Meet the Team

Executive Leadership
Laurie Donohue, Executive Director
Laurie has 25 years of experience in sales and marketing management. For the past seven years, Laurie has been the Corporate Communications Manager for The Main Street America Group. In addition to planning and implementing all external communications for this $700 million company, Laurie worked with many MSA Group independent agents to develop and implement marketing plans for their individual agencies.

Laurie has a BA from the University of New Hampshire and a Certificate in Project Management from Boston University. She is currently working toward obtaining her CIC certification. laurie@Aartrijk.com

Peter van Aartrijk, Managing Director
Peter has nearly 25 years of branding and communications experience, including advertising, consumer research and education, marketing, public relations, publishing and Web development. As a spokesperson for clients and employers, Peter has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox News and other networks, and he has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine and other national press. He is a frequent speaker on issues of branding and marketing and is co-author of Zoom, a step-by-step branding guide.

Peter began his career as a newspaper reporter and held editorial positions with A.M. Best Co. and National Underwriter Co. He later served as Director of Media Relations for the Insurance Information Institute. He is Contributing Editor of Independent Agent magazine.

Peter is a frequent convention speaker on issues of branding and marketing in insurance. He is co-author of Zoom: Focusing on Brand Dominance, a new guidebook for independent agents and brokers. peter@Aartrijk.com

Associates
Kevin Amrhein, Editorial Associate
Kevin Amrhein began his insurance career as a marketing representative and then commercial lines agent for a large independent agency in Orlando. While furthering his education, Kevin spent time creating ad campaigns for the local clients of a major radio broadcasting company. He credits this experience for the solution-based writing style that has enabled him to publish hundreds of original articles annually for insurance industry publications. In addition to writing, Kevin is a technical instructor, teaching classes on industry subjects ranging from ethics, property and casualty lines of coverage, and risk management. kevin@Aartrijk.com

Greg Smith, Creative Design Associate
Greg Smith has more than 17 years experience in visual communications. As the long-time creative director of the Independent Insurance Agents of America, he developed a cohesive image for all of the association’s communications, including its national magazine. As a freelance graphic designer, he has created logos, annual reports, media kits, print ads, brochures and newsletters for a wide range of clientele, including educational, insurance, high-tech and financial investment firms. His work has earned an ADDY and an Insurance Marketing and Communications Best of Show Award. Greg is a graduate of West Virginia University, with a Bachelor of Science in journalism and advertising. greg@Aartrijk.com

Ron Wasko, Creative Design Associate
Ron has worked with The Main Street America Group and with many independent insurance agents for more than 20 years. He has nearly 10 years of design and marketing experience with a property and casualty company; where he worked directly with independent agents. He has extensive experience in creating effective printed materials, PowerPoint presentations, video presentations and Web site design. ron@steelpen.com