Meet the SMI Team

Personal Insurance

Tom Jacoy
Since 1994 Tom has been an Account Executive in our Property & Casualty Department. Tom is currently the sales team lead for our insurance producers. Working with clients, Tom provides concierge-level of services creating relationships based on mutual trust and respect. Tom loves family, friends, biking and fixing things.

Tom Jacoy

PERSONAL & Commercial New Business

Contact Via Email

425.563.7028

Cathy Elliot
Cathy is the lead for the Personal Lines Account Team. Her customers continually comment on her responsiveness, knowledge and willingness to problem solve and look at alternatives. No one is more dedicated to serving customers than Cathy! Away from work, Cathy enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, gardening and working out.

Cathy Elliott

PERSONAL Lines Service Team

Contact Via Email

425.563.7024

Nate Hopper
Nate is a valued Account Manager on the Personal Lines team. His ability to resolve client issues effectively and thoroughly are much appreciated by his clients and co-workers. In his down time, Nate enjoys checking out the local craft beer scene with friends, going to new places with his wife or simply hanging out at home with their dog and two cats. He is an avid supporter of Seattle sports and loves competing against friends in fantasy football.

Nate Hopper

PERSONAL Lines Service Team

Contact Via Email

425.563.7026

Jenna Etzel
Jenna joined the Sea-Mountain team in 2022 as a Spokane native. She is proud of her long track record of building strong, successful teams and creating relationships with clients. Sustaining client relationships over time through a focus on culture and values is where Jenna shines. Jenna loves music, going outside with friends and family, and a nice cold whiskey by a fire pit on a beautiful night.

Jenna Etzel

PERSONAL Lines Service Team

Contact Via Email

206.299.0976

Lora Zanin
Lora is a personal lines producer who has been helping clients with their insurance needs for 20 years and loves every minute of it. Lora was born and raised in Montana and loves the outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys paddleboarding, fishing with her husband, boating, and spending time with her two granddaughters.

Lora Zanin

PERSONAL New Business

Contact Via Email

425.207.3016

Krista Patten
Krista is the queen of Yacht Insurance for our agency. Krista has experience with commercial marine insurance yet has dedicated the majority of her career to providing excellent service to the yacht community. She is a huge animal lover with three dogs of her own, two of them rescues. Krista loves spending time with family and friends and reading a good book.

Krista Patten

Yacht Service Team

Contact Via Email

425.689.0099

Marine Insurance

Dylan Hopper
Dylan specializes in Ocean Marine Insurance assisting new clients to obtain the best marine coverage for their needs. Dylan is a third-generation insurance agent following in the footsteps of his father & grandfather. His career started in High School assisting his dad with data entry in the busy season. When not hard at work, you’ll find Dylan exploring the pacific northwest either on the water fishing or on the trails running.

Dylan Hopper

Marine New Business Team

Contact Via Email

425.245.5436

Kirk Johanson
Kirk was born in Ballard and grew up in Kenmore then Kirkland, WA. He studied at Bellevue College and the University of Washington. Kirk's grandfather was an Alaskan Fisherman and his dad's career was in insurance so being on our Marine Insurance team is a perfect fit. Formerly Kirk was with North Star and specialized in Commercial Marine vessel coverages. Previous to working in insurance, he was in the golf industry as a golf Pro and coach. Currently Kirk lives in Kenmore where he enjoys time with family, travelling, and golfing. He's an avid sports fan and is happy to talk Seahawks anytime.

Kirk Johanson

Marine New Business Team

Contact Via Email

206-673-5806

Charm Williams-Castro
Charm joined our Marine Department Account Management Team in 2022. She flexes her excellent customer service skills daily. She loves working out with kickboxing cardio, light weight-liftin, and bodyweight strength and conditioning. She loves the beach, listening to music, a good movie with friends, and hanging out at home.

Charm Williams-Castro

Marine Account Manager

Contact Via Email

425-207-3009

Caitlin Leady
Caitlin is lead for the Marine Department Account Management Team. She brings excellence to remarketing policies, renewing policies, invoicing and financing premiums for her clients. On her off time, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her friends and family as well as a good Netflix binge. In the summer you can usually find Caitlin on the lake or anywhere in the sun while in the winter you will find her curled up on the couch with a glass of wine and her dog enjoying The Bachelor.

Caitlin Leady

Marine Service Team

Contact Via Email

425.200.0023

Linda James
Linda is one of our star Marine Account Managers. Linda enjoys working with a wide variety of clients and meeting the challenge of tailoring insurance coverages to their specific needs. In her time off, she enjoys playing the piano, reading and gardening. She also desires to train a puppy that would be able to visit hospitals, rest homes and rehab facilities.

Linda James

Marine Service Team

Contact Via Email

425.200.0024

Megan Knoll
Megan is a Marine Account Admin. She assists Account Managers to timely and accurately issue policies and endorsements, invoice clients, and keep our documentation organized. Outside of work, Megan can be found wrangling her three young kids, who keep her busy! Megan and her family enjoy camping, traveling, swimming, and watching Gonzaga Basketball.

Megan Knoll

Marine Service Team

Contact Via Email

425.689.0098

Sara Diamond
Sara is a SMI Marine Account Manager. She received her license in about 2 weeks and is proud of that accomplishment. Sara has experience in both Personal Lines, small Commercial Lines, and looks forward to focusing her talents on Marine Insurance with SMI. Building strong relationships with customers where she is a trusted source of information has translated into long-term relationships for her. Sara enjoys reading, a lot! She has a 9 year old Lab/Doberman mix rescue dog, Isobella (Busy Issy) who has been her loyal companion for the past 4 years. Sara also enjoys cooking and gardening.

Sara Diamond

Marine Account Manager

Contact Via Email

907.531.2210

Equine Insurance

Heather Lindsey
Heather is a third-generation horse owner who brings her lifelong experience and knowledge of equine and insurance together to offer her clients a unique expertise. As an Equine Account Executive, Heather specializes in mortality, farm packages, trainer liability, club and event coverage. Outside of work, you will find Heather competing at the Arabian Regional shows where she has won multiple Championships in the All-Around Division with her three show horses.

Heather Lindsey

Equine New Business Team

Contact Via Email

425.689.0004

Karen Bannister
Karen is a valued Account Manager, focused on servicing equine mortality policies. She excels at interacting and building relationships with her customers and providing excellent customer service. Karen loves spending time with her daughters and 2 young grandsons, traveling to new places, going to concerts, decorating, gardening and helping people.

Karen Bannister

Equine Service Team

Contact Via Email

425.775.7651

Danielle Forino
Danielle joined Sea-Mountain Insurance in March of 2021 after leaving her previous brokerage. Before transitioning in to Equine Insurance, she spent 7 years in commercial insurance handling small contractors, restaurants and homeowner’s associations as well as training new employees.Danielle’s Hobbies Include:
  • Watching her 10 year old son play football
  • Singing
  • Cooking
  • Traveling with her son

Danielle Folino

Equine Insurance Team

Contact Via Email

425.953.1350

Dianna Connelly
Dianna Connelly is a Commercial Insurance Broker. Her emphasis on relationships and dedication to service is the foundation to her success. Working closely with each client to understand their individual business needs ensures that a custom-tailored policy is chosen. Dianna works with Winery and Distillery Insurance and Equestrian/Farm Insurance programs. When she isn’t working, she spends her time, cooking, gardening, volunteering for her boy’s high school band program, and spending time outside with animals, and with her husband and kids.

Dianna Connelly

Commercial Lines, Wineries / Breweries / Distilleries, & Equine New Business

Contact Via Email

425.806.0401

Calli Loan
Calli is a valuable member of the Sea Mountain Team. She joined us while finishing her AA degree in an admin role. She quickly became so valuable that once she graduated, she was hired full-time as an assistant account manager. She has proven to be a quick study and eager to take on new projects. Away from the office she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog, Rosie. Additionally, Calli is a huge Taylor Swift fan and enjoys listening to her music and seeing her in concert.

Calli Loan

Equine Insurance Team

Contact Via Email

425.207.3014

Commercial Insurance

Tom Jacoy
Since 1994 Tom has been an Account Executive in our Property & Casualty Department. Tom is currently the sales team lead for our insurance producers. Working with clients, Tom provides concierge-level of services creating relationships based on mutual trust and respect. Tom loves family, friends, biking and fixing things.

Tom Jacoy

PERSONAL & Commercial New Business

Contact Via Email

425.563.7028

Jennifer Novarro
Jennifer is the newest member of our Commercial Account Manager team, moving over from our Personal Line team to take on new challenges. Jennifer provides individualized support to each of her unique commercial accounts. Jenn currently resides in Las Vegas, NV with her husband and children. In her off time, she enjoys going to shows and sporting events with her family & friends.

Jennifer Novarro

COMMERCIAL LINES SERVICE TEAM

Contact Via Email

702.628.5043

Dianna Connelly
Dianna Connelly is a Commercial Insurance Broker. Her emphasis on relationships and dedication to service is the foundation to her success. Working closely with each client to understand their individual business needs ensures that a custom-tailored policy is chosen. Dianna works with Winery and Distillery Insurance and Equestrian/Farm Insurance programs. When she isn’t working, she spends her time, cooking, gardening, volunteering for her boy’s high school band program, and spending time outside with animals, and with her husband and kids.

Dianna Connelly

Commercial Lines, Wineries / Breweries / Distilleries, & Equine New Business

Contact Via Email

425.806.0401

Debra Tracy
Dedicated to her clients and understands the importance in handling business needs quickly and accurately. Experienced with Commercial Insurance and proud to be a part of an amazing team with Sea-Mountain! Outside of work, the focus is spending time with family and friends; Much of it is toddler time keeping her son busy with parks, coloring, making messes, and cleaning up those messes. She also enjoys good food, checking out local music events, leisurely bowling and throwing some darts.

Debra Tracy

COMMERCIAL LINES ACCOUNT MANAGER

Contact Via Email

509.209.8670

Patty Schuermeyer
Patty has worked on both the insurance company and the insurance agency side of the industry, always coming back to the agency side as assisting clients is one of her favorite parts of her job as a commercial lines account manager. Patty has been in the industry for more years than she cares to admit and has earned her CPCU and ARM designations along the way. Patty’s hobbies include:
  • Enjoying family time with her husband, adult kids (their spouses), and grandkids; and spending time with friends too
  • Outdoor concerts (face it we live in Washington, indoor concerts are okay too)
  • Walking her big goofy dogs

Patty Schuermeyer

COMMERCIAL LINES SERVICE TEAM

Contact Via Email

425.563.7016

Employee Benefits

Elisabeth Ellingson
Elisabeth is an accomplished Employee Benefits Broker who has built her reputation on delivering outstanding service, crafting creative benefits solutions, and having a wealth of knowledge. With over a decade of experience, Elisabeth is an expert in developing competitive benefits programs for any industry, with a specialty in the tech sector. Her commitment to excellence and her personal mission of changing perceptions of insurance and benefits has earned her notoriety as a trustworthy advocate for both employers and employees, driving meaningful outcomes and lasting partnerships.

Elisabeth Ellingson

Employee Benefits

Contact Via Email

206.242.6800

Office Team

Daren Hopper
Daren is a founder of Sea-Mountain Insurance 1987 and is the President. Daren oversees all operations of the agency and specializes in assisting commercial vessel owners in processing their insurance claims. Daren is passionate about our values: Family, Relationships, Care, Service and Passion to Improve. Outside of the office, you will find Daren participating in triathlons, trail running, spending time with family and spoiling his grandchildren.

Daren Hopper

President

Contact Via Email

425.245.5434

Maria Stevenson
Maria is our General Manager. She loves getting to know people and building positive connections with her clients, carrier partners and co-workers. She enjoys weekend trips with her husband, spending time her two grown children, or just hanging out with her large extended family and fabulous friends.

Maria Stevenson

General Manager

Contact Via Email

425.563.7025

Jordan Hopper
Jordan joined Sea-Mountain Insurance the same year he graduated from Washington State University. Before becoming our go-to marketing professional, he spent several years on the service team, assisting clients and getting to know the insurance industry. Jordan’s hobbies include:
  • Traveling with his wife.
  • Playing with their young son Jameson.
  • Hanging with their dog.
  • Having way too much fun with friends.

Jordan Hopper

Marketing

Contact Via Email

425.563.7029

Cindy Hopper
Cindy handles our insurance accounting, ensuring customer payments are received and promptly remitted to insurance carriers for agency bill policies and handling the processing and tracking of direct bill commissions. Outside the office, Cindy spends time reading, gardening, and creating colorful quilts.

Cindy Hopper

Insurance Accounting

Contact Via Email

425.998.9139