Management Team

Paul Schnell

Founded and currently oversee the day to day management and vision of Dreyfuss & Birke LTD, a top 100 insurance brokerage and consulting firm based in NY. Since graduating from the University of Michigan in 1985 Paul has spent his entire career as an insurance consultant. Throughout that period Paul has consistently identified and proactively executed cost containment strategies in the areas of health and welfare and risk management on behalf of many of the country's leading institutions. Paul is an executive board member of Youth Renewal Fund, a not-for-profit organization providing supplemental education for disadvantaged children in Israel and is involved as an active alumnus of the University of Michigan . Paul enjoys skiing, basketball and all sports and resides in Manhattan with his wife Madeleine, their 3 children and 2 dogs.

Anthony DeRosa

Anthony joined Dreyfuss & Birke in June, 1998. He is responsible for all aspects of the group insurance practice at Dreyfuss & Birke, including client oversight, staff development, maintaining market relationships and strategic planning. Since graduating from the State University at Stony Brook in 1986, Anthony has over 20 years experience in the group insurance industry. He began his career as a medical claim processor with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and held several positions within the Group Insurance Administration, Large Case Implementation and Group Underwriting departments at MetLife – with a concentration on groups in excess of 1000 covered lives. Anthony enjoys spending time with family and friends. He resides on Long Island, with his wife Joan, and his two children.

Pat O’Neill

Pat joined Dreyfuss & Birke in May 2004. Pat’s responsibilities include overall firm strategic direction, business development, growth, profitability, and setting benefit and human resource strategies and best practices. Prior to joining D&B, Pat was the Regional Sales Manager for the CNA Insurance Companies Group Benefits division where he was responsible for all new business, client retention and profitability of CNA's Disability, Life, Accident, Long Term Care, Statutory Lines and Special Risk businesses. After graduating from James Madison University in 1990 Pat began his career as an underwriter in the Special Risks division of CNA Group Benefits, Chicago. Pat lives in Madison, NJ with his wife Sara and 2 children.

Brian Grodin

Brian recently joined Dreyfuss & Birke’s management team as a financial advisor. His services include life and disability insurance, asset management, estate planning, long-term care insurance and employer-sponsored group health insurance. As a financial advisor, he consults clients on their insurance, investment portfolios and overall asset allocation strategies.  He also advises on 401Ks, IRAs, annuities, and Section 529 college saving plans. As a part of our firm, he will assist our clients by enhancing their financial security.

Brian graduated from the University of Miami in 1988. He founded The Grodin Group prior to joining our team and has over 17 years of extensive experience in the insurance and financial planning industry.

Brian resides in Rye Brook, NY with his wife Lisa and 3 children.  He is actively involved in philanthropic causes for the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at the Westchester Medical Center. He serves on the Executive Board of R Baby Foundation; a not-for-profit foundation uniquely focused on saving babies lives through improving pediatric emergency care. He is also a member of the University of Miami Alumni Association and Vice President of the Rye Brook Travel Soccer Club.

Jennifer Zinsley

Jen joined the Dreyfuss & Birke Employee Benefits Group in September 2005. Jen is an Account Management Team Leader whose responsibilities include client retention, project management and day to day servicing of her book of business. Jen’s prior work experience includes client management for large group employers at CNA Insurance Companies and Account Manager at Marsh & McLennan Companies (now Mercer) with a focus on mid-size employers. Jen graduated from SUNY State College at Oneonta in 1992. Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending weekends in the country, all sports and spending time with her family and friends. Jen resides in Jersey City, NJ with her husband Sean.

David Talavera

David joined Dreyfuss & Birke in September 2008. Bringing over 10 years of experience in the group insurance industry, David’s responsibilities include vendor management, client renewals, preparation of employee communications and developing benefit strategies for each client. After graduating from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College in 2002, David began his career as a medical renewal specialist with Northwestern Mutual Life.  David loves cinema and attends film festivals in his free time.

Donna Stuart

Donna is a team leader whose responsibilities include strategic planning and management of a middle market book of business. Her areas of expertise include financial analysis, alternate funding vehicles, mergers & acquisition due diligence, managed care programs, consumer driven health care and employee benefits trends. Donna is a career benefits professional with over 20 years of experience. Prior to joining the Dreyfuss & Birke team, Donna has held various positions during the past 20 years within the benefits consulting area most recently as a Vice President/Team Leader at Willis/Hilb Rogal & Hobbs (HRH). Prior to Willis/HRH, Donna has held positions at USI/Progressive Plan Administrators, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Walter Kaye Associates and Circle Consulting Group. Donna graduated from Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus and enjoys travelling, cooking and reading in her free time.