Jeff Mark – Agent

Originally from Cedar Rapids, I grew up here and graduated from Washington High School. After attending college in Missouri, I moved back home and worked briefly as an auto body technician before deciding to go into the family business and become a third-generation insurance professional in 2004.

Opening our family agency in the Fall of 2019 was an exciting transition for us, as well as adding my wife, Laurel, to the business. I am licensed in all lines of insurance, but only currently serving our life and health clients.

I enjoy working with people to answer their questions and find the best product to fit their needs. I like to think that when clients sit with me, they know they are getting information instead of a sales pitch.

Outside of the office I enjoy working on our small acreage, building things, and playing with our cats and dogs.

 

Andrew Mark – Agent

Originally from Cedar Rapids, I graduated from Washington High School in 2001. After high school I went to Missouri State University (then called Southwest Missouri State) for music education. Post college I moved to Danville, Illinois to start my first insurance job. After a year of learning the ropes, I moved back to Cedar Rapids/Marion and went to work for my dad at the agency.

Outside of the office I run the Eastern Iowa Adult Baseball League, a competitive wood bat baseball league with teams in Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, the Quad Cities, and more. When I am not busy running the league and running my own team, the Cedar Rapids Twins, you can find me umpiring varsity baseball games for local high schools. I also work for Perfect Game at our new complex in Marion umpiring future college and pro baseball players.

I enjoy riding my bike with my wife, Erica, and our to daughters. We also enjoy kayaking and camping, and generally being outdoors. I also love playing piano and all sorts of other musical instruments with bass trombone and carillon being two of my better talents.

 

Laurel Gillette Mark – Agent

Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, I went to Prairie schools, Kirkwood Community College, and the University of Northern Iowa. My previous work experience is in emergency veterinary medicine, but when my husband’s family decided to open their own insurance agency, I thought I could benefit from a change in pace, and they could benefit from my organization and multitasking skills. I earned my license to sell life (and health) insurance in 2020, but I am still learning the ins and outs of the business.

I really like the fact that we focus on helping clients understand what products are available to them.

When I’m not in the office I enjoy caring for our pets and singing with Chorale Midwest, where I serve as music librarian.

 

Ryan Hicks – Agent

I grew up in Texas but moved to Cedar Rapids in 2011, where I met my beautiful wife, Bekah. After I graduated Kirkwood in 2013, I became licensed in property, casualty, life, and health insurance and began working for a captive agency in Cedar Rapids. It took me less than a year to realize that I wanted to work as an independent agent where I could work with multiple insurance companies to offer my clients more options and better expertise.

I joined the Mark Family team in July of 2022; however, I have been working with the Mark family since 2014. I am currently licensed to advise my clients in personal, commercial, life, and health insurance. I am also certified to advise on Medicare products.

Outside of the office, my wife and I are heavily involved in our church. We run the children’s Sunday School ministry program. My wife and I have three beautiful girls. I also enjoy playing ultimate frisbee, golf, and a variety of other sports to stay active. We also enjoy traveling as work and time allows.