Meet Our Team
Cy Smoller
Founder
Cy, a graduate of Chelsea High School (1946), attended NYU before serving in the Army. He later became the manager of the Winthrop branch of Metro Credit Union while founding Smoller Insurance Agency in 1953 on Atlantic Ave. in Boston. In 1976, he moved the agency to 335 Boylston Street, Newton, MA, where it remains today.
Community service and engagement were very important to Cy. He served as President of the Temple Reyim Brotherhood, Co-President of the Temple Reyim PTA with his wife Jo-Anne, and was on the Board of Directors for both Metro Credit Union and Wollaston Credit Union. He also served as President of the Winthrop Rotary Club, Board member at the Brookline, Brighton, and Newton Jewish Community Centers, Vice President of Camp Bauercrest, and an Honorary Life Member of the Bauercrest Board.
Cy was deeply committed to family and service. He built his practice on knowledge, trust, and making those he did business with feel like family. He always preached, “Anyone can get an insurance license, but to be successful, one must be responsive, compassionate, and available to service clients in need.” This lesson was passed down to his children, Mark and Judy; his grandchildren, Billy, Rachel, Ian, and Sam; and his great-grandchildren, Gabe, Emma, and Sophie. As long as the family continues to grow and expand Smoller Insurance Agency, Cy’s legacy will live on through these teachings.
Fun Fact: Cy was the captain of his high school basketball team.
Mark Smoller
President Emeritus
Mark, a graduate of Newton South High School and UMass-Amherst, began his insurance career in 1977 selling life insurance for State Mutual of America. He remained with SMA from 1977 to 1994, during which time he was inducted into the State Mutual Hall of Fame for averaging a sale a week for 10 years. He also became a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 1984. Mark then moved to Penn Mutual from 1994 to 1996, where he was awarded agency leader in policies written in 1994.
Following in his father’s footsteps in terms of community service and engagement, Mark volunteered as a coach for soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball in Needham for over a decade. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the former Brookline, Brighton, and Newton Jewish Community Center, where he was the Membership Chair. He has been the Chairman of the Board at Metro Credit Union since 1999. Mark was President of the Camp Bauercrest Board of Directors for 15 years, a board he first joined in 1987, and he currently serves as an Honorary Lifetime Past President.
Mark’s philosophy is to “give back,” both to the community and to his clients. “It’s about engagement and availability—lessons passed down to me by my dad, and a lesson I’ve passed on to my children, Billy and Rachel.”
Fun Fact: Mark served as Chancellor of his fraternity, Tau Epsilon Phi, in 1976.
Billy Smoller
President
Billy graduated from Needham High School in 2003 and from UMass-Amherst in 2007 with a BA in Sports Management. After spending 15 months at Metro Credit Union in their management training division, he decided to join the family business in January 2009. Since then, he has played a key role in exponentially growing the company and bringing a modern touch to its classic style.
Billy has been an avid volunteer in the community since he was 14 years old. His volunteer journey began with umpiring Needham Little League and refereeing Needham St. Joe’s basketball games, eventually progressing to coaching. Like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather before him, Billy has served on the Board of Directors at Camp Bauercrest for the past 13 years, chairing several committees.
Billy is a family- and relationship-oriented person. When you become a client at Smoller Insurance, you become part of the family. His goal is always to make members of the Smoller Insurance family feel heard, safe, and welcome.
Fun Fact: Billy co-hosted a short-lived radio show on Money Matters Radio.
Kevin Lezama
Insurance Producer
Growing up as the first generation of immigrant parents, Kevin knew from a very young age that he wanted to give back and help communities as much as possible.
This passion led him to become an insurance agent in 2019 at Liberty Mutual. He later worked at Geico and an independent agency before joining the Smoller Insurance Agency family in 2023. Kevin excels at protecting families, their businesses, and everything they’ve worked so hard to build. As Kevin puts it, “To be there for someone in their most vulnerable moments and assure them that everything will be okay is an indescribable feeling.”
Kevin is fluent in English and Spanish and has a deep passion for traveling. In his spare time, he loves exploring different restaurants and events around the city and supporting local businesses.
Fun Fact: Kevin is a proud dog dad to a beagle with dwarfism and alopecia. He describes him as the most amazing dog in the world—and totally spoiled rotten!
Taryn Masse
Director of Commercial lines
Taryn was born and raised in New Hampshire and has been in the insurance industry for 11 years. Specializing in Commercial Lines, she loves getting to know her customers and building strong relationships with each of them. She has been a valued member of our team since January 2022.
When Taryn isn’t working in insurance, she enjoys spending time with friends, attending Barre classes, indulging in Mexican food, and caring for her Dachshund/Chihuahua mix, Finley. As a devoted dog mom, Taryn is passionate about all things related to animals and participates in the ASPCA Paws Walk every year. This event helps raise funds to provide lifesaving care for pets in need.
Fun Fact: Taryn has lived in both Fort Bragg, CA, and San Diego, CA.
Sarah Turchinetz-White
Commercial Lines Account Manager
Sarah is a New England native, born in Massachusetts and raised in New Hampshire. She graduated from Dover High School. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time at the beach, practicing Pilates, and sharing good food with family and friends.
Sarah joined the Smoller Family in 2023 and specializes in commercial insurance. She is known for building strong, trusted relationships with her clients and always going the extra mile to ensure they have the proper coverage for their businesses.
Since 2018, Sarah has been an active member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, a non-profit organization focused on charitable efforts for youth, seniors, and the community.
Fun Fact: Right after high school, Sarah embarked on a summer road trip from New Hampshire to Southern California, where she lived and took classes for a year.
Danielle Johnson
Director of Personal Lines
Danielle is a graduate of Woodstock Academy and Southern New Hampshire University. She began her career in insurance working for Mapfre Insurance as a Personal Lines Producer in 2016 and brings a wealth of experience across the personal lines of insurance, offering solutions based on individual and family needs. Danielle has proven herself to be an exceptional resource and ally for all her clients over the years. Her insurance expertise covers the entire New England area, with licensing in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Danielle joined Smoller Insurance Agency in 2020 and is known for providing top-notch customer service no matter what the task is. In the same year that Smoller appointed Traveler’s Insurance, Danielle received their prestigious S.T.A.R. Award (Superior Travelers Agent Recognition). Danielle continues to uphold these high standards in all her work.
Danielle resides in Connecticut with her husband, daughter and son. She maintains a strong connection within her hometown community. She is involved with various outreach organizations such as the United Way and the Pomfret Recreation Committee.
Fun Fact: While in California, Danielle was featured in an episode of “Food Paradise”, a show on the Travel Channel
Erin Spitale
Personal Lines Account Manager
Erin began her journey in the insurance industry in 1994, following her graduation from Norwich Free Academy. She started out at a local insurance agency to support her college education, where she was introduced to a compassionate and ethical approach to becoming a successful insurance agent. Over her 30-year career, Erin has embraced these morals and values, always striving to ensure her clients are well-informed and protected.
Throughout her career, Erin has garnered numerous awards and accolades, whether working at call centers or running her own agency. Her dedication to client education and protection has remained steadfast since her humble beginnings. Residing in her childhood hometown of Baltic, CT, Erin shares her home with her husband and two rescue pups. While her heart finds solace by the beach and ocean, her greatest joy comes from being a proud mother of three adult children.
During her children’s school years, Erin actively participated in school and community functions, volunteering and engaging with the PTO. She highly values education, as evidenced by her family’s establishment of an annual scholarship, THE HOWLER AWARD , which is presented to graduates of TRMC who achieve the remarkable feat of earning a full Associate Degree alongside their high school diploma. Two of Erin’s children accomplished this feat, a testament to her commitment to education and family.
Fun Fact: Erin is a burrito connoisseur and has a “burrito page” where she pursues her quest to find the best burrito in the US.
Sara Metivier
Personal Lines Account Manager
Sara, a native of Lil’ Rhody, began her insurance career at Amica Insurance. Specializing in personal lines insurance, she has held a P&C license since 2017. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sara was among the first group of representatives at MAPFRE Insurance to be hired and trained remotely. Despite the unique challenges, she quickly advanced to the role of Insurance Service Center Lead before continuing her journey with Smoller Insurance Agency. Sara thrives on tackling challenges and collaborating with her team to enhance customer satisfaction.
Sara lives in Rhode Island with her wife, three dogs, and two cats. She has a passion for photography, running (she has participated in the Newport Marathon annually since 2020), and cultivating as many vegetables as possible in her garden.
In her spare time, Sara enjoys volunteering. She has contributed her time to Toys for Tots, local food pantries, and community clean-up initiatives aimed at clearing over-polluted roads and parks.
Fun Fact: As an avid DIY enthusiast, Sara has completed two deck renovations (including a screened-in porch), a full kitchen overhaul, and several smaller home improvement projects.
Sadie Cobb
Personal Lines Account Manager
Sadie is a Connecticut native who enjoys small town life with her husband, their son and their pets.
She began her career in insurance in 2019 with MAPFRE Insurance and quickly found fulfillment in the industry by helping clients, training peers, and building meaningful connections. Sadie graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 2017 from Eastern Connecticut State University, where she double-majored in Communications and History.
In her spare time, Sadie loves hiking with her dog, catching Red Sox games, reading, and spending quality time with her family. She is also passionate about community engagement and volunteering; her favorite way to give back is by reading to elementary students during Read Across America Week.
Fun Fact: Sadie served as a photojournalist in the U.S. Air National Guard and remains passionate about photography and writing!
Taylor Goodwin
Personal Lines Account Manager
Taylor is a CT native who began her insurance career in 2019 at Travelers Insurance. Specializing in personal insurance, she has been dedicated to helping clients protect what matters most to them. Along the way, she has developed a passion for building strong connections with her clients.
Outside of work, Taylor enjoys spending time with her Great Dane, Dolly, and can often be found watching or attending games for the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, or New England Patriots. She is also a travel enthusiast and self-proclaimed foodie, always eager to explore new places and try new foods!
Fun Fact: Taylor loves seeing her favorite artists perform live and has attended 33 concerts and counting!
Claudia Arambulo
Client Services Representative
As a Customer Service Representative, Claudia excels in using empathy and compassion when speaking with and assisting our clients. She began her journey in the insurance industry in 2022 and quickly discovered her passion for it.
With a love for exploring new cultures and languages, Claudia is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian, and she is currently learning Portuguese to better serve our growing number of Portuguese-speaking clients. Dedicated to supporting minorities, Claudia actively participates in volunteer work to help those in need. She also loves traveling, exploring new places, and is a proud dog mom to a tiny schnauzer named Kabu.
Fun Fact: Claudia once participated in an intercultural exchange in Montana, where she experienced temperatures as low as -14°F! Coming from Peru, it was quite the change for her.
Valeria Palacios
Client Services Representative
Valeria is a dedicated bilingual Insurance Customer Service Representative with a passion for helping customers navigate the complex world of insurance. Fluent in both English and Spanish, and with 7 years of experience in customer service, she is committed to providing clear communication and understanding to her clients. Valeria focuses on continually expanding her knowledge of personal and commercial lines insurance to better assist our clients and advance her career in the industry.
Valeria graduated with a degree in Marketing from Technical Institute Zegel IPAE and has also worked as an English teacher, creating dynamic classes for both young people and adults. She loves helping others and donates dog and cat food to animal shelters as often as she can. Five years ago, she adopted a stray dog named Chewbacca, who has never left her side.
Fun Fact: Valeria loves going to concerts and even travels internationally to see her favorite artists, such as Taylor Swift.
Becky Masse
Executive Account Manager
Becky, a lifelong New Hampshire resident, brings over 30 years of customer service expertise, including 11 years in the insurance industry. Her passion lies in solving problems, finding solutions, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. Becky is committed to ensuring every interaction is positive and productive, consistently striving to exceed expectations and build lasting relationships.
She lives in Rochester, NH, with her husband and their Chihuahua, Koda. In her free time, Becky enjoys crocheting, watching classic movies, and listening to 70s and 80s music.
Fun Fact: Becky loves cruising the Caribbean and eagerly anticipates exploring new destinations.
Jessica Cosner
Producer Coordinator/ HR Manager
Jessica has been part of the insurance industry since 2013. Her roles have included servicing, remarketing, and training clients and colleagues on auto, home, and umbrella policies, with experience at both carriers and agencies. She is a friendly, energetic individual who enjoys establishing personal connections and building enduring, impactful relationships.
Originally from Southern NH, Jessica now lives in quiet Central Mass with her husband, three wild and courageous daughters, and two dogs. Passionate about all types of motorcycles and cars, she grew up riding on the back of motorcycles and has been riding on her own for many years. Jessica and her husband enjoy long-distance travel on two wheels in their free time, exploring other parts of the country. She is passionate about empowering other women to be brave and step outside their comfort zones, doing things they never imagined possible on two wheels.
Fun Fact: Jessica and her husband are certified Motorcycle Safety Instructors who teach the new rider course to incoming motorcyclists!
Lovelynn Ivey
Director of Business Operations
Lovelynn, a California native, has over 20 years of experience managing companies. She has owned her own business, helped grow small family businesses, and developed profitable divisions within large companies.
Community involvement is also close to Lovelynn’s heart. She has served on the boards of Meeting Planners International, the Association of Bridal Consultants, and Temple Shalom of Newton. Her volunteer work spans organizations such as Brides Against Breast Cancer, MitoAction, and Medicines for Humanity. She has passed these passions on to her children, who volunteer for the Newton Food Pantry, Temple Shalom of Newton, and Heifer International.
Lovelynn’s passion for marketing provides her with a unique client-facing perspective, helping to preserve Smoller Insurance Agency’s culture of doing whatever it takes to make clients feel safe.
Fun Fact: After an early career in dance, theater, and film, Lovelynn became an event producer for many years. During that time, she served as the technical advisor on the blockbuster movie Wedding Crashers and even played a wedding planner in the film.
