Our Experts
Mike McDaniel, CEO/Founder
Mr. McDaniel formed Fortress Risk in 2012 after spending 15 years with a number of national and regional insurance brokerage firms, including Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Wachovia Insurance Services and Hamilton Dorsey Alston Company. During that time, Mike served as the Client Executive in charge of all relationship matters for his clients, including risk management consulting, policy marketing and placement, claims management and loss prevention. Mike has worked with clients of all sizes, from large national property accounts to local technology companies.
Fortress Risk Consultants specializes in providing high-level risk management consulting advice, including providing insurance due diligence and program reviews. Fortress has particular expertise assisting financial institutions and their loan origination teams evaluate the adequacy of the insurance programs of their borrowers to determine compliance with insurance requirements. Mike and his colleagues have years of experience and familiarity with the insurance requirements of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, CMBS and FHA/HUD lenders and seller/servicers.
Prior to his career in the insurance sector, Mike spent 11 years in the banking industry, performing complex financial analysis and modeling of large corporate borrowers in the credit, mergers and acquisitions, and loan workout areas of national banks. This experience provides him with a practical understanding of how insurance coverages and related expenses impact the project economics and the successful closing of loans.
Mike holds a B.A. from the University of the South (Sewanee), an MBA from the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University, and is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association.
You can reach Mike at 404-713-9574404-713-9574 and mmcdaniel@fortress-risk.com.
Cynthia A. Robinson, Director
As a Director of Fortress Risk Consultants, Cynthia meets and, often, exceeds Lenders’ expectations through in-depth analysis, market expertise, and creative thinking; characteristics evolved over twenty years’ experience in designing and creating innovative approaches and solutions to large, multi-national insurance and reinsurance programs.
Prior to joining Fortress Risk Consultants in 2017, Cynthia worked as an international account executive and independent risk consultant for a diverse group of Fortune 500 multi-national companies involved in the tech industry, manufacturing, aviation logistics, and upstream oil and gas. She was responsible for the design, market selection, program placement, network engagement, and communication strategies for international property and casualty programs.
In 1991, she started working in the insurance industry in Bogotá, Colombia where she was the principal of an independent reinsurance broking firm, engaging the South American, European and London markets on her clients’ behalf. Through this experience, Cynthia gained first-hand knowledge of the international insurance marketplace, risk management methodologies, communication protocols, as well as local business cultures.
Grisela Crespo, Director
Grisela is proficient in Insurance Consulting and Risk Management; secures, reviews and records Borrower’s insurance documents compared to Lender requirements. She is passionate about safeguarding of insurable interests, verifying compliance and ensuring a smooth transfer or documentation to servicing teams. She recognizes how critical insurance due diligence is undertaken prior to a financial closing, having amassed extensive experience in understanding and identifying the risks and issues that need to be resolved to satisfy and protect a lenders and borrowers financial assets and revenue streams.
Rhonda Edge, Senior Consultant
Rhonda has built a successful track record of account retention and customer satisfaction. Her 25 years in commercial lines new business production and account management also includes an extensive background in all lines of commercial property and casualty insurance.
Her specialties include restaurants, real estate, transportation and hospitality, from middle market to Fortune 500 clients.
Debbie Brown, Consultant
Debbie utilizes the experience gained over thirty years in the insurance industry to perform insurance due diligence reviews for financial services and real estate companies.
She helps clients adhere to the strict guidelines within the loan requirement documents while working closely with insurance brokers, Risk Managers and lenders to confirm / secure the coverage and documentation needed to close each loan.
Courtney Zubro, Analyst
Courtney is well versed in evaluation of financial data, risk analysis, and liability documentation, She assists commercial lenders to secure their assets by insuring mortgaged collaterals, obtain accurate liability and property insurance by providing subject matter expertise and consulting.
