About

At Wheeler & Taylor, we have decades invested into the art and science of learning your business and personal risk profile from the ground up. We know what you need and why. We work in tandem with you to understand not only your risk and insurance service needs, but what you aspire to achieve as a company and in your personal endeavors. We pride ourselves in being different in our approach to managing your risks and in making a difference – for our clients and the communities we serve.

Founded in 1871, five years following the end of the Civil War, Wheeler & Taylor is one of America’s oldest continuously operated financial companies.  We have been a rock in the community and for our clients through world wars, the Great Depression, and a multitude of financial crises. With a long and storied history that includes insurance, real estate brokerage and banking, Wheeler & Taylor is forging a path into the future on the leading edge of risk management, insurance and real estate solutions. While our history and roots lie solidly in Western Massachusetts, we have worked with our partners at GoodWorks Financial to expand regionally and across the nation.  Operating from locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, California and Nevada, we serve clientele throughout the U.S. and internationally.  With Wheeler & Taylor you don’t have to choose – we offer you the hometown service and values you deserve, combined with the expertise, capabilities and reach that you need.

Wheeler & Taylor is a member of the GoodWorks Financial Group of companies, a network of common-ownership companies who are all dedicated contributors and sponsors of many local and national charitable organizations serving the educational, healthcare and public safety needs of our communities.

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Leadership Team

Chad Yonker, CFA

Executive Chairman

Chad Yonker is the Chairman & CEO of GoodWorks Financial Group, and Executive Chairman of Wheeler & Taylor and its partner GoodWorks Financial Group companies.

Prior to GoodWorks Financial, Mr. Yonker founded Litchfield Capital Management in 2002 as a specialist investment manager focused on the financial services, insurance and real estate sectors of the public and private equity markets. The company quickly grew into one of the largest global financial services specialist hedge funds, compounding net returns to its investors in excess of 14% annually over an eight-year period of time in which the S&P Financials index lost nearly 50% of its value.

Prior to founding Litchfield Capital, Mr. Yonker was a Managing Director at the specialist investment bank, Fox-Pitt, Kelton’s (FPK) financial companies research team, ranked 1st or 2nd globally for insurance and financial services research in 2000, 2001 and 2002 by Institutional Investor Magazine’s Survey of Global Institutional Investors. While at FPK (1994-2002), Mr. Yonker was seven times named an “All-Star” and “5-Star Analyst” for his research work and investment recommendations in the banking, insurance and consumer finance sectors. Prior to joining FPK, Mr. Yonker was an analyst at the investment management and venture capital firm of Robert W. Duggan & Associates.

Mr. Yonker is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder, and holds a degree in Business Economics and Accounting from the University of California at Santa Barbara. As a financial institutions expert, Mr. Yonker has been widely quoted by publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Barron’s, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Transcript, The American Banker, Buyside Magazine, IA Magazine, Crain’s Business, MarketWatch, SNL Securities, as well as various newswires and regional newspapers, magazines and publications.

J. Scott Rote

President, Wheeler & Taylor Insurance

As President of Wheeler & Taylor Insurance, Mr. Rote is responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the company, as well as managing and directing the Account Executive Teams.

Mr. Rote began his career at Wheeler & Taylor in November 1999 after serving 19 years as an executive in the banking industry at Great Barrington Savings and then Berkshire Bank, holding down roles in Accounting, Branch Management and culminating as AVP of Commercial Lending. In 2011, Mr. Rote was promoted from branch manager to W&T’s corporate office, and was named Vice President and Sales Director. In 2015 he was named Executive Vice President and in September 2018 assumed the role of President of Wheeler & Taylor Insurance.

Throughout his professional career, Scott has been involved with numerous charitable and civic organizations, at different times serving as President for The Great Barrington Rotary Club, Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, Sheffield Businessmen’s Association, and The Undermountain Youth Athletic Association. Mr. Rote has participated as a member of numerous non-profit boards and is the Director of the Mt. Everett Interact Club.

Mr. Rote’s service to the community started over 30 years ago when he began coaching youth sports at Mt. Everett Regional School in his home town of Sheffield. Mr. Rote also served 28 years as a Volunteer Fireman for the Town of Sheffield, and recently retired as the Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at Mt. Everett after 18 years at the helm, winning a South County Championship, two trips to the Western Mass finals, and multiple trips to the Western Mass tournament. He received the Boog Powell Sportsmanship of the Year award in 2015 and was named Women’s Sports Coach of the Year in Berkshire County in 2016.

Douglas Goudey, CIC

President, Wheeler & Taylor Real Estate
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, Wheeler & Taylor, Inc.

Douglas Goudey is the Chief Financial Officer for Wheeler & Taylor, Inc., and President of Wheeler & Taylor Real Estate Company, Inc.

Mr. Goudey joined Wheeler & Taylor in 1994 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. After working in multiple roles throughout the company Mr. Goudey was named Chief Financial Officer in 2010, and was subsequently named President of Wheeler & Taylor Real Estate Company in 2014. Mr. Goudey is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), earning that designation in 1998 from the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.

Concurrent with his dual roles at Wheeler & Taylor, Mr. Goudey serves in many community roles in the Southern Berkshires. He currently serves as the President of the Stockbridge Land Trust, Treasurer/Secretary for the Berkshire County Board of Realtors, Assessor for the Town of Stockbridge, and is a member of the Stockbridge Tourism Committee. A few of his past roles include: Member of the Stockbridge Fire Department, President and Treasurer for the Stockbridge Fire Company, Treasurer and Trustee for the Laurel Hill Association, Treasurer and Executive Board Member for the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer and Trustee for the Stockbridge Library Association, and Trustee for the Stockbridge Bowl Association.

Hemant Hirani, CFA

Global Chief Financial Officer, GoodWorks Financial Group

As CFO of GoodWorks Financial Group, Mr. Hirani is responsible for financial, administrative, and risk management of the various entities under the Goodworks Financial Group umbrella.

Mr. Hirani has over 20 years of experience in finance and accounting having worked in these capacities in both the U.S. and India. Before joining GoodWorks Financial, Mr. Hirani founded and ran a financial advisory firm in India for 5 years. Previously, Mr. Hirani worked as an analyst and portfolio manager for hedge fund operators Endeavour Capital Advisors and Litchfield Capital Management, and was a sell-side research analyst at the specialist investment bank Fox-Pitt, Kelton’s financial companies research team, ranked 1st or 2nd globally for insurance and financial services research in 2000, 2001 and 2002 by Institutional Investor Magazine’s Survey of Global Institutional Investors (FPK is now a division of Macquarie Group). Prior to his move to the U.S. to attend the University of Maryland business school, Mr. Hirani worked as a Chartered Accountant and Auditor for K. S. Aiyar & Co, Chartered Accountants (Mumbai, India) were he ran audit and tax accounting teams that worked on the accounts of many of India’s largest publicly traded corporations.

Mr. Hirani is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder, a qualified Chartered Accountant (equivalent to CPA in India), and a qualified Cost & Management Accountant (India). Additionally, he has earned his MBA degree from the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, and Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting and Finance) from University of Mumbai, India.

Michael Diaz, CIC

Senior Vice President, Director of Agency Mergers & Partnerships

Mr. Diaz is a Senior Vice President of Wheeler & Taylor Inc. responsible for Marketing, Sales and Agency Mergers & Partnerships.

In the role of Agency Mergers & Partnerships, Mr. Diaz is responsible for identifying and developing a true and principled alternative to “financial transaction” acquisitions – an alternative built on a foundation of honesty, transparency, shared values, and the true spirit of partnership.

Mr. Diaz has 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. Experience includes Individual Financial Planning, Client Services Divisional implementations, Disability Income claims, SIU, litigation, mediation & settlement proceedings, sales, and marketing. He attended the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where he began his career as Field Underwriter for MONY. He was then directly involved with establishing a Remote Service Center and Disaster Recovery location for MassMutual in Denver. He was the first Disability Field Consultant for the Berkshire Life Insurance Company. His experience spans the industry and country, working extensively on both the East and West Coasts.

Mr. Diaz maintains a strong, diverse, and ever-increasing knowledge of products and risk transfer, and holds numerous professional industry certifications including Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA), Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR), Associate Life & Health Claims (ALHC).

Mr. Diaz was a member of the Hagerty Agent Advisory Board. He was a two-time President of the Tri-Town Rotary Club and named a Paul Harris Fellow.  He has served on the Board of Directors for both the Rotary Club and Multicultural BRIDGE. He has served on Panels for Monument Mountain and Lee High Schools to educate parents and teens on the risks and consequences of underage drinking.

Greg Knight

Senior Vice President

Greg Knight joined Wheeler & Taylor, Inc in 2001 when he and his wife moved back home from Hilton Head, South Carolina. Mr. Knight began his career at Wheeler & Taylor as an employee benefits executive and later incorporated the commercial property & casualty vertical, where he currently concentrates most of his time and expertise. Outside of his Regions Director duties, Mr. Knight currently advises many of W&T’s larger commercial clients with whom he is known for developing relationships that have stood the test of time.

Mr. Knight graduated Nichols College in 1997 with a degree in business administration, and after college worked as a golf professional. Mr. Knight’s community service includes President of the Country Club of Pittsfield, current director on the board of directors of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, board member of the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires and past President of the Rotary Club of Pittsfield. In the Winter Greg loves to ski and to coach and develop young athletes in the sport of alpine ski racing. He is the Race Director at Ski Butternut and the head coach of the Lenox High Ski Team.

Thomas Blauvelt, CPCU

Director of Human Resources & Administration
Corporate Secretary

Mr. Blauvelt joined Wheeler & Taylor in 2005 as Operations Manager and currently serves as the Director of Human Resources & Administration while also serving as Corporate Secretary. In this capacity, he is responsible for talent acquisition, licensing, compliance and providing advice and assistance to the executive management team and the board. His work extends across all company departments and disciplines.

Prior to his tenure at Wheeler & Taylor, Mr. Blauvelt worked for MassMutual Financial Group. While at MassMutual, he had a successful career as a Director within the Claims Organization, where he managed large, complex teams in diverse areas. He eliminated backlogs, streamlined operations and improved the customer experience. Prior to relocating to the Berkshires, Mr. Blauvelt spent the bulk of his career in New York with large, multi-national insurance companies where he focused on accounting, financial reporting, interdisciplinary team management and customer service.

Mr. Blauvelt received his BA in Accounting and Economics and an MBA in Finance (both from Rutgers University), and earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1989. Mr. Blauvelt has also been an active member of his community, serving on numerous boards and in elected offices. He currently serves as a member of the Great Barrington Finance Committee and chairs the local Community Preservation Committee.

Kimberly TenBroeck, CISR, CIC

Director of Agency Operations

As Director of Agency Operations, Ms. TenBroeck directs and manages the Commercial and Personal Lines Service and Processing teams of Wheeler & Taylor Insurance.

Ms. TenBroeck joined Wheeler & Taylor in July of 1993 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Bridgewater University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Ms. TenBroeck is both a Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), earning those designations in 1997 and 1998 from the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.

After working in several departments including Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Claims, Ms. TenBroeck was named the Insurance Operations Manager in 2013 with duties that include directing, administering and coordinating the daily operation of the agency in support of policies, goals and objectives.

Ms. TenBroeck’s community service includes participation on the board of directors of The Eagle Fund, which raises money for educational enrichment programs, Treasurer of Great Barrington Little League and as a T-Ball Coach. Kimberly also volunteers at Mount Everett Regional High School in support of the Soccer and Basketball booster clubs and with the Sheffield Boy Scouts troop 1028.

Phil Moroch, CPRM

Vice President & Practice Leader, Private Client Group

In his role as Vice President & Practice Leader, Mr. Moroch is responsible for overseeing the risk and insurance interests of our High-Net-Worth Private Client population.

Prior to joining the GoodWorks Financial and Wheeler & Taylor team, Phil spent nine years working as a High-Net-Worth personal lines insurance executive for Acrisure where he was consistently ranked as one of the highest producing individual HNW agents in the nation with the “big-three” carriers that dominate the HNW market (Chubb/ACE, AIG, PURE).

Today Phil focuses most of his time on managing the Private Client practice group while protecting and advising high-net-worth and affluent families with specialized expertise in coastal properties and portfolios with multi-state, international, and other unique geographic or risk exposures.

Mr. Moroch graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Eastern Connecticut State University, completed his MBA in 2011, and holds the prestigious Certified Personal Risk Manager (CPRM) designation.

Wheeler & Taylor Real Estate

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