Jim Gorder

Email:

jgorder@valleyagencies.com

President of Valley Agencies, Jim  has over 30 years of experience in insurance.

Jim has earned the designation CIC Certified Insurance Councilor. A multi-line agent licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, Jim provides insurance counsel and service to many large businesses in the area of property and casualty programs and benefits.

Jim's career began at Stillwater Insurance Agency in 1974. He joined First State Insurance in 1987 and in 1990 engineered a merger of the two to become the present Valley Agencies.

In industry activity, Jim has served as president of The Independent Agents of Greater St. Paul and chair of the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents Education Committee.

In community involvement, Jim is a member of the Stillwater Lions and Elks Lodge #179, and past President of the Stillwater Optimist Club.

Raised in Stillwater, Jim is a 1974 graduate of the University of Minnesota. Jim continues to live in Stillwater with his wife and three children.

Renee Peabody, CISR

Email:

rpeabody@valleyagencies.com

Renee's insurance career began with six years in the agency of First National Bank of New Richmond, then 1 1/2 years at Norwest Insurance Agency. She joined our Valley Agencies in March of 1988.

Renee specializes in servicing business insurance, bonds, and professional liability. She is licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Renee has earned the designation CISR: Certified Insurance Service Representative.

Teri Barnholdt, CISR

Email:

tbarnholdt@valleyagencies.com

Teri is designated as a Customer Service Representative at our agency.

Her employment history is exclusive to our agency: she has worked only for us since Stillwater High School. She started in on-the-job training at Stillwater Agency and in 1980 became full-time.

Teri is a CISR (Certified Insurance Service Representative) and provides sales and service in personal auto and residential property insurance.

Brandy Sokola, CISR

Email:

bsokola@valleyagencies.com

Brandy specializes in servicing business insurance including commercial packages, business auto, workers compensation, bonds and professional liability.

Brandy joined our agency in 1988. She has earned the designation CISR: Certified Insurance Service Representative.

Rich Hanzlik

Email:

rhanzlik@valleyagencies.com

Rich Hanzlik is our specialist in life and disability insurance. He also designs owner and executive benefit plans. He helps clients translate complex financial and insurance options into customized plans to fill their specific needs. He is licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin 

Hanzlik’s professional specialties include: term and permanent insurance, including variable life; annuities; disability insur­ance; executive bonus, split dollar, buy/sell and deferred compensa­tion plans.

Rich graduated with a degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota in 1981. He was employed by Cargill for nine years and advanced to the position of Regional Sales Manager. He joined our agency in 1990 after completion of the career agent training program of Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Company.

 Involved in industry and community affairs, Rich is member of the Minnesota Association of Life Underwriters, St. Croix Valley Optimists Club, Stillwater Lions Club and Ducks Unlimited.

Kelly Lorenz joined Valley Agencies in 2006 as a sales representative for all lines of insurance. He previously had 13 years of experience as a senior sales agent and resident manager in Eagan, Minnesota, for a major insurance company.

 

Involved in insurance industry activities, Lorenz has earned the professional designation: Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow (LUTCF). Also, he is a member of Young Insurance Professionals of the Minnesota Insurance Agents and Brokers Association.

 

He is a multi-line agent licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and his home state of North Dakota. A native of Grand Forks, Lorenz graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1993 with a BA degree in economics and sociology.

Dennis Lee

Email: dlee@valleyagencies.com

Since 1976, Dennis has worked in financial services.  After earning a degree in accounting, he worked for 13 years as an accountant, controller and office manager.  His insurance career began in 1989 and includes positions as an agent, branch manager and agency owner before joining our agency in 2003. Dennis is licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.  

His background in business and insurance is a valuable combination for counseling his clients.  From experience, Dennis understands how to operate and protect a business.  He specializes in business insurance needs and employee benefits.