About Health First

Built for Brokers by Brokers

Founded in 2013 during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Health First was built by brokers who wanted to make a bigger impact. After reaching the limits of how many individuals and families they could personally serve, our founders made the pivotal decision to form a General Agency focused on empowering independent brokers through innovation, education, and support. 

Today, Health First supports hundreds of brokers representing tens of thousands of individuals and families across multiple markets. We provide streamlined contracting, transparent commission management, broker-first technology, and real human support, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and partnership with carriers.

Built for Brokers by Brokers

About Health First

Founded in 2013 during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Health First was built by brokers who wanted to make a bigger impact. After reaching the limits of how many individuals and families they could personally serve, our founders made the pivotal decision to form a General Agency focused on empowering independent brokers through innovation, education, and support. 

Today, Health First supports hundreds of brokers representing tens of thousands of individuals and families across multiple markets. We provide streamlined contracting, transparent commission management, broker-first technology, and real human support, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and partnership with carriers.

Built for Brokers by Brokers

About Health First

Founded in 2013 during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Health First was built by brokers who wanted to make a bigger impact. After reaching the limits of how many individuals and families they could personally serve, our founders made the pivotal decision to form a General Agency focused on empowering independent brokers through innovation, education, and support. 

Today, Health First supports hundreds of brokers representing tens of thousands of individuals and families across multiple markets. We provide streamlined contracting, transparent commission management, broker-first technology, and real human support, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and partnership with carriers.

Our Philosophy

Integrity

We act with honesty and transparency, and we do what’s right — even when it’s difficult.

Drive

We are fueled by a relentless passion to push boundaries and achieve remarkable results.

Excellence

We hold ourselves to high standards and raise the bar in everything we do.

Accountability

We build trust by honoring commitments, owning outcomes, and choosing honesty over excuses.

Leadership and Team

Brandon Combs

President
Brandon brings a unique mix of leadership, service, and industry experience to his role as President. Before building his career in health insurance, he served as an infantry medic in the Army, an experience that shaped the way he leads today: with purpose, adaptability, and a steady commitment to helping others.

Inspired by the impact of the Affordable Care Act, Brandon is passionate about creating lasting value for independent agents and agencies. He is committed to making healthcare feel more approachable, supporting brokers with meaningful education, and helping drive positive change in the industry.

Known for his dependability, respect for others, and willingness to lead by example, Brandon brings both heart and strategy to the work he does every day.

Fun fact: Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and keeping up with all things sports.

Daniel Rich

Chief Financial Officer
Dan is our numbers guy, systems thinker, and resident problem-solver. As Chief Financial Officer, he brings a sharp analytical mind and a love for puzzles to the work of keeping our business moving forward with clarity and purpose.

A proud “Virginia boy,” Dan’s background in technology and health insurance gives him a unique way of looking at challenges. He’s always looking for ways to simplify processes, and make the complicated feel a little more manageable for the people we serve.

Dan leads with integrity, patience, and perseverance, and he has a gift for seeing both the fine details and the bigger picture.

Fun fact: When he’s not solving problems at work, you can usually find him enjoying time with his family, dreaming of beautiful beaches, or appreciating fast cars.

Trissa Rodriguez

VP of Broker Relations, Compliance
Trissa brings a steady, grounded presence to her role as VP of Broker Relations and Compliance. Her background in the military shaped her leadership style early on, while nearly 10 years in property management gave her a strong ability to navigate complex situations, work with different personalities, and keep things moving even when challenges come up.

Today, she uses that experience to support brokers and colleagues in a way that feels both dependable and approachable. Trissa is someone people can count on for thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and a calm approach when details matter most.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Trissa enjoys trying new breweries and distilleries, getting lost in a good book, and spending time with her family.

Chris Harrison

Executive Market Director
Chris has spent more than 10 years in the Health and Medicare insurance industry, building a strong understanding of the challenges brokers face every day. In his role as Executive Market Director, he focuses on making Medicare feel less overwhelming and helping brokers get the tools, knowledge, and support they need to better serve their clients.

Chris is especially good at taking real-time industry challenges and turning them into practical solutions. He stays close to what is happening in the Medicare space so the work he does remains relevant, useful, and grounded in what brokers actually need.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Chris enjoys getting outdoors, taking advantage of everything Utah has to offer, and spending quality time with his family.

Kaylee Hodges

Director of Marketing
Kaylee found her way into marketing through real estate, where she quickly learned that strong branding is more than just looking polished. It is about understanding people, building trust, and making sure the right message reaches the right audience.

With 6 years of marketing experience and a degree from the University of Utah in Marketing and Management with an emphasis in Business Development, Kaylee brings a creative but strategic perspective to her work. Her background in real estate gave her a firsthand look at how agencies support their brokers, which helps her create marketing that feels useful, clear, and genuinely connected to the people it serves.

She loves the mix of creativity and problem-solving that comes with marketing, especially when she gets to turn big ideas into something people can actually use.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Kaylee enjoys swimming, doing arts and crafts, and going on long walks.

David Rich

Director of Training
David has been part of the health insurance industry since the Affordable Care Act was introduced, giving him a deep understanding of how much the industry has changed and how important strong broker education really is.

As Director of Training, David is passionate about helping brokers grow with confidence. He cares deeply about mental health, personal progress, and creating space for people to keep learning, improving, and moving forward. That mindset shows up in the way he teaches, supports, and encourages the brokers he works with. Originally from Virginia, David brings a genuine, people-first approach to his role.

Fun fact: Outside of work, he enjoys taking his Jeep off-roading and listening to hardcore punk music.

Rene Rodriguez

Director of Partnership
Rene is a proud Army veteran who brings discipline, curiosity, and a strong work ethic into his role as Director of Partnership. His military background shaped the way he approaches challenges, but his passion for people is what drives the work he does now.

He enjoys building genuine connections and helping others see opportunities for growth. Whether he is meeting new brokers, learning what motivates them, or finding ways to support their next step, Rene brings an open-minded and thoughtful approach to every conversation.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Rene enjoys spending time with his family, watching sports, getting outdoors, and traveling whenever he gets the chance.

Ashley Petty

Director of Utah Broker Relations
Ashley brings a decade of experience from the coffee industry, where she learned the value of great service, strong systems, and creating an environment people actually want to be part of. Throughout her career, she has built training programs and standard operating procedures that helped teams feel more confident, supported, and prepared.

Now, as Director of Utah Broker Relations, Ashley brings that same thoughtful approach to supporting brokers. She cares about making people feel welcomed, informed, and set up for success, whether she is answering questions, building relationships, or helping create a smoother experience for the brokers she works with. Ashley is driven by a love of learning and a genuine desire to uplift others.

Fun fact: Outside of work, she enjoys reading in her hammock, film photography, and spending time training her dogs.

Russ Wade

Director of HR
Russ brings nearly 40 years of experience in business management, with much of his career rooted in finance and human resources. Over the years, he has worked in everything from startup environments to larger organizations, giving him a strong understanding of what helps teams grow and work well together.

As HR Director, Russ cares deeply about building a workplace where people feel supported and valued. He believes strong teams are built through trust, accountability, clear communication, and a shared commitment to doing good work. Russ has been with Health First for two years, and his favorite part of the job is the team itself.

Fun fact: Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, especially his grandkids, traveling, watching college football, and developing new hobbies.

Savannah Brown

Director of Contracting
Savannah is our contracting expert, thoughtful teammate, and advocate for making healthcare more accessible. As Health First’s Contracting Director, she helps ensure our brokers have the support, training, and resources they need to better serve their clients. With a background in athletic training and experience working directly with athletes, patients, and clients, Savannah brings a unique perspective to the health insurance industry. She was drawn to Health First’s people-first culture and the opportunity to continue making an impact in healthcare, even from behind the scenes. Savannah leads with resilience, adaptability, and a genuine desire to help others.

Fun fact: Outside of work, she loves camping, hiking, spending time in the mountains, playing with her dog, and doing just about anything outdoors.

Janessa Jarvis

Front Office/Executive Assistant
Janessa is our welcoming presence, organizational go-to, and behind-the-scenes support system. As Health First’s Front Desk and Executive Assistant, she brings strong communication skills, a thoughtful approach, and a genuine desire to help both her coworkers and the people we serve. She was drawn to Health First because the role combines organization, communication, relationship-building, and supporting others, all areas she genuinely enjoys. As a new member of the team, Janessa is excited to learn, take on new challenges, build relationships with her coworkers, and make a positive impact each day. Janessa brings creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to grow to everything she does. She takes pride in continuing to challenge herself, learn new skills, and make time for the creative outlets that keep her motivated.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Janessa loves spending time with family and friends, doing nails, camping, hiking, and trying new creative hobbies. Her latest interests include crocheting, canvas art, and experimenting with sourdough recipes.

Leadership and Team

Brandon Combs

President

Brandon brings a unique mix of leadership, service, and industry experience to his role as President. Before building his career in health insurance, he served as an infantry medic in the Army, an experience that shaped the way he leads today: with purpose, adaptability, and a steady commitment to helping others.

Inspired by the impact of the Affordable Care Act, Brandon is passionate about creating lasting value for independent agents and agencies. He is committed to making healthcare feel more approachable, supporting brokers with meaningful education, and helping drive positive change in the industry.

Known for his dependability, respect for others, and willingness to lead by example, Brandon brings both heart and strategy to the work he does every day.

Fun fact: Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and keeping up with all things sports.

Daniel Rich

Chief Financial Officer

Dan is our numbers guy, systems thinker, and resident problem-solver. As Chief Financial Officer, he brings a sharp analytical mind and a love for puzzles to the work of keeping our business moving forward with clarity and purpose.

A proud “Virginia boy,” Dan’s background in technology and health insurance gives him a unique way of looking at challenges. He’s always looking for ways to simplify processes, and make the complicated feel a little more manageable for the people we serve.

Dan leads with integrity, patience, and perseverance, and he has a gift for seeing both the fine details and the bigger picture.

Fun fact: When he’s not solving problems at work, you can usually find him enjoying time with his family, dreaming of beautiful beaches, or appreciating fast cars.

Trissa Rodriguez

VP of Broker Relations, Compliance

Trissa brings a steady, grounded presence to her role as VP of Broker Relations and Compliance. Her background in the military shaped her leadership style early on, while nearly 10 years in property management gave her a strong ability to navigate complex situations, work with different personalities, and keep things moving even when challenges come up.

Today, she uses that experience to support brokers and colleagues in a way that feels both dependable and approachable. Trissa is someone people can count on for thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and a calm approach when details matter most.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Trissa enjoys trying new breweries and distilleries, getting lost in a good book, and spending time with her family.

Chris Harrison

Executive Market Director

Chris has spent more than 10 years in the Health and Medicare insurance industry, building a strong understanding of the challenges brokers face every day. In his role as Executive Market Director, he focuses on making Medicare feel less overwhelming and helping brokers get the tools, knowledge, and support they need to better serve their clients.

Chris is especially good at taking real-time industry challenges and turning them into practical solutions. He stays close to what is happening in the Medicare space so the work he does remains relevant, useful, and grounded in what brokers actually need.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Chris enjoys getting outdoors, taking advantage of everything Utah has to offer, and spending quality time with his family.

Kaylee Hodges

Director of Marketing

Kaylee found her way into marketing through real estate, where she quickly learned that strong branding is more than just looking polished. It is about understanding people, building trust, and making sure the right message reaches the right audience.

With 6 years of marketing experience and a degree from the University of Utah in Marketing and Management with an emphasis in Business Development, Kaylee brings a creative but strategic perspective to her work. Her background in real estate gave her a firsthand look at how agencies support their brokers, which helps her create marketing that feels useful, clear, and genuinely connected to the people it serves.

She loves the mix of creativity and problem-solving that comes with marketing, especially when she gets to turn big ideas into something people can actually use.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Kaylee enjoys swimming, doing arts and crafts, and going on long walks.

David Rich

Director of Training

David has been part of the health insurance industry since the Affordable Care Act was introduced, giving him a deep understanding of how much the industry has changed and how important strong broker education really is.

As Director of Training, David is passionate about helping brokers grow with confidence. He cares deeply about mental health, personal progress, and creating space for people to keep learning, improving, and moving forward. That mindset shows up in the way he teaches, supports, and encourages the brokers he works with. Originally from Virginia, David brings a genuine, people-first approach to his role.

Fun fact: Outside of work, he enjoys taking his Jeep off-roading and listening to hardcore punk music.

Rene Rodriguez

Director of Partnership

Rene is a proud Army veteran who brings discipline, curiosity, and a strong work ethic into his role as Director of Partnership. His military background shaped the way he approaches challenges, but his passion for people is what drives the work he does now.

He enjoys building genuine connections and helping others see opportunities for growth. Whether he is meeting new brokers, learning what motivates them, or finding ways to support their next step, Rene brings an open-minded and thoughtful approach to every conversation.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Rene enjoys spending time with his family, watching sports, getting outdoors, and traveling whenever he gets the chance.

Ashley Petty

Director of Utah Broker Relations

Ashley brings a decade of experience from the coffee industry, where she learned the value of great service, strong systems, and creating an environment people actually want to be part of. Throughout her career, she has built training programs and standard operating procedures that helped teams feel more confident, supported, and prepared.

Now, as Director of Utah Broker Relations, Ashley brings that same thoughtful approach to supporting brokers. She cares about making people feel welcomed, informed, and set up for success, whether she is answering questions, building relationships, or helping create a smoother experience for the brokers she works with. Ashley is driven by a love of learning and a genuine desire to uplift others.

Fun fact: Outside of work, she enjoys reading in her hammock, film photography, and spending time training her dogs.

Russ Wade

Director of HR

Russ brings nearly 40 years of experience in business management, with much of his career rooted in finance and human resources. Over the years, he has worked in everything from startup environments to larger organizations, giving him a strong understanding of what helps teams grow and work well together.

As HR Director, Russ cares deeply about building a workplace where people feel supported and valued. He believes strong teams are built through trust, accountability, clear communication, and a shared commitment to doing good work. Russ has been with Health First for two years, and his favorite part of the job is the team itself.

Fun fact: Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, especially his grandkids, traveling, watching college football, and developing new hobbies.

Savannah Brown

Director of Contracting

Savannah is our contracting expert, thoughtful teammate, and advocate for making healthcare more accessible. As Health First’s Contracting Director, she helps ensure our brokers have the support, training, and resources they need to better serve their clients. With a background in athletic training and experience working directly with athletes, patients, and clients, Savannah brings a unique perspective to the health insurance industry. She was drawn to Health First’s people-first culture and the opportunity to continue making an impact in healthcare, even from behind the scenes. Savannah leads with resilience, adaptability, and a genuine desire to help others.

Fun fact: Outside of work, she loves camping, hiking, spending time in the mountains, playing with her dog, and doing just about anything outdoors.

Janessa Jarvis

Front Office/Executive Assistant

Janessa is our welcoming presence, organizational go-to, and behind-the-scenes support system. As Health First’s Front Desk and Executive Assistant, she brings strong communication skills, a thoughtful approach, and a genuine desire to help both her coworkers and the people we serve. She was drawn to Health First because the role combines organization, communication, relationship-building, and supporting others, all areas she genuinely enjoys. As a new member of the team, Janessa is excited to learn, take on new challenges, build relationships with her coworkers, and make a positive impact each day. Janessa brings creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to grow to everything she does. She takes pride in continuing to challenge herself, learn new skills, and make time for the creative outlets that keep her motivated.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Janessa loves spending time with family and friends, doing nails, camping, hiking, and trying new creative hobbies. Her latest interests include crocheting, canvas art, and experimenting with sourdough recipes.

Ready to Rock With Us?

Whether you’re an experienced broker or just getting started, Health First is here to support your growth.