Meet Our Staff

Pete Adkins, a 40-year veteran of the financial services industry, serves as President of The Personal Producer Network. He has been responsible for leading this sales channel since 2009 when he was President of The Agency Group for Transamerica. Pete also serves as Executive Vice President of Business Development and Carrier Relations for AmeriLife, which is based in Clearwater, Florida.

Jeremiah Tacker serves as the Vice President of The Personal Producer Network. He has over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, specializing in working with and growing both producers and their agencies. He has in-depth knowledge of a broad range of products, including Universal Life, Term and Whole Life, as well as various health and annuity products. He has been licensed insurance agent since 2013.

Previously, Jeremiah was with Transamerica Life Insurance Company where he was a leader on the sales team. During his time there, he worked with agents all over the country developing training programs to help them become experts in product knowledge. He enjoyed great success in growing agent production year over year, and worked with multiple marketing and recruitment programs to achieve sales goals.

Jeremiah graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Jodi, and their three wonderful children.

Luke Lucas has 16 years of insurance experience ranging from independent life and health sales to Medicare Advantage plans. During that time, Luke spent six years running a P&C agency where he focused on putting his clients’ needs first.

Before joining TPPN, Luke worked for Sagicor Life Insurance Company -- starting out as a Regional Sales Coordinator before being promoted to Regional Sales Manager a year later. His time in that position was spent recruiting and training agencies and agents on the products that could best solve their clients’ needs. By introducing agencies to different products and sales concepts, Luke was able to help agencies grow their premium levels by millions of dollars in just a short period of time. Luke’s region led the company for annuity production, and also was recognized as Sagicor’s leading sales region in both 2015 and 2016. Luke believes in building a great relationship with those he works with.

Luke was a PGA club professional for 12 years before making a career change to insurance.

Michael Mayes is a life insurance professional with 18 years of experience in Life Brokerage supporting General Agencies, Financial Institutions and Independent Agents. He has worked with a broad range of product solutions including Term Insurance, Living Benefits, Simplified Issue Whole Life, Guaranteed Universal Life, Index Universal Life, Variable Universal Life and Medicare Supplement, Advantage and Prescription Drug coverages.

Prior to joining TPPN, Michael spent 17 years with Transamerica Life Companies starting in Contracting & Licensing before moving into Sales & Marketing. In that role, Michael was the primary contact supporting Financial Institution distribution. His key account relationships included Wells Fargo Advisors, UBS, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, as well as numerous regional investment firms. In his final position with Transamerica, Michael assumed the role of Internal Sales Specialist to focus on relationship development with Independent Agents by providing product updates and sales ideas to producers across the country.

Michael graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Sara, and their three children.

Kaycee Husman has 5 years of experience in the insurance industry, specializing in contracting, licensing, and case management for life insurance and annuities.

Previously, Kaycee was with New York Life Insurance Company where she supported management in the recruitment and onboarding of agents. While at New York Life’s office in Cedar Rapids, Kaycee led their Volunteer for Good Program. She and her team helped earn the ARC of East Central Iowa several grants. With these efforts, their office won New York Life’s volunteer group of the year in 2016.

Before entering an insurance career, Kaycee spent 6 years in management and customer service, teaching her the value of team work and communication to achieve her personal and professional goals.

J.Fernando Gonzalez is a life insurance and investments/securities sales and marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in Life Insurance product solutions including Term Insurance, Living Benefits, Disability and Final Expense Insurance, and extensive knowledge of Retirement solutions, Securities/Investments and Financial planning conducting business as an independent broker and as part of insurance and financial organizations. Prior to joining TPPN, J.Fernando spent 10 years with multiple companies starting in Sales & Marketing positions then growing up on the corporate ladder. In those roles, J.Fernando was the primary contact supporting the sales and marketing organizations. In his final position with AIC, Ameritas Investment Co, J.Fernando dedicated his time on a dual role as a Life Insurance and Financial planning coach focusing on educating individuals, families and business’ owners/employers, plus coaching/developing and training new agents on the field to grow their independent practices.

J.Fernando graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor’s Degree from the Industrial University of Santander - Colombia/South America. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Betty, and his daughter Isabella Sofia.

Gretchen has over thirty years of customer service, problem solving and management experience through previous employment, as well as leadership roles in children’s ministry and the homeschool community in two states. Gretchen is putting her management and organizational skills to the test as she launches the Cedar Rapids – Marion chapter of the national charity, Sleep in Heavenly Peace. SHP is a non-profit, solely volunteer organization that builds, delivers, assembles and dresses out beds for children to ensure that, “no kid sleeps on the floor in our town.”

Gretchen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1981 from Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, IL. She finds her greatest accomplishment and joy in her family—husband, Bill, 6 children and 2 grandchildren.