The Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund is managed and operated by an executive management team of professionals with extensive backgrounds in law enforcement and/or insurance. The combined experience in insurance and law enforcement is one of the things that makes the Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund unique and better able to serve the needs of Florida’s Sheriffs and Florida’s Constitutional Officers. The members of the executive management team are:
Sheriff Donald F. Eslinger (Ret.)
Executive Director
Don Eslinger, retired Sheriff of Seminole County, became Executive Director of the FSRMF upon his retirement. Sheriff Eslinger worked for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office for 38 years, and served as Sheriff for 26 of those years. He served on the Board of Managers of the Fund since 1993 and served as Chair of the Board from 2011 until his retirement as Sheriff. Sheriff Eslinger has a BA in Applied Behavioral Science and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has served on numerous boards and achieved numerous honors and awards, including serving as Past President and Board Member of the Florida Sheriffs Association.
Joanna Mueller
Chief Administrative Officer
Joanna Mueller oversees the Member Services, Accounting, Employee Benefits, IT, and Human Resources functions of the Fund. She is also the Manager of the Florida Sheriffs Insurance Agency (FSIA) that provides ancillary coverages to Sheriff’s Office members. She began working with the Sheriffs’ insurance programs in 2008 and has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, including work with several governmental risk pools and regulatory oversight of insurance companies with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Ms. Mueller is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Risk Management/Insurance.
Michael D. Crews
Chief of Risk Management Services
Michael (Mike) Crews oversees the Risk Management Services Department, including loss control services that are provided to our member Sheriffs. He began his career with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in 1987, and held positions within the program area, including Training and Research Manager in FDLE’s newly created Leadership Center, Bureau Chief of Standards in the Professionalism Program, Director of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute and FDLE Leadership Center, and was appointed Director of the Professionalism Program within FDLE.
Mike also served as the Secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections. Mike is a graduate of Florida State University and is a certified instructor through the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. He is also a graduate of the Chief Executive Seminar (Class 22), provided by the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute.
Wayne Matthews
Chief Financial Officer
Wayne Matthews oversees accounting and investments for the Fund. He has over 25 years of insurance and financial services experience, inclusive of 14 years with Bankers Insurance Company, a national insurance company, where he initially served as Director of Audit and subsequently Chief Financial Officer. He is experienced in property and casualty insurance, securities brokerage, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, investments, reinsurance, ERM and audit. He has also served as a senior auditor with Deloitte, Director of Audit of a national securities brokerage firm, and founding management member of several companies. Wayne is a CPA, a long-time resident of the state of Florida, holds a P&C 220 General Lines Insurance License and received his BSBA from the University of Florida.
Michael Stephenson
Chief of Liability Claims
Michael Stephenson has worked on behalf of the Florida Sheriffs for more than 20 years, beginning in 1999 when he served as outside trial counsel defending FSRMF member Sheriffs. In 2006, he continued his work with FSRMF becoming Claims Attorney and later Director of the Claims Department, overseeing professional liability claims and automobile liability claims. He is a member of the Florida Bar and a graduate of the Stetson University College of Law and the University of Texas.
Judy Boling
Chief of Workers’ Compensation Claims
Judy Boling oversees the claims activities of FSRMF’s workers’ compensation programs, including the medical bill review provider and nurse case management services. She works to ensure members’ employees, who are injured in the course and scope of their duties, receive timely, quality treatment at the right cost and are able to return to work as soon as possible. She is a graduate of Southeastern College in Lakeland and has more than 20 years of workers’ compensation claims and litigation experience.
Brooke Valentin
Chief of Member Services
Brooke Valentin is responsible for the oversight of the Member Services Department and provides underwriting, rating, marketing, and daily customer service for FSRMF members. She also serves as Assistant Agency Manager for the Florida Sheriffs Insurance Agency (FSIA). Brooke has 18 years of experience in the commercial property and casualty insurance industry. Her experience includes work with self-insurance funds and mid-to-large sized risk management accounts. Brooke is a Florida native, a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Risk Management/Insurance and holds a Property & Casualty 2-20 license.
Becky Miller
Chief of Employee Benefits
Becky Miller oversees the employee benefits provided to members via the Florida Sheriffs Employee Benefits Trust (FSEBT). She is also the Managing Agent of the Florida Sheriffs Employee Benefits Agency (FSEBA). Becky began working with the Sheriffs’ insurance programs in February 2020. She has over 24 years of experience in employee benefits consulting with employers of all sizes and industries, including focus in governmental entities. In addition, she is a Certified Healthcare Reform Specialist and holds her Advanced Self-Funding certifications. Becky currently holds a Florida resident Life and Health Insurance License. She is a Florida native and has three children.