About

Danny Harris serves as President of BPA. His career with BPA began on the front lines as a Benefit Coach, spending years on the road working directly with employees and clients before transitioning into leadership in 2016. That experience helped shape the hands-on, people-first leadership style he brings to the organization today. As President, Danny oversees BPA’s continued growth, new business opportunities, and operational strategy while remaining committed to the values that have defined the company from the beginning. One of the defining moments of his leadership came during COVID-19, when Danny helped guide BPA through one of the most challenging periods in its history. He led the transition from a predominantly in-person enrollment model to a virtual operation, allowing BPA to continue serving its clients, protect its people, and ultimately emerge as a stronger and more scalable organization. Danny also serves as Vice President of BPA Sports, helping build strategic relationships and expand BPA’s partnerships across professional and collegiate athletics. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he brings a competitive, championship mindset to leadership—believing that sustained success comes from preparation, accountability, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to the standard. Outside of BPA, Danny enjoys coaching his kids, golfing, and supporting all things Pittsburgh Steelers.

Matt Kirkwood serves as Executive Vice President of BPA, bringing more than a decade of experience in insurance, sales leadership, and organizational growth. Since joining BPA, Matt has played a key role in the company’s rapid expansion, helping build and lead high-performing teams, strengthen strategic partnerships, and drive record-breaking results. In his role, Matt provides leadership across sales strategy, client relationships, enrollment execution, and growth initiatives. His focus on accountability, execution, and developing people has helped BPA continue to scale while maintaining the high standard of service and performance that defines the organization. A former collegiate baseball player, Matt brings the same competitive mindset, discipline, and team-first mentality to business. He believes great organizations are built by great people with clear expectations, strong leadership, and a commitment to winning together. Beyond BPA’s core business, Matt is also a driving force behind BPA Sports, helping develop strategic partnerships across professional sports, collegiate athletics, and major organizations nationwide. His approach remains consistent across every initiative: build meaningful relationships, create measurable value, and position BPA and its partners for long-term growth.

Heather Bartley is the Chief Operations Officer at Brian Patten and Associates (BPA), where she leads operations, compliance, strategic growth, process improvement, technology innovation, call center strategy, licensing, audits, and security. With more than 25 years of professional experience, including 17 years in executive leadership at BPA and extensive insurance industry experience dating back to 2004, Heather has built her career around improving how organizations, teams, and technology work together. Heather specializes in using artificial intelligence, automation, and emerging technologies to improve business processes, increase efficiency, strengthen quality, and create better experiences for employees and clients. She has extensive experience leading complex benefit enrollment implementations, managing large client relationships, and developing practical technology-driven solutions that connect people, systems, and processes. She is particularly passionate about making technology approachable and practical. Heather focuses on helping teams understand how tools such as artificial intelligence, automation, data analytics, and modern workplace technology can reduce repetitive work, improve decision-making, increase accuracy, and allow employees to spend more time on meaningful, higher-value work. Rooted in personal experience and advocacy, Heather is also committed to fostering a workplace culture built on empathy, collaboration, and work-life balance.

Brent Calvin oversees all financial operations at BPA, guiding the organization through strategic financial planning, cash flow management, and compliance. With a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Duquesne University and a Master of Accounting from Western Governors University, Brent brings a deep understanding of fiscal management and operational efficiency to BPA. He also oversees the TPA division, handling premium reconciliation policy changes and serving as a key liaison between employers and insurance carriers. Additionally, Brent manages HR functions, including policy administration, employee benefits, and compliance. One of Brent’s proudest achievements is stepping into the CFO role at just 23 years old. This unique opportunity allowed him to gain hands-on experience in every aspect of the business, preparing him to lead with confidence and adaptability. Outside work, Brent enjoys playing pickleball, softball, and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes with his family. Motivated by his three children, Brent strives to be a role model, balancing a commitment to BPA’s growth with a dedication to personal excellence.

Luke Patten’s journey with BPA began at age 18, learning the ins and outs of benefits enrollment from BPA’s top experts. Today, as the Enrollment Director for BPA’s Genesis Account, Luke manages daily operations and oversees the New Hire Process, ensuring smooth, high-touch service for one of BPA’s largest clients. With licenses in all 50 states, Luke also leads BPA’s iPad Enrollment Department, where his attention to detail and efficiency support BPA’s high standards. Outside work, he enjoys Pittsburgh sports, staying active, and spending quality time with his family. Driven by BPA’s founding vision, Luke is committed to upholding BPA’s industry leadership and customer care.

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Audrey Engle serves as Director of Enrollment at Brian Patten & Associates, where she plays an integral role in delivering successful enrollment experiences and supporting BPA’s continued growth. Since joining the organization in 2018 as a Benefits Counselor, Audrey has steadily advanced through the ranks, learning from some of BPA’s most experienced leaders and executives along the way. Her journey reflects a commitment to growth, hard work, and a genuine passion for helping others succeed. Today, Audrey works closely with clients, brokers, carriers, and BPA’s nationwide team of Benefits Coaches to ensure enrollments are executed with precision, efficiency, and exceptional service. With a degree in Sport Management and years of hands-on experience, she brings a unique combination of organization, problem-solving, and a people-first approach to every challenge. Known throughout BPA as someone everyone can count on, Audrey has become a trusted resource across nearly every level of the organization. Her willingness to step in, take ownership, and find solutions has earned her the respect of colleagues and leadership alike. While her desire to help often makes it difficult to say no, that same dedication speaks to the pride she takes in her work and the people around her. Audrey leads with integrity, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right. Whether navigating complex enrollments, supporting her team, or helping solve unexpected challenges, she embodies the collaborative, roll-up-your-sleeves culture that continues to define BPA.

Sara Hope Farkas is the Chief Administrative Officer at Brian Patten & Associates (BPA), bringing extensive experience in operational leadership, strategic planning, human resources, and contract management. Since joining BPA in 2018, she has advanced through several leadership roles, driving process improvements, strengthening operational efficiency, and aligning administrative functions with organizational goals. Prior to BPA, Sara spent eight years with Aflac in regional administration, recruitment, and market coordination. Known for her collaborative leadership style and results-driven approach, Sara is committed to building strong teams, optimizing business operations, and supporting sustainable organizational growth.

Chad Simendinger brings over 15 years of experience in Leadership, sales, and marketing to his role at BPA. After starting his sales career in IT services, Chad moved into a tenured role in the Aerospace industry as a Field Sales Engineer and Strategic Account Manager. Chad joined BPA to take on a new challenge and help drive its growth and culture. His responsibilities at BPA include marketing, overseeing the Key Account Management team, and growing BPA’s Premier Broker relationships. With a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a passion for building cross-functional teams, Chad inspires BPA’s culture of mentorship and functional excellence. Outside of work, he spends time with his family and coaches youth sports. Chad’s professional values are grounded in teamwork and resilience, qualities that drive him to help BPA expand and innovate.

Jack Bittel’s career at BPA has been shaped by a desire to help people understand and navigate the often-confusing world of insurance. Joining BPA felt natural, as he followed in his father and brothers footsteps, learning the trade hands-on. Known as a “Jack of all trades,” Jack manages crucial aspects of BPA’s New Hire division, overseeing the onboarding of thousands of employees across 1000+ locations and ensuring smooth operations for one of BPA’s largest accounts. His extensive experience as a Benefit Coach gives him unique insight into what his team needs to succeed, making him a dedicated leader who connects seamlessly with both clients and employees. A proud Pittsburgh sports fan and an outdoor enthusiast, Jack finds balance through golfing, skiing, and spending time with family and friends. His personal drive is influenced by a commitment to providing for those he loves, making his work at BPA an extension of this motivation to support others and create positive experiences.

Jeff’s career with BPA began in 2012, enrolling employees and serving clients across the country. After years of experience in the field, he transitioned into leadership in 2019 when Brian Patten selected him to serve as Enrollment Director, where he took responsibility for managing one of BPA’s largest and most important client relationships. In 2022, Jeff was named Director of Sales, expanding his leadership role and helping support BPA’s continued growth and national expansion. In 2025, he stepped into his current role as Chief of Staff, working closely alongside BPA’s leadership team to help execute the company’s vision and strategic priorities. Throughout his career at BPA, Jeff has been passionate about building great teams and developing great people. He has played an integral role in identifying, recruiting, and developing talent across the country, helping build the nationwide organization BPA has today. As Chief of Staff, Jeff remains focused on strengthening the organization, developing future leaders, and ensuring BPA has the people, structure, and execution necessary to support its continued growth.