Below is a quick look at the premier partners that make up the Redbird Independent Agent Network. Feel free to connect directly by using the links below. We encourage and welcome questions.
Drew Gurley – Business-to-Business Life Insurance
Drew Gurley is a co-founder of Redbird Advisors, serial entrepreneur and avid blogger (mostly insurance). Drew is Redbird’s “Mr. Outside” with an emphasis on helping craft Redbird’s unique focus as a national Insurance Marketing Organization.
Drew’s passion for helping insurance agency owners create new growth strategies has fueled Redbird’s business model. Drew has consulted with hundreds of agencies throughout the U.S. in the areas of online strategy, customer experience and unique target markets such as high net worth foreign nationals, national associations and impaired risk life insurance.
Prior to jumping into the insurance, Drew was an operations manager for a private equity firm in Vail, Colorado focused on high-end resort development projects. Drew also spent seven years as a volunteer firefighter for one of the largest fire departments in the state of Missouri. Drew is also a mentor for students in the Trulaske School of Business at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Drew is a member of the Young Entrepreneur’s Council, an invitation-only organization comprised of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs 40 and younger.
Drew has a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Todd Gurley – Strategic Planning and Branding
Todd Gurley is a co-founder of Redbird Advisors and serial entrepreneur in multiple industries. Todd has crafted Redbird’s unique positioning as a resource to help medium to large insurance agencies looking to grow outside their traditional footprint.
Prior to Redbird, Todd was a management consultant to Fortune 50 clients for more than 20 years in the areas of customer strategy and experience, brand strategy and positioning, marketing, market research and new product and service development. His clients included Lowe’s, Toyota, IBM, and General Electric. Todd spent more than 15 years in corporate America for IBM and AT&T.
Todd has a degree in journalism from Arkansas State University.
Jeff Pitta – Health Insurance
Jeff Pitta has established himself as one of the up-and-coming players in healthcare insurance as the CEO of Continental Health Alliance in Nashville, Tennessee. Jeff embraces change with an unparalleled passion and looks beyond the normal—the standard—and says there is a better way; not for the sake of change itself, but to leapfrog stagnant models and find new formulas for success.
While sales development is clearly Jeff’s strong suite, redesigning and reengineering the playing field will be his legacy. Jeff is already a seasoned veteran of production in Medicare and Long-Term Care. One of Jeff’s biggest achievements was winning the prestigious Inc. 5,000 award. Jeff is a member of the Young Entrepreneur’s Council.
Jeff is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Jeff is married to Julie Pitta and is the adoring father of three precious children.
Eric Salazar – Life Insurance and Mortgage Protection
Eric Salazar is National Director of Sales for Unique Writers, a fast-growing, California-based Independent Marketing Organization serving independent life insurance agents across the U.S. When Eric isn’t driving the highly-successful mortgage protection business for Unique, he’s getting his hands dirty in the field helping agents build their books and, when time allows, selling final expense and mortgage protection on the side.
Eric has been a licensed life and health specialists for more than 17 years. He began his career selling long term care to seniors and then transitioned to life and mortgage protection. He built his expertise in the category by not only driving high sales volume, but by creating long-term client relationships selling ancillary products.
Eric loves to helping new agents get started in the business.
Jason Buchheit – Healthcare Insurance and Investments
Jason, President & CEO of The Legacy Group, an advisory firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, offering a unique range of investment solutions, as well as health and ancillary insurance products for groups and individuals. Jason is also a partner and principal of USA Medical & Surgical, an e-commerce medical supply and equipment store.
Prior to The Legacy Group and USA Medical & Surgical, Jason was executive vice president and vice president of sales at Life Systems, a distributor of capital medical equipment and supplies. Prior to Life Systems, he held leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies such as ADP and Deloitte.
Jason is a member of the Medicare Broker’s Association and Medical Device Development.
Matt Brown – Final Expense Trainer
Matt Brown is one of the three founders of Unique Writers (UW), a fast-growing, California-based Independent Marketing Organization serving life insurance agents across the U.S. Matt is primarily responsible for all final expense sales efforts for UW, working with agents and managers nationwide. Matt spends time with agents while maintaining his position as a top producer for UW.
Matt began his insurance career in 1998 selling mortgage protection for a large Sacramento-based IMO and pioneered their Final Expense program. Matt worked closely with Mike Passaglia, an executive at the time with the IMO, and was given the company’s Northern California region to manage, the company’s largest territory at the time. Mike, Matt and Dan Newton later teamed up to start Unique Writers.
Matt is a graduate of Chico State University with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Nate Broughton – Internet Marketing Strategy, Management and Investments
Nate is an Internet pioneer, having spent 15 years being involved in many highly-successful businesses, primarily in the financial services sector. Today, Nate is a partner in the venture capital firm Plus2 Capital.
Nate is a three-time Inc. 500 winner with four successful exits. He was the chief marketing officer for VeteransUnited.com, the leading VA lender in the U.S. Nate was a partner in SuretyBonds.com, a firm which developed technology to qualify, quote and bind thousands of surety bond types. Nate is also a principal in eligibility.com.
Nate lives in La Jolla, California with his wife Kristi and son Gage.