Our Team
John Macdonald
John is the proud new owner of this agency. His 15 years of determination and hard work here has brought the agency to an award winning position.
After completing a soccer scholarship at UC Berkeley, John played several years in Europe for various professional soccer clubs. Upon his return to the states, he joined the firm to learn his insurance trade. 15 years later, John now manages one of the most successful commercial agencies in the Farmers Insurance brand and specializes in large commercial risks. He is a member of CAI, AAGLA and the Los Angeles Green Building Council. John has one son who may end up one day becoming a third generation Farmers agent.
Gladys Naranjo
Gladys is a commercial account manager for the office and specializes in writing and managing large portfolio risks. She also is an expert in commercial earthquake, blanket portfolios, workers comp and even helps out in her free time on personal lines high value net worth clients. Gladys has been with the office for over 36 years and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
Isel Collins
Isel manages all commercial renewals with Farmers Insurance. She has been with the office for over 20 years and her level of expertise has grown each year she has been here. She has four children with her oldest currently getting her PHD at UCLA.
Jennifer Zelinski
Jenny is a commercial account manager and has become an expert in insuring commercial risks inside and outside of Farmers Insurance. She has also taken on the role of the resident Flood Insurance expert as well as writing commercial earthquake. Jenny has been with the office almost 10 years and has grown tremendously since the day she started.
Ofer Nadler
Ofer is a personal lines account manager. He typically deals with our higher net worth clients in writing homes, autos, umbrella and life insurance strategies for personal and business use. Ofer is the office life specialist and has been in the life insurance industry for over 25 years. He has a CLU designation from the American College of Financial Planning. Ofer is a chess master, enjoys teaching strategy to others and has three adult children.
Mary Parker
Mary takes her years of experience in the construction industry and focuses on Commercial Construction projects In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her Grandson, playing beach volleyball, hiking, biking and traveling. Mary has been with the office going on 5 years.
Wei-Zon Chiang
Wei-Zon is in charge of the insurance certifications for all commercial clients in the office. He also helps manage the Farmers Insurance commercial renewals. Weizon is originally from Taiwan, grew up in San Diego, but still roots for Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic. He has two kids and has been with the office for two and half years.
Desiree Banlowe
Desiree is the accounting manager at the Macdonald Insurance Agency. She is an avid golfer and travels the country looking for the best courses. She volunteers every year during the PGA pro tournament at Riviera Country Club.
Teresa Rico Ramirez
Teresa brings over 11 years of experience as a personal lines specialist. She is an avid soccer fan and a die hard supporter of Chivas from Guadalajara, Mexico.
Kellie Shano
Kellie is a commercial account manager with over 20 years of experience in the industry. She has taken lead on managing our new, more complex habitational risks outside of Farmers Insurance for older apartment buildings. When Kellie is away from the office, you will see her at a baseball field supporting her son, volleyball court cheering on her daughter or catch her at a country music festival.
Kristen Sebestyen
Kristen is the Marketing Director at the office. She brings close to six years of insurance experience to the team and is in the works on getting her Property and Casualty license. Along with being a graduate from Arizona State University, Kristen has love for her New York sports teams, which is where she was born and raised.
Sandra Macdonald
Sandra founded the firm and opened her Farmers Agency over 40 years ago. Shortly after, she began focusing on commercial insurance and quickly become one of the leading salespersons within Farmers Insurance. Her awards include 21 years of earning Toppers Club, 14 years of Commercial Masters, 13 years of Commercial Roundtable, Farmers new Century Club and a Farmers Presidents Council award.
Effective 1/1, Sandy has decided to retire after 44 years.
Westin
Westin comes to the office daily and is the company mascot. He enjoys lunch, walks, knocking over trash cans in his free time and lunch.. I know lunch is mentioned twice, but he really loves lunch.
