Our People
Northern Insuring Agency, Inc. is the largest locally-owned, independent insurance agency covering the Northern New York Region with offices in Plattsburgh, Potsdam, and Glens Falls, New York.
Northern Insuring Agency Officers

In addition to his role as Chairman, Rod oversees Northern Insuring’s financials and continues to handle select clients. As a member of the sales team, he specializes in risk management for governmental entities and large business accounts. Rod holds a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Lawrence University as well as the designation of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter. He is actively involved with the community, serving in a leadership role with numerous organizations.
Chairman
Roderic G. Giltz, CPCU

Deena is a third-generation Chief Executive Officer and the leader of Northern Insuring Agency. She provides vision, experience, and strategic thinking and is responsible for sound financial long-term planning. Personal passions include a commitment to sharing profits with the team, developing the next generation of leaders, and providing high level insurance and risk management guidance. Deena is highly recognized for her leadership and commitment to the local community. Deena is a notary public.
Chief Executive Officer
Deena Giltz McCullough, CIC, CRM, ACC

Ed provides tailor-made Property & Casualty products and risk management solutions for his clients. In 2013 Ed became Vice President of the Business Insurance Division, and in 2019 became a Senior VP. As C.O.O., Ed is responsible for overseeing daily operations of the company, overseeing the agency sales teams, and providing leadership that supports the corporate vision and strategic plan.
President & Chief Operating Officer
Ed Davis, CIC, CRM

Randy began working in an underwriting training program and returned in 1990 to the family-run agency. As Senior Vice President, Randy is a member of the sales team and specializes in risks for schools, as well as real estate, contracting and non-profit businesses. Randy leads the marketing team by nurturing relationships with insurance carriers. In his personal life, he is married with 3 children and an avid outdoorsman.
Senior Vice President
Randy Giltz, CPCU, CSRM, TRA, CIC

As a veteran of the agency, Brenda started at Northern Insuring in the mail room and worked her way into the role of CFO. Brenda’s responsibilities include overseeing the financial operations of the organization including payroll, accounts payable and receivables. She also retains her role as Talent Manager for the inside staff including Human Resource duties and benefits administration.
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Chief Financial Officer
Brenda B. LaRose

Tammy began at Northern Insuring in the Personal Lines Division. In 2006, she joined the Business Insurance Division sales team handling a wide range of clients. In addition to her sales responsibilities, she is the Personal Insurance Division Talent Leader, responsible for coaching and mentoring employees.
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Vice President
Tammy Bell-Martin, CIC, CRM, CISR

Laurie’s responsibilities include the management and education of the Life & Employee Benefits Division as well as the Business Insurance Division’s marketing team. Her focus extends to maximizing the utilization of Northern’s agency management systems, assisting with all corporate and individual insurance licenses, as well as assisting with education as needed.
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Associate Vice President - Systems & Service
Laurie A. Mero, CISR

Jason’s duties include managing and overseeing network and information infrastructures. His exceptional IT skill-set paired with his jack-of-all-trades approach to problem-solving have made him an indispensable asset to the Northern Insuring team. In addition to IT work, Jason handles all grounds and maintenance work for all three of Northern’s offices.
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Chief Information Security Officer
Jason Bruce, MST

In her eighth year of working with Northern Insuring, Tanya was promoted to Associate Vice President. Holding both her CIC and REBC designations, she works in both our Life & Employee Benefits Department, as well as our Business Insurance Division, and can aide with a variety of your company’s insurance needs.
Associate Vice President
Tanya LaShombe, REBC, CIC

Tiffany manages the sales staff in the Business Insurance, and Life & Employee Benefits divisions, including mentoring, monitoring performance, and taking on sales issues that may arise from time to time. She continues to provide custom insurance proposals for businesses of all size. She holds a Property & Casualty license and has earned her CIC designation.
Associate Vice President
Tiffany Garcia, CIC

Zoom specializes in employee and customer emotional support. She often greets people at the door with a wagging tail. Zoom has trained all her life for this position. In her spare time, Zoom likes to chase stuffies, roll around on the floor, steal socks and shoes, and sniff under desks for crumbs.
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Chief Comfort Officer
Zoom McCullough
Plattsburgh Office
Emotional Support Division
Start Year: 2020
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Business Insurance Division

Sam began in the accounting department and now manages 9 direct reports in the Business Insurance Division. She holds an Associates Degree in Business from Jefferson Community College, is a Notary Public, and licensed in Property & Casualty.
Manager, Business Insurance Division
Samantha Cross, CISR Elite

Ashley graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in Global Supply Chain Management. As supervisor, Ashley conducts department meetings and assists with agency insurance licenses and education. She also specializes in processing and servicing Business Insurance Accounts. She is licensed in Property & Casualty.
Supervisor, Business Insurance Division
Ashley Hardman

Chris brings a high level of support to sales executives and specializes in New York State School Crime coverage. She attended SUNY Canton and received her Associates Degree in Business. She is licensed in Property & Casualty.
Senior Account Executive
Christine Davis, CISR Elite

Selena services a variety of business accounts, specializing in contractor insurance and bonding. She has an extensive knowledge of both small and large business accounts and holds a NYS Property & Casualty license . In addition to insurance, Selena is our in-house organizer for United Way of the Adirondack Region. Personally, she is also a licensed cosmetologist, support branch member of the South Plattsburgh Fire Department.
Selena is a Notary Public
Senior Account Executive
Selena Banker, CRIS, CISR Elite

Sarah specializes in processing and servicing Business Insurance accounts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from SUNY Plattsburgh and is licensed in Property & Casualty. In addition to insurance, Sarah handles the advertising and public relations for Northern Insuring.
Senior Account Executive
Sarah Cronk-Duquette, CISR Elite

Theresa assists the sales staff and their assistants with the day-to-day servicing needs on their accounts. She continues to grow and expand her knowledge of the insurance industry.
Business Insurance Support Specialist
Theresa Higgins-Witkiewicz

Bryce earned his Bachelor’s Degree at Elmira College. At Northern Insuring, he provides tailored insurance proposals and risk management approaches for businesses throughout Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, and Essex counties. Away from the office, he is a hockey coach for the North Country Youth Hockey and Adirondack 46ers organizations.
Senior Sales Executive
Bryce Hanson, CIC, CISR
Plattsburgh & Potsdam Offices
Email: bryceh@northerninsuring.com
Direct Line: 518-825-2131
Start Year: 2016

Collin joined the Business Insurance Division, first as a Marketing Coordinator before moving to a Sales Executive role in the summer of 2020. As the fourth generation of the Giltz/McCullough family to work at Northern Insuring, Collin is dedicated to helping local businesses protect what they love most all while forging connections in the North Country.
Marketing Director
Collin McCullough, CIC

Sarah brings more than a decade of insurance and customer service experience. Sarah is a Regents graduate of Hudson Falls Central School District and holds her Property & Casualty license. She spends her free time with family and her fur babies.
Account Executive
Sarah Genier, CISR

Melissa is dual licensed in the State of New York for Property & Casualty as well as Life, Accident & Health. She is actively involved with the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and serves as an ambassador. She serves as Board President for the Glens Falls Civic Center Foundation Board and a board member for Common Roots Foundation.
Senior Sales Executive
Melissa Davidson, CIC

Amanda specializes in customer service as the frontline in greeting people via phone or in person. She also assists with numerous administrative duties and support for the team as a whole. Amanda holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Administration from SUNY Canton.
Amanda is a Notary Public
Business Insurance Support Specialist
Amanda Terrance

Elizabeth graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Plattsburgh State University in 2019. She is licensed for Life, Accident & Health, and Property & Casualty insurance. She works alongside the Business Division sales staff to make sure clients are placed with a carrier best fit for their needs. Elizabeth is also a notary public.
Marketing Lead
Elizabeth Lavigne
Plattsburgh Office
Email: elizabethl@northerninsuring.com
Direct Line: 518-825-2138
Start Year: 2021

Karen holds an Associates in Science degree from Paul Smiths College. Karen is licensed for Property & Casualty insurance and specializes in processing and servicing Business Insurance Accounts for the Plattsburgh office.
Sales Executive Assistant
Karen Bernardi

Lori holds an Associates in Arts degree from Art Institute of Seattle. She is licensed for Property & Casualty insurance and specializes in processing and servicing Business Insurance Accounts for the Potsdam office.
Sales Executive Assistant
Lori Rohde
Life & Employee Benefits Division

Kristi attended Trinity College of Vermont and Binghamton University. She holds the NYS Life, Accident & Health Insurance license, VT Non-Resident Life, Accident & Health license, and NYS Property & Casualty license. She is authorized to offer Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Part D plans. She resides in Peru with her husband, children and numerous fur babies.
Kristi is a notary public.
Senior Sales Director
Kristi Johnson, REBC

Korilynn brings an administrative and customer service background, which she uses to assist clients with their policies and work on their renewal plans. A graduate of Saranac Central School, she successfully completed and passed the New York State Life, Accident & Health pre-licensing course and subsequent exam in February 2020.
In her spare time, she enjoys activities with her son, hiking, cooking, and spending time with family.
Sales Executive Assistant
Korilynn Mendoza

Karen has a background in medical practice management and holds a license in Life, Accident & Health. In addition, she is a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Professional Biller (CPB) through the American Academy of Professional Coder.
Karen assists clients with questions and concerns about their policies, as well as working on their renewal plans.
Sales Executive Assistant
Karen Barber
Personal Insurance Division

Melissa graduated from Beekmantown Central School in 1986 and has worked her way up through Northern Insuring, becoming Senior Manager and Sales Coordinator of the Personal Insurance Division. She holds a Property & Casualty license along with a Certified Insurance Service Representative Elite designation.
Senior Manager, Personal Lines Division
Melissa Kokofsky, CISR Elite

Paula graduated from Northeastern Central School in 1998. With prior background in retail management, Paula joined Northern Insuring in 2017. She has obtained her Broker’s license in Personal Insurance as well as her CISR designation. Paula specializes in selling personal insurance to suit the needs of our clients. As supervisor, she conducts department meetings and oversees the training of new employees.
Supervisor, Personal Lines Division
Paula DeAngelo, CISR

Tami is a Sales Executive Assistant in the Personal Insurance Division. Based in our Plattsburgh office, she handles the day-to-day policy maintenance, mortgagee changes along with any billing questions.
Sales Executive Assistant
Tami Vaughan

Nick is a 2001 graduate of Plattsburgh High School. He holds a Broker’s license in Personal Insurance. Nick reviews the insurance for the clients of the Plattsburgh office and determines whether a new carrier would be a better fit.
Senior Retention Specialist
Nick Bouyea, CISR

Patrick graduated from Siena College in 1988. He has been in the insurance industry since 2010 and holds his NYS Property & Casualty License and a NYS Life, Accident & Health License. In addition to selling insurance in the Glens Falls office, Patrick reviews coverages for his clients on an annual basis to determine if another carrier is warranted.
Retention Specialist
Patrick Kowalczyk

Rhonda graduated Fort Edward Union Free in 1999 and has been working in insurance since 2005. She holds her NYS Property & Casualty License. Rhonda sells personal lines insurance and reviews policies for current clients to make sure they're receiving the best rates.
Senior Account Manager
Rhonda Rosick

Ashley graduated from Norwood-Norfolk High School in 2002. After 16 years in the restaurant industry, she made the change to insurance. She holds a Broker's license in Personal Insurance. Ashley assists with policy changes and making sure her clients have the best possible rates. She lives in Massena with multiple fur babies.
Sales Executive
Ashley Kalman-Smith
Administrative Support Division

Melissa graduated from Beekmantown Central School in 1986 and has worked her way up through Northern Insuring, becoming Senior Manager and Sales Coordinator of the Personal Insurance Division. She holds a Property & Casualty license along with a Certified Insurance Service Representative Elite designation.
Melissa graduated from Beekmantown Central School in 1986 and has worked her way up through Northern Insuring, becoming Senior Manager and Sales Coordinator of the Personal Insurance Division. She holds a Property & Casualty license along with a Certified Insurance Service Representative Elite designation.
Michael-Ann is a 2004 graduate of AuSable Valley Central School District. In addition to handling the accounting for Northern Insuring, she manages the Administrative Support Division, assisting all divisions within the agency.
Manager, Administrative Support Division
Michael-Ann Strack
Plattsburgh Office
Email: michaelanns@northerninsuring.com
Direct Line: 518-825-2133
Start Year: 2007

Melissa graduated from Beekmantown Central School in 1986 and has worked her way up through Northern Insuring, becoming Senior Manager and Sales Coordinator of the Personal Insurance Division. She holds a Property & Casualty license along with a Certified Insurance Service Representative Elite designation.
Melissa graduated from Beekmantown Central School in 1986 and has worked her way up through Northern Insuring, becoming Senior Manager and Sales Coordinator of the Personal Insurance Division. She holds a Property & Casualty license along with a Certified Insurance Service Representative Elite designation.
Robin is typically the first face you see at Northern Insuring’s Plattsburgh office. She politely answers your calls to help direct you to the appropriate person. She assists every employee of all divisions and branch offices with whatever they may need, such as updating the company proposals and summaries of insurance and scheduling for employees’ time in and out of office.
Administrative Coordinator
Robin Tamer