Our Staff

Ted Kotsakis is charged with creating a superior backroom office team, managing Regional Vice Presidents for point of sale and broker support as well as case design and underwriting for large and tough-to-place cases. Ted has been in the insurance business since 1985, and has held managerial positions with Prudential and AIG Life prior to creating PLUS Financial Network. Ted holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Communication from The University of Michigan. Ted served on the Michigan League of Savings Institutions advisory committee when the member financial institutions were looking for guidance on how to enter the insurance distribution business. When continuing education was put in place, Lawrence University's insurance department asked Ted to be on their advisory committee to help them develop curriculum. Over the years, Ted has also served on insurance companies' product advisory committees. Ted is a current member of NAILBA, NAIFA and AALU and is a past president of NAIFA of Greater Detroit. Ted is the 2013 recipient of the E.H. "Bill" Meyers, Jr. Memorial Award For Outstanding Service To The Life Insurance Industry. Ted's unique experience and talents have helped many brokers and agencies develop strategic business plans for their practices and assisted with implementation.

Noelle is committed to the ongoing review and improvement of the Plus Financial Network’s internal processes. Her focus is on ensuring Plus Financial Network’s customers have a great experience each time every time. She has a special talent in marketing and has been a valuable asset to the growth of PFN. Noelle brings a unique blend of vision and experience to the company. Her past work experience includes outside sales and services with Paychex, as well as Business Develop Manager with a Professional Employer Organization (Genesys). When Ted Kotsakis started his own Brokerage General Agency, Midwest Financial Network, in 2002, Noelle joined Ted to build the inside of the company while Ted developed the outside sales. In 2011, when Midwest Financial Network merged with Professional Life Underwriters Services, LLC to become Plus Financial Network, Noelle was instrumental in assisting the transition team. With Ted taking 100% control of Plus in January of 2015, Noelle has returned to take on a larger and more active role in operations once again. Noelle holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Eastern Michigan University and is a big Detroit Tigers fan!

As an AIMCOR EIG Regional Sales Director, Sherlyn has worked with financial professionals in the Midwest and Southwestern regions to provide ongoing quality service and grow expanding relationships. Her more than 20 years combined experience working directly with life insurance carriers while also strategically serving alongside advisors within the financial wealth management industry gives her a first-hand appreciation for superior case management design. Sherlyn is familiar with diverse, high net-worth client portfolios and ensures solutions that will prove to be very beneficial in the outcomes produced. She currently resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and is married with three children and eight grandchildren. Sherlyn holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from Walsh College of Accountancy and Business. She enjoys indoor spinning, cycling outdoors, volleyball, golf and spending any extra time and precious moments with her family!

Teddy is currently studying Finance at Michigan State University and is focused on providing digital solutions and marketing strategies for PLUS and our partners. Although new to the industry, Teddy’s determination to incorporate innovative online methods has helped PLUS continue providing unique insurance strategies for our clients. With his father as his mentor, he has been been working towards the recent launch of PLUS Digital Solutions, our new online instant quoting widget, and designed an app as an agent resource platform, with the main goal of simplifying the quote to the application process. Teddy has his Life, Accident, and Health Insurance license and is working towards obtaining his Series 65. He is also an avid Lions and Detroit sports fan!

Sonya Hubbard serves as the Director of New Business and Operations for PLUS Financial Network. Her daily focus is to ensure the proper processing of new business using innovative methods in a technological environment. Sonya is committed to the ongoing review and improvement of our processes, cultivating strong relationships with agents, and providing the highest level of service. Sonya brings 20 years of life Insurance experience to PLUS Financial Network. She began her career at Royal Maccabees as a Budget Analysis. After six years, Sonya joined Alexander Hamilton Life as a New Business Specialist primarily responsible for high-end insurance certificates and special managerial reporting. In 1996, Sonya had the opportunity to expand her knowledge and experience by joining Professional Life Underwriters Services, Inc. PLUS afforded Sonya the opportunity to work directly with brokerage agents, assist agents with case management and work with technology to ensure professional services at all times.

Lloyd A. West, FLMI is a graduate of St. Louis University, and has received his Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) designation from the Life Office Management Association, as well as achieved the Fellow, Academy of Life Underwriters (FALU) designation. Mr. West has served as President of the Midwest Life Underwriters Association and the St. Louis Association of Life Underwriters, and has served as a valued board member of the Greater Detroit chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Additionally, he has been a speaker and presenter at many industry conferences and is a published author, contributing numerous articles to national insurance publications. In 1983, Mr. West joined Professional Life Underwriters Services, LLC (PLUS), a full-service brokerage general agency founded in 1965. Under his leadership, PLUS built an outstanding reputation for personal service, a broad portfolio of carriers and an unmatched ability to offer the best in competitive Life, LTC, Disability Income and Annuity products. Mr. West's profound knowledge of underwriting also made the agency a leader in the area of impaired risk case placement. In 2011, PLUS merged with Midwest Financial Network (MFN) to become PLUS Financial Network, and today remains committed to the agent community, as an advocate and leader in providing insurance solutions for producers and their clients.

Meagan has been working as a Licensing & Commissions Specialist since joining PFN in 2021. She previously worked in the insurance industry where she assisted an advisor in providing clients with an in-depth understanding of the different products that could meet their financial planning goals. Meagan consistently provides a high level of service and support for our clients and continually strives to make the Licensing & Commission process more efficient.

Ariana is currently studying Economics at the University of Michigan, eager to learn more about the inner workings of the insurance industry and the dynamics of a workplace. She has worked alongside her brother, incorporating innovative digital strategies to provide unique insurance tactics for our clients. She has also integrated new and advanced marketing strategies, creating a variety of tools to branch out the company in a constantly evolving business world. She is excited for the opportunity to expand her knowledge of the insurance industry, preparing her for her next chapter of life after college!

Bernadette Furca brings over 20 years of brokerage experience to PLUS Financial Network as our Regional Vice President. She started her career at an independent IMO, where she recruited agents to sell annuities, long term care, and life insurance. As a Brokerage Manager she worked with agents throughout southeastern Michigan and northern Ohio. In 2003, she worked as the Brokerage Director and Long Term Care Specialist with Mass Mutual, which gave her the opportunity to work with independent brokers and career agents, assisting them with case design and placing their long term care, life and disability cases. In 2005, she had the opportunity to work for Union Central as a Brokerage Representative in the Greater Michigan DI Center, and in 2006 she was awarded the Brokerage Representative of the Year for highest sales volume in the company. In 2007, she became the Agency Manager of the DI Center, running all aspects of the agency and assisting brokers with case design and placing their life and disability cases. Bernadette holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts, with a major in English. Bernadette is available to assist you with: Case design, point-of-sale and joint calls, impaired risk cases, placing rated cases, as well as any and all aspects of the sales process.

Glenn is a 30+ year veteran in the life insurance and financial services industry. Beginning in the brokerage arena, Glenn helped grow Pacific Life’s Michigan office to one of its largest. Moving to Phoenix Life, Glenn took responsibility for the Midwest territory, eventually managing all brokerage sales and operations for a 7 state region, leading the entire company for several years. Glenn began his independent brokerage career with Highland Capital Brokerage, an NFP company, in 2004 where he was consistently a leading SVP for over 10 years, prior to the firm being sold to a private equity company. Glenn joined Plus Financial Network, an AimcoR company, in 2014, where he maintains offices in both Troy, MI and Traverse City, MI.
Glenn has lead and gratefully served as President of NAIFA, boards of Society of Financial Service Professionals (CLU, ChFC) where he was a Golden Key Member, The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metro Detroit and acted as an Ambassador for AALU, a leading industry advocacy organization located in Washington DC. Glenn is happily married to Patty, his wife of 32 years and has two grown daughters, Heather and Kelsey. Glenn spends his time between Franklin and Leland, Michigan, serving financial and life insurance advisors primarily in the Midwest.

Courtney Curtis is a dedicated and active partner in helping you and your business. He lives in Draper, Utah and is married with four children. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree. He loves the outdoors and is an avid hiker, skier, softball player, and more.
Courtney has worked for over 25 years in the life insurance brokerage world. During that time he has filled many positions including recruiter, case design specialist, and underwriting specialist. He uses the unique skills that he has acquired from these positions to negotiate with both insurance carriers and clients, and he has placed in force thousands of cases. His distinctive abilities have also allowed him to foster and place in-force individual life insurance cases with premiums of over $1,000,000. He believes passionately in what he does and is a strong advocate for his clients. He is dedicated to help you take the next step with you to advance your business.

Financial advisers choose Mike Baker for their "special risk" life insurance applicants due to his over 33 years of life insurance underwriting expertise and medical knowledge. He has the expertise and experience to promptly and accurately assess their life insurance clients who may have otherwise have difficulty qualifying for life insurance coverage for their estate planning, income replacement, buy/sell agreements , pension plans or other financial needs.

Renee came to PFN in 2017 with almost 20 years of experience in the insurance industry.  She started on the P&C side of the business then spent the past 10 years in the BGA channel.

She works diligently on building strong relationships with agent as well as the carriers to provide the highest level of service.  Her top priority is making sure each case is handled efficiently and professionally, maintaining the attitude that each application is critical to the overall success of PLUS Financial Network.

Ryan S. Woodke is an Underwriting Specialist that has worked in impaired risk life insurance since 2002. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Personal Financial Planning. Ryan joined PLUS Financial Network in 2009. He has a working knowledge of several of the underwriting manuals including SwissRe and GenRe. Ryan also works closely with Home Office underwriters, speaking with them on a daily basis to discuss cases and build relationships that are beneficial to the insured, agent, and carrier. Ryan’s ability to interpret medical records for both favorable and unfavorable information is critical to determining the right fit for each application and carrier. Ryan services hundreds of agents helping them pre-underwrite their cases, helping to improve original offers from a carrier, or directing which carrier a case should be pivoted to in case of an unfavorable rating.