Advisors who've sat in the owner's chair.
We help owners and operators of companies and commercial real estate protect what they've built and plan what's next. Insurance, benefits, real estate, capital and M&A work together under one roof, so the same team is with you from the first policy review to the day you sell.
Middle-market owners, nationwide.
Operators and founder-led companies
Family-owned and founder-led businesses that want a straight read on their risk, their costs and what the business is worth.
Typical moments: a renewal that jumped, a claim that went sideways, planning a transition.
Real estate owners and investors
Owners of commercial property and portfolios who want their real estate, insurance and debt working from the same plan.
Typical moments: an acquisition, a refinance, a sale-leaseback, a portfolio insurance review.
Sponsor-backed companies
Private equity and family office portfolio companies that need diligence, integration and a clean exit story.
Typical moments: pre-deal diligence, add-on acquisitions, post-close integration.
Employers
Growing companies that want benefits their people value without losing control of cost every renewal.
Typical moments: rising headcount, a new state, a benefits renewal that no longer adds up.
One team for the decisions that move the value of your business.
Most owners run insurance, benefits, real estate, financing and a sale through separate advisors who never talk to each other. That is where money leaks. We sit on your side of the table for all of it, and we tell you plainly what we see.
Insurance and risk
Business, property, casualty, surety and specialty programs. We shop the market, show you everything we found, and manage the program all year.
Employee benefits
Plans your people value, priced and renewed on a timeline you control.
Commercial real estate
Buying, selling, leasing and sale-leasebacks, lined up with your insurance and your financing.
Capital markets
Debt and equity for an acquisition, an expansion or a refinance.
M&A advisory
Buy-side and sell-side, with insurance, benefits and real estate diligence handled by the same team.
One team at the center of every decision.
Most businesses manage insurance, real estate, capital and M&A through separate advisors who never talk to each other. The result is blind spots, missed value and friction at every critical moment. Our integrated model changes that: one team quarterbacks the whole picture, from strategy to post-close integration.
We are operators, founders, investors and executives, with a deep understanding of P&Ls, balance sheets, capital allocation and how risk decisions affect valuation.
The most expensive gap is the one that sits between two advisors who never thought to talk to each other.Centered Partners
- Pre-deal
Readiness and valuation prep
- Strategy
Buy-side and sell-side advisory
- Diligence
Insurance, real estate, HR and operational
- Capital
Capital structure alignment
- Integration
Post-close, across all functions
The people you'll actually work with.
Chip Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Kay Cameron
Chief Administrative Officer
Dave Estes
Art Sordo
Jill Berger
Client Services Manager
Elaine Rossy
Account Executive
Kathleen Janick
Marketing Director
Joe Stroot
Brad Grellner
Kevin McLaughlin
Commercial Real Estate Advisor
John Moore
Tate Matheny
Gerri Mazdra
Shareholder / Client Services Manager
Emily Fox
Shareholder / Account Manager
What we're seeing in the market.
The New Standard
What a business owner should expect from an insurance advisor. The guide covers six things, from a 120-day renewal timeline to a year-round look at risk, and includes a self-assessment.
Download the guideStraight answers before the first call.
How does Centered get paid?
We are paid by commissions, fixed fees, or sometimes a combination, and we are transparent about it. We show you how we are paid on your account. That includes the commission structure, the carriers we approached, the quotes we received, and why we recommended what we did.
When should I switch advisors?
You can switch any time. Ideally, start at least 120 days before your renewal so there is time to shop the market and decide, instead of a last-minute quote. You do not have to wait for a renewal, though. A claim that went sideways, a program that no longer fits the business, or a deal on the horizon is reason enough to get a second opinion.
What does a first review include, and does it cost anything?
The first step is a 30-minute Insurance Strategy Session, a call that has no cost and no obligation. We look at your current coverage, how it compares with others in your space, and how it sits next to your real estate, capital and any deal you have in motion. Then we tell you plainly what we see, including if the program is already in good shape.
Why one advisor team instead of five?
Most owners run insurance, benefits, real estate, financing and a sale through separate advisors who never talk to each other. That is where money leaks. We sit on your side of the table for all of it, so a policy, a lease, a loan and a deal are worked from the same plan.
Do you only work with Missouri or Illinois companies?
No. We are based in St. Louis, and we work with owners and operators nationwide. That includes business insurance, employee benefits, commercial real estate, capital markets and M&A.
What happens after we start working together?
Insurance is treated as a year-round plan, not a once-a-year transaction. We work through the Client Centered Cycle at https://www.centeredpartners.com/client-centered-cycle: learn and align, educate, manage risk, strategize, monitor and review, guided by a three to five year coverage strategy. The phase most brokers skip is the middle of the year. That is where we spend real time.
What industries do you serve?
We work with middle-market owners across many industries, and we have specialty programs for HVAC, elevator and vertical transportation, manufacturing, banking and financial services, auto dealerships, sanitation and site services, and jewelry. We also work with commercial real estate owners, operators and occupiers, and with founder-led, family-owned and private equity-backed companies. If your industry is not on that list, still reach out. We will tell you if we are a fit.
What if I am not sure I want to switch?
That is fine. The first conversation is not a sales call. If we can do better, we will show you how and what it costs. If your program is in good shape, we will say so.
If you want risk, assets and capital working from the same plan, let's talk.
Maybe a renewal is coming up, or you're weighing a sale or a refinance. Let's talk about where you're going, and how integrated advisory gets you there faster.
- Office
- 600 Emerson Rd, Suite 124
St. Louis, MO 63141 - Phone
- 314.200.5000
- Serving
- Owners and operators nationwide
Advisors who've sat in the owner's chair.
We help owners and operators of companies and commercial real estate protect what they've built and plan what's next. Insurance, benefits, real estate, capital and M&A work together under one roof, so the same team is with you from the first policy review to the day you sell.
Middle-market owners, nationwide.
Operators and founder-led companies
Family-owned and founder-led businesses that want a straight read on their risk, their costs and what the business is worth.
Typical moments: a renewal that jumped, a claim that went sideways, planning a transition.
Real estate owners and investors
Owners of commercial property and portfolios who want their real estate, insurance and debt working from the same plan.
Typical moments: an acquisition, a refinance, a sale-leaseback, a portfolio insurance review.
Sponsor-backed companies
Private equity and family office portfolio companies that need diligence, integration and a clean exit story.
Typical moments: pre-deal diligence, add-on acquisitions, post-close integration.
Employers
Growing companies that want benefits their people value without losing control of cost every renewal.
Typical moments: rising headcount, a new state, a benefits renewal that no longer adds up.
One team for the decisions that move the value of your business.
Most owners run insurance, benefits, real estate, financing and a sale through separate advisors who never talk to each other. That is where money leaks. We sit on your side of the table for all of it, and we tell you plainly what we see.
Insurance and risk
Business, property, casualty, surety and specialty programs. We shop the market, show you everything we found, and manage the program all year.
Employee benefits
Plans your people value, priced and renewed on a timeline you control.
Commercial real estate
Buying, selling, leasing and sale-leasebacks, lined up with your insurance and your financing.
Capital markets
Debt and equity for an acquisition, an expansion or a refinance.
M&A advisory
Buy-side and sell-side, with insurance, benefits and real estate diligence handled by the same team.
One team at the center of every decision.
Most businesses manage insurance, real estate, capital and M&A through separate advisors who never talk to each other. The result is blind spots, missed value and friction at every critical moment. Our integrated model changes that: one team quarterbacks the whole picture, from strategy to post-close integration.
We are operators, founders, investors and executives, with a deep understanding of P&Ls, balance sheets, capital allocation and how risk decisions affect valuation.
The most expensive gap is the one that sits between two advisors who never thought to talk to each other.Centered Partners
- Pre-deal
Readiness and valuation prep
- Strategy
Buy-side and sell-side advisory
- Diligence
Insurance, real estate, HR and operational
- Capital
Capital structure alignment
- Integration
Post-close, across all functions
The people you'll actually work with.
Chip Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Kay Cameron
Chief Administrative Officer
Dave Estes
Art Sordo
Jill Berger
Client Services Manager
Elaine Rossy
Account Executive
Kathleen Janick
Marketing Director
Joe Stroot
Brad Grellner
Kevin McLaughlin
Commercial Real Estate Advisor
John Moore
Tate Matheny
Gerri Mazdra
Shareholder / Client Services Manager
Emily Fox
Shareholder / Account Manager
What we're seeing in the market.
The New Standard
What a business owner should expect from an insurance advisor. The guide covers six things, from a 120-day renewal timeline to a year-round look at risk, and includes a self-assessment.
Download the guideIf you want risk, assets and capital working from the same plan, let's talk.
Maybe a renewal is coming up, or you're weighing a sale or a refinance. Let's talk about where you're going, and how integrated advisory gets you there faster.
- Office
- 600 Emerson Rd, Suite 124
St. Louis, MO 63141 - Phone
- 314.200.5000
- Serving
- Owners and operators nationwide