Management Team

James E. Boyd, AAI
Chief Executive Officer

After his graduation from Florida State University in 1978, Jim joined Boyd Insurance & Investment Services. Since that time he has held various positions within the firm, and is presently the Chief Executive Officer and co-owner. Jim achieved the Accredited Advisor of Insurance (AAI) in 1988, and has actively continued his education by seminar and workshop attendance. He holds Property & Casualty, Life & Health Insurance Licenses as well as the Surplus Lines Brokers License.

Jim is also a Licensed Real Estate Broker and is President of, The Boyd Group, a Commercial Real Estate Brokerage firm.

Active in community affairs, Jim has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce and Library Foundation and also has served on the Board of the Red Cross and Palmetto Rotary Club. Jim and his family attend The Bridge Church at Palma Sola Bay in Bradenton, Florida.

From 1989-1993 Jim served as Palmetto City Councilman, Vice-Mayor and Mayor. Jim was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in November of 2010.

Jim and Sandy reside in Bradenton and have two children, Ansley and Austin. Jim was born and raised in Manatee County, Florida, when he can get away; Jim enjoys playing golf and vacationing in the North Carolina Mountains.

L. Pat Osburn, AAI
President

Pat graduated from Florida State University in 1976 with a degree in Business Administration. Prior to graduation he was drafted and signed by the Cincinnati Reds where he spent seven years playing professional baseball.

He joined Boyd Insurance in the fall of 1976 and in 1990 was named President of Boyd Insurance and Investment Services, Inc. Being introduced to Bradenton to play baseball for Manatee Community College, Pat decided to make Manatee County his permanent home in 1971. He and his wife, Dina Mercadante, enjoy spending time with Pat’s five children and their golden retriever.

His hobbies include, golf, tennis, physical fitness and reading. As an All-American for the 1970 Seminole baseball team, Pat and Dina enjoy attending Seminole sporting events and cheering on their alma mater. Pat holds an Accredited Advisor of Insurance designation and has served on the Agent Advisory Board of Hanover Insurance Company. Pat served nine years on the Board for the Desoto Boys and Girls Club and held the position of Board Director. Continuing his love for baseball, Pat served as the President of Manatee County Babe Ruth League for 3 years and has coached various youth baseball teams. In 2012, he was inducted into State College of Florida’s Athletic Hall of Fame for his career at then, Manatee Junior College.

Richard G. Gross, AAI
Chief Operations Officer

Richard (Dick) Gross, AAI, entered the insurance business as an underwriter trainee with the Maryland Casualty Company, Tampa, Florida in 1957. He joined The Aetna Insurance Company in 1965 and became an Underwriting Manager. Dick joined a local agency here in Bradenton in 1973, retiring in 2003. Deciding to go back to work, Dick joined Boyd Insurance & Investment Services, Inc. as V.P. of Sales and Operations in December 2006. Dick taught and received his AAI designation in 1982.

Married to his wife Joyce for 52 years, they are the proud parents of 5 children and have 10 grandchildren. Dick is a past Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis and has served on many local Boards. He presently serves on the Advisory Board of Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities, Inc., Foundation Board of Manatee Memorial Hospital, and Chairman of the Finance Committee at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Palmetto and serves as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector.

Kristin D. Smith, AAI
Vice President of Client Relations

Kristin began her career in the insurance industry in 1979. After becoming a licensed Property & Casualty agent in 1981, she joined the group at Boyd Insurance in 1983. She earned the designation of Accredited Advisor of Insurance (AAI) in 1985.

Kristin has worked in all areas of the Property & Casualty business, beginning her career as a receptionist, and then moving forward into positions as a Personal Lines Account Manager, and then a Commercial Lines Account Manager. As Boyd Insurance grew, Kristin took on the responsibilities of bookkeeper and office manager while continuing to service the large commercial accounts. In her present position as Vice President - Client Relations, she continues to handle a select number of commercial accounts, as well as the computer technology operations of the agency. This position also provides her the opportunity to use her experience to train new employees and keep everyone up to date on new developments in the industry. Most importantly she is responsible to make sure our office operations are handled with maximum efficiency, and to work with employees to provide outstanding service to our clients.

Kristin has been an active member of Christ Episcopal Church for many years, where she has served on the vestry, as a Sunday School Teacher, a youth leader and a member of the choir, as well as having served on numerous committees. She and her daughters have done the 60-mile Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk, as well as the Walk for Life to benefit the suicide prevention program at Manatee Glens. She has also donated her time by helping to build homes for Habitat for Humanity, and “clean up” days with Keep Manatee Beautiful.

While her hobbies of gardening, home improvements and crafts provide her relaxation; her greatest joy comes from spending time with her three children.

Nicholas J. Zec, Jr. LUTCF, CFS
Vice President of Financial Services

Nicholas J. Zec, Jr. is the Vice President of Financial Services & Employee Benefits.

Nick, a native Chicagoan, has been part of the agency since 1984 and in the Insurance and Investment Industry since 1981. After finishing at Buffalo Grove High School in Northwest Suburban Chicagoland, Nick graduated with a Business Marketing Degree from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in 1981. He also played NCAA College Football for North Central from 1977-1980. He started his business career with Aetna Life and Annuity Company as a Career Agent in Oakbrook, Illinois. Nick is a lifetime member of the National Association of Insurance and Investment Advisors and has received many industry and professional awards. He specializes in life insurance planning, tax deferred asset protection and lifetime income streams for clients.

Nick is a member of many civic and social organizations in our area. He is a 1992 graduate of Leadership Manatee, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Leadership Alumni Association and Manatee Chamber of Commerce. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Manatee Gator Club, the East Manatee Education Foundation, and the North Central College Alumni Board. Nick is currently the President of the North Central College Florida Alumni Association. He continues his role with the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce on the Tourist Tax Committee, Manatee Children’s Services Advisory Committee and the Manatee Chamber Legislative Committee.

Nick and his wife Vicki live in East Manatee County with their two children Alec and Cassie. They are members of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, where Nick serves on the Finance Committee. He and Vicki are big supporters of youth sports in our area.

David J. Grantham, CFP
Account Executive of Financial Services

An Ohio native, Dave spent 10 years in Texas as a representative for a worldwide manufacturing company before moving to Manatee County in 1987 to begin his Financial Services career. During his 22 year career with Prudential Financial, Dave held positions as an agent and field manager. In 2010, Dave entered the independent side of the financial services business and joined Boyd Insurance & Financial Services in December 2011.

Dave holds Life, Health and Property & Casualty insurance licenses in Florida and other states, is a registered representative of FINRA and holds Series 6, 63 & 65 registrations. As part of his ongoing professional growth & development and to further improve the level of service provided to his clients, Dave earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards in 2005.

Dave’s community involvement includes Kiwanis Club of Bradenton where he currently serves as secretary/treasurer, Manatee High School Track team and Manatee Chamber of Commerce. He has served as board chair and a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters and committee chair for the Red Cross. During the years his children were in local schools, Dave was involved with numerous boards and many of their activities.

Dave and Carol were married in 1982 and currently reside in Bradenton. They are the proud parents of four children and members of St. Joseph Church.

Phillip B. Baker, AAI
Vice President

Phill attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida in 1977. Phill joined Boyd Insurance & Investment Services, Inc. in 1980 and has held positions of office manager, marketing director, automation services coordinator and producer. Currently he works with medium to large commercial businesses in the area of property & casualty lines.

Phill strongly believes in giving back to the community where he lives and works. He has served two terms as President of the Manatee County Independent Insurance Agents Association, three terms as Chairman of the North River Fire District Pension Board, two terms as Chairman of the Better Business Council of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Student Advisory Council at Lincoln Memorial Middle School and Palmetto High School, Coordinator of the ‘InVest’ program for Manatee and Palmetto High Schools, Education Committee for the Florida Association of Insurance Agents and the North River American Little League for eight years.

Phill is married to Dianna Bradbury Baker of Palmetto and they have three sons. His older son is a firefighter and the two younger sons have graduated with engineering degrees. The Bakers are avid fisherman and they also enjoy SCUBA diving, hunting, jogging and biking. Phill and his family attend First Baptist Church of Palmetto.

Arthur L. Eversole, AAI
Commercial Account Executive

Arthur graduated with a BBA in Business Administration from Western Michigan University where he was an All American Cross Country runner for two years and a current member of WMU Hall of Fame. Art and his wife, Sallie, moved to Bradenton in 1965.

Art worked with Penn Mutual Life, Hartford Life Insurance and was a partner in the former Manatee County Insurance Agency. Joining Boyd Insurance & Investment Services, Inc. in 1995, Art works in Commercial Insurance, Financial Services and also has a Florida Real Estate license.

Active in community affairs, Art served on the State and National Board for the Boys & Girls Club for 42 years. He served as President of the Manatee County Association of Insurance Agents, the Manatee River Lions Club, Manatee Religious Services Foundation, and Bradenton Country Club. Art is currently Financial Chairman at Trinity United Methodist Church.

When not enjoying time spent with their three children and six grandchildren, Art & Sallie enjoy golfing, traveling and giving back to their community and church.

Vickie Oakes, CIC
Marketing Manager

Vickie is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan. She began her insurance career over 30 years ago and joined Boyd Insurance & Investment Services, Inc. in 2005 as a Commercial Lines Manager. She became the Marketing Manager in 2007. Vickie’s areas of responsibility are finding the best and most competitive coverages for commercial lines accounts.

Vickie attained her CIC designation (Certified Insurance Counselor) and maintains the designation by attending continuing education classes on an annual basis. Vickie has also taught insurance classes for project Invest in area high schools and is President-elect of the Manatee County Independent Insurance Agents Association, Inc.