Meet your MVP
financial solutions team

Detail oriented professional with extensive experience in the insurance wholesale marketplace. Mary Lou’s focus is on finding the right solutions for your clients with quick turnaround.

Work Experience

25 years with MVP Financial Services, LLC.

Career Accomplishments

Mary Lou began her career in the life insurance industry as an office manager at the Larry Gordon Agency, Inc. After 5 years, transitioned into sales and never looked back. In 1999, Mary Lou with Jim Chrisler and Dawn Nelson founded MVP Financial Services, Inc. We’ve built a successful brokerage general agency over these 25 years and have developed many wonderful partnerships with our advisors and carriers.

Education

B.A. Marketing and Management, DePaul University

Family & Personal

Mary Lou and her husband Fred raised Stephanie and Harrison who reside in the Chicagoland area. Mary Lou has a passion for cooking and spends many nights at Ravinia during the summer months with friends.

Throughout Scott’s career he has been a trusted advisor & wholesaler. He brings 30 years+ of technical expertise in life insurance, long-term care, annuities, disability, and property casualty insurance. Scott has built partnerships with financial planners, producers, and agencies to meet each client’s unique needs. He is known for his collaborative and customer-focused approach.

Work Experience

• MVP Financial Services, LLC (Current)
• Owner & CEO, Thorp Brokerage Resources, Inc. (Current)
• Producer, Anderson Agency
• Producer, Hays Companies
• Property Casualty Broker, Atlantis International

Career Accomplishments

Scott began his career in New York City, where he supported sales and marketing for Atlantis International. He worked with food and beverage companies to provide product recall insurance and led key initiatives to develop cutting-edge crisis management and monitoring services. He joined Thorp Brokerage Resources in 1999 as a partner and co-owner with his father, Gary. As a part of Scott’s role, he led new business development, agency relationships, technology solutions, and business operations. Over the last 10 + years, Scott has partnered with MVP Financial Services, LLC.

Education

• B.A. Sociology, Colorado State University
• He earned his postgraduate degree in Risk Management from the College of Insurance in New York.

Family & Personal

Scott, his wife Kelly, and their dog Lew live in Edina, Minnesota. Together they enjoy travel, time with friends and family, skiing, and golf. Scott has a passion for all things music and enjoys playing the guitar.

Results-oriented executive with a background in both Marketing and Financial Services. Frenchie has a deep and broad career in marketing strategy & communications for global, national, and local brands/companies, such as: Coca-Cola, Proctor & Gamble, IKEA, USAA, and Texas Organ Sharing Alliance. Also, has extensive and award-winning experience in Hispanic Marketing. Did a career pivot to Financial Services as a licensed Life and Health professional, working with world-class organizations such as Globe Life and WFG/Transamerica, providing services to businesses, business owners, individuals, and their families.

Work Experience

• Financial Professional, Globe Life, WFG/TransAmerica, Cuellar & Assoc., and MVP Financial
• Integrated Marketing Director, SWEB Development
• EVP, Marketing Development, MarketVision
• Managing Partner, Diginary Holdings Group
• SVP, UPSHOT Marketing Agency
• Account Director, FCB/Impact Agency
• Marketing Promotions Manager, Miller Brewing Company

Work Experience

• Pioneered a new Bottler & Internal communications system for Coca-Cola USA’s hundreds of marketing programs, subsequently, created a new vertical business unit within my agency.
• For P&G, led the innovation and implementation of a breakthrough marketing campaign for the under-served Latina market segment. This cause marketing shopper program to provide breast cancer information and prevention services direct to the community, through retailers and the Komen Foundation. It was lauded by P&G’s CMO as Best-In-Class in North America and was an industry award winner.

Education

B.A. Journalism - Advertising & Public Relations, University of Texas at El Paso

Licenses, certifications

TX, CO, GA, WY Life and Health TX License No., 2343862

Family & Personal

Lives with her sister in San Antonio, Texas. She is an avid amateur golfer and on the Board of Directors - Communications for the LPGA Amateurs SA Chapter. When not working or golfing, Frenchie enjoys spending time with family.

Board member - managing director

Results-oriented professional with CEO and executive leadership experience in team & culture development, board/directorship roles, domestic and international marketing, and capital raising with venture capital, private equity and industrial firms, joint ventures and strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, and strategic planning experience in chemicals and energy industries. Brings strong ability to develop strategies, evaluate business opportunities, enter new markets and industries, and execute on strategies to create outsized returns.

Work Experience

• Board member, previously president & CEO, DryLet
• Board Member, NuMat Technologies
• Board Member, Graphene Technologies, Inc.
• Founder, President & CEO of SIMBOL materials
• Director, CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP)
• Manager, El Paso Merchant Energy (NYSE:EP)

Career Accomplishments

• Tesla Motors made $325 million buy-out offer for Simbol
• Founded Simbol franchise, raised $80+ MM capital equity from domestic/international
• Financial/Strategic investors, $8.5 MM government; $240 MM valuation in 29 months
• Project financing structure for $110 MM capital raise at coal gas startup
• Acquired oil/gas field telemetry technology business at CNP, delivered 50%+ IRR
• FP&A, acquisitions, restructurings, and divestitures of $3.5 billion of 77 domestic / 11 international power plants and $1.1 billion in off-‐balance sheet 144A debt
• Negotiated IP licensing transactions and strategic alliances / ventures
• Testified in hearings at U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on strategic minerals

Education

• M.B.A., Rice University
• LL.M., Univ. Houston Law Center
• J.D., South Texas College of Law
• B.Com., University of Guelph

Admissions, certifications

• Attorney, State Bar of Texas
• C.I.R.A., Assoc. of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors
• C.T.P., Turnaround Management Association
• C.F.P.A., National Association of Plan Administrators
• FINRA Series 65, SIE, 7, 79, 24, 63
• CA Insurance no. 4245207

Family & Personal

Married, resides with wife, daughter, and son in San Diego. Lost complete left arm due to an oyster microbial infection.

Read my story published by Scientific American.

Energetic, passionate, determined, and innovative professional with more than 20+ years of demonstrated experiences and deep acumen in financial sales, insurance sales, retirement planning, asset management, financial office management and territory management. Strong knowledge of financial and investment products (life insurance, annuities, 401ks, 403bs, 457 plans, executive compensation, mutual funds, long term care, and workplace benefits).

Work Experience

• Slight Edge Wealth Management
• The Principal Financial Group
• All state Financial Services
• John Hancock Financial

Career Accomplishments

Joe Began his career in 1998, joining Prudential as a financial and insurance advisor where he earned “Newcomer of the Year”. In 2002 Joe started his own agency, Carey Insurance & Financial Services where he consecutively achieved MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table). After selling his agency Joe worked with the likes of John Hancock as a Retirement Plan Consultant, Allstate Financial Services as a Hybrid Wholesaler, Principal Financial as a Registered Representative, Alight Financial Advisors as an Investment Advisor & Slight Edge Wealth Management LLC. as an Investment Adviser Representative.

Education

B.S. Sociology, Northeastern University, Boston

Admissions, certifications

FINRA SIE, Series 6, 63, 65, property & casualty license & life insurance license

Family & Personal

He and his wife Elaina and dog Tez enjoy spending quiet time at home in Jacksonville, FL, going to the beach, walking, and traveling. Joe enjoys working out, reading, meeting people/hearing their story, good music, good food, and great illuminating conversations.

Detail-oriented professional with extensive experience in the wholesale insurance marketplace. Matt keeps a steady momentum for clients with a focus on design and follow-up as key drivers to developing proper solutions and bringing them to closure. His understanding of the intricacies and nuances of design and implementation takes the guesswork out of the insurance process.

Work Experience

Manager of Insurance Services, Waterstone Financial Group Matt began his insurance career in 1990, joining a financial services firm as a financial and insurance advisor where he earned a Career Builder of the Year Award. In 1993 he joined Long Grove Trading Company, an IL broker/dealer, as a registered representative and eventually became an integral part of the insurance operations there. When Long Grove Trading Company merged with another firm in 2002 and became Waterstone Financial Group (WFG), Matt was installed as the manager of insurance operations serving over 500 insurance and securities brokers. After the sale of WFG, Matt was happy to join forces with MVP in 2009. He continues to service the needs of the independent broker community through detailed case design and navigation of the insurance process.

Education

• B.S. Psychology, University of Illinois
• Cognate in Mathematics, and coursework in Estate Planning and Insurance
• Business and Estate Planning courses (among others) from the American College

Admissions, certifications

FINRA Series 65, SIE, 6, 22, 63

Family & Personal

He and his wife Kim have raised five children and are now enjoying four wonderful grandchildren as well. He enjoys spending time with friends and family, making Chili, and playing soccer.

Detail oriented professional with extensive experience in the insurance wholesale marketplace. Fred keeps a steady momentum for clients with a focus on design and follow-up as key drivers to developing proper solutions and bringing them to closure. His understanding of the intricacies and nuances of design and implementation takes the guesswork out of the insurance process.

Work Experience

• MVP Financial Services, LLC (Current)
• Manager of Insurance Services, Larry Gordon Agency
• National Brokerage Manager Toner Organization

Career Accomplishments

Fred began his career with Mass Mutual in Richmond, VA in 1990 as a career agent, specializing in estate planning and business-related insurance strategies. In 1993 moved back to his hometown of Philadelphia, PA transitioning to insurance brokerage with the Toner Organization. During his time there he expanded his brokerage market into LTC and disability income protection distribution lines to complement life and annuity markets. Fred was moved to a Senior National Brokerage manager, expanding the Toner brand nationally, increasing revenue sales by 200% while managing and mentoring a staff of five junior associates. In 2002, he moved to Madison, WI to take a similar position with The Larry Gordon Agency for a short period before joining MVP Financial Services, Inc in 2007 where he remains today.

Education

• B.A. History, Widner University
• Member of Phi Gamma Mu National history honor society and an ambassador to the university

Family & Personal

He and his wife Amy have raised one son and enjoy time with friends and family for all social occasions. Fred has a passion for food, fine wine, biking, skiing, golf and playing volleyball and soccer.

Focused on providing customized personalized care to each and every agent.

Work Experience

• Insurance Brokerage Services, Inc 1994-Present – joined MVP as an affiliate office in 2002
• Career Accomplishments: CLU – 2003 and LTCP 2006 Started in case management and purchased Insurance
• Brokerage Services in 2012

Education

BS Business, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Family & Personal

Married to Brett – 2 kids Maddie and Zach and a Golden Retriever named Jersey. Live in West Fargo, ND Loves spending time at Lake Lizzie with family and friends, golfing, pickleball, bowling and traveling.

Work Experience

50 years in the life insurance brokerage industry, as a life brokerage manager, and the last 25 years as owner of MVP Financial Services. Was awarded the Hoyt M. Leisure Award by Transamerica for brokerage excellence.

Career Accomplishments

• Past President of local and state professional organizations
• Four-Year Advisory Board Member of Genworth Financial
• Four-year Board Member of AIMCOR Education

Education

B.A., Speech & Business, Monmouth College

Family & Personal

Jim believes his life has been blessed: married to Ellen for 53-years, sons, Scott (wife Erika), and Mark (wife Heather), grandsons: Everett and Teddy. Have sung in the church choir for over 40 years, was a member of the Geneva Lions Club for 25 years and traveled around the globe.

A big-picture, enthusiastic, intuitive thinker — Dawn is focused on getting the right solutions developed for each broker and their clients in the most effective, accurate, and quickest way possible. She is an innovative and creative problem solver in case development and business organization.

Work Experience

Dawn started as life agent in the college market. In Life and Long-Term Care brokerage for over 35 years, first with Larry Gordon Agency until forming MVP Financial Services in 1999 with partners Mary Lou Paul and James Chrisler. Our successful brokerage general agency is built on serving our Most Valued Producers in the best ways available and getting them what they need and want, just as soon as they make a request! MVP Financial is known for our incredibly knowledgeable and caring staff and for our ability to get the best possible outcomes with our tenacity, experience, and drive.

Career Accomplishments

• Entered life insurance sales over 40 years ago to get paid what she could earn by her own hard work
• Became one of the first women General Agents in the country when the industry was 89% male
• Attained the CLU designation as one of the first three agents to do so in the company
• Past President of Madison Life Underwriters
• Past President of Wisconsin Life Underwriters; attained highest statewide membership ever
• Past Board Member Wisconsin Society of CLU and ChFC
• LUTC teacher

Education

• B.A., Psychology and Economics, University of Wisconsin Madison
• CLU®, ChFC®, American College

Family & Personal

Dawn and her husband, David Sebag, reside in Fitchburg, WI and spend some winter weeks at their home in Green Valley, AZ to golf and attend the largest International Bead Show. She has a passion for creative organic cooking. As a result of their extensive world traveling, she is quick to experiment with many international flavors and foods! She highly values her family and friends and tries to spend time with them as much as possible, regardless of where they are in the country!

A dedicated employee of MVP for the past 25 years who tries to provide inspiration, motivation and guidance to her team and the company’s clients. Diane’s focus is to get applications from submission to commission in the timeliest manner possible. She is the liaison between Sales personnel and Carriers. She has helped Brokers transition from an industry that was 100% paper at one time, to the world of technology and electronic applications, health records and policies.

Work Experience

• MVP Financial Services, LLC since the beginning, 25 years!
• Chesapeake Commons Homeowners Association
• Olympic Federal Savings and Loan

Career Accomplishments

Diane began her business career managing the office, clubhouse, and pool of a 226-townhome unit community. She ran the day-to-day operations of the office and swimming pool and managed the staff of employees. Her responsibilities included representing the ideas of both the Board of Directors and Homeowners. In 1999 she went to work for MVP and began running the new business department for the Geneva, IL office. Learning the Insurance business from the ground up, Diane has been processing new business for 25 years and became a licensed agent in 2013. Most recently, Diane became Managing Director of Broker and Policy Services at MVP in 2023. She is now located at the new home office in Oak Brook, IL.

Education

• B.S., Mass Communications - Broadcasting, minor in Public Relations, Illinois State University

Family & Personal

Diane has a daughter and son-in-law in the area, and son and future daughter-in-law living in San Francisco CA. She has one grandson and two granddaughters that she loves spending time with. Diane enjoys traveling, hiking, water sports, and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite time of the year is when she can sit outside and have a margarita or glass of wine.

I enjoy sifting through all the details of an insured’s medical history to find the best case possible for the client. Tough cases is my game!

Work Experience

• MVP Financial Services, LLC for 16+ years

Career Accomplishments

• Case manager at the Larry Gordon Agency and then Manager of New Business
• Manager of New Business of the Ryno Agency
• MVP Financial Services as Director of Underwriting

Education

• A.A., Wilbur Wright College, Chicago, IL
• College of DuPage

Family & Personal

Kristie enjoys spending time with her daughter Melissa, and son-in-law Adam. She loves traveling and learning new things by taking continuing education classes at College of DuPage. When not working she very much enjoys fun times with her many friends and family.

Justyna has the distinction of being one of the very first employees of MVP! She brings years of experience to her role as Case Manager. The ultimate analytical troubleshooter applies resolution to all kinds of issues and wears many hats at MVP. She oversees new business applications, processes, advises agents of statuses, and follow ups until policies are paid! Justyna prides herself on her enthusiastic and vigorous approach to quality work. Her favorite part of the job is interacting with the “sharks,” err… agents. She is fluent in English and Polish.

Work Experience

• Eugen Cohen Insurance Agency – New business coordinator
• MVP Financial Services – case manager/ producer relations associate

Career Accomplishments

• Every day is an accomplishment!
• Received recognition from several customers for providing excellent support
• Successfully processes large volume of life/disability/ LTC insurance and annuity cases

Education

• Academy of Economics, Poland
• GE / AIG / Transamerica / Mutual of Omaha insurance management courses

Family & Personal

Justyna enjoys the beach, knitting, meditation, volunteering, hiking, and walking. She’s curious about new cultures, visiting unique places, and always eager to meet people from all walks of life.

Skilled professional with 15+ years’ experience in operations and sales management of a large- bank branch network (100+ branches and 800+ employees), with a deep understanding of both transactional and sales aspects of the retail banking business. She is focused on developing better efficiencies and workflow in various business processes. She enthusiastically demonstrates the support of a corporation’s mission, core values, and long-term objectives. She is the consummate professional.

Work Experience

• MVP Financial Services, LLC
• Sales Performance Manager, National Bank
• Branch Network Coordinator, International Bank

Career Accomplishments

Nela began her career in 1999 with the International Bank (Belgrade, Serbia, Europe) as a customer service representative, then became a Branch Network Coordinator in charge of designing and implementing the strategy for optimization and efficiency improvement of branch business processes and branch network performance. In 2014 she took over the position of Sales Performance Manager with the largest domestic Bank in Belgrade. She was responsible for providing support and leadership to sales teams and sales activities of branches, supervising branch network sales efforts and the sales pipeline. In 2022 she joined MVP as Case Manager exploring new career horizons in the Insurance industry.

Education

• B.A. Business Finance and Accounting, University of Belgrade (Serbia, Europe)

Family & Personal

Nela has one son and resides with her family in Europe. She enjoys socializing with her friends and family, traveling, and spending time in nature.

Work Experience

Julie’s been working with MVP Financial Services since 2001. As a Senior case manager, she takes care of all new business. She directly handles calls from agents, making sure all business goes as smoothly as possible. She helps agents with their carrier licensing, ensuring they are compliant with the companies they are doing business with.

Career Accomplishments

Life and Health Insurance license, 2004

Family & Personal

Julie is married to James, has a son, Gabriel, and two cats Dean Martin and Pickle. She loves to bake, hike, and travel as much as possible.

Creative problem solver and software system designer. Uses a comprehensive view of broker interfaces and processes to develop efficient workflows within MVP.

Work Experience

• Creation of online forms and processes to streamline the collection of necessary information for insurance applications
• Mobile game development, several games published on Apple App Store and Google Play Store
• Computer Science instructor for University of Illinois program leading high school and middle school students

Career Accomplishments

Independently developed and published a top-charting mobile game, amassing over 9.7K reviews on the Apple App Store with an average rating of 4.9/5 stars.

Education

B.S. Computer Science - Human-Computer Interaction, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL

Family & Personal

Jack lives in his hometown near Oak Brook, where he enjoys spending time with family and friends. He has been a runner for most of his life and still enjoys it regularly.

Sonia has a keen eye for detail and is driven to succeed.

Work Experience

She has been with MVP Financial Services since 2012. As a bookkeeper, she allocates monthly commission statements to the offices with which a broker is affiliated.

Career Accomplishments

Prior to MVP she was a stay-at-home mom for about 20 years and did volunteer work for various community organizations.

Prior to that she was the Office Manager for Kronos Inc. where she supervised the clerical staff and trained office managers at branch offices. She also served as a member of the “Standards of Excellence” team at the corporate office.

Before Kronos, she was a Sales Representative at Monarch Supply Company. She secured and developed major industrial and institutional accounts while serving existing clients.

Education

B.A., Criminal Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago

Family & Personal

Sonia and her husband Paul enjoy spending time with their children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends. They also like to travel, bike, hike, kayak, and fish. Sonia is an avid reader and enjoys gardening. She is quite well-rounded!