Meet Our Team

Our industry knowledgeable team has over 100 years of combined experience offering innovative and compliance-driven risk transfer lending solutions.

Our Core Values

Our team shares the same core values and innovative thinking.

At Unitas, our team is united by core values and a commitment to innovation. We believe success is rooted in honesty, transparency, and true partnership, guiding every solution we offer and every relationship we build.

It's No Secret

Here's our recipe for success.

 

 
 
 

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More Than Colleagues

We are a community united by our mutual commitment and dedication to helping not only our clients succeed, but each other as well.

 

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Knowledge is power

Our team has over 100 years of combined experienced within the specialty insurance industry helping clients with risk management.

 

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100% Client Success

You're not just a client; you're a valued partner. Our team has and always will be 100% focused on the success of our clients. 

Innovative Thinking Icon 2

Innovative Thinking

We leverage innovative thinking to develop tailored solutions, ensuring our clients gain a competitive edge and achieve lasting success.

Leadership

Lisa Cooper

President

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Greg Shimkus

President | Specialty Division

 
 
 
 
 
 

Gary Criscillis

Chief Strategy Officer

 
 
 
 

 

Client Services

Brian Barnett

EVP | Client Services

 

Logan Douglas 

VP | Client Services

 

April Storie

VP | Client Services

 
 

 

Business Development & Marketing

Tod Hastings

EVP | National Sales

Matt Moore

VP | Regional Business Dev.

 
 
 

Blaine Moricle

VP | Regional Business Dev.

 
 

Brian Ruhe

SVP | Regional Business Dev.

 
 

Joshua Threm

Director of Marketing

 
 

Wade Tiemann

VP | Regional Business Dev.

 
 

 

Real Estate Investor Division

John Watt

ARM, VP | REI Program Manager

 

 

Product Development & Partnerships

Skip Davis

EVP | Product Dev.

 
Risk Management Solutions

Delivering tailored solutions that simplify risk management.

Explore our risk management solutions that streamline servicing, improve efficiency, and eliminate insurance tracking for real estate, consumer, and equipment portfolios—ensuring compliance and reducing administrative burdens.

 

9Real Estate Lending

Our real estate lending solutions safeguard lenders by transferring risk, optimizing servicing, and ensuring compliance.

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8Consumer Lending

Our auto lending solutions mitigate uninsured collateral risk, simplify servicing, and ensure compliance.

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1Blanket Protection

Solutions designed to protect collateral and simplify servicing by removing the need for insurance tracking across portfolios.

 
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Lisa Cooper

President

Lisa has been in the financial institution and real estate investment segments of risk management since 1985. She is a licensed insurance agent for both admitted and surplus lines business in 40+ states and has achieved and maintained her CIC credentials demonstrating her commitment to excellence in this demanding industry. Lisa developed a relationship with Lloyd’s, London that has led to tribunalization of two different agencies enabling binding authority status.

Lisa has strong expertise in underwriting and managing coastal risk. Lisa resides in Florida and enjoys the beach and other activities that the warm weather brings.

Greg Shimkus

President | Specialty Division

Greg’s professional experience includes leadership positions in Technology, TPA Operations, and Strategic Business Development for privately held specialty insurance agencies and Fortune 500 global enterprises. With a career focus on financial institution (FI) risk, Greg has designed and implemented risk transfer programs aligning community banks and credit unions, captive finance companies and top 100 commercial banks with major domestic and foreign program underwriters. Greg's extensive network of relationships across corporate America, and throughout the domestic and foreign Insurance marketplaces brings a unique set of talents to Unitas.

Gary Criscillis

Chief Strategy Officer

For the last 29 years, Gary has served as President of Lenders Service Corporation (LSC). LSC joined Unitas Financial Services in early 2021. Gary holds licenses across multiple states in Property, Casualty, Credit, and Surplus Lines insurance, in addition to his designation as a Managing General Agent (MGA). Gary has directed all aspects of agency operations including marketing, underwriting, carrier relations, and claims administration. Gary was nominated to serve as President of the Association of Financial Insurance Brokers (AFIB) in 2018. He continues to lead the agency’s customer-focused initiatives on a daily basis.

Brian Barnett

EVP | Client Services

Brian currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Customer Success. Brian joined Unitas Financial Services in April 2002, with over 15 years of financial institution experience. After graduation from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, he married his wife of 28 years and resides on their third-generation family farm with his two sons. Brian adopted the company motto of “Great Programs with an Attitude of Service” when he joined the company and still believes and practices this motto with every client contact today.

Logan Douglas

VP | Client Services

Logan graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Sociology. Before joining Unitas Financial Services, she served as the Commercial Contract Administrator/Coordinator for a large MDOT tree service.

Raised in Lapeer County, MI, Logan continues to reside there while working partly remote. She enjoys traveling throughout Michigan to collaborate with Unitas partners and assist with their insurance needs. When not working, Logan spends most of her time with her family and her three dogs.

 

Tod Hastings

EVP | National Sales

Tod began his Unitas journey in 2009 as an agent and currently oversees national sales efforts.  After graduating from Miami (OH) University in 1989 with a degree in Business, he spent the next 20 years in the lending and credit industry holding various leadership and sales roles.  This experience has given Tod the first-hand knowledge of the different ways lenders can use Unitas solutions for their risk mitigation needs.  Tod is based in Navarre, Florida and enjoys playing golf and fishing in his spare time.

Ashley Miller

Client Support Manager

Matt Moore

VP | Regional Business Dev.

A Graduate from the University of Louisville with a B.A. in Political Science and Public Policy, Matt has a knack for understanding the effects of an ever-changing regulatory environment on Financial Institutions and advising clients on the best practices for ensuring their lending portfolios are matched with the proper insurance coverage. Prior to joining Unitas Financial Services, Matt was the VP and Director of Business Development at Lenders Service Corporation. Matt was previously employed by Discover Financial Services and Sullivan University.

Matt was raised in Oldham County, KY, where he currently resides with his wife and two sons. Matt is a devoted follower of Jesus. Outside of work, he enjoys playing the drums and mentoring young men in the High School Ministry at Northeast Christian Church.

Blaine Moricle

SVP | Regional Business Dev.

Blaine joined Unitas Financial Services in January of 2020. After graduating from Elon University, Blaine has spent his professional career in the consumer and mortgage lending industries in various sales and leadership roles. During this time, he has worked with lenders of all sizes in growing their loan portfolios, generating fee income, and transferring risk from their balance sheets.

Blaine is a native North Carolinian and currently resides in Summerfield, North Carolina. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife and two kids.

Brian Ruhe

SVP | Regional Business Dev.

Having joined Unitas Financial Services in November 2017, Brian serves as a Senior Vice President of Regional Business Development. Brian is a graduate of The Ohio State University, with a B.S. in Allied Medicine. For the last 15 years, he has gained experience in various aspects of sales and business management, including time in mortgage banking and credit consulting. He understands the lending challenges that community banks and credit unions face across the landscape of this great nation and is motivated to offer them solutions to improve their overall strength.

He and his wife cherish the daily challenges and delights in raising their four young daughters, life is certainly busy.

Angie Smith

National Sales Manager

April Storie

VP | Client Services

Based in Centerville, Ohio, April serves as the Vice President of Client Services at Unitas Financial Services, overseeing Southern, Central, and Northeast Ohio, as well as Eastern Indiana. Originally from Louisiana and a resident of Southern Ohio since 1998, April holds an Associate’s in Business Administration from Louisiana State University.

With more than 20 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry, April joined Unitas in 2021, driven by a passion for working with exceptional clients and solving their most complex lending challenges. Her role allows her to travel to various locations, meeting with customers and addressing their financial needs.

Outside of work, April enjoys spending time with her family (husband, daughter, and son), friends, and loves traveling, reading, and watching college football.

Joshua Threm

Director | Marketing

As a graduate of Central Michigan University with a B.S. in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Josh began his insurance career with First Service Corporation (FSC) in 2015. Before joining FSC, he worked at Universal McCann, specializing in digital marketing for clients such as Chrysler FCA, Aldi, Nationwide, and Pure Michigan.

Josh resides in the Detroit Metro area with his wife and two daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, and relaxing at his family’s cabin in Northern Michigan.

Wade Tiemann

VP | Regional Business Dev.

Wade’s career has focused exclusively on providing insurance and lending solutions to financial institutions and lenders. His career has been exclusively with financial-focused insurance agencies, ranging from smaller, privately held firms to larger corporate organizations. Wade is passionate about collaborating with carriers and vendors to find the best program for each client he works with.

Wade has broad experience with financial products and services ranging from Collateral Protection programs to Enterprise Risk Insurance coverages. This has enabling him to approach client needs with a comprehensive understanding of the industry and needs of a lender.

At Unitas Financial Services, Wade values the collaborative and client-focused culture Unitas has fostered. Wade appreciates the team's dedication to providing the best possible experience for clients, colleagues, and partners alike.

Outside of work, Wade enjoys a busy family life raising six children, volunteering at their local church, and engaging in various hobbies. Living in Minnesota, they take advantage of the state's lakes and parks, spending time fishing, hiking, enjoying campfires, or playing card games with loved ones.

John Watt

ARM, VP | REI Program Manager

Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL since childhood, John Watt has been a trusted professional in the insurance industry since 1985. His career began with providing life insurance, investment solutions, and employee benefit programs to businesses, later expanding in 1992 to include property and casualty lines.

John holds a Risk Management degree earned in 2006 through the Insurance Institute of America, leveraging coursework developed in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania. His extensive expertise spans a wide range of insurance coverages, making him uniquely equipped to align clients' needs with optimal solutions in an ever-evolving market.

John's approach is centered on understanding the unique goals and requirements of each client. He is dedicated to crafting custom insurance programs that not only meet but exceed client expectations, while also satisfying third-party obligations. His guiding principle is simple: "Delivering the most comprehensive insurance solutions at the best possible cost."

In his free time, John enjoys traveling to new destinations, playing golf (though he claims to be a bit rusty!), and bowling—proudly achieving nine perfect 300 games.

Betsy Faircloth

VP | Product Specialist

Skip Davis

EVP | Product Development

Skip has worked in various roles in the insurance industry for over 35 years. Among other duties Skip currently manages the Unitas Claims Team. Skip obtained his B.S. in Accounting and Financial Services as well as an M.B.A from University of North Florida.  During Skip’s career in the Insurance Industry, he has almost exclusively focused on products targeted to and marketed by lenders and dealers. 

A proud father of two, in his off-time Skip enjoys being a Martial Arts instructor, Motorcycle touring, and Competitive shooting events.

Have Questions? Let’s Connect.