Jennifer Kessel is the Chief Operating Officer of USG Insurance Services, one of the nation’s leading wholesale insurance brokerages and managing general agents. In her role, she oversees the company’s operations, strategic growth initiatives, technology advancement, and marketing strategy, helping position the organization for continued expansion in an increasingly complex insurance marketplace.
Jennifer’s career with USG reflects a rare full-circle leadership journey. Beginning her USG career as an intern while completing her degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing, she rose through marketing, operations, and leadership roles before joining the executive management team and later being named Chief Operating Officer.
Known for her operational discipline and strategic mindset, Jennifer focuses on translating big ideas into practical execution. Her leadership centers on building scalable systems, leveraging technology and data to improve underwriting workflows, and creating stronger connections between retail agents, carriers, and distribution partners. She is particularly passionate about modernizing insurance operations through automation, analytics, and intelligent workflow design while preserving the relationship-driven nature of the industry. Her work focuses on helping her organization move beyond strategy conversations and build operational frameworks that deliver measurable results while developing people who can lead through change.
Jennifer is also widely recognized for her commitment to professional development and leadership growth within the insurance industry. She is a strong advocate for developing the next generation of talent and frequently mentors emerging professionals, with focusing on helping individuals build the “power skills” that drive long-term success; communication, presence, leadership, and relationship-building.
She has been honored by Insurance Business America as an Elite Woman, Rising Star, and Young Gun for her contributions to the industry and her commitment to advancing insurance leadership.
Jennifer is actively involved in the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA), where she previously served as President of the WSIA U40 Board and as a Director on the WSIA Board. She continues to support mentorship, leadership development, and educational initiatives across the industry.
Jennifer frequently speaks on operational innovation, leadership development, the future of insurance distribution, and the growing importance of communication and relationship-driven skills in a technology-enabled marketplace.
