PEOPLE
OUR
LEADERSHIP
OUR
PEOPLE
Stephanie Rippard
Senior Client Success Specialist
Stephanie has sixteen years’ experience in the commercial insurance industry. She has been with the agency for ten years and is very well versed in managing large property schedules and multipolicy programs. Stephanie loves to spend time in the outdoors, camping and hunting with her family. She also loves riding roller coasters, watching scary movies and cheering on the Houston Astros!
Jeremy Sonnier
Risk Advisor
Jeremy is a commercial sales executive that brings nearly ten years of sales experience to the GIA team. He has a passion for building relationships in his community and helping businesses succeed. Outside of work, Jeremy enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and daughter, being out on the golf course and fishing the Texas coast.
Yvette Dupree
Senior Client Success Specialist & Commercial Lines Training Coordinator
Yvette has vast experience in commercial insurance and an eye for detail, making sure all of her clients are covered to the fullest. In her spare time, you will find her beach-combing as her love for the beach life is second to none. She is also quite the wine enthusiast and loves to travel and make recommendations on the best wineries Texas has to offer.
Megan Mallory
Chief Financial Officer & HR Director
Megan handles the finances and human resources for GIA. When she isn’t having fun at work creating spreadsheets and pivot tables, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
Eliza Cardenas
Client Success Advisor
Eliza has been in customer care for twenty-nine years. Eliza began working at GIA in 2005 and became an account manager at the agency a few years ago. Eliza has a passion for helping others and applies this to her daily communication with her clients. Eliza enjoys cooking, listening to music and family gatherings.
Kathy Marines
Chief Compliance Officer
Kathy has been with the agency “since dinosaurs roamed the Earth” aka 1984. A BOI (Born on Island), Kathy enjoys her weekday commute down the seawall. In her off time, Kathy loves reading, mexican food and hanging out with her family. Although famously afraid of heights, she loves to fly and two of Kathy’s favorite vacation memories are parasailing in Cancun and overlooking the Grand Canyon.
Michael Ruiz
Risk Advisor
Michael’s experience as sales executive at GIA has led to a passion for insuring Galveston’s historic real estate, and island condominiums. On weekends you can find him grilling on the back porch with his wife and son, at the golf course or enjoying an Astros game.
Holly Crummett
Client Success Advisor
Holly is a commercial lines account manager, specializing in small businesses. Prior to that, she was an Insurance Adjuster for thirty-four years. In her spare time, when she is not hanging out on the beach with family, friends and her rescue dog Jetty, you can find her making handmade beaded jewelry, crocheting or working on her latest craft project.
Garry Kaufman
President
Garry is the President at Galveston Insurance Associates (GIA). He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1987 and has been with GIA since 1995. Garry spends his days working hard for his clients and fellow associates and is consistently learning from all of the smart people he surrounds himself with. Away from GIA, he spends his time with his beautiful bride and as many of his four kids, his fantastic granddaughter and newest grandson as possible. He tries to stay in shape, loves his ranch chores and is always looking for some time to fish, hunt or hit a golf ball to the right.
Aimee Godinich
Personal Lines Manager
Aimee has been part of the GIA family for over nineteen years. She enjoys working closely with clients to find the best coverage options possible. When Aimee is not at GIA she enjoys spending time with her four beautiful kiddos.
Dakota Patrick
Marketing Associate
Dakota recently joined the GIA family in 2021 after graduating from Texas A&M Galveston. Although she is not from Galveston, she has fallen in love with the coast and all it has to offer. In her spare time, you can find her spending time on the water with her family and significant other fishing or cruising on the boat.
Max Miller
Commercial Lines Manager
Taylor Miller
Communications Coordinator
Taylor handles all things marketing, branding, social media and community outreach for the agency. Her greatest accomplishment is being a mommy to her precious daughter, Marlowe and adorable son, Sonny. You can also find her hanging out with her cool husband, Max. Second to the love for her family, she enjoys the beach, alternative rock, lattes and home projects.
Monica Brown
Senior Client Success Specialist & Marketing Coordinator
Monica has been with the agency for fourteen years. In her spare time, Monica enjoys reading, painting, and spending time outdoors.
Jared Pitts
Vice President
Jared spends his time with his clients and leading a dynamic group of sales people to new heights. When Jared is not leading his team, he is spending his time with his two cool sons and understanding wife. You can also find him driving fence posts and stalking deer.
Jennifer Hernandez
Client Success Advisor
Jennifer was born and raised in Galveston Island. She began her insurance career with GIA four years ago as a personal lines account manager. Jennifer and her husband have twin sons and a baby boy. She enjoys reading and spending time with her family. In her spare time, you will find Jennifer cheering on her boys on the baseball and football fields.
Marisa Yu
Client Support Coordinator
If you call or visit our office, you’ll be greeted by our receptionist, Marisa Yu. A staunch believer in putting God first in her life, Marisa loves her family, her chihuahua and all things from the 90’s, especially Friends and alternative rock music.
Sandra Stout
Senior Client Success Specialist
Sandra is the Condo Queen of GIA and she takes great pride in making sure that every Insurance need of the Condominium Associations is met. When you step in Sandra’s office you can see displayed her pride of her country, her enthusiasm for Christmas, and of course her love of her Houston Astros. The latest love to enter her life is her great granddaughter.
Kirk Lowe
Risk Advisor
Kirk is a lifelong Gulf Coast resident. Before becoming a commercial producer with GIA, he spent nineteen years as a high school coach and teacher. He now gets his sports fix by cheering on his Baylor Bears and Houston sports teams, and by broadcasting high school sports. When he’s not at work, you can find him enjoying a crisp apple, working out at the gym, or spending time with his wife and kids.
Ashley Cermeno
Personal Lines Sales Executive
Staci Bennett
Bookkeeper
Staci (better known as jack of all trades) handles bookkeeping for the agency. Her off time is spent at home with her family and beloved cats. She enjoys going to church and to the beach.
Marie Baker
Senior Client Success Specialist
Marie has been licensed to sell insurance and adjust claims for nearly thirty years. Her philosophy is to treat each customer like a business partner and not a transaction. Marie is happily married with two sons and four dogs. She loves her life, coffee, and movies that make you laugh out loud.
Jacqueline Nance
Client Success Advisor
Jacqueline has been with GIA for twenty-two years. In her spare time, Jacqueline enjoys listening to music and spending time with her grandson.
Dee Stevens
Client Success Advisor
Dee has been with GIA for eleven years and brings over twenty-five years of commercial insurance and customer service experience to the Agency. Her off time is spent taking motorcycle rides, walks with her italian greyhound prince, enjoying fine wine or a good cup of coffee with friends, and fun times with the grandkids.
Logan Taylor
Risk Advisor
Logan is a proud husband, graduate of Texas A&M University, former Aggie Baseball Player and Professional Baseball Player for the Seattle Mariners. In his spare time, he loves playing golf and spending time with his family. At GIA, he serves his clients by utilizing his passion for building strong relationships, while upholding his core values of selfless service and integrity.
Matilde Carranza
Jack of All Trades
Matilde enjoys spending quality time with his grandkids and completing projects on his home. His favorite weekends are spent on his hunting property in Mernard, Texas with his family.
Cortney Dial
Client Success Advisor
Cortney was welcomed into the GIA family in 2021 with 4 years prior insurance experience. Having had a background in operations in the fitness industry for 10 years, she transitioned superior customer service and account handling into a successful insurance career. Cortney has been calling Texas home since 2006 after completing her college degree. When Cortney is not at work you can find her spending her free time working out, spending time at the deer lease, and most importantly creating memories with her significant other and Texas family.
Tara Langston
Benefits Client Success Advisor & Coordinator
Tara was born and raised in Houston. She has been married to her husband for almost twenty-four years. She has two wonderful children, who both currently attend Texas A&M University! Tara has worked in Employee Benefits on both the human resource and agent side for seven years. She loves college football and watching the Aggies play! Tara also enjoys spending time with her family and working on projects around the house.
Bailey Wooley
Client Success Advisor
Bailey is a energetic, passionate mom of two. She loves dance, is not very good at singing and enjoys a challenge.
Scott Howard
Risk Advisor
Scott has been married to his best friend, Stacey for twenty-three years. He loves hunting, fishing, camping and traveling to Colorado with his family. He enjoys following his kids, Kendall and Hunter, around watching them play volleyball and baseball.
Ashley Dotson
Client Success Associate
Ashley has been in the insurance industry for six years. She loves making memories with her significant other and son. She has the amazing skill of turning a quick conversation into a full-on story because she loves to talk!
Ana Longoria
Client Success Associate
Christina Oliveira
Client Success Associate
Christina has her bachelors degree in health science from Stephen F. Austin State University with a minor in accounting. She is an animal lover and enjoys time spent outside cuddling her two dogs and two cats.
Trey Davis
Senior Benefits Advisor
Trey has been in the employee benefits industry for over twenty years. His background includes time spent working for employers, insurance carriers and for the last fifteen years working as a benefits advisor. Trey is married to his wife, Andrea and together have three boys, Zane, Carson and Landon. Trey enjoys spending time with his family, watching college football and enjoying time at his deer lease.
Kristin Thomason
Client Success Associate
Kristin recently returned to GIA in 2023 after spending seven years in the healthcare industry. She is passionate about helping others and making sure things are done properly the first time around. When Kristin is not spending time on the island you can find her traveling with her significant other, cuddling with her three dogs, or trying out a new local coffee shop.
Trevor Teykl
Risk Advisor
Kristina Davalos
Benefits Client Success Advisor
Kristina has worked in insurance for just under 4 years. She loves spooky things, scary movies, drawing, and music. When she is not at work she enjoys spending time at concerts, the beach, and traveling!