cathy merz
owner/president

Cathy began her career in insurance at Great West Life Insurance in 1991, selling self-funded and partially self-funded programs to employer groups, and 401(k) retirement plans. Upon moving to the Pacific Northwest, she became a large-group sales executive at Kaiser Permanente, selling plans direct and through the brokerage community. She implemented meet and greets between the public and the insurance community, where they learned about Kaiser’s staff model HMO and the advantages to their delivery system.

 In 1998, she was hired by Campbell Galt and Newlands (now USI Northwest) to spearhead their retirement plan division. She sold and managed 401(k) and other defined contribution plans, and assisted with 403(b) programs for corporate and nonprofit customers. 

 In 2010 she purchased Donna M. Carlson Insurance and partnered with Donna to expand the agency with an office in Oregon. She now owns and operates the agency and is responsible for day to day operations.

In her spare time, Cathy enjoys playing volleyball, reading and spending time with her husband and three children.

CATHY’S CREDENTIALS & LICENSES:

• Life and health insurance licenses in Oregon, Washington and Idaho

• Certified to sell long-term care and Medicare under various company appointments

  Member of the National Association of Health Underwriters as well as Portland and Tri-County Washington chapters

Katie Efstathiou
Group Health Insurance Senior Account manager

Katie has lived in Oregon most of her life. After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in mathematics, she moved to Connecticut with her husband for about three years.  After they had their first child, they returned to Oregon to be close to family. She joined Cathy Merz Insurance in May 2018 and obtained her health insurance license for both Oregon and Washington in September 2018. Katie now manages Cathy Merz’s individual and Medicare clients.

Katie’s son and daughter keep her busy outside of work. She also enjoys exploring the great Northwest with her family and friends.

KATIE’S LICENSES:

• Health insurance licenses in Oregon and Washington

• AHIP Medicare Certified

lindy magee
administrative manager

Lindy joined Cathy Merz Insurance in 2016 and handles our renewals, enrollments and office administration. Previously she worked for Sony Corporation as a logistics manager and trade show coordinator. She then took time off to raise her two daughters, and is now glad to be back in the work force. 

Originally from Iowa, Lindy has lived on the west coast most of her adult life. Life in Oregon has brought out her love of hiking, sports and music which she enjoys with her husband and daughters.

Cindy Madsen
medicare/ group Health Insurance Account Manager

Cindy spent her entire life in the Chicagoland area until early 2017 when she and her husband relocated to Colorado.  She graduated with a degree in Finance from Northern Illinois University. For her last 10 years in Illinois (2007 -2017) Cindy worked for an independent financial advisor and CPA/Business Services firm. 

With the move to Colorado, a new job landed her with a Marketing firm where she handled national accounts for Chevy Trucks and Cadillac test drive promotions. Family and friends brought Cindy to the Pacific Northwest for yearly visits and Covid showed all of us we could work remotely. When offered the position here at Cathy Merz Insurance in July of 2021, Cindy accepted this new position/opportunity.

Now that her kids are out of college, Cindy and her husband enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors in sunny, low humidity and “barely any bugs” Colorado!

BECKA Kemper
Group Health Insurance Account manager

Becka has lived in the Northwest her whole life. She began working at Dutch Bros and fell in love with the culture! After 2 years, she was promoted to Store manager of the busiest 24-hour stand in Oregon. She is excited to begin a new career in the Insurance Industry and will be getting licensed in Oregon and Washington.

She currently lives in a cabin in Banks, surrounded by family. When she isn’t at work, she loves hiking, camping and spending time with her husband, two boys and her chocolate lab.

tori talbert
account manager support

Tori began her career in the insurance industry in 1996 at Great West Life and Cambell Galt & Newlands. In 2000 she switched gears and started focusing her service representative work on 401(k) and 403(b) plans. In 2001 she had an opportunity to work at The Standard, and Tori took a management position running the Enrollment Services department. Over time her management position grew to include the Data Services Department.  A couple years after her second son was born, Tori decided to stay at home and raise her boys for the next eight years.  Tori re-joined the workforce with Cathy Merz Insurance in February of 2023, and works to support the Account Managers.

In Tori’s spare time her two sons keep her and her husband busy. Both her boys play travel ice hockey. Tori is involved with the Portland Junior Winterhawks and the family volunteers to help support the organization at various fund raisers and charity events. The Talbert family also enjoys camping, trips to the beach and visiting Easter Oregon were family lives.

RICCI Sohn
broker partner - Individual/micro group account manager

Ricci started her professional career in 1999 in Real Estate lending for over 16 years before beginning her new journey in the Insurance Industry. Sue Ober & Associates, LLC brought Ricci on board in August 2016 providing the licensing, support, and insurance knowledge that led to her to form her Agency RS & Associates Insurance LLC in 2021. Cathy Merz Insurance has graciously allowed partnership with Ricci Sohn and RS & Associates Insurance, LLC to provide exceptional service and care to their Individual & Family Clients.

In Ricci’s spare time she most enjoys her active role as mom and wife to her daughter and husband.  She has a passion for hobbies that allow for artistic expression, such as fashion, creative planning, and drawing/coloring/painting. As well as active/ personal growth activities like outdoor running, riding bikes with her daughter, health & nutrition, and spiritual development.