Partnerships Built Around Managing Risk

Blake is a seasoned executive with over 27 years of sales and leadership experience. Blake’s dedication to excellence and organizational growth has allowed him to define a critical path to success for Beyond Risk, which has helped him to forge strategic partnerships with leaders in the alternative risk space.

Prior to his tenure at Beyond Risk, Blake was the President and Chief Revenue Office of Progressive Leasing (NYSE: PRG), a financial services company. He was previously head of Retail Sales, Marketing, and Operations for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Region at Seagate Technologies where he developed a sustainable, profitable business with the region’s most strategic customers. Wakefield also was Sr. Director of Sales and Marketing for Seagate running North and South America for the retail business. Before joining Seagate in 2008, Blake was Director of Sales for New Age Electronics responsible for growing a portfolio of retail and e-tail consumer electronic sales from $200 million to $800 million. Prior to that, he also held marketing, sales, and sales management responsibilities for Hewlett-Packard.

Blake earned his MBA from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University.

Joe Foley serves as Chief Operating Officer at Beyond Risk, where he leads operations across the firm’s growing specialty MGA and alternative risk portfolio.

Joe brings deep experience in insurance, finance, and operations, with a strong focus on the MGA sector. Prior to joining Beyond Risk, he was CFO and Director of Business Operations at Cannasure Insurance Services, where he led company-wide initiatives across finance, IT, and strategic operations. Under his leadership, the firm tripled revenue, improved EBITDA margins, and completed a successful sale to One80 Intermediaries.

He also co-founded Lone Peak Re, a Montana-based captive reinsurance company, where he structured innovative reinsurance programs, drove surplus growth, and managed daily operations.

Staci Heard is the Senior Vice President of People at Beyond Risk, bringing over 18 years of Human Resources leadership to her role. She oversees the company’s people strategy, culture development, and employee engagement, supporting Beyond Risk’s continued growth. Known for building award-winning cultures and scalable HR infrastructure for growing companies across multiple industries, she is passionate about creating meaningful employee experiences that drive business success. With a strategic mindset and collaborative approach, Staci is a trusted advisor to leaders and teams across the company.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Utah and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR).

Michael Angoli is a multi-disciplinary technology and risk executive currently serving as Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer at Beyond Risk. He leads enterprise-wide initiatives spanning infrastructure modernization, cybersecurity strategy, systems integration, and digital transformation. With over two decades of experience in enterprise IT and analytics, specializing within the insurance and financial services sectors, Michael is recognized for translating complex challenges into scalable, secure, and future-ready solutions.

Prior to Beyond Risk, Michael held pivotal leadership roles at HUB International, where he orchestrated strategic transformation efforts, modernized legacy platforms, and delivered operational agility across diverse business units. His career also includes directing large-scale systems architecture projects and leading cross-functional teams focused on technology-enabled growth, governance, and measurable business impact.

Michael’s approach combines deep technical expertise with a visionary mindset, driving innovation at the intersection of IT strategy, enterprise risk, and organizational alignment.

Devin is the General Counsel of Beyond Risk, leading the company’s legal and compliance department.  Prior to joining Beyond Risk in 2022, Devin served as General Counsel of Integro Insurance Brokers, an international insurance brokerage firm, where he played a leading role in the divestiture of Integro’s operations in the United States and Canada. Devin also held a senior role in the legal department at AECOM.  He began his legal career as an associate in the New York office of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP.

Devin graduated Cum Laude from Brooklyn Law School and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wake Forest University.

Ed Sweeney holds dual roles at Beyond Risk as Senior Vice President, Head of Capital Solutions, and President of Ascent Re.  Since joining Beyond Risk, Ed has been instrumental in launching Ascent Re, the firm’s Bermuda-based collateralized insurer supporting third-party risk transfer on behalf of GPW’s captive clients.  His leadership is also driving the firm’s evolving risk capital strategies in support of key growth initiatives.

Ed began his career in investment banking in 2007 and quickly recognized the need for financial expertise in the reinsurance marketplace. Since 2010, Ed has focused on aligning traditional (re)insurance risk with alternative capital sources both as an intermediary and as an underwriter.  He spent the past 12 years in Bermuda analyzing, underwriting and managing portfolios of reinsurance risk on behalf of traditional balance sheets and institutional investors.

Ed holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Trintiy College in Hartford, CT and has been a CFA charterholder since 2012.

James is President Emeritus of GPW and Associates, Inc. (GPWA), an actuarial and consulting firm founded in 1998. GPWA purchased the Risk and Insurance Services Practice from Watson Wyatt on September 1, 1998. He joined Watson Wyatt in 1981 after having served as Vice President of a Phoenix-based life insurance company. James has more than 40 years of experience in the consulting field following his work in the actuarial department of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Prior to forming GPWA, he was the team leader for the Risk and Insurance Services team in the Phoenix office.

James holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University, is a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries, and is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

George is currently the President of GPW and Associates, Inc. (GPWA). He joined GPWA in 2006 as an Actuarial Analyst. George was promoted to Actuary in 2010 and completed the exams required for Fellowship in the Casualty Actuarial Society in 2011. In 2014, he was promoted to Assistant Vice President of GPWA. His responsibilities include reserving and pricing, with a focus on commercial lines, reinsurance, and captive insurance.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Arizona State University and is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, as well as a Fellow in the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Lance is President of BevCap Management, LLC; Director of BevCap Captive Group, Director/Shareholder of BevCap’s Sponsored Cell Captive as well as HatterasRe; and was a previous Chair of the CICA Board of Directors. Abbott co-founded BevCap Management in 2008 to manage BevCap Captive Group, a homogeneous group captive for beer distributors. BevCap Management now manages captives in multiple U.S. and offshore domiciles, including HatterasRe, a Medical Stop-Loss Captive owned by BCM in North Carolina.

Lance graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1991 and is the proud dad to Katherine, Reeves, and Mary Elizabeth and husband to Sara.

Charlie Acosta is the President of Origin Specialty. He is a seasoned insurance executive with over 20 years of underwriting and leadership experience.

Before joining Origin Specialty in April 2023 as Head of Underwriting, Acosta held a variety of senior roles at StrongArm Tech and AIG. Over a 19-year tenure at AIG, he rose to Senior Vice President of Risk Management Primary Casualty, where he led underwriting teams across multiple program lines and drove meaningful growth. Acosta has specialized in structuring and underwriting complex casualty programs, including large deductibles, qualified self-insureds, fronts, captives, and other tailored risk solutions.

His deep industry knowledge and strategic vision continue to strengthen Origin Specialty’s foundation and future.

Kellan is currently Co-President and founder of Eirion Risk Underwriters, LLC.  He is responsible for product wording and forms, compliance, reinsurance placements, operations, financial reporting, personnel, and underwriting.  Prior to founding Eirion, Kellan started his career with ACE Westchester in 2005.  He spent 17 years in various regional and divisional management roles before exiting as a Senior Vice President of Inland Marine prior to founding Eirion in 2022.

A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Risk Management and Insurance, Kellan is a licensed P&C agent and Surplus Lines Broker in Georgia. He holds the CPCU and AMIM industry designations. Kellan currently resides in the metro Atlanta area with his wife and three children.

Casey is currently Co-President and founder of Eirion Risk Underwriters, LLC. His responsibilities include negotiation and placement of the company’s various reinsurance treaties, expense management and the development and implementation of underwriting strategy.  Casey began his career as a risk analyst for Marsh & McLennan before transitioning to underwriting with ACE Westchester where he held key regional management roles within the Westchester Property Group.  He brings with him a prominent national reputation and an extensive distribution list of wholesale property brokers.

Casey is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with majors in Risk Management and Finance. He is a licensed P&C agent and Surplus Lines Broker in Georgia and holds the CPCU, ARM, and ASLI industry designations. Casey currently resides in the metro Atlanta area with his wife and two daughters.

Bob Lang is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of SL Management Parters, LLC, which he established with Steve Solomon in November 2022. The formation of SL Management Partners resulted from the transition of a book of business from American Fidelity, where Bob previously served as VP and National Sales Director.

Prior to his tenure at American Fidelity, he and Steve Solomon were the founders of SLG (MSL MGU), a business they eventually sold to QBE North America (“QBE”). During his time at QBE, Bob led the accident & health division and was instrumental in growing the business.

Steve Solomon is the Managing Director and Co-Founder at SL Management Partners, LLC. He worked alongside Bob Lang as VP at American Fidelity where he was instrumental in underwriting, operations, and strategic direction for their Medical Stop-Loss Program.

His extensive experience also includes roles as Chief Underwriting Officer at QBE’s Accident & Health division, and Chief Underwriting & Operations Officer at Tokio Marine HCC- Stop Loss Group.