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About Us

Brightstar Insurance Services is a leader in providing comprehensive training, support, resources and industry knowledge to thousands of agents and agencies throughout the nation. Our success is driven by our focus on working for you, the agent. We are a non-captive independent channel. Our commitment is to help you grow your business by positioning you as the dominant insurance agent in your area. Our goal is to develop you as a trusted insurance professional, not merely a broker. We constantly monitor changes in your market. We will consult with you on an ongoing basis to ensure that you have the carriers, products and knowledge necessary to provide the best service to your clients.

Executives

Steven Pato

Steve is a founding Principal of Brightstar Insurance Services. He has 30 years of experience in insurance sales and agency development. Steve has recruited, managed and trained thousands of agents. In addition, he has guided and mentored many agents in creating their own independent agencies as well as implementing and operating sustainable business ventures.

Over the course of his career, Steve has led top producing sales teams, won awards for recruiting and agency growth, and developed successful business models for underperforming agencies. Prior to entering the insurance industry, Steve worked in real estate finance for a Wall Street investment banking firm and as a Certified Public Accountant for a Big Four accounting firm. He holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing and resides in Los Angeles, California.

Keith West

A founding Principal of Brightstar Insurance Services, Keith has 21 years of industry experience. Keith began his career at a large captive agency and quickly became one of the top producers in the country. He has personally mentored and trained hundreds of agents and agencies, several of which are now industry leaders.

Keith is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. He holds the LUTCF professional designation and has expert knowledge in a variety of insurance disciplines. At Brightstar, he uses his knowledge and industry connections to help agents and agencies perform at elite levels. Keith resides in the Santa Monica, CA area with his wife and four children.

Regional Vice Presidents

Yael Amyer

Yael Amyer has been an independent health insurance agent since 2000. She spent more than 15 of those years as a Broker and Sales Leader with the health insurance brokerage HealthMarkets. Today she is a Regional Vice President for Brightstar, based in San Diego, California. She takes pride in her ability to guide her clients through the complexities of the US health insurance market. Prior to her work as a health insurance broker, Yael owned several businesses and worked as a teacher. Yael is originally from South Africa, and she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Haifa, Israel. Her hobbies include hiking, paddle boarding, and water skiing.

Ken Fletcher

Ken Fletcher was born in Stuttgart, Germany; today he lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Ken has been in the health insurance industry for more than 15 years, serving as an Agent/Broker, Sales Manager, and Regional Vice President. Prior to his work in health insurance, Ken spent more than 20 years as a Senior Pastor in Southern California. Ken attended Oklahoma Baptist University and has a master’s degree. He is an avid outdoorsman, having hiked international locations like the Inca Trail into Machu Picchu and and many national parks throughout the US.

Catrina Haydt

Born and raised in Sweden, Catarina Haydt is now a Regional Vice President for Brightstar Insurance. She has lived in Thousand Oaks, California for more than 26 years with her family. After a long history in sales jobs, Catarina came to the health insurance and Medicare market. With a focus on her clients’ personal histories, she feels privileged to hear their life stories of grit and determination. She attended California State University, Northridge. She is an avid skier.

Don Heath

Don Heath began his health insurance career in 1995 with Insphere Insurance Solutions. Don managed a regional office, recruiting and training hundreds of agents during his tenure. After 15 years in Chicago, Don returned to his childhood home of Southern California. In 2009, Don became an independent broker and agent, providing personalized services to his clients. Don now serves as a Regional Vice President for Brightstar, with Ventura, California as his home base. Don attended UC Santa Barbara, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He is an avid golfer and traveler.

John Nelson Eddie Rios
Eddie has over 20 years in the insurance industry. Out of high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was Honorably Discharged as an Infantry Corporal. He studied Criminal Justice and Correctional Science at Rio Hondo College, Whittier CA. which led him to be become a CA Correctional Officer for Adult institutions and later a CA Correctional Youth Counselor for the Youth Authority. During his employment he sold life insurance policies part-time. He separated from State Employment after 10 years to pursue his insurance career full-time. His hobbies are martial arts, visiting wineries and family trips with wife Cynthia and son Aidan.

Jason Rubin

Jason was born and raised in Encino, California, and he has remained in the San Fernando Valley his entire life. He began his career as part of a family business, ultimately creating and running his own company. Jason became an insurance agent in 2010 with a focus on clarifying the Medicare system to an ever-aging population. Jason enjoys designing drought-tolerant gardens and listening to live music. He loves the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jason resides in Sherman Oaks, California with his family.

Martin Ryan

Martin Ryan is a graduate of Santa Clara University where he earned a B.A. in English and of Thunderbird School of Global Management where he achieved a Master of International Management degree. He also studied at Gonzaga University in Florence Italy focusing on Italian language and European literature. Marty was born and raised in Portland Oregon where he attended Central Catholic High School. Prior to his career in insurance which started in 1997, he worked for 10 years in the International Freight Forward Industry for Panalpina World Transport in New York and later in Portland. He speaks both Italian and Spanish. He has worked closely with Brightstar founders Steve Pato and Keith West for over 20 years and approaches his work with dedication and brings integrity to his dealings with both clients and his fellow agents.

Sebastian Saetre

Sebastian Saetre started selling health insurance in 2012. After two years as an agent inside the large brokerage HealthMarkets, he came to Brightstar. Today, as a Regional Vice President, Sebastian provides direct service to his client base, while developing a team of independent brokers. Sebastian is originally from Norway, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Communication from BI Norwegian Business School.