Ellen of Ashland, and Evan of Hong Kong.
Jeff Wilson is the acting manager for Ashland Insurance’s Medford branch. He is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Medford office and oversees the banking and finances of Ashland Insurance.
Jeff started with Ashland Insurance in 1986 working on personal lines accounts. After a number of years, he expanded his knowledge to be able to write and service workers’ compensation, health, and business coverages. In 1996, he opened the Medford office with 40 accounts and one other employee. He continues to work closely with the business and personal lines clientele that he’s built over the past 30 years.
Prior to joining Ashland Insurance, Jeff worked for Macy’s of California in their management program, holding various positions in the buying and store lines, including assistant buyer and department manager. He obtained his B.A. in business administration from the University of Oregon with an emphasis in marketing and finance.
Jeff is currently licensed in a number of Western states for property, liability, life, and health sales. When he’s not at the office, you will most likely find him on a local soccer field, either playing or refereeing a game. In addition to soccer and snowboarding, Jeff loves hanging out and traveling with his wife Angie and his two daughters.
Tom is proud to be an Ashland native; he received all of his education in Ashland, from Bellview Elementary to Southern Oregon University.
He joined Ashland Insurance in 1996 and enjoys helping small business clients with their insurance needs and is actively involved in writing health insurance.
Tom enjoys spending time with his wife and four children.
Ashland Office
ASHLAND OFFICE
- 585 A Street Suite 1 Ashland, OR 97520
- 541-482-0831
- Fax: 541-488-5851
Ashland Staff
Julie was born and raised in Ashland. After she graduated from Ashland High School, she attended Southern Oregon University. She started her insurance career in 1977 and worked for several local independent insurance agencies in Southern Oregon before she joined Ashland Insurance in 1989.
Julie is a commercial lines agent with Ashland Insurance; Julie’s interest in computer technology helps keep Ashland Insurance on the leading edge of responsive customer service.
After graduating from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, Ed had the opportunity to enter the insurance field as a claims adjuster. He handled all types of auto, property and liability claims for a national insurance carrier. That experience gave Ed a solid foundation in the understanding of insurance policies and coverage. From there, Ed had the opportunity to join Associated Insurance Agency, Inc. in Ashland as an insurance agent. He built expertise in all areas of insurance, including business, personal lines, and life and health insurance. Along the way he was honored with many company production awards and served on a variety of regional and national company advisory boards. Continuing to build expertise, Ed built skills with sophisticated risk analysis and coverage placement becoming a trusted advisor with his clients.
Eventually, Ed acquired ownership of Associated Insurance Agency and built it into one of the larger agencies in the Rogue Valley. Ultimately, Ed sold the Agency to a large regional agency and continued to work for them for a period of years. Ed joined Ashland Insurance Agency in 2008 and with more emphasis on Ashland and the Rogue Valley. Throughout all this time, Ed has been very involved in the Ashland Community and has been involved in service clubs, such as Ashland Rotary, and other nonprofit groups with the goal of giving back to the community that has given him so much. Ed just recently completed a two year term as President of the Ashland Community Hospital Foundation, and was just recently recognized with the Distinguished Service Award, their highest honor of service to the organization.
Ed continues to make his home in Ashland with his wife, Jennifer. He enjoys all that Ashland and the surrounding areas have to offer. Ed is an avid “walker” and can often be seen on the streets of this lovely community.
Lori was born and raised in California, then later moved to Oregon in 1983 and attended RCC where she received an AAS in business.
Lori had a life long experience in customer service in a wide variety of industries from accounting to home goods before she decided to get licensed as an insurance agent in property, casualty, life and health. She joined the Ashland Insurance team as a health insurance agent in 2016, an experience she describes as “challenging and rewarding”.
Lori is currently a busy grandmother of six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Jake moved to Oregon to attend college at Southern Oregon University, where he graduated with a BS in Business Administration. He is excited to grow here at Ashland Insurance, which allows him to learn new industries and help our community with their insurance needs.
Jakes past work experiences have focused on customer service in the auto industry, which he will bring with him to the insurance world. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, playing music, and anything to do with cars.
Jake lives in Medford with his wife of 12 years, their car, and dog. Jake is excited to continue his journey and brings this enthusiasm to ensuring everyone he works with has the best experience possible.
Tia has been a Personal Lines agent with Ashland Insurance since 2004. She holds a bachelors‘ degree in Information Science Management from the School of Information Science and a degree in Managerial Accounting from Southern Oregon University.
Tia is happy to help clients who need language assistance with either French or Spanish as she speaks both languages.
When not working, Tia seeks new traveling adventures and volunteers as an interpreter for Doctors Without Borders and Defense for Children International.
Brian has been in marketing and sales since 1985. He represents the agency in the areas of networking, marketing, and business development.
Brian moved to Ashland 50 years ago to major in Music Education at Southern Oregon College in Ashland, OR, graduating in 1973. He also earned graduate hours in Music Education and Not-for-Profit Arts Management.
He is the co-founder of the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers (established in 1986) and remains active as a bass singer. He has sung in and recorded with choirs in Germany, the US, the Oregon Bach Festival (in Eugene), and even Ashland’s own Oregon Shakespeare Festival where he sang, played sackbut (Renaissance trombone) and percussion for the summer-long “Green Show” for the Elizabethan Stage plays.
He enjoys classical music, opera, biking, photography, traveling, cross-country skiing, and exploring the wonderful outdoors of Southern Oregon.
Medford Office
MEDFORD OFFICE
- 801 O’Hare Parkway Suite 101
- 541-857-0679
- Fax: 541-857-9883
Medford Staff
As an Executive Account Manager, I’m dedicated to serving as an advocate in risk management for various for profit business and not for profit agencies worldwide. I enjoying working closely with our clients to ensure exemplary customer service and to provide creative solutions for their Risk Management Programs. My passionate and enthusiastic entrepreneurial spirit and core philosophy is matched with our mission in providing the highest standards of care to all our clients.
Experienced: Licensed and Practicing Since 2014
Notable: I’ve enjoyed worked for both national and local firms as an account executive in Commercial Lines. My breadth of experience includes Construction Project Management, Business Administration and Sales/Marketing.
Personal Interests: I enjoy trail running, hiking, kayaking, reading, traveling, art cultivation, and spending time with my adult sons and close friends. My strong passion for “giving back” to our community has allowed me to be an active volunteer and board member for several non-profit and for-profit organizations and to be of service where ever the calling may be.
Kimberly Edwards is a Commercial Lines Agent for Ashland Insurance in their Medford branch. She started her insurance career in 1995 working for a small independent agency, primarily writing and servicing personal lines policies. She then transferred to the accounting side of insurance, and soon transitioned into commercial lines. Kimberly enjoys meeting with clients and the challenges that arise out of each unique insurance situation; she has experience working with a wide range of insurance companies.
Kimberly was born in Oklahoma and moved with her family to Southern Oregon soon after. They settled in Phoenix, Oregon in the late 1970s. Kimberly attended Phoenix High School, and after attending Business College in the Rogue Valley, went to work for Harry & David for several years in their call center, completing orders and providing customer service.
Kimberly currently resides in Eagle Point, where enjoys spending time with friends and family.
Kimberly is located at the Medford office and manages Commercial Accounts.
Telia has been in the insurance industry since 2004. She grew up in Vallejo, California relocating to Southern Oregon with her parents in 1993, where she later graduated from Phoenix High School.
Outside of the insurance world, she and her husband are involved in the timber industry owning and operating log trucks. In her spare time, Telia volunteers with Financial Beginnings and is a member of Oregon Women in Timber. She enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 children and 2 grandkids.
Tanis Harber is a Commercial Lines Agent for Ashland Insurance in their Medford branch. She began her insurance career in 1995 working for a large agency in Southern California, servicing personal auto policies. She then moved to the Rogue Valley and continued in personal lines policies including health coverage.
After moving out of the area to New York City, she spent 10 years underwriting Environmental Liability policies for a large insurance company. She has recently moved back to the Valley and enjoys meeting with clients and providing great rates and coverage for their commercial insurance needs.
Tanis was born and raised in the Southern California area. She graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelors degree in Political Science. She now resides in Central Point and enjoys visiting all of the beautiful surrounding lakes that Southern Oregon has to offer.
Myrian Hernandez was born in Southern California but grew up right here in the Rogue Valley most of her life. Myrian loves to enjoy Southern Oregon’s beauty through hiking, fishing, and trying different local cuisines with her son Anthony.
One of the highlights to Ms. Hernandez enjoys about her career at Ashland Insurance is being able to service the people in the community and apply her second language when communicating with clients. She attended Rogue Community College for two years and continues to learn as much as she can to provide the best customer service.
Linda has been in the insurance industry for over 30 years. She is licensed in all lines of insurance, including business, personal lines, and life and health.
Linda a sophisticated commercial and personal insurance professional specializing in contractors, the hospitality industry, and affluent personal lines accounts
In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities including fishing. She resides in the Rogue River area with her husband.
Mark Soderstrom moved to Southern Oregon with his family at age twelve and graduated from Medford Senior High School. He attended universities in both Oregon and France and graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Southern Oregon University.
After earning his business degree, he entered the Farmers Insurance management training program and supervised 32 people in their Commercial Policy Service Department in Portland.
Upon his return to Medford, he was an agent and owner of another successful independent agency in Medford for 19 years, selling and servicing insurance for business owners. He decided to take a break from the insurance industry to study furniture making in France, but has now come back to the Rogue Valley to continue his insurance career.
He resides in Phoenix, and when not working or traveling, enjoys downhill skiing and golfing with friends.
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