About us
Senior Leadership
Diane Brinson
President
Diane has been in the insurance industry since 1981, serving as an insurance company marketing representative, a direct writer and an independent insurance broker. Before forming Momentous, Diane was a managing director of a large, national insurance brokerage, where she was responsible for over 100 insurance professionals. Her expertise in insurance is deeply rooted in insuring high net worth individuals through accountants, attorneys, family offices, company CFO's as well as directly with high profile clients. Diane is well-versed in all agency operations, and also sits on numerous insurance company advisory boards, including AIU Holdings, Fireman’s Fund, Chubb and Travelers. She has a B.S. degree from Florida State University.
David Toth
Chief Operating Officer
David has been in the insurance industry since 2001 and is responsible for overseeing all operational aspects at Momentous. His business leadership experience includes operations, accounting, information technology, claims and sales. David also specializes in property and casualty insurance for restaurants and real estate risks. He is heavily involved in negotiating commissions and coverages with the Hartford Insurance Company, Travelers, Golden Eagle, and Employers Compensation Insurance. David is active with many networking groups and currently is a coach with both the South Pasadena AYSO and Little League. He attended California State University, Northridge and holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management.
Christie Mattull
Managing Director
Christie has been in the insurance industry since 1985. She was Senior Vice President at a national insurance brokerage, where she managed the entertainment department. Christie has produced such accounts as Marvel Studios, Icon Productions, Worldwide Pants Incorporated and Mandate Pictures for which she insured blockbuster films such as “Ironman” and “Juno” and hit television shows such as “Late Night with David Letterman”. She sits on the entertainment agency counsel for Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, and has close affiliations with various film guarantee bond companies. Considered an expert in her field, she has been quoted in the New York Times and Insurance Journal and was a featured speaker at the Cannes Film Festival. Christie attended Cal State Northridge University, where she studied journalism.
Peter A. Tempkins
Managing Director
Peter Tempkins serves as national practice leader for the firm’s Music & Touring division. He brings over 20 years of experience to bear in his specialty areas, which include live music tours, outdoor festivals, special events, and professionally-managed bands, whether club tours or stadium acts. He has been quoted in Risk & Insurance magazine, Tour Guide, Pollstar, and has also been profiled in Celebrity Access. He has participated in numerous panel discussions, including those sponsored by Pollstar, IAAM, and Tour Link. Peter has been named Performance Magazine’s Agent of the Year for eight years. Notable events for which he has placed insurance include the Amnesty International Tour in 1990, various Earth Day Concerts such as those performed at Foxboro Stadium and The Mall in Washington, D.C., Support the Corp at Camp Pendleton, H.O.R.D.E., Lilith Fair, Warped, and Taste of Chaos.
Lisa Wright
Managing Director
Lisa has been in the insurance industry since 1988, specializing in high net worth, high-profile clientele. She began her career at a small brokerage in Chicago where all lines of insurance including claims were her responsibility. Lisa spent 10 years at a large national insurance brokerage, where she was a Vice President and Personal Lines Manager. One of her greatest assets is her knowledge in both the Personal and Commercial insurance arenas. Lisa is responsible for maintaining several insurance carrier relationships and managing a staff of 10 individuals. Lisa has a B.S. degree from Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Arlene Binder
Director of Sales
Arlene has been in the insurance industry since 1980. She comes to Momentous from a large national brokerage, where she was Senior Vice President and managed the Employee Benefits and Life & Disability departments. In Arlene’s role as Director of Sales, she is responsible for developing new business as well as mentoring the sales force for the continued growth of the agency.
Paula Spooner
Director of Human Resources
Since 1985, Paula has had experience at the senior HR level in several major industries including healthcare, entertainment, higher education and the private industry sector. Paula recently came to Momentous from a national full service law firm, where she was responsible for providing legal guidance and employment counsel and had full oversight of attorney and staff compensation, new hire decisions, annual merit reviews, and bonus allocations. Prior to this, she held senior HR positions at such high profile companies as the Jim Henson Company and Polygram Filmed Entertainment, as well as CIGNA Healthcare of California where she supported, among others, medical operations and sales for 7 western states and corporate responsibilities.
David Oliver
Senior Vice President
David has been in the insurance industry since 1981, and has extensive experience in motion picture and television production, equipment and vehicle rental operations, corporate management, financial analysis and consumer credit. David is a graduate of Ohio State University and has continued his postgraduate educational endeavors at the University of California at Los Angeles and Pepperdine University.
Melissa Almer
Vice President
Melissa has been in the insurance industry since 1997, specializing in entertainment, real estate portfolios and hospitality risks. Her expertise includes underwriting, sales, risk management and marketing from both the brokerage and carrier perspective. Her leadership skills have proven an asset when dealing with high net worth clients and maintaining carrier relationships. Melissa joins Momentous as an Assistant Vice President in the Commercial Lines Division.
Sherrie Zenter
Vice President
Since 1985, Sherrie has had management experience with top producing, high risk brokerage and insurance companies. Her specialization is providing Life, Health & Disability solutions to those in the entertainment, manufacturing, and distribution industries, as well as to property owners and law firms. Sherrie is responsible for the strategy and operations of the Employee Benefits department, overseeing eight professionals. She has earned both a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She is currently continuing her education at Walden University to obtain a PhD in the Applied Management & Decision Sciences Program.