Brier Payne Meade Staff - Topeka and
Kansas City
Dennis C. Payne, III – Owner, President,
Insurance Agent
Denny is a life-long resident of Topeka. He graduated from Washburn
University with a degree in Economics in 1967. He played basketball and golf
at Washburn and in 1990 was inducted into the Washburn University Athletic
Hall of Fame. In 1999 he was inducted into the Topeka West Athletic Hall of
Fame.
He joined his father’s insurance agency in 1967. At that time, Dennis Payne
Insurance, Inc. employed four people. Since that time, the agency has grown
through acquisitions and production to 32 employees and has quadrupled its
commissions revenue.
Denny has been active in the Topeka community having served as president of
the Big Brother-Big Sister Program, president of the Capital City Youth
Basketball League, president of the Topeka Golf Association, president of
Topeka Insurers, president of the Topeka School Fund, recipient of the first
Outstanding Individual Award from the Topeka School Fund, board member of
the Ichabod Club at Washburn, and currently a board member at St. Francis
Hospital.
Denny and his wife, Darlene, have been married for 38 years and have three
grown sons: Todd, Jonathan and Tim.
John B. Payne – Owner, Secretary
John moved from Springfield, MO in 1987 to join Brier Payne Insurance, Inc.
Prior to that he graduated from Southwest Missouri State University with a
degree in Economics. In 1971 John joined his father’s insurance agency in
Springfield.
In 1976, John’s father retired due to health and John took over the agency.
In 11 years the agency grew from $75,000 in annual commissions to over
$900,000. This was accomplished through sales, mergers and acquisitions.
John sold his ownership in the Springfield agency in 1987 and became an
owner of Brier Payne Insurance in Topeka. He has been Secretary since April
1988.
John earned the Certified Insurance Counselors designation in 1987. He is a
past president of both the Missouri and Kansas Association of Professional
Insurance Agents. He has had active involvement in the Topeka Boys and Girls
Club, and he has been an officer in the Topeka Homebuilders Association.
John has three grown children: Andy, Scott and Sarah.
Jonathan D. Payne – Insurance Agent
Jonathan grew up in Topeka. He graduated from the University of Kansas with
a BA in Human Biology in 1996. He then moved to Kansas City taking a job as
a Sales Representative for Red Line Medical.
In 1997, Jonathan was named the Red Line Medical sales and service
representative of the year in the country and was promoted to sales manager
of Missouri. He grew his territory from $2,800,000 to over $4,000,000 in
sales in less than two years.
In November of 1999, Jonathan decided to join Brier Payne Meade Insurance,
Inc as an Insurance Agent, expanding BPM’s territory to the Kansas City
area. Jonathan also has helped expand the product lines offered by Brier
Payne Meade. Not only does he help customers with their property and
casualty insurance needs, but he also can provide expertise in life
insurance and investments.
Timothy J. Payne
– Insurance Agent
Tim grew up in Topeka. He graduated from KU in 1998 with degrees in Business
and History.
After graduation, Tim lived and worked in Denver for a high-tech company for
two years. In 2001, Tim decided to join Brier Payne Meade as an Insurance
Agent in the Kansas City area.
Tim is currently a member of the Homebuilders Association of Kansas City.
Michael R. Drane
– CPCU, ARM, CIC, AAI, Agency Manager, Insurance
Agent
Mike graduated from Washburn University in 1976 and began his insurance
career as a casualty underwriter for a surplus lines broker. In 1982 he
joined the Meade Company and was responsible for all commercial underwriting
activities within the company, including the management of commercial
insurance placement with the various carriers. Today, Mike supervises all
functions at the BPM office in Topeka.
Mike is a past President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Topeka. He
has served on various committees for the Kansas Association of Insurance
Agents and taught insurance courses at Washburn University.
Mike and his wife, Sheryl, have three children: Courtney, Whitney and Brady.
Sarah Kueffer – CIC, New Business Marketing
Manager
Sarah grew up in Topeka and graduated from Washburn Rural High School in
1999. While attending Baker University, Sarah was a member of the women’s
golf team, during which time she earned All-American honors twice and was
named an All-America Scholar-Athlete. Sarah graduated with a Bachelors
degree in Sociology.
Sarah joined Brier Payne Meade Insurance, Inc. in May 2003. She began
working in the Topeka office and then transferred to the Kansas City office
in July 2004. Sarah achieved the Certified Insurance Counselors designation
in 2005. Sarah has become the lead Marketer in the agency and is responsible
for the placement of all new commercial insurance business.
Sarah was married in 2004 and lives in Eudora, KS with her husband Clint.
Clint Kueffer
– Insurance Agent
Clint is originally from Versailles, MO and moved with his family to
Lawrence in 1979 and has remained in the Lawrence area ever since. Clint
graduated from Baldwin High School in 1990 and earned his college degree
from the University of Kansas in 1995.
Clint spent seven years working for Penny’s Concrete, Inc. as a driver and
dispatcher. He joined Brier Payne Meade’s Kansas City office as an Insurance
Agent in April 2005.
Clint was married in 2004 and lives with his wife, Sarah, in Eudora, KS.
Clint is the oldest of eight children, enjoys playing the guitar and hopes
to beat his wife in golf some day.
Doug Hamilton
– Insurance Agent
Doug is a long-time resident of Topeka. He graduated from Pittsburg State
University in 1987 with a degree in Business. Doug was a member of Pitt
St.’s basketball team while in college.
After graduation, Doug worked for Fleming Foods in Kansas City, and then he
worked for Screen-It Graphics in Lawrence. Over the years, Doug has been an
avid golfer and opened his own golf shop business, and eventually took a
position as the Washburn University golf coach. In June 2004, Doug decided
to join Brier Payne Meade as an Insurance Agent in Topeka while also
continuing as the golf coach at WU.
Doug and his wife, Lisa, have three young children: Bailey, Jack and Kasey.
Raymond F. Gerstenkorn
– CIC, Insurance Agent
Ray has been a resident of Topeka since 1962. He began his insurance career
in 1978 as a property and casualty insurance producer for the Meade Company.
In 1988, Ray earned the designation of Certified Insurance Counselor. He has
continued as a leading sales producer for Brier Payne Meade Insurance in
Topeka since the merger of the Meade Company and Brier Payne Insurance in
1996.
In 1976, Ray graduated from Washburn University of Topeka with a degree in
Business Administration. He was a four-year letterman as a running back on
the Washburn football team, and a member of the 1974 Boot Hill Bowl
championship squad.
Ray is active in the Topeka community as a member of the Downtown Rotary
Club, Topeka Rotary Foundation, Knights of Columbus, and Washburn University
Ichabod Club. He is a past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of
Topeka, a graduate of the Leadership Greater Topeka class of 1991, and has
served as a board member of the Washburn University Ichabod Club.
Ray and his wife, Karen, were married in 2001. He has two grown daughters:
Leslie and Erin.
Kenda K. Douglas
– Insurance Agent
Kenda has been in the insurance business for 25+ years. She began her
insurance career with American States Insurance Company in the early 1980’s.
Kenda’s performance was rewarded with several promotions within the Company
in various departments giving her a well-rounded knowledge of the insurance
business.
In 1985 the opportunity to join the staff of a small, independent insurance
agency presented itself. Kenda was employed as a Commercial Account
Representative providing day-to-day service for medium to large commercial
accounts.
In 1989 Kenda was offered a position with one of the largest independently
owned insurance agencies in the State of Kansas. She began her 15-year
career with this agency as a Commercial Account Representative and then was
promoted to an Account Executive. Kenda was responsible for the overall
management of approximately 85 large insurance accounts with about 80% of
the client base construction-related. Kenda gained valuable knowledge
through this experience and has extensive expertise in areas such as
marketing accounts to insurance companies, presenting new and renewal
insurance proposals, checking insurance policies for accuracy and reviewing
them with the client, reviewing bid specifications and job contracts to make
sure insurance requirements were being met, etc. Kenda managed a service
team of 6 employees and provided quality service to the clients.
In April 2006, Kenda joined Brier Payne Meade as an Insurance Agent/Account
Executive in Topeka. It is her responsibility to bring new clients to the
agency and provide quality service to existing customers.
Kenda has attended and successfully completed many insurance courses
throughout her career. She has also attended seminars on employment related
practices, mold remediation and other topics that are of great importance to
her clients.
Kenda is the past Board President of Sheltered Living, Inc. and Board member
of Cerebral Palsy of Topeka, Inc.
Larry Breuninger – Insurance Agent
Larry Breuninger is a native Topekan who attended Topeka public schools, the
University of Kansas, and Washburn University. Larry served six years in the
Kansas Army National Guard. He entered the insurance business in 1956
part-time while attending Washburn, and began full-time as an Insurance
Agent in November 1957. He was employed by Marsh & McLennan for 26 years and
then joined the Hein Insurance Agency in 1983, and then Brier Payne Meade
Insurance in 1991.
Larry has been actively involved in the community as the President of the
Topeka Golf Association for six years, and a Board Member and President of
the Sherwood Lake Club. While at KU and Washburn, he was a member of the
Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Larry has two grown children living and working in the Topeka community.
Darrell D. Robertson – Insurance Agent
Darrell is a life long
resident of Kansas City. He graduated from Kansas State University with
a degree in Business. He played golf in college. Darrell began his
career working for 2 insurance companies before joining a Kansas City
specialty insurance agency. Darrell has over 37 years experience in the
insurance industry. He has IIA and CIC designations is currently
studying for his CPCU.
Darrell has been active
in the Overland Park and Olathe Chambers and the K.C. Medical Managers
Association. He has been on the board at Kawood South Country Club,
Hamburn Bay Condo Association and Kawood Country Mamon Home Association.
Darrel enjoys weekends
at Kawood South and Lake of the Ozarks playing golf.
Gregg Sherwood – Insurance Agent
Pat Rager – Bookkeeper, has been with BPM for
30+ years.
Bob Uphaus – Insurance Agent, has been with BPM
for 20+ years.
Sandra Deines – Workers Compensation
Specialist, has been with BPM for 5+ years.
Cherry DeVader – Commercial Lines CSR, has been
with BPM for 10+ years.
Melanie Griffith – Commercial Lines CSR,
extensive experience and joined BPM in 2006.
Marla Farrar – Commercial Lines CSR, has been
with BPM for 25+ years.
Debi Kaad – Personal Lines Manager, has been
with BPM for 10+ years.
Mary Walker – Personal Lines CSR, has been with
BPM for 10+ years.
Danielle Pletcher – Personal Lines CSR, has
been with BPM for 4 years.
Sandie Jack – Claims Specialist, has been with
BPM for 25+ years.
Phyllis Knight – Claims Specialist, has been
with BPM for 4 years.
Diane Thomas – Administrative Assistant, has
been with BPM for 5+ years.
