Steve Bruss
President
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Call Steve: (952) 641-3140
Steve Bruss
President
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Call Steve: (952) 641-3140
Graduate of Kent State University - B.S. in Aerospace Flight Technology
Commercial Pilot / CFI / CFII / CSIP
Steve has been an aviation insurance broker or underwriter since 1993. Over the past 20+ years at Wings Insurance, Steve has written several articles, testified as an expert witness in the courtroom, and was selected to serve on the Minnesota Senate aviation legislative working group.
Steve is a graduate of Kent State University, Ohio where he earned a B.S. degree in Aerospace Flight Technology. After working as a flight instructor for the university and at several flight schools, he gained employment in 1992 as an aviation underwriter for a leading aviation insurance company. In 1994 he was recruited by Wings Insurance. In August 2006, Steve purchased the company from the former ownership. Under his leadership the company undertook an aggressive and comprehensive overhaul focused around the Independent Insurance Associations (IIA) Best Practices. Steve remains directly and personally involved in the daily administration of the firm, as well as major accounts.
Steve continues to be an active pilot and flight instructor, holding a Commercial with single-engine, multi-engine land and instrument ratings and Certificated Instrument Flight Instructor license. He has logged over 4,000 hours of flight time and currently operates a Cirrus SR22 airplane for company business.
Sales
Tom Hauge
Director of Sales
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Call Tom: (952) 641-3155
Tom Hauge
Director of Sales
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Call Tom: (952) 641-3155
Graduate of University of North Dakota - B.S. in Aeronautical Studies,
A.S. Aviation Management/Flight Technology
Commercial Pilot
Tom Hauge brings 25 years of aviation experience to Wings and to his client base. Tom’s background includes risk management/ brokerage, general aviation and commercial airline management. Tom began his post-graduate career in his native Boston where he established an initial career in the Fortune 500 corporate world. Tom continued to fly during this time as a part-time seasonal pilot, ferrying light general aviation aircraft from the Northeastern United States to the Southern coastal states.
In early 1995, Tom left his East Coast roots behind to pursue an airline career with a Minneapolis based charter airline. His airline career spanned 8+ years with two Minnesota-based charter air carriers in Technical Operations/Fleet Management capacities. His responsibilities included directing B737-800 aircraft acquisitions and managing DC-10, B727 and B737 fleet operations. In 2002 Tom accepted a position in a risk management capacity with AON (formerly Benfield Group) as a risk analyst/reinsurance broker.
Tom was recruited to Wings Insurance in February of 2003 as an aviation broker before being promoted to Director of Sales in 2006. Tom’s primary responsibilities are the management of large commercial and corporate programs that include FBO operations and jet fleet accounts. Tom also develops new Wings business, the marketing for these programs, and assesses innovative transition training arrangements to enhance program insurability. Tom chairs the internal research and development programs designed to help transition our customers and the industry to the very light jet and owner/flown turbine business segment. Tom is also a strong knowledge resource for heavy jet, airline and large fleet operations.
Tom holds a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Studies and an A.S. degree in Aviation Management/Flight Technology from the University of North Dakota and is a licensed aviation insurance broker. He has logged fixed wing flight time in light general aviation and single engine turbo-prop aircraft. Additionally, Tom has completed P121 pilot ground school for two air transport category aircraft (B727-200ADV & DC10-15). Tom holds a commercial pilot license with multi-engine and instrument ratings and currently operates a Piper Turbo Saratoga for company business. Tom is actively involved in, and holds memberships in the NBAA, NARA, MBAA, COPA (Cirrus), POPA (Pilatus PC12), TBMOPA
Jeff Dalton
Assistant Director of Sales
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Call Jeff: (952) 641-3151
Jeff Dalton
Director of Operations
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Call Jeff: (952) 641-3151
Graduate of St. Thomas - B.S. in Business Management
Commercial Pilot / CFI / CFII
In 2010, Jeff was recruited to Wings Insurance and is a Senior Account Executive. His responsibilities at Wings include management of key commercial and corporate accounts, contract review and oversight, as well as sales support. He also maintains supervision on complex international and London insurance placements, domestic insurance contracts and quota-share placements. Jeff also continues to operate the company Piper Turbo Saratoga for company business.
Jeff brings a very diverse aviation background to Wings Insurance. He began in the industry as a teenager, working at a FBO as a lineman and performing airport maintenance. During this time he completed his flight training through the commercial multi-engine ratings and began flight instructing as a certified flight instructor. Over the past couple of decades he has provided over 4000 hours of flight instruction to clients across the Midwest.
Before joining the team at Wings, Jeff developed the flight instruction programs as a Chief Instructor for multiple flight schools in the Twin Cities. It was his role as a Chief Instructor that gained Jeff his first experience with Wings Insurance while securing coverage for the school as well as clients that were purchasing their first aircraft.
In addition to practical aviation knowledge, Jeff has a background in business. He graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a B.S. in Management. He has been able to use this to manage FBOs and maintenance departments.
Ryan Konrath
Director of Business Development
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Call Ryan: (952) 641-3152
Ryan Konrath
Director of Business Development
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Call Ryan: (952) 641-3152
Graduate of University of North Dakota - B.S. in Aeronautical Sciences
Commercial Pilot / CFI / CFII / MEI
Ryan Konrath was recruited to Wings Insurance in the fall of 2012 to continue the growth of Wings Insurance in existing and new markets, including but not limited to Corporate Fleets, FBO’s & Flight Schools, Ag-aircraft, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Ryan's primary focus is establishing new relationships with Clients and developing and strengthening relationships with existing Clients. He is an active member of many Owner Groups and travels year round to see clients and conventions. Ryan was promoted to Wings Insurance's Aerial Application broker in the spring of 2014 and handles all Aerial Application accounts. Additionally, he is involved with managing some of Wings largest aircraft fleet & FBO accounts.
Ryan utilizes his training background and knowledge of advanced aircraft to help develop and approve advanced training programs. Because of his knowledge of advanced aircraft and systems Ryan is able to persuade aviation insurance markets to offer exceptional policies.
After high school Ryan attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. During his time at UND, Ryan not only was a commercial aviation student but was a member of the Division I football team as a wide receiver. Ryan was recognized for not only his play on the field but his ability off the field as a teammate, leader, and member of the community with several awards throughout his career on the gridiron.
Ryan began his post-graduate career working as a Flight Manager/Lead Flight Instructor for the University Of North Dakota John D. Odegard School Of Aerospace Sciences. In this role he was directly responsible for hundreds of instructors, undergrad students, and Air China Airlines employees. He also was an FAA approved Check Instructor for the university along with his responsibilities as a flight instructor. In 2011 Ryan decided that he wanted to pursue his childhood dream of being an airline pilot and was hired by Pinnacle Airlines as a First Officer on the CRJ-200 Aircraft.
Joe Ryan
Aviation Insurance Broker
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Call Joe: (612) 294-7215
Joe Ryan
Aviation Insurance Broker
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Call Joe: (952) 641-3145
Graduate of University of North Dakota - B.S. in Commercial Aviation
Joe Ryan was recruited to join Wings Insurance in 2020 to expand growth and pursue new opportunities with a focus on Flight Schools, High value aircraft transitions, Helicopters, and more.
With several thousand hours of instruction, charter, and turbine time, Joe pairs his knowledge of Aviation rules and regulations combined with his aviation insurance expertise to negotiate the best policies for his clients every year.
Joe believes that there are three fundamentals that cannot be overlooked in the business of aviation insurance: Knowledge, Precision, and Transparency.
Knowledge – An Aviation Insurance Broker must have an in-depth knowledge of all regulations and rules surrounding aircraft ownership, a complete understanding of the aviation insurance markets and each markets limitations and desires through relationships with underwriters.
Precision – Knowledge of client’s operation and the questions to ask to bring out each nuance to better sell each client to underwriting and create a strategy to negotiate favorable policies.
Transparency – A flight instructor’s background to help educate clients and underwriting on their policy and present solutions to problems to improve client’s business and market share.
Joe graduated from the University of North Dakota with a B.S. degree in Commercial Aviation and was immediately hired as the head flight instructor for a charter and flight school operation in Las Vegas where he helped grow the business from just a few aircraft to multiple aircraft and locations. After Las Vegas, Joe joined a growing aircraft charter company out of Northern Virginia. Having dreamed of becoming an airline pilot, Joe then joined SkyWest Airlines and flew all three variants of the CRJ for four years.
accounting
John Newell
Chief Financial Officer
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Call John: (952) 641-3145
John Newell
Chief Financial Officer
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Call John: (952) 641-3145
Graduate of North Dakota State University - B.S. in Accounting
John is the CFO for Wings Insurance and joined the company in 2010. He is a highly motivated financial executive with over 25 years of experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility. John is responsible for all of Wings accounting, HR and IT functions.
John has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from North Dakota State University. John also hold a CPA inactive license.
John truly understand that the customer is number one. He is always willing to assist customers in understanding or financing their premium invoices.
John is a retired Major for the North Dakota Air National Guard and also served for four year in the active duty Air Force. He resides in Maple Grove with his wife and two sons. His hobbies include fishing, hunting and camping.
Policy Support
Our Service and Support Team
Wings Insurance employs some of the most experienced aviation insurance professionals in the industry. Over 60% of our team are pilots or flight instructors. We know aviation and we know aviation insurance.
Team members focus on accurate and knowledgeable answers coupled with rapid response time. Wings upholds some of the strictest customer service standards in the industry.
For policy support, certificate requests, or simply general questions you may contact our team at: