Leadership
Leonard P. Grimes is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of GFS Insurance Solutions Group, LLC (GFS) a multi line broker and specialty marketing business formed in 2012.
Prior to forming GFS, Mr. Grimes worked for 15 years for the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. He joined Atlanta Life in March 1998 as an Underwriting Analyst. His last position was that of Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and President & Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Life General Agency.
Mr. Grimes began his career with New York Life Insurance Company in 1969, he has over 45 years of experience in the insurance industry. He has since held positions with Manhattan Life Insurance Company, Guardian Life Insurance Company, National Life of Vermont and Kaiser Permanente. During career he has served in key management positions including Chief Underwriter, Chief Underwriter/Director Group Sales and Chief Underwriter/Assistant Vice President of Group Sales and Marketing as well as Vice President, Group and Reinsurance Sales.
During his tenure at Atlanta Life, Mr.Grimes grew their group life reinsurance premiums from $19 million in 1999 to $63.5 million as of December 31, 2012. As a result, Atlanta Life became the number one African-American Group Life Reinsurer in the country.
Leonard is active in civic affairs serving as a member of Rainbow/PUSH Wall Street Project, NAACP. He served on the boards of The Atlanta Business League and The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and is currently a member of the Dekalb Chamber Board.
His professional affiliations include Home Office Life Underwriting Association, The Institute of Home Underwriters, The Georgia Association of Home Office Underwriters, The Eastern Claims Association, Risk and Insurance Management Society, National Minority Supplier Diversity Council and The National African-American Insurance Association.
Leonard graduated from New York University with a degree in anthropology. He also completed various risk management courses at the College of Insurance in New York City.
James McKnight
After a successful career as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 years, James Edward McKnight joined the Principle Financial Group as a Financial Services Representative.
Mr. McKnight in an effort to continue to develop and grow in the Financial Services business Joined The GFS Insurance Solutions Group, LLC as the Managing Principle of GFS Florida.
In the NFL, Mr. McKnight played for the Seattle Seahawks (1994-1998), Dallas Cowboys (2000), Miami Dolphins (2001-2003) and the New York Giants (2004). James graduated from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. In 1999 with a degree in criminal justice. A native of Apopka, he now resides with his family in South Florida.
An avid motivational speaker, James is very involved in the community and church. He coached the Cypress Bay High School wide receivers and was the head coach for the boys and girls track team from 2008-2010. For two years he has served as the Chairman/President of the Education Empowerment Foundation inc, located in Miami.
James message is one of rentless faith in your beliefs and goals. He teaches that no obstacle can bar your way; you can run around it, jump over it, if you have to you must “run through it” into your destiny.
James holds his insurance license in the State of Florida and his Securities register in the State of Florida.