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 was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a "Woman Making a Difference" in 2009. Diane is well-versed in all agency operations, and also sits on numerous insurance company advisory boards, including ACE, Chartis, Fireman’s Fund, Chubb and Travelers. She has a Bachelors of Science 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 handled such accounts as Marvel Studios, Icon Productions, Worldwide Pants Incorporated and Mandate Pictures, insuring blockbuster films such as “Ironman” and “Juno” and hit television shows such as “Late Night with David Letterman”. Christie's complete IMDB resume can be viewed here. 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.
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/Senior Vice President
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. Arlene was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a "Woman Making a Difference" in 2010. Read more...
Susan Brien
Senior Vice President
Susan has been in the Insurance industry since 1980, spending most of her time in the Commercial Property, Casualty and Entertainment arenas. She has worked at a number of large national brokerages, has partnered with the same core group of insurance professionals for the past twelve years, and is part of the Senior Leadership group at Momentous. She has relationships with all major insurance companies, including Fireman’s Fund, Travelers, Chubb, the Hartford, and others. Susan is a licensed Property, Casualty and Life Agent with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Phoenix.
Greg DeFrancesco
Senior Vice President
Greg has been in the insurance industry since 1977, handling all lines of coverage including personal, commercial and entertainment insurance related accounts. Greg has spent the past 23 years working at top entertainment brokerages, servicing high net-worth individuals as well as producer entities. He has excellent relationships within all insurance companies and provides on-site risk management for his clients. He is a licensed Property and Casualty insurance broker.
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.
Pam Weiser
Senior Vice President
Pam has been in the entertainment insurance industry since 1980; her experience includes film, music, and loan-out corporations. She is also well-versed in all types of commercial coverage for all industries and also has an extensive background in personal insurance. Risk Management of business/commercial and entertainment accounts is one of her strong points. She currently holds a California Property & Casualty license. In addition, prior to being a broker, Pam worked as an underwriter for a national insurance company.
Nancy Yoshida
Senior Vice President
Nancy has been in the insurance industry since 1989; she comes to Momentous from another major brokerage, where she specialized in handling personal lines coverage for the affluent market. She is a licensed Property & Casualty agent and is primarily responsible for handling business management clients and Personal Lines carrier relationships. She’s been a Certified Insurance Counselor for over 15 years and plans to pursue her CPCU designation in the near future.
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 to be an asset when dealing with high net worth clients and maintaining carrier relationships. Melissa joined Momentous as an Assistant Vice President in the Commercial Lines Division and was quickly promoted to Vice President, in charge of a team of 9 commercial lines professionals and all department operations.
Mitula Patel
Vice President, Finance
Mitula brings 30 years experience and sound leadership to Momentous. Mitula has held many different positions with Agents, Brokers and Insurance Companies, including Accounting and Systems Manager; Controller; Vice President of Finance and Administration; Executive VP of Administration, Finance and HR; Project Manager as well as CFO. Mitula is a member of the NAIW, NAFEE, and SHRM and is a Notary Public. As an active leader in the Insurance Industry and past President of the Insurance Woman of Los Angeles (IWLA), a local chapter of the National Association of Insurance Women, International (NAIW), Mitula was named the Insurance Woman of the Year in May of 2006. She was the award winner of the AAMGA awards at the 2007 CA. Council of NAIW Meeting. She is currently the Southern California Membership liaison for the CA Council of NAIW, and PR Chair Elect for 2010-2011 term. She is also the program chair for IWLA.
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.
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.