Here at Inszone, one of our missions is to make sure that every employee is appreciated, acknowledged, and recognized for their achievements. This Employee Spotlight series aims to celebrate success and highlight the talented individuals we have at Inszone, Cover Cannabis, and California Pool Association. Each month we’ll be featuring Inszone employees on our website, blog, and social accounts.
Please join us in congratulating Bryan Funes, our Employee Spotlight for the month of November!
Bryan Funes is a Senior Commercial Insurance Specialist at Inszone Insurance Services. His journey into the insurance industry began unexpectedly when he applied to an Indeed listing and interviewed the very next day. That opportunity, guided by a supportive agency owner who helped him develop his skills and paid for his licensing, laid the foundation for his successful career.
With a strong background in customer service, Bryan has built his career on attention to detail and a personalized approach that helps clients feel confident and cared for. His ability to stay consistent and efficient has earned him recognition, including reaching Tier 3 Producer status. Bryan credits his success to patience, persistence, and a commitment to continuous learning—values that also make him a reliable and collaborative teammate.
Bryan is grateful to his first mentor, the agency owner who took a chance on him and taught him how to identify client needs and close effectively. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, playing soccer, and exploring niche topics that expand his knowledge and perspective.
When asked to share some words about Bryan, his direct supervisor, Israel Sepulveda, and Norma Villafranca, VP over Los Angeles/Central California, had this to say:
Norma Villafranca shared: “I had the privilege of personally interviewing and hiring Bryan Funes. From our very first meeting, I recognized his remarkable potential, commitment, and drive. Bryan began his journey with us as a Commercial Lines Account Manager, setting a clear goal to transition into a producer role. Through hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, he not only excelled in his initial position but also successfully moved into producing, where he continues to thrive. Today, Bryan holds the Top Producer spot in the LA Central Area—a testament to his outstanding performance and unwavering determination. I am extremely proud of Bryan’s achievements and always excited to watch him reach even greater heights in his career.”
Israel Sepulveda added: “Bryan consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and a high level of commitment to his role. He has shown exceptional consistency in meeting and exceeding his sales goals, reflecting both discipline and dedication. Bryan approaches his work with a positive attitude and maintains a high standard of professionalism in all interactions.”
Q: What initially brought you to the insurance industry?
A: Funny enough, I actually just applied to an Indeed listing one day and I had my interview with the agency owner the next day. He allowed me to develop my skills, and he paid for my licensing.
Q: In what ways do you think your unique background or experiences contribute to your success in your role?
A: I think my background and experiences have allowed me to pay a lot of attention to detail. This has allowed me to give a personal touch to all of my clients which leads to them trusting me more with their business. A lot of customer service work in previous jobs has allowed me to really develop my abilities.
Q: Can you share a particularly challenging situation you faced in your career and how you overcame it?
A: A particular challenge I faced in my career would be my actual start in commercial insurance. At a point I felt lost and not confident in my ability to sell and learn commercial insurance while also learning Epic at the same time. I overcame this challenge by allowing myself time to learn and coming to the understanding that I will not know everything in my first year of commercial insurance.
Q: If you could describe your approach to teamwork in three words, what would they be and why?
A: My approach to teamwork would be communication, collaboration, and knowledge. I would say these three words best describe my approach to teamwork because if anyone needs help with an account, I can give them advice on what markets they can reach out to or what pain points they might be overlooking on the account.
Q: What do you think sets you apart, and how does it benefit your team?
A: I think what sets me apart from anyone is my attention to detail and the ability to execute a task with efficiency. It benefits my team because I have been pretty consistent with my numbers throughout this year and luckily already hit the yearly goal back in September.
Q: Who has been the biggest influence or mentor in your life, and what valuable lessons have you learned from them?
A: My biggest influence and mentor in my life was the agency owner at the previous agency I was with. He laid the foundations to my career in the industry. He taught me how to close people and analyze pain points. He essentially showed me the ropes in the industry. Ultimately, he took a chance on me.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career so far, and what did it teach you?
A: The accomplishment I am most proud of so far in my career here would be finally hitting Tier 3 status as a producer. It taught me patience and to always have tenacity in sales. Persistency and follow ups are key along with attention to detail.
Q: What are some hobbies you do outside of work that you enjoy?
A: Some of my hobbies include traveling, playing soccer, or just simply expanding my knowledge on niche topics.
Bryan, your hard work, leadership, and positive spirit make a lasting impact on your team and the entire company. We’re grateful for all you do and are proud to celebrate you this month!
Juan Cruz
