Meet the Team Driving Our Mission Forward
A leadership team and underwriting with deep experience across underwriting, operations, technology, and distribution, united by a shared belief in the power of city-based business.
Restoring Capacity. Rebuilding Confidence. Protecting the Businesses That Keep Cities Moving.
District Cover is a modern MGU delivering fair, flexible, data-driven commercial insurance to the urban businesses that are too often overlooked or declined. We were founded with a simple belief: good businesses shouldn’t be penalized because of their ZIP code.
Why We Started District Cover
Carriers are withdrawing from cities. Underwriting models built around broad ZIP codes ignore the realities of neighborhoods. Too many businesses, from restaurants and convenience stores to grocers, property owners, and multi-location operators, struggle to secure the coverage they need to operate with confidence. We built District Cover:
To modernize underwriting.
Restore stable capacity in urban markets.
Support the people who keep communities vibrant.
Built as a Public Benefit Company by design.
Our mandate extends beyond underwriting results. We exist to strengthen the economic resilience of America’s cities. Our community-focused mandate includes:
Expanding access to fair insurance in overlooked urban corridors
Supporting small and mid-sized operators who anchor neighborhoods
Partnering with civic groups and business associations
Investing in safer, more resilient business corridors
Using data and technology to reduce barriers
This is more than a business model. It’s a long-term commitment to the cities we serve.
Backed by Partners Who Believe in Stronger Urban Markets
We’re supported by industry experts and mission-aligned investors across insurance, technology, and financial services.
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Emmett Marsh
DESIGN DIRECTOR
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Eleanor Parks
SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR
Built by People Who Know Urban Risk
District Cover is led by a team of operators, underwriters, and insurance innovators who have scaled national platforms, built profitable underwriting organizations, and partnered deeply with brokers and communities. We bring decades of experience across carrier, MGA, technology, and distribution, united by a shared mission to strengthen urban markets.
Our Leadership Team
Our leadership team brings deep expertise across underwriting, operations, technology, and distribution, with a proven track record of building scalable insurance platforms and disciplined underwriting organizations.
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Patrick Girouard
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Insurance and startup executive with deep carrier and distribution experience, including eight years at MMC. Previously scaled an SME-focused MGA to $200M+ premium run rate and successful financial exit.
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Brianna Chia
Head of Operations
Experienced operator with AIG and Liberty Mutual backgrounds. Most recently led MGA operations and technology, scaling infrastructure to support over 60K small commercial policies nationwide.
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Dane Brockett
Head of Underwriting
Underwriting and strategy leader with experience across Zurich, CNA, Hanover (E&S), and Brown & Brown. Brings proven expertise in production, P&L ownership, and underwriting profitability.
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Karnina Szymanski
Head of Community
Seasoned industry leader and former Chief Customer Officer at Bold Penguin.
Previously led Farmers’ California commercial underwriting and held leadership roles at Progressive.
Our Regional Underwriting Team
Our regional underwriting leaders bring deep market knowledge and hands-on underwriting experience across SME and middle market businesses. Brokers work directly with experienced underwriters who understand local market dynamics and urban risk profiles.
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Avesta Loloee
Vice President of Underwriting - Northeast
Vice President of Underwriting | Multi-Line Portfolio Specialist | Civil Engineering Background
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Brandon Taylor
Vice President of Underwriting - Southeast
Regional underwriting leader with SME and Middle Market experience at Liberty Mutual, Chubb, Selective Insurance, Ford Motor Company, and Aon.
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Nick Hartley
Vice President of Underwriting - West
Regional underwriting leader with experience at leading SME markets: Hanover, Zurich, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, Cowbell, and ADP
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Wes Gillespie
Vice President of Underwriting - Central
Regional underwriting leader with experience at Zurich and CNA, as well as a former client advocate at Willis Towers Watson.
Build With Us
We’re scaling fast and looking for team members who want to solve meaningful problems, support urban communities, and help reinvent commercial insurance from the inside out.