Experience

Commercial Insurance Broker

The 1057 Group Inc.

Hired for brokerage sales and service. The role expanded quickly into operations, systems, process design, training, implementation, and business development.

• Designed, built, and continually developed an internal operating platform centralizing lead management, workflows, documentation, training, underwriting resources, reminders, calendars, reporting, and day-to-day operational tools.
• Built V1 in PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and later re-architected it in Laravel.
• Standardized workflows across lead intake, quoting, underwriting support, submissions, client servicing, documentation, follow-up, and claims.
• Designed website lead intake feeding a common lead-management API.
• Developed a searchable underwriting knowledge system spanning multiple insurer relationships.
• Trained and onboarded staff, and supported licensing preparation.
• During an audit-preparation period, helped review and strengthen client-file, system, and process consistency.
• Built email workflow support, Google integrations, and OpenAI-powered content tools.
• Played a central role in developing the operational infrastructure that supported the brokerage through significant growth and operational maturation.

See the brokerage operating-system case study ↗

Founder & Independent Developer

Advardo

Independent

Independent development and product work spanning web applications, SaaS, finance, insurance, automation, marketplaces, and data visualization. Advardo was the name I worked under for independent product development and experimentation, rather than a traditional consulting agency.

See the independent projects ↗

Richard ten Haaf Insurance · Desjardins

• Sales & Marketing Account ManagerApr 2022 – Dec 2023
• Office AssociateSep 2019 – Apr 2022

As my responsibilities progressed, I moved from office administration into licensed advisory work, then sales and marketing. Along the way I built a motorcycle insurance acquisition platform that launched in 2019, and kept maintaining and expanding it.

1. Office administration
2. Licensed advisory
3. Sales & marketing

• Planned, designed, built, maintained, and trained the team on a motorcycle insurance acquisition platform that launched in 2019 and generated more than 1,000 qualified leads in its first year.
• Replaced a basic Google Form with a customer-facing landing experience and a PHP admin dashboard for lead assignment, pipeline tracking, conversion reporting, closing statistics, and follow-up, used by four internal users.
• Worked with a rider-training partner on referral links and information materials, connecting them to the lead journey.
• Worked with the sales team on quoting, binding, and selling policies, and supported client service, renewals, underwriting communication, and policy changes.

See the acquisition-platform case study ↗

Founder

Canada-Kicks

Started at 15

An online marketplace for limited-release sneakers and streetwear, run on an authentication-guarantee, intermediary model. Product and entrepreneurial work is the oldest thread in my career, and it predates insurance.

• Built the platform myself: a WordPress V1, then a custom PHP and database build.
• Handled product, design, marketing, operations, authentication, and fulfillment.
• At its peak: about 10,000 social followers, roughly 1,000 daily website visits, 20+ sellers, and up to 10–20 daily orders.
• Vendor at Sneaker Con Toronto.
• Commissioned a mobile game and app concept and took it through multiple serious investor meetings and external technical diligence. It was not launched after fundamental viability and security concerns were identified.