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 makes his home in Ashland, where he enjoys lifelong learning and loves spending time exercising and traveling with his wife Kristina of 26 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. Jeff greatly enjoys helping customers find solutions to their insurance needs.
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
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.
Sue Carney came to Ashland in 1984, to work as a musician at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where she continued until 2007. She studied music production and acoustics at the Temple Bar Music Center, in Dublin, Ireland during the years 2008-2009.
In 2012, anticipating the public need for assistance during the launch of the new Federal Healthcare Exchange, Sue obtained her insurance license, and got to work. She has been assisting the local community with their healthcare enrollments ever since.
During the nation’s first open enrollment, Sue formed a partnership for educational outreach with the Ashland Food Coop, setting up information tables outside the store, and speaking directly with people who needed help. In 2014, she opened Carney Insurance, an agency focused specifically on federal healthcare enrollments.
In the fall of 2015, Carney Insurance was one of 24 agencies statewide, selected to receive an “Agent Storefront” grant from the State of Oregon. The grant enabled Carney Insurance to open and staff a temporary enrollment center in Phoenix.
Sue enjoys studying, teaching, and being amazed by the universe! Hiking, biking, traveling. And, of course, her passion for composing, producing, and performing music continues unabated.
Her primary responsibilities as an agent at Ashland Insurance include Healthcare and Medicare counseling and enrollments, supplemental insurance for small businesses, and life insurance.
Ed is a thirty-year veteran of the insurance business. His expertise crosses virtually all lines of insurance, including business, personal lines, and life and health insurance. Whether it is a complex business situation involving sophisticated risk analysis and coverage placement or an individual’s needs for auto and home policies, Ed has the expertise to do the job correctly. As a trusted adviser, Ed gives his clients the confidence that their policies are competitively priced and meet their individual insurance needs. Ed is also known for providing outstanding service to his clients that goes beyond the sale of the policy.
Ed is a native Oregonian and a graduate of the University of Oregon. Over the years, he has been active in the Ashland community in a variety of capacities and is currently the President of the Ashland Community Hospital Foundation.
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 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Born and raised in Medford, Lisa graduated from North Medford High and attended Rogue Community College.
Lisa is a wife and mother of 5 kids and 2 beautiful grandsons, Diego and Milo. She loves her 2 dogs, Leo-pit/red heeler and Lucky-Chihuahua. In her free time, she likes reading and spending time with her family especially her little grandsons!
Lisa loves her job here at Ashland Insurance and always willing to help clients and support agents.
Tia has been a personal lines agent with Ashland Insurance for over 10 years. She is based in the Ashland office and handles several aspects of policy management issuing new policies and managing existing ones.
Tia holds a BS degree in information science and a BA degree in managerial accounting from Southern Oregon University where she graduated in 2004.
Brian has been an insurance professional licensed to provide Life and Health insurance to Oregonians for 30 -plus years. He specializes in life insurance planning to help clients protect their assets, and he also designs plans to maximize estate preservation strategies. Brian was Series 6 and 63 securities licensed for 21 years and shares his knowledge of the markets with others to protect assets by utilizing insurance and annuity plans that capture market returns without having one’s assets at risk.
Brian moved to Ashland nearly 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
Medford Staff
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.
Kim is located at the Medford office but manages the Ashland commercial accounts
Telia has been in the insurance industry since 2004, where she started as a receptionist and worked her way up to agency producer for an established Farmers Agency for personal and commercial lines.
She grew up in Vallejo, California where she spent her summers at what is now Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and weekends attending Giants, A’s, 49ers and Raiders games. She relocated to Southern Oregon with her parents in 1993, where she later graduated from Phoenix High School and attended Rogue Community College focusing on administrations, business management and marketing. She was also a part of the first student run business in Phoenix High School. While in high school she worked at the family stables in Ashland and also for her father and uncle in their construction venture. After high school she went to work for a floor covering franchise in administrations and human resources before finding her place in the insurance world.
Outside of the insurance world, she and her husband are involved in the timber industry owning and operating a log truck. In her spare time Telia enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 children and 2 dogs, going fishing, camping, watching football (especially Oregon Ducks and Raiders), attending MLB baseball games whenever possible and travels the west coast for cheerleading competitions as their youngest daughter competes with a local cheer gym…and sometimes she may get some crafting squeezed in somewhere.
Marcene was born and raised in Ashland. She has been in the insurance industry since 1980. After working with several independent insurance agencies, Marcene joined Ashland Insurance in 2008 and brought more than 30 years of experience to our team. Marcene is currently a specialized commercial lines agent.
Having solid relationships with many insurance companies throughout the years helps her provide top quality representation for her clients. Marcene’s cornerstone belief that “the client comes first” has made her a favorite with a broad range of customers.
Judy was born and raised in Wyoming and attended Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming. She moved to Oregon in 1987 and has been involved in insurance since 1999 when she worked for thirteen years at Regence BlueCross BlueShield as a Customer Service Representative and Human Resource Administrator in both Klamath Falls and Medford, Oregon.
In 2013, Judy obtained her insurance license in life and health insurance and worked as a Banker’s Life and Casualty agent. In 2014, she attained her license in property and casualty insurance and joined Ashland Insurance. Judy values the relationships that she builds while helping serve her clients’ insurance needs and is currently a full-time personal lines agent at Ashland Insurance’s Ashland branch.
Judy also loves being involved in New Beginnings church and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris and granddaughter, Kaylynn. In her free time she enjoys birding, hiking, and yard work.
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
Linda has just joined our agency in 2016 and will be acting as our development manager and pursing agency growth opportunities.
In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities including fishing. She resides in the Rogue River area with her husband.
Shanna entered the world of insurance 3 years after graduating from Eagle Point High school as a personal Lines agent with Farmers before she joined the Ashland Insurance team.
Shanna was born in Oregon and raised in Georgia for some time before moving back to Oregon.
She is married and a mother to one. She spends most of her time adventuring Oregon with family and her two dogs.
Matthew is a Southern Oregon native that has been in insurance and risk management for two years, having begun in sales with Farmers Insurance, where he underwent an intense training regimen, and won the coveted Blue Vase award for having been the 2015 Southern Oregon District Farmers Life Agent of the Year.
He specializes in commercial coverage for the hospitality industry, light to medium manufacturing, medical firms, and contractors. He is also well versed in personal lines and life insurance.
Prior to entering this industry, he was a construction contractor, served as management in the grocery industry, and attended UofO as a Poly-Sci major.
Matthew spends a great deal of time hunting and on inland lakes and streams angling. Aside from these seasons, he can be found watching Ducks football, the Blazers, the San Francisco Giants, and most of all the 49ers.
He is based in our Medford location.
Charles “Gordon” Smith, a Rogue River, Oregon resident since 2008, graduated from Xavier University with a BSBA, with a major in marketing and a minor in finance. Gordon brings to Ashland Insurance 20+ years of commercial and personal lines experience as former owner of an Ohio insurance agency with custom programs for contractors and manufacturers, establishing a Risk Purchase Group for physicians’ malpractice insurance with an “insured consent to settle” clause. Gordon has achieved competitive protections for professionals like lawyers, engineers, and accountants.
Gordon is a board member of Rogue Community Health, committed to serving the health of the Rogue Valley community. He is a devoted member of Positive Fitness, a Grants Pass body-building group, where strong friendships have mentored Gordon into excellent health.
He enjoys visiting with his family in Oregon, California, and Washington.
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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