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

Client Success Advisor
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.
Sue Heider

Client Success Advisor
Sue handles commercial insurance needs for small businesses. She came to GIA from way up north, but she is a Texan at heart, and found her way home as soon as she could. She is always looking for her next Texas adventure and her favorite so far has been skydiving in Galveston. If you ever ask Sue how she is doing, it is guaranteed her response will be “Living the Dream.”
Garry Kaufman

President
Garry spends his days working hard for his clients and 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 as possible. He tries to stay in shape and is always looking for some time to fish.
Aimee Godinich

Client Success Specialist
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.
Shannon Hausler

Client Success Advisor
Shannon has been with the company for just over five years. The thing she loves most about working in the insurance industry is being able to educate her client’s about insurance so they can make more informed decisions. When not working, Shannon loves spending time with her husband, their dog Cooper and traveling to see their kids and grandkids. She also enjoys hiking, kayaking, yoga and volunteering at the animal shelter!
LaToya Ashford

Personal Lines Manager
LaToya’s biggest passion is helping others. When she’s not at GIA she’s working as her two teenage kids personal Uber driver. In her spare time, she enjoys making arts and crafts.
Stacy Kukuk

Benefits Client Success Advisor
Stacy has over thirty years in the insurance industry and twenty-seven of them have been with GIA, also known as her second home. She handles all benefit related products for employer groups as well as for individuals. Outside of the office you can find her fishing and spending time at the lake with family and friends.
Taylor Kaufman

Communications Coordinator
Taylor handles all things marketing related for the agency. She also owns a sustainable fashion company, which she is very passionate about. In her off time, you can find her planning her next trip abroad, eating sushi, jamming 80’s music and hanging out with her doggos.
Cory Hart

Risk Advisor
Cory is a commercial sales executive with a focus on the marine industry. He has over ten years sales experience and has spent the last five years at GIA. On any given weekend you can find him traveling to watch a Baylor sporting event with his family.
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 cool son 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.
Kimmie Nemeth

Client Success Advisor
Kimmie joined the GIA Family in 2019 as an account manager for personal lines. She’s kind, friendly, sweet, and doesn’t miss a beat! Kimmie loves her husband, their fur babies, chips and salsa, and all things pasta.
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.
Jessica Demler

Benefits Advisor
Jessica is our group health insurance benefits sales executive. She takes pride in the personalized approach she delivers when meeting clients. She is outgoing and enjoys being around people in and out of the office. Jessica is a reformed crazy cat lady, mom to a delightful teenage daughter and miniature poodle, and wife to an astonishingly patient husband.
Staci Patterson

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.
Robbie Weinhardt

Risk Advisor
Robbie is a commercial sales executive that brings his desire and determination to the GIA team. His passion for community involvement and helping others allows Robbie to partner with businesses to achieve success. In his downtime, you can find Robbie cheering on the Oklahoma State Cowboys, searching for his ball on the golf course and spending time with his wife and two kids.
Marie Baker

Commercial Lines Manager
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.
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.
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.