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.

Doreen Barnhouse

Executive Vice President of Operations

Before joining The Partners Group, Doreen worked in a variety of industries and positions that prepared her to perform various roles at TPG as well as assist and/or lead many new strategies over her years at TPG.

Doreen graduated with a BS in Project Management from George Fox University after many years away from college where initially her focus was on accounting. Doreen has two grown children and one teenager. She is an active volunteer with various charities around Portland.

Craig Pankow

Market President & Executive VP

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 College, 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.

Jake Shafer

Executive Vice President & CFO

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.

Gary Alton

Senior Vice President, Board Member

Gary graduated from Oregon State University in 1990. He spent 10 years working for a Fortune 500 insurance company before joining The Partners Group in 2000. Gary holds his Life and Health license and currently sits on the Regence agent advisory board. His expertise includes benefit plan design, self-funding, life and disability planning, pharmacy benefit management, stop loss contracting, as well as executive benefit planning. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and spending time outdoors with his wife and two kids.

Bruce Kerr

Founder, Board Member

Bruce entered the insurance industry in 1975 and saw the need for clients to address all financial and insurance issues through a single portal. He founded Kerr Insurance in 1980, later rebranded as The Partners Group.

Bruce is president of the Down Syndrome Network Oregon Board and has served on the board of the Cascade Pacific Council Boy Scouts of America, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Portland Rotary, and the Karen Gaffney Foundation.

KC Mink

Partner, Board Member

Since joining TPG in 1997, KC has shared his expertise with families in areas he understands well: protection, savings, and growth. KC is recognized by his peers as a leader and by his clients as a thought leader. As an Oregon State graduate, his loyalties are now split between OSU and the University of Texas, where his youngest attends school and KC currently calls home. When not in the office, he enjoys being with his family, working on creating a real estate portfolio, and playing golf.