Insurance Business America’s annual Hot 100 list highlights trailblazers redefining the insurance industry through innovation, leadership, and transformative contributions. These influential professionals are not just shaping the future of the sector, they are setting new standards of excellence and driving meaningful change across the industry.
Sara Masaeli has over 10 years of experience working in the insurance industry. As Brown & Riding’s Chief Information Officer, she oversees B&R’s agency management system, a custom-built platform tailored to the firm’s specific workflows, which she helped implement. Sara seamlessly integrates user needs, technical expertise, and strategic alignment and has been instrumental in driving Brown & Riding’s technological advancement and operational efficiency. View Sara’s IBA profile here.
Jeff Rodriguez has been working in the insurance industry for 35 years and serves as Brown & Riding’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, Brown & Riding has achieved significant growth, organically and through strategic acquisition, and has earned marked recognition at local, regional, and national levels. The company has also become one of the largest wholesale insurance brokerage firms in the United States and remains the largest fully independent, privately owned E&S wholesale broker in the country. View Jeff’s IBA profile here.
To read the 2025 Hot 100 report and view the full list of winners, click here.