Our Culture

As the founder and Managing Partner of Rhodes Risk Advisors, Mike established the firm to address the need for specialized expertise and tailored, innovative solutions in the insurance industry.  Mike began his career at Zurich North America, underwriting middle-market companies in the hospitality, manufacturing, real estate, and education sectors. Before founding Rhodes Risk Advisors, he was the director of insurance and a founding partner of the Atlanta office of Franklin Street, a commercial real estate firm.  Since launching Rhodes, Mike has further developed the firm’s Real Estate and Construction practice, expanded the firm’s verticals, and guided the strategic direction of Rhodes.  Under his leadership, Rhodes has been recognized as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company (2020-2023), an Atlanta Business Chronicle Pacesetter 100 company, and a University of Georgia Bulldog 100 company.

Mike earned a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance, specializing in Real Estate, from the University of Georgia.

Kenny Goepp is a Partner at Rhodes Risk Advisors, a leading privately held property & casualty insurance brokerage firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career working for Marsh and McLennan in New York City until returning to Atlanta in 2014 and joining Rhodes.  Since joining the firm, Kenny has been instrumental in the growth of Rhodes into one of the premiere independent insurance brokerage firms in the country. Kenny has been serving commercial property and casualty clients since 2008 and is responsible for serving, managing, and growing client relationships, as well as creating and implementing strategy for the firm’s Commercial Insurance practice. He is also integrally involved in the planning, recruitment, and operations of the firm.

Kenny earned his BBA in Risk Management and Insurance from the University of Georgia.

Hayward McEver is a Partner at Rhodes Risk Advisors and began his career at SunTrust Bank in Commercial Banking before transitioning to the Real Estate industry with Atlanta Property Group. At Atlanta Property Group, he focused on acquisitions and management of office and industrial assets. Hayward then went to work at McEver & Tribble, Inc., a family-owned insurance brokerage firm, where he developed and grew their Real Estate Insurance Practice with focus on multifamily insurance. Hayward joined Rhodes as a Partner when Rhodes acquired McEver & Tribble in 2020, and focuses his time on Real Estate, Multi-Location Franchisee Operators, Private Equity, and Private Client Services.

Hayward received his degree in Business Administration at the University of North Carolina.

Robert “Bobby” Jackson leads the Private Client Practice at Rhodes. He began his career working for PURE Insurance in New York City, a premier high-net-worth insurance underwriting company.  After successfully helping PURE secure a foothold in the Northeast, he was selected to help grow PURE’s portfolio in the Southeast as the AVP, Regional Business Development Executive.  He joined Rhodes Risk Advisors with over a decade of experience in the Private Client space and through his experience he brings a specialized, client-first approach to growing Rhodes’ Private Client Practice.  

Bobby received his BS in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

Mary-Kate Lamis joined Rhodes as Senior Vice President, Strategic Business Operations.  Mary-Kate spent a combined 8 years with Deloitte, the majority of which in a consulting capacity serving a variety of industries.  She worked in financial services doing mergers & acquisitions and customer experience, expansion strategy, and operational improvement.  In between her stints with Deloitte, she was with Sid and Ann Mashburn helping to grow and scale the small/medium sized company and Cisco as a Customer Success Executive focused on delivering value to her clients in the hospitality industry.  Mary-Kate focuses on corporate strategy, process consistency and efficiency, technology, recruiting, employee engagement, and workload management.  

Mary-Kate earned her BA in Finance and Economics from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC.

Joining Rhodes in 2016, Ryan has overseen the growth of the Aviation Practice, as well as served in an operational leadership function for the firm. Ryan leads Rhodes’ Aviation Practice, responsible for oversight and strategy of the aerospace client portfolio. He has over 15 years of aviation insurance experience both on the brokerage and underwriting sides of the marketplace. Prior to joining Rhodes, Ryan worked with AIG Aerospace and Starr Insurance, two of the largest global aerospace insurers. Throughout his tenure of advanced responsibility, he oversaw aerospace portfolio segments including private & corporate aircraft, service providers, defense operations, and the largest commercial fixed & rotor wing operators globally.

Ryan earned his BBA in Risk Management and Insurance from the University of Georgia and holds an active FAA Private Pilot License.