Meet Your Holiday Brightway Insurance Team

Born and raised in Tarpon Springs, Florida, Steve grew up in and around the insurance business, giving him the experience and the expertise his customers have come to appreciate. He graduated from Tarpon Springs High School as the class Valedictorian and then attended the University of Florida, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration. 

Steve is an active member and volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club of Tarpon Springs, the Tarpon Spring’s Shepherd’s Center and Tarpon Springs Elks Lodge. Outside the office, Steve is an avid golfer, fisherman and diver.

Jeffrey grew up in Tarpon Springs and attended Florida State University. His prior work experience with a national insurance company helped him make a smooth transition to Brightway, where he is able to offer customers personalized attention and more choice in coverages.

Michael grew up around the insurance industry, gaining early exposure to everything from customer service to underwriting, operations, and agency management. This background provided him with a comprehensive understanding of how policies are structured, how underwriting decisions are made, and how to navigate more complex insurance scenarios on behalf of his clients.

Insurance remains his primary professional focus, and he takes pride in helping clients protect some of their most significant assets. He approaches each situation with a practical, detail-oriented mindset, aiming to provide clear guidance and thoughtful solutions while keeping the process as straightforward as possible.

A native of Tarpon Springs, Michael attended the University of Florida. Outside of work, he is a dedicated practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and serves as a volunteer wrestling coach at Tarpon Springs High School.

Shawn Linder met Brightway Owner Steve Bennett through a PGA of America golf school in Myrtle Beach. It was then that he started his profession as a Brightway agent. Shawn lives in the Clearwater area of Tampa Bay. He likes helping clients understand their insurance, and appreciates all the insurance company options that Brightway has.

Shawn is married to his childhood sweetheart and has two children, a son named Greyson and a daughter named Ivy. Outside of work he enjoys family vacations, especially going to Disney World, and watching sports. He's a weekend golfer and coaches his son's little league team.

Maria was born and raised in Tarpon Springs, Florida and is fluent in the Greek language. She attended the University of Florida where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She worked as a teacher in Tarpon Springs for 15 years before deciding to embark on an insurance career. Being able to work alongside of three of her former students is the highlight of her job. Maria is devoted to her community and is passionate about serving its members. She prides herself on her conscientious attention to her clients and the ability to offer both competitive and comprehensive options because of Brightway’s multitude of appointments.