Team
The Polestar team has been carefully assembled and consists of members who are highly experienced, creative and completely dedicated to meeting your learning needs.
All members of the team have a broad level of experience within the industry at both the carrier and agency level, and have an extensive history of successful coaching, training, and mentoring. Â Their expertise includes sales, marketing, business growth, and service team development. Â Each is personally successful and deeply committed to enriching the personal and professional lives of every Polestar participant -- and unconditionally responsible for their success.
Richard A. Coskren, CPCU Facilitator, Independent Executive Consultant to The Institutes After serving as a Polestar instructor/facilitator/coach for three years, Mr. Coskren took the reins of Polestar Performance Programs in 2008 when he became its Chief Executive Officer. In 2009, he, Bob Teschke and Steve Thompson purchased the then 20 yr. old company.  In 2016, Polestar became a Member of The Institutes Risk and Insurance Knowledge Groups
Robert W. Teschke Facilitator, Independent Executive Consultant to The Institutes Bob Teschke has dedicated his professional life to improving our industry. This industry veteran discovered his passion immediately upon graduation from Waynesburg College in 1972 and spent his entire career with The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies.
Steve Thompson, ARM, COSS Facilitator, Independent Executive Consultant to The Institutes Since joining the organization as a Polestar Coach in 2005, Steve has helped hundreds of professionals improve their sales and business skills. In addition to his work with Polestar, he is a Principal with ERGOhealthy and Aspen Risk Management Group.
 Mary Ann Avnet, CPCU & API Facilitator, Independent Performance Coach to The Institutes Mary Ann Avnet joined the Polestar team as a Performance Consultant in 2014 after a 43 year career in the insurance industry. Her career began with a large regional insurance agent in upstate New York. Throughout the 18 years that she worked there, her experience grew to include almost every fact of agency management and client service.
Harry Fine, CPCU, AIM, ARP, AIS, AAI Facilitator, Independent Performance Coach to The Institutes Harry Fine joins the Polestar Team after completing an extremely productive and diverse 27-year career with West Bend Mutual Insurance Company. While at West Bend, Harry served as the Marketing Services Manager for Agency Education and Training, the Manager of Training and Development for HR, and as a Staff Underwriting Manager.
Robert Hamburger, CPCU Facilitator, Independent Performance Coach to The Institutes Bob Hamburger joins Polestar as a performance coach and consultant after a 35 year career holding leadership positions with both Chubb Corporation and ProSight Specialty Insurance Company. Bob’s passion for teaching and coaching insurance professionals is a mainstay of his current focus as an independent consultant, trainer and business executive.
Kym Martell, CRM, CIC, CRIS, AAI Facilitator, Independent Performance Coach to The Institutes With over 25 years experience in the insurance industry Kym brings Polestar and its clients, a wealth of experience from her diverse background, which includes Agency Management, Risk Management, Sales, Claims and Fraud Prevention, Errors and Omissions and  Customer Service.
Rich DeMartis, CLU, ChFC, CIC Facilitator, Independent Performance Coach for The Institutes Rich DeMartis joined the Polestar team as a Performance Consultant and Coach after a 35 year career in the insurance industry. He spent his last 11 years as a successful Field Sales Leader for Encompass Insurance. In that role, he recruited, appointed, trained and consulted independent agents across the states of Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
Mike Murrah Facilitator, Independent Performance Coach for The Institutes Coming soon!
Robert F. Titus, AIC, CRIS, MLIS Facilitator, Independent Performance Coach for The Institutes Bob began his insurance career over 25 years ago at the State Farm Insurance Company in New York State, and has been teaching insurance related professional development courses on all facets of risk management and Agency errors & omissions for over 20 years.
Barbara Kleber, CIC Facilitator, Independent Performance Coach for The Institutes Coming soon!
