Our Team
Each member provides something special to the team. We understand that talking about insurance is not always comfortable or fun, but we value the work we do by putting you, your family’s future, and your business’ future at the forefront of our work. Every aspect, from scheduling appointments to needs analyses to finalizing policies, our staff makes a commitment to ensure the most welcoming and confident care you can find.
Stephanie Kirk - Agency President
From childhood, Stephanie knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur and business owner, to have a positive and transformational impact on her community. After graduating high school with honors, she attended California State University where she earned a bachelor's degree in Business.
In 2002, Stephanie became licensed as an insurance agent and established a practice near her life-long home-town. Having already faced many hills and valleys as a young adult, Stephanie decided to set out from her home state in search of a greener one, and in 2004 she found what she was looking for as a forever home in Kitsap. It was then Stephanie joined Chris Madison as an agency Associate. With their mutual experience and common commitment to serving both clients and community, Chris and Stephanie worked side by side for over 10 years. When Chris decided it was time to make his ‘transition to fishin’ in 2015, Stephanie was honored to have the opportunity to purchase the agency still bearing his name as a legacy at his retirement.
Stephanie Enjoys…
Exploring new places, attending Broadway musicals, planning events and being a hostess, thrift store treasure hunting, audiobooks, tea parties, getting muddy riding ATVs, building relationships, and connecting people.
But more important than the ‘who’ is …
My Why:
I know from personal experience the impact the type of planning we do will have. My experience as a Beneficiary is what brought me to this industry. As a college kid living at home, working on a business degree, I lost both my parents to illness. In a span of thirteen months, I learned first-hand about the weight of a terminal diagnosis, being a caregiver, making end of life decisions, hospice care, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, navigating the private healthcare system, out of pocket maximums, cardiac rehabilitation, ICU, life insurance, estate planning, probate court, asset allocation, risk tolerance … and became a mortgage paying adult overnight. Thankfully, my family had done some planning, but they had not received the benefit of quality, professional advice. At least not from anyone concerned about the actual impact these plans and policies could have one day. It became clear to me that the most impactful thing I could do would be to take all I had learned from this life-changing experience and guide others traveling the same path to more favorable results. For this reason, I act with compassion and conviction to meet the needs of everyone who seeks our guidance.
Cheryl Jensen - Office Manager
Cheryl joined the JC Madison team as a contractor and at the time, she had owned and operated a small business helping others with day-to-day tasks as well as getting and staying organized. She enjoyed the work she was doing at JC Madison, the fit was good, and as changes were taking place in the world and in her life, after discussing the options, she decided that JC Madison was going to be a permanent place for her. In her work life, Cheryl has always been in a customer service role; from her very first job at a women’s only gym to a chiropractic office, to the legal field and now insurance. She believes every client should always feel welcome and wanted and that their issue is addressed. There is no job too big or too small and she will assist those in the office, any way she can. As a toddler mom, Cheryl has gained even more patience and can work through just about any situation that comes her way. You want Cheryl on your side, she strives to help everyone feel their needs are being met.
Cheryl Enjoys…
Spending time with her family and friends, front porch sitting, farming, reading, baking, gardening and most of all, watching her son grow.
Kate Heimbach - Retired Agency Support
Kate retired from a career in Olympia, where she worked for a variety of state agencies in administration and finance. Upon retiring from her work in state government, she relocated to Poulsbo to be closer to family, and decided to continue to work, joining us here at JC Madison.
Kate very much enjoyed interacting with JC Madison clients - because she knows what it’s like to be a customer - and no one should feel like just a number or a stranger.”
Kate retired from JC Madison in 2023 to focus on her other interests…reading, knitting, gardening, cooking and travel.
Birgit Richardson - Office Administrator
Photo Coming Soon….
Birgit is a part of the front office support staff at JC Madison. She is relatively new in the office and loves meeting new people. She is enjoying her job here! Birgit has lived in the Pacific Northwest for most of her life and grew up in the Port Angeles-Sequim area. Between her and her husband, there are six grown children and three wonderful grandchildren. Two of their grandchildren live with driving distance and they tend to spend a lot of time visiting and spoiling them. She has taken to the Nana role very naturally. She enjoys working around her home and lending a hand when her husband gets the urge to DIY the many projects he has planned. She loves watching sports of all types and recently went to her first Mariners game at T-Mobile Park. She enjoyed it so much, she can foresee many more sports events in the future. She has realized that life is way too short to sweat the small and that making memories with my family is a must.
Chris Madison - Founding Agent
So, we started out in Silverdale in 1982. Early on, our primary focus was on helping clients with their life insurance, disability insurance and retirement planning. In 1992, we moved the business to Poulsbo as economic activities grew in the north part of Kitsap County. Recognizing a need clients had for help with their employee’s benefit planning, that became a focus and area of specialization for the Agency.
In 2016, I sold the business to my trusted long-time colleague Stephanie Kirk.
These days, I’m staying busy with hunting and fishing activities. I also enjoy giving Fly Casting lessons to those new to Fly Fishing or just wanting to improve their skills.