John M. Word III is renowned for transforming the California insurance
broker’s role in the small group health benefits marketplace through his
pioneering technological and marketing advances since 1972.
Edward J. "Rusty" Brown, Jr.
Co-founder
The Word & Brown Companies
Edward J. “Rusty” Brown, Jr. is highly respected throughout the health care
insurance industry for establishing and delivering standards of performance
and service designed to exceed all customers’ expectations.
Jessica Word
President
The Word & Brown General Agency
Jessica Word is President of the Word & Brown
General Agency, the recognized leader in developing and distributing
comprehensive health benefit plan models and insurance solutions through
licensed brokers.
Marc McGinnis
Vice President of National Sales
The Word & Brown General Agency
Marc McGinnis is Vice President of General Agency Sales, focused on
streamlining sales processes and directing the regional leadership and sales
teams.
Scott Diehl
Vice President of Product & Digital Strategy
In his product management leadership role, Scott Diehl oversees software and
insurance product strategy, identification of market trends, and broker
demands in the health insurance marketplace.
Regional Vice Presidents
Cindy West
Regional Vice President
Los Angeles
Cindy West is Regional Vice President for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa
Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Kern counties.
Daniel Pierce
Regional Vice President
Inland Empire
Daniel Pierce is Regional Vice President for the Inland Empire region. In this role, he
works with brokers and agencies in San Bernardino and Riverside counties to
develop and deliver solution-based products and services to satisfy the
diverse needs of their group clients.
Darrell F.H. Smith
Regional Vice President
Nevada
Darrell F. H. Smith is Regional Vice President in Nevada. A resident dating
back to the early 1970s, he relocated to Nevada with his family from South
Carolina.
Matt Leslie
Regional Vice President
Northern California
Matt Leslie is Regional Vice President at the Word & Brown General Agency in
San Jose. The Northern California region encompasses 48 counties and
stretches from the California-Oregon border south to Monterey, Kings,
Tulare, and Inyo counties in Central California.
Vanessa Benitez
Regional Vice President
San Diego
Vanessa Benitez is Regional Vice President in the San Diego area, which
includes Imperial County and San Diego County.
Leadership
Dientre Le’on
Director of Broker Resources
As Director of Broker Resources, Dientre Le’on has broad responsibilities
that engage departments across the organization in addressing the needs of
brokers.
Karen DeFazio
Director of Plan Maintenance
Karen DeFazio manages the Plan Maintenance team and is responsible for
maintaining accurate medical, dental, vision, and life rates, plans, and
benefits for all California and Nevada carriers included in the WBQuote
online quoting system.
Ken Venier
Director of Business Project Management
As Director of Business Project Management, Ken Venier drives multiple
product development efforts and works across the organization to translate
business needs into documented implementation requirements.
Lydia Robledo
Director of Operations and Underwriting
Lydia Robledo is responsible for Small Group and Large Group Underwriting,
Individual & Family Plans (IFP), Broker Resources, Plan Maintenance, and
Compliance.
Paul Tran
Senior Director of Business Development
Paul Tran is Senior Director of Business Development, where he oversees
Account Management, Elite Agency Partners, Carrier Relations, and Renewal
Retention.
