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Meet Our Staff

As our client, you will have a team of highly qualified professionals working for you to provide you with the best coverage for you, your family, or your business.  Building a long-lasting relationship with our clients is our number one priority.

Barrett Bartels

Barrett Bartels

Founding Partner

After starting my career as a Life insurance agent in 2000, I founded Barrett Bartels Agency in 2004 as a full-service insurance agency in my hometown of Arvada. As one of the founding agents in the Affordable American Insurance family of Agencies, I am proud of our growth and stature as one of the most well respected and highly awarded agencies in the Mountain Region. I am blessed to have such an amazing team who passionately cares not only about each other, but about our clients. In addition to work, I enjoy spending time camping, boating, playing sports, and traveling with my family. Along with my wife and three children, we remain residents of Arvada and are excited to continue to serve our local community for years to come.

Kim Alire

Kim Alire

Director of Operations

For the first time, I am extremely happy in my career. Constant growth and increasing knowledge keep me challenged in my position! I have a loving husband and stepdaughter that contribute to my happiness and success. I have one big dog that keeps me busy and active. He is like my child! Every chance I get, I love to go to local concerts, mostly heavy metal music. It’s a great way to let off steam and relieve stress, while spending time with my girlfriends. During the summer, we have BBQ’s with our friends and family as often as possible. I would love to be able to travel more and see as many beaches and coasts as possible. I love the summertime in Colorado; however, I am not a fan of the cold or snow.

Curtis Rember

Partner—Personal Lines

I grew up in Colorado and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Colorado. I have been in the insurance business for many years and specialize in Personal Lines including Auto, Home and Life Insurance. I like to spend my time away from the office, being a dad to my young daughter and son. My hobbies include music and outdoor sports.

Rob Stauch

Rob Stauch

Partner—Life Insurance

I have been in the insurance and financial industry over 20 years and love the impact I’ve been able to make in people’s lives. I’m originally from outside of Philadelphia and moved to Colorado in 2001. I’m a proud father of 2 great boys and in my free time I like to fly fish, ski and go to concerts.

Todd Riley

Partner—Commercial Lines

I was born and raised in Ohio and attended Ohio University on a football scholarship. After college, I moved to Houston, TX where I began my teaching career as a special education teacher. In 1997, I relocated to Colorado to continue teaching, coaching, and work as a middle school administrator. After 26 years in education, I moved over to commercial insurance. As an insurance advisor, I use my teaching background to explain policies to my clients to make sure they know what they have, why they have it, and to identify any gaps in their coverages. With my fiance, her daughter and our two dogs, we now call Lochbuie home. We enjoy travelling, camping, listening to all types of music, sports, and just being outdoors. I also like to mountain bike, hunt, and fish.

L Wade Whiteley

Partner—Commercial Lines

My life in the insurance industry took the long path. I began my career as a CPA with Arthur Andersen and Co with stops as a Controller for a Global Real Estate Developer/Owner, a Real Estate consultant and eventually owning my own Mortgage Company. As strange as it may sound, all these career intervals have uniquely enabled me to understand all business and its individual risks. I am grateful for the opportunity to help my clients but when I am not working with them, I enjoy Football, coaching (especially each year in Israel) and spending time with my family, including my five grandkids.

Sarah Lucero

Partner—Personal Lines

I was raised in a family of hard-working individuals. I am a Colorado native and so is my family, which is rare to find these days. I have four grown children who are finding their way in this world. I have been in the insurance business for over 20 years, and I thoroughly enjoy explaining coverage and educating my clients with all the tools they need to make an informed decision for their own personal insurance needs. When I am not pounding away on my keyboard or meeting clients, I enjoy time with my family and wonderful circle of friends. Summer is my favorite season, so you will find my husband Mark and I enjoy spending time in our back yard hanging out in the pool, camping, fishing, and traveling abroad.

Robert DeHerrera

Personal Lines Account Manager

This is my first venture in the Insurance industry and I’m excited to begin this journey with Risk Management Partners. I have much experience in the Customer Service industry and I am happy to use my experience to help our current and future clients. I was born and raised in Arvada Colorado, and I have two siblings. During my free time I like to get lost on the world of comic books and go hike our beautiful trails and hills here in Colorado. I’m thrilled to be able to help.

Ashley Jones

Commercial Account Manager

I am approaching 10 years in the insurance industry with all of my insurance background being focused on Commercial Lines Insurance. I always knew that I would be in insurance, it is my destiny. I am only joking but I am thankful that this industry fell in my lap 10 years ago. I am grateful for this chosen career path because it provides me with challenges and opportunities for growth on a regular basis. I enjoy finding solutions and the opportunity to provide people and businesses with premier customer service and valuable knowledge.
I am from Colorado and although I love summer, I stray away from most things cold; except for ice cream, my only true vice.
I have a young daughter who keeps me young but somehow ages me at the same time. She is the best thing that has ever happened for me; aside from finding myself in the insurance industry of course.

I am a sports fan both watching and participating when I can. I play recreational, co-ed softball and volleyball.
I love dancing and karaoke. My go to karaoke song is Cher-Believe. I tend to think I have a pretty good Cher impression but I will let you be the judge of that.

Kelly Sloan

Commercial Account Manager

I first moved to Colorado in April 2015. Shortly thereafter I fell into the insurance industry—which is incredibly on brand for this accident prone professional! I came from retail management and got my first taste of commercial insurance with my first job in the industry. Fast forward eight years and I’ve finally found a home with Risk Management Partners, specializing in commercial insurance. Insurance is never an industry I saw myself in or sought out but now that I’m here, I couldn’t be happier! I love feeling like I’m part of helping my community flourish by protecting the businesses that serve us. I love to stay active and spend my free time hiking, going to all the festivals, participating in community events, and exploring all corners of Colorado. I have two senior dogs that are my absolute pride and joy. I am a lifelong learner and I like to collect hobbies as my hobby!

Gage Gutierrez

Partner—Commercial Lines

I was born and raised in the beautiful state of New Mexico. I have been extremely lucky to call Colorado home for the past six years. My career started with 10 years in the craft beer industry and has since transitioned into the commercial insurance world. Throughout my career, I have always found that a strong community is a key factor in helping businesses succeed. I strive to be a contributing member of our community, helping my clients succeed in understanding their risks and making educated decisions to better protect their assets. Outside of work, I’m a dedicated dog dad, a sports enthusiast, and a lover of music.

Lauren Hedenstrom

Personal Lines Account Manager

I grew up bouncing between Oregon and Colorado, depending on where my dad’s company needed him. I have two younger sisters, an incredible husband, and two adorable nephews. They fill my life with so much joy! I graduated summa cum laude with my Bachelor’s degree in English Literature at the start of the pandemic. This was one of the worst time to look for a job, but this little hiccup led me straight to finding a home in insurance. During my first two years, I became a personal lines, commercial, and flood account manager, but have always enjoyed personal lines the most!

As well as being a Personal Lines Account Manager, I’ve also taken on the role of crafting and curating RMP’s marketing materials. I love being in a position where I can also express my creativity.

You can usually find me reading, writing, baking, hiking with my husband, watching obscure documentaries, or advocating for Taylor Swift. I’m also always looking for great food recommendations!

Tami Distel

Partner—Commercial Lines

I was born and raised on the Western Slope of Colorado. I knew early on in my life that I was meant to help people and make them happy. I’ve been a realtor for 10 years now and found myself in a peculiar situation where I was led to also become an insurance risk advisor. When I began this journey, I felt like a fish out of water, but I was determined to be a great agent. Over the last several years, I found my comfort zone where I learn and grow in my knowledge every day. I love the risk management of clients’ policies to ensure they have the correct coverage and advise business owners of their risks. I love to be challenged and find that commercial lines fulfills that–especially with all the different important parts and pieces that come together in a puzzle to protect the clients’ interests.

I love watching sports and am a big football and baseball fan. I love to travel to new and exciting places. My love of gardening is apparent when you visit my backyard oasis. My number one happiness in life has been my five grandchildren. I spend as much time with as I can with them. I’m a Pembroke Welch Corgi mom of twin girl pups who rule my life! I love family time and listening to music. Making time to enjoy life is essential to living the best life you can.

Amanda Hammond

Partner—Commercial Lines

I bring 17 years of automotive industry experience with me to the world of commercial insurance. I’ve made a seamless transition into a new career, in which I bring a unique blend of experience and passion with me. As a Colorado native, I share a love for the outdoors with my active boys–who are sports enthusiasts! We spend most of our free time at baseball or football fields. When not playing sports, we are enjoying the mountains and paddle boarding.

I look forward to continuing my growth of knowledge and experience in my newfound love of commercial insurance.