Meet the Team
Mariah Miller
Alisha Thompson
Employee Benefits
Justin Kulhanek
Employee Benefits
Mary Smith
Licensed Agent
Mariah Miller
Mariah is a north Idaho native, born and raised here in the Sandpoint area. She has two daughters, six nieces and nephews. In the summer, you will find her out by lake with her family enjoying the beautiful scenery our town offers.
Agency Manager
Alisha Thompson
Alisha is one of Advocate’s agents and the office manager. Alisha has been with Advocate for a few years and loves working in the insurance industry. Prior to working for Advocate she managed a local credit union in Ponderay. She has loved the transition into helping her community in a new way. Alisha grew up in Rathdrum and moved to Sandpoint 6 years ago. Her husband is a Sandpoint native and they love raising their two daughters in this community! Their family loves the outdoors; they spend a lot of time hunting, camping, and riding their ATV’s.
Partner
Employee Benefits
Justin Kulhanek
Justin has 26 years of employee benefits and healthcare insurance underwriting experience. After graduating from Western Washington University, his professional career started at Mercer Consulting in Seattle, WA., where he was responsible for the management and retention of private large-group and association healthcare insurance programs. Justin joined Fortiphi Insurance in 2008 where he now holds the title of Partner and Employee Benefits Practice Leader. Justin loves the outdoors and volunteers with local waterfowl and wetland restoration projects. He and his wife Christina have been married for 26 years and have 2 amazing sons.
Sr. Account Manager
Employee Benefits
Mary Smith
Mary began her career working for a Healthcare & Pension Trust. She then moved to employee benefits, where she has worked more than 25 years. Mary serves as consultant, advocate, and advisor to groups. She possesses the background and knowledge to deliver comprehensive employee communications and analytics that an employer can use to make the most informed renewal decision. Mary believes that knowledge is power and shares her 25 years of experience with her team to deliver a positive client experience. Mary holds a Business Administration & Management degree from Central Washington University.