Our Team Directory

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Makenzi Bezemek

MaKenzi joined Buiten & Associates, LLC in 2014 as an Account Manager serving small business employee benefit accounts. Prior to joining Buiten, MaKenzi worked as an Assistant Budget Officer at Western Michigan University’s Office of Financial Planning and Budgets. Her background includes customer service, sales and administrative assistance. MaKenzi is a Western Michigan University graduate […]

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Randy Bishop

Randy has been with Buiten & Associates since 2001 as a commercial insurance marketing specialist. He has been in the insurance industry for more than 25 years, having started as a commercial underwriter for American States Insurance in 1987 and continuing in that position with Lake States (Harleysville) and Hastings Mutual before joining the agency. […]

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Char Blondin

Char joined Buiten & Associates, LLC in January of 2014 as a Commercial Lines Account Manager. Her past experience included over 35 years with The Hartford in their Property & Casualty Division serving as a Senior Customer Service Representative. Her territory included servicing client underwriting and rating needs in numerous states working with a diversified […]

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Bob Brock

Bob Brock is passionate about his family, his relationship with clients and helping others succeed. He enjoys working hard and playing hard! In his 24 years of servicing and selling all lines of insurance he has helped client’s through good times and through some extremely difficult, some times life changing events due to losses. As […]

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Paul S. Buiten, CPA

In 1967,  Paul purchased a small insurance agency that started in 1935.  Prior to 1967, he worked as a CPA beginning with BDO.  In 1967 the agency had 5 employees and now there are 38.  The insurance agency now includes Property and Casualty, Personal Lines and Life and Health insurance clients. Paul has a BA degree from […]

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Brenda Chase

Brenda Chase joined the Buiten team in May of 2017, she came on board with 29 years of insurance experience which she accumulated at various other insurance agencies in the Grand Rapids area.    Brenda is a licensed property & casualty agent, with a (CISR) Certified Insurance Service Representative designation and is one session away from […]

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Kevin Cumings, RHU, Ph.D., REBC, AHIC

Kevin joined Buiten & Associates in 2004 as Vice-President of Group Benefits and manages the Employee Benefits Department. Prior to joining Buiten, Kevin owned an employee benefits agency. As a licensed insurance counselor in health & life insurance, Kevin is results-oriented and provides solutions to help employers attract and retain quality employees. Kevin earned his […]

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Lisa B. DeBoer

Lisa has been with Buiten & Associates since 1999, and is a large group account manager in the benefits department. Her prior experiences in customer service and education uniquely equip her for the various responsibilities of servicing clients and their employees. Lisa is a graduate of Dordt College with a BA in Education, and maintains […]

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Lori Fisher, CIC, CPCU

Lori joined Buiten & Associates in 2011 as an Account Manager, with over 25 years of insurance experience. She has held and enjoyed different positions in the industry including  Account Management with various Independent Agencies and  Rating and Underwriting positions with Insurance Companies. In the most recent years prior to Buiten, Lori worked over ten […]

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Ally Flinski

Ally Notario joined Buiten & Associates in 2016 as an Employee Benefits Account Manager.  Her prior experience includes education and customer service. She maintains a Life & Health Insurance Agent License. Ally is a graduate of Grand Valley State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies and Secondary Education. In her spare […]

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Rod W. Hathaway, CIC, LUTCF

Rod joined Buiten & Associates in 1987 and became a partner in 1999. Prior to joining Buiten & Associates, he was a senior commercial underwriter at Amerisure Companies and a commercial underwriter at New Hampshire Insurance Company. Rod writes multiple lines of insurance coverage including personal and commercial lines as well as employee benefits and […]

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Kimberly Humphrey

Kimber joined Buiten & Associates in November 2019. She was previously an Agent for 5 years in the Lansing area, then working at Auto-Owners home office for 10 years. Kimber then moved away and was working as a dental assistant and has since returned to her home town of Lake Odessa and was happy to […]

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Laura S. Jensen, CISR, CIC

Laura joined Buiten & Associates, LLC in 2010 as an account manager with 32 years of industry experience, serving middle market commercial lines accounts. Prior to joining Buiten, she was an account executive at Hub International, an account manager with Grand Rapids Holland Insurance, an underwriter at Firemen’s Fund and a property rating supervisor with the Hartford […]

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Benjamin J. Knoester

Ben joined Buiten and & Associates in 2003 as a producer/agent. After 5 years he was invited to become a Partner. Ben concentrates on all types of Commercial Property and Casualty insurance, but focuses intently on Human Services and Professional Liability accounts. Prior to joining Buiten & Associates, Ben was commercial underwriter with the Chubb […]

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Shelley Lehmann

Shelley joined Buiten & Associates, LLC in 2016 with 30 years of industry experience primarily in personal lines and claims handling. Prior to joining Buiten, she was a producer at an insurance agency in the Grand Rapids Area and a customer service representative at an agency in Southeast Michigan. Her prior experience includes selling and servicing personal lines accounts, handling […]

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Jon Lunderberg, CCIFP, AFSB

Jon Lunderberg joined Buiten & Associates as a Partner in 2010 with 25 years of professional experience in bonding, commercial insurance, banking and consulting. His commercial sales experience is diverse with a specialization in the construction industry. Jon’s worked with construction companies of all sizes and specialties from small locally owned businesses to the large […]

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Brian Mattila, CIC

Brian Mattila is a Partner at Buiten & Associates, LLC. With 38+ years of insurance experience.  He joined the firm in 1985 and specializes in small to middle market commercial accounts. Prior to becoming a part of the Buiten team, Brian worked for:  Continental Insurance; Crum & Forster Insurance; and Heritage Mutual (Acuity) Insurance Companies.  […]

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Darryl Mulder, CIC, CPCU

Darryl joined Buiten & Associates in July of 2002, becoming a partner in 2004. He has 38 years in the insurance industry, beginning his career immediately upon graduation from Calvin College in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and History. He worked in a property/casualty capacity with both Sentry Insurance and […]

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V. Jean Nolf, CISR

Jean joined the Buiten & Associates in October 1983 as a personal lines service representative and has served in many roles during her tenure. Her current positions include personnel manager, personal lines manager and commercial lines account manager. Prior to joining Buiten, she worked at the Home Insurance Company and Charles F. Harrison Agency. Jean […]

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Laura J. Northouse

Laura joined Buiten & Associates in 1991 working in the personal lines department as a CSR for Homeowners, Personal Auto, Umbrella’s and Recreation vehicles. In 1993 Laura added the office accounting function to her responsibilities and proceeded in 1998 to take some time off to raise her family Laura returned to Buiten & Associates in 2003 part […]

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Linda Paulsen

Linda joined Buiten and Associates in 2015 and is a member of the commercial client’s account team. She provides technical support and analysis, works with insurance carriers on behalf of our clients, and fulfills daily client services with a reputation for excellence.  Linda has spent her entire professional career in insurance and risk management.  She […]

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Ryan T. Pylman

Ryan joined Buiten & Associates as a sales executive in 2010 and became a partner in 2011. Prior to joining Buiten & Associates, LLC he was the Vice President of Group Benefits at West Michigan Business Group. Ryan has 15 years of insurance experience specializing in developing & implementing employee benefit solutions for small and middle market […]

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Daniel B. Rink, CPCU

Dan joined Buiten & Associates as a partner in 2007 with 30 years of insurance experience, specializing in middle market commercial accounts. Prior to joining Buiten, he was a commercial agent with Hub International, a partner at Grand Rapids Holland Insurance and a Regional Manager of Amerisure Insurance Company. His industry experience includes both claims […]

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Jennie Russo

Jennie joined Buiten & Associates, LLC in 2015 as an Account Manager with 7 years of insurance experience in the personal lines market.  Prior to joining Buiten, she was an Account Manager at Hub International, an Account Manager at Riehn Insurance in Chicago & a Billing Service Advocate at Farmers Insurance. Jennie attended Western Michigan […]

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David Shufelt

David Shufelt joined Buiten & Associates in 2018 as an Account Manager specializing in Employee Benefits, Medicare and Individual Health Insurance. He maintains a Life & Health Insurance Agent License. David is a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, IN where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Risk Management and Insurance. In his spare time […]

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Dorothy Timmerman

Dorothy joined Buiten & Associates, LLC in 2015 as a Commercial Lines,  Account Manager with 31 years of industry experience.  Her insurance career began at The Hartford.  From there she spent 12 years with Universal Insurance Services, in claims, personal lines, marketing, and commercial lines.   The following 15 years were at Mapes Insurance, as a […]

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Katie Vranich

Katie joined Buiten & Associates in 2014 as an Employee Benefits Account Manager.  Prior to joining Buiten, she worked as a Customer Service Representative for Michigan Employee Benefit Services. Her prior experience includes customer service, claim resolutions and claims auditing. Katie attended Grand Valley State University, and is a licensed Insurance Agent in Health & […]

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Beth Woltjer

Beth has recently joined Buiten & Associates LLC as a Commercial Accounts manager with 15+ years of industry experience.  Prior to joining Buiten she worked at Chlystek & White Services as an insurance auditor, Anderson-Miller Insurance Agency in Sylvania, OH as a  Commercial Lines CSR,  HRH Insurance Agency in Grand Rapids, MI as a Commercial […]