The Matrix Direct Executive Team

Matrix Direct hires only the best and the brightest. The Matrix Direct management team has the combined strength of more than 150 years of experience in all of the key disciplines required to deliver on our mission of identifying and meeting rapidly-evolving consumer preferences regarding the purchase of life insurance. This unprecedented blend of marketing expertise and insurance knowledge offers customers the opportunity to purchase life insurance directly.

Ron Harris

President and CEO

Ron founded Matrix Direct based on more than two decades of experience in the insurance industry. He began in 1971, as an agent and sales manager for Metropolitan Life. He later built a successful nationwide brokerage and distribution system, and in the early '90s, he conceptualized and pioneered the whole concept of direct response term life insurance sales and marketing by founding Zurich Direct. In 1995, Ron applied his considerable knowledge, experience and desire to better serve individuals' needs by creating a dynamic, totally customer-focused direct sales life insurance company -- Matrix Direct.

 

Laura Huffman

Executive Vice President

Laura's 20 plus years experience in strategic planning, marketing, brand management, and consumer research effectively complements Ron's extensive insurance background. Prior to her Senior Vice Presidency at Equity Management Inc., the nation's leading corporate trademark licensing firm, Laura spent 11 years as Senior Vice President at Phillips-Ramsey Advertising and Public Relations -- a division of the world's largest marketing communications and advertising company, McCann-Erickson Worldwide. Laura's experience includes marketing and brand management for Nabisco, American Airlines, WD-40, and General Motors. Laura partnered with Ron in 1995 with the goal of offering consumers a convenient and hassle-free way to buy life insurance: Matrix Direct!

 

Kevin Wilshusen

Vice President, Sales

More than 13 years of successful sales and management experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Matrix Direct, Kevin spent four years as a financial representative with New England Financial, a Metropolitan Life affiliate.

 

Patty Karstein

Vice President, Media

An expert campaign strategist with 20-plus years of media advertising planning, buying and management experience, including work on such national brands as Fairmont Hotels, Fisher-Price and Stri-dex. With extensive knowledge of all on-line and off-line media channels, Patty manages Matrix Direct's wide-ranging direct response program.

 

Valerie Aiello, FLMI

Director, Database Marketing

Valerie's marketing and insurance experience, combined with a strong analytical background, provide the expertise to drive database marketing and customer communication strategy for Matrix Direct. With over 20 years experience, Valerie's career began in the actuarial department at Zurich Life, subsequently managing direct to consumer and corporate marketing for brands such as Zurich Direct and Chase Insurance. Valerie is responsible for database marketing, customer strategy, and creative development.

Riddhish Trivedi

Vice President, e-Commerce & Internet Operations

Riddhish brings with him over 12 years of experience in Internet & New Media, starting his career with J. Walter Thompson in Mumbai. In 2002, he started expanding the role of the User Experience Practice of MphasiS, an HP company, working with companies such as Deltek System Inc., Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase and The World Bank. He then went on to become the Director of Usability at AIG Corporate eBusiness and supported eCommerce solutions at AIG business divisions across the world. User experience design is his passion and Riddhish is part of a team that developed a (patent pending) Rich Internet user interface for the online sale of Travel Insurance.

Andy Voggenthaler

Vice President, Business Development

Andy provides leadership in strategic business development ventures for Matrix Direct. An expert in corporate trademark licensing, product development, and brand management, Andy is a seasoned executive in his field. He has developed long-term, strategic licensing and business development ventures for many blue chip companies, including General Motors, Nabisco, Motts, DuPont-Teflon, Hang Ten, Pebble Beach, and AIG American General, among others.

As the key business development executive at Matrix Direct for more than 11 years, Andy is responsible for developing a variety of successful strategic business development ventures for Matrix Direct, including a partnership with AIG American General, which ultimately led to AIG acquiring Matrix Direct in 2007. Today, Matrix Direct is the leading direct marketer of term life insurance in the country.

 

Terre Remington

Director of Administration

Terre joined Matrix Direct in October 2000 with over 20 years of successful sales and operational experience. Originally part of the Matrix Direct sales team, Terre was promoted to Co-Director of the Sales Department in 2005. Terre flourished with her operational insight and process enhancements which led to the opportunity for her to move to her current position, Director of Administration. Her entrepreneurial spirit has brought new insight into ways of generating an exciting, performance based atmosphere to the administrative department under which consumers benefit with the highest degree of highly skilled, motivated personnel at their disposal. Providing a superior customer experience while getting the consumer the protection they need is the department's top priority!

Paul Frederickson, M.B.A, C.P.A.

Controller/IT Director

Paul has been with Matrix Direct since 1996 and brings more than 30 years of financial and operational experience and 20 years of database design and implementation experience to the company. Paul oversees the Information Technology and Accounting Departments.

While at Matrix Direct, Paul has overseen the implementation of operational reporting for daily operations, implementing databases to facilitate the operations, and upgrades and improvements to our technical solutions. His previous work experience includes the following industries: environmental engineering, oil and gas, airlines, and elder care. A graduate of San Diego State University, Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Masters of Business Administration in Information Systems.

Brad Johnson

Director, Software Development

Brad formally joined the Matrix Direct family in 1998 as the Manager of Software Development, after working three years developing and supporting the Contact Management System that is still in use by the company today. In 2004, Brad was promoted to Director of Software Development, where he continues to oversee a seven-member team responsible for the technological and functional evolution of the Contact Management System as well as other applications that support and manage the business.

Prior to joining Matrix Direct, Brad spent more than 19 years working in the aerospace and engineering industries with companies such as General Dynamics, Pratt & Whitney, Daimler Benz, and Rohr. His experience included research and development work on the tomahawk cruise missile program, jet engine components and the space shuttle.

LIFE INSURANCE SINCE 1995

We are one of the most trusted names in the life insurance business.

Over the last 15 years Matrix Direct has secured over $120 billion in life insurance coverage. Over 5 million clients have come to us for their life insurance needs.