Employee Bios

Patrick O'Keefe

Patrick O'Keefe

Owner

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Patrick O’Keefe started his insurance business in Bend in 1992 and in 2007 he merged his business with Cascade Insurance Center, LLC.
Patrick has maintained extensive industry involvement throughout the years. He has served on numerous insurance carrier advisory committees as well as various State committees and workgroups. Along with his involvement within his profession Patrick is also an active Rotarian and past president of the Rotary Club of Bend. He has been married to his wife Vicki for forty-five years and together they have two adult daughters and three grandchildren. Read More about Patrick

 

Lauren Olson

Lauren Olson

Account Manager, Commercial Lines & COO

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A native of Bend, Lauren received her BA from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California. She works to help her clients navigate the complexities of the insurance world, while making sure that Cascade Insurance Center's service and culture is outstanding for both its clients and team members. Her strong desire to give back to the vibrant and diverse Bend community has led her to serve on the board of the Family Access Network Foundation Board for many years. She and her husband Bo have two energetic young children, Adilyn and Harrison, and an Australian Shepherd, Rocky. 

 

Patty Halsey

Patty Halsey

Account Manager, Health Department

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A native of San Diego, CA, Patty moved to Bend in 2005 to pursue her dream of living in a beautiful four-season climate. She received her education from the University of San Diego and San Diego State University’s Graduate School of Communication. Proactively serving students, clients and her community has always been her passion. While attending school, she led a multi-cultural Arts program, taught Speech Communication, coached debate, and managed an international team of graduate student teachers. She was actively involved in community service through Rotary International and diversity/inclusion education as a statewide Trainer/Facilitator with the A.D.L. (Anti-Defamation League).

Since her move to Bend, Patty has worked with some of Bend’s more prominent employers and non-profits including Ronald McDonald House Charities, Les Schwab, NAVIS (now Revinate) and the Bend Chamber of Commerce. A distinguished Leadership Bend graduate, Patty is part of Bend Ronald McDonald House’s “Meals from the Heart” team, and an active supporter of City Club and their commitment to respectful, non-partisan public discourse.

At home, Patty and her husband, Dave, a proud veteran, share a love for fishing, hunting, Renaissance Faires, home-brewing and supporting veteran’s organizations such as Central Oregon’s Veteran’s Ranch. An unapologetic musical theater fan and vocal performer, Patty can occasionally be seen in local cabarets and the occasional musical. She loves being a part of Cascade’s Health and Life team where she assists individuals and small group employers with health insurance and Medicare needs.

 

Ana Bourne

Ana Bourne

Personal Lines Assistant

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Ana Bourne joined Cascade Insurance Center’s Personal Lines team in 2020. A native Oregonian, she grew up on the beautiful Oregon coast in Waldport where she remained until moving to Bend in 1988.
Ana and her husband Nolan have two daughters, Katarina and Lydia. Outside of work, Ana loves spending time with her family and two dogs, Hazel and Chewie. A prolific crafter and artist, she enjoys creating in a variety of forms, from rock-painting to gardening, to flower-arranging and canning. She loves learning new things and is always developing new hobbies. Her extensive education in early childhood development helped her to successfully own and operate an in-home childcare business for more than twenty-one years. As a Personal Lines Insurance agent, Ana is excited to be a part of the Cascade Insurance team and the ever-evolving insurance industry. She looks forward to helping new and existing customers with their home and auto insurance needs.

 

 

Deb Davidson

Deb Davidson

Account Manager, Personal Lines

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Deb has been with Cascade Insurance Center since April 2010 and comes to us from the banking industry.  Deb is a native Oregonian and has lived in Bend since 1982 where she met her husband, Gary. They were married in 1989. Deb & Gary love going to the beach, car races and shooting sporting clays.  As a personal lines account manager, CUSTOMER SERVICE is #1 with her and the customer always comes first!

 

Galen Blyth

Galen Blyth

Sales Account Executive

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Galen grew up in the Seattle area and graduated from University of Montana in Missoula, which gave him a taste for drier weather and small-town life. He began working in the insurance industry in 2003 and eventually moved to Bend in 2005. The part he enjoys most about the business in working closely with clients and learning more about their backgrounds, which leads to close relationships. That's partly what helped him win the Central Oregon Builder's Association Presidents Award.

Galen and his wife Meghan have been married 19 years and have two teenage children: Ava and Miles. He supports numerous non-profits including KIDS Center, FAN and Tower Theatre and serves on the board for COBA. In his spare time Galen enjoys coaching or watching his kids various sports, camping with his family as well as golf, snowboarding, trail running or just about anything else Central Oregon has to offer.

 

Karesa

Karesa Stephenson

Account Manager, Personal Lines

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Karesa has 25+ years in the banking and insurance industry. She is excited to be a part of Cascade’s Personal Lines team. She prioritizes listening carefully to the individual needs of her clients and providing them with the friendly, efficient, service they deserve.

Karesa has been married to her husband, Brad, for 27 years and is the proud Mom of 4. She’s also Grammy to 9 beautiful grandchildren.  Karesa enjoys running, hiking, camping, and traveling.

 

Liz_Ewrin

Liz Erwin

Administrative Assistant

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Hey, I’m Lizz, Administrative Assistant at Cascade Insurance Center in beautiful Bend, OR. I am new to the Insurance Industry and excited to learn all I can and put my organization skills to work. Previously worked in the Brewing Industry for 11 years, started as a server at a local pub then moving over to the office as Admin, and working my way over to the procurement department working under the Supply Chain Manager and finally landed as the Project Manager for all new product development and route to market items, all at the same company. I grew up in Las Vegas, NV but my husband and I moved to Bend in 2012 and feel so grateful to have found a town that we thought only existed in movies. I enjoy the mountain bike trails around Central Oregon, Indoor Rock Climbing, and sharing whisk(e)y with friends around the fire in my backyard.

 

Janell Julander

Janell Julander

Account Manager, Health Department

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Janell grew up in Texas, where she often visits to see family.  She has lived in Bend off and on since 2002.  She’s new to the insurance industry but is already enjoying the challenge.  She has 3 boys that keep her busy and with whom she loves creating memories.  Janell enjoys traveling all over the world, spending time with family and friends, hiking, attending concerts, and eating good food.  She’s looking forward to growing with Cascade Insurance Center and serving those with health and life insurance needs.