BOARD & EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Rod Cruickshank

Executive Chairman

Following his graduation from Oregon State University, Rod began his career in 1984 as a sales consultant for a leading employee benefits brokerage firm. After leading sales teams in the Northwest and New England, he returned to Oregon to start his own firm. In 1995, he co-founded what became The Partners Group with Bruce Kerr. After leading the company as president for 16 years and CEO for over a decade, he transitioned to Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors for TPG in 2023.

While leading TPG, in 2012 Rod founded C2 Solutions, a group of the nation’s top independent regional benefit firms that drive collaborative solutions in employee benefits consulting. Today, C2 represents one of the nation’s largest privately held firms.

Rod is currently the chairman of the TPG Foundation. He also donated his time and counsel to organizations including the Oregon & SW Washington American Heart Association, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Portland Children’s Museum, Portland Rescue Mission, OHSU Medical Group, and The Contingent, to name just a few. He has also served as vice-chair of The Council of Employee Benefits Executives (CEBE).

Brad Nantz

CEO

Brad is an experienced insurance industry veteran. A graduate of Oregon State University, he began his career as a sales consultant in 1985 for one of the nation’s largest employee benefits companies. Prior to joining The Partners Group in 2015, he spent 15 years with The Standard and held several positions, including VP of National Accounts, VP of Operations, and VP of Sales. Since joining TPG, he has led the integration of an acquisition and led the Wealth Management, Retirement Planning, and Physician Advisory divisions. He was appointed president in 2019 and accepted the role of CEO of The Partners Group as of January 2023.

Brad loves spending time with his wife, three kids, and grandchildren. He also enjoys golfing, cycling, steelhead fishing, and snow skiing. He is active in the community and is on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association of Oregon and SW Washington.

Sarah Friend

President

Before joining TPG in 2007 as a benefit consultant with large employers, Sarah spent over a decade with one of Oregon’s leading health plans in a variety of sales, operations, and management positions. She became the executive leader of TPG’s Employee Benefits, Total Absence Management, Data Analytics, PartnerWell, and Marketing departments. In 2023, Sarah accepted the role of President of The Partners Group.

Sarah graduated from Western Oregon University with a degree in communication and business. She is married with three children and enjoys volunteering for several non-profits and being with family at the southern Oregon coast.

Jake Shafer

Chief Financial & Revenue Officer

Before joining The Partners Group in 2005, Jake worked with a local insurance-financial services agency in a variety of roles, most recently as the director of finance. He graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a degree in Business/Economics and from Portland State University with an MBA in finance. At The Partners Group, Jake values being part of a growing, locally owned business and believes it presents an exciting opportunity to impact the business community in greater Portland.

Jake is a member of Vistage and Financial Executives International. He is also on the board of Foundation IV, established to help develop and maintain wellness and resiliency for police and first responders.

He was raised in Boise, ID, and lives with his family in Beaverton. He enjoys outdoor activities and has a passion for fly fishing.

Craig Pankow

Regional Market President & EVP, Property/Casualty

Craig Pankow joined The Partners Group in 2016 with over 30 years of insurance experience. Prior to joining our team, he was President & CEO of PointSure Insurance Services, among other positions.

Craig holds a BA and Master’s in Business Administration and Management from City University, along with an Associate’s in Risk Management from the Insurance Institute of America. He is co-founder of the Rick Pankow Foundation, formed to help cancer patients and their families deal with resulting financial challenges. In his free time, Craig enjoys hiking and boating with his wife and four daughters.

Betsy Stumme

EVP, Customer Experience & Operational Efficiency

Betsy’s focus at TPG is to deliver solutions that enhance our employees’ efficiency and experience, enabling them to consistently deliver exceptional service to our clients.

She graduated from Smith College with a double major in economics and psychology and has grown her career in financial services at Fortune 500 companies where she’s held leadership roles spanning operations, technology, and sales and marketing disciplines.

Betsy and her husband have two sons and a golden retriever on whom the whole family dotes. Betsy is active on three non-profit boards and volunteers her time in the community, most often at organizations supporting the houseless and food insecure.