Property Guardian connects you with a powerhouse team of experts in underwriting, risk mitigation, AI, data science, and meteorology — including former frontline “hotshot” firefighters. We’re here to tackle your toughest challenges, offering actionable insights and cutting-edge solutions that keep you one step ahead. Let us help you navigate risk with confidence and precision.
Pat Blandford
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Pat is Founder & CEO of Property Guardian, a wholly owned company of Green Shield Holdings. He is the former CEO of Tokio Marine Highland, a property and casualty underwriting agency that specialized in Private Flood, Builder’s Risk and Fine Art insurance. During his tenure, he grew the business from $170 million to $450 million in gross written premium, while significantly improving the company’s underwriting profitability.
Paul Brady
Head of Wildfire Insights & Mitigation
Paul spent more than 14 years and thousands of hours fighting active wildfires on the frontlines as a wildland “hotshot” firefighter. Before joining Property Guardian, Paul played a key role in expanding AIG’s wildfire mitigation strategies practice, where he was accountable for assessing commercial wildfire exposure within a portfolio of more than $4 billion in total insurable value. Paul is a National Fire Protection Association Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist and an International Society of Arboriculture ISA Certified Arborist.
Mike Thayer
Senior Wildfire Mitigation Consultant
Mike is a National Fire Protection Association Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist with 13 years of wildland firefighting experience. He served eight years at AIG Private Client Group as a Field Manager and Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, where he provided mitigation solutions to numerous homeowners and conducted wildfire mitigation continuing education training for hundreds of brokers and clients. During this time, Mike also responded to numerous large wildfires, providing mitigation and firefighting actions to help protect millions of dollars in total insurable value.
Brian Bastian
Head of Product
Brian is a seasoned product leader and catastrophe risk management professional with deep expertise in wildfire risk solutions and enterprise SaaS development. As a key driver at Green Shield Risk Solutions, Brian has spearheaded the creation of the Property Guardian platform, delivering cutting-edge tools for superior risk selection, portfolio management, and active loss control. With a foundation built at industry leaders like Guy Carpenter and JLT Re, Brian brings a proven track record of transforming complex risk analytics into actionable insights that enhance resilience and drive value for clients. Passionate about innovation and collaboration, Brian also serves on the board of the International Society of Catastrophe Managers, where he champions technology advancements in catastrophe risk management.
Sam Browning
Vice President of Product management
Sam is a dynamic product leader with extensive experience in bringing innovative ideas to market. She specializes in developing new growth products, fostering strategic partnerships, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver meaningful solutions. She previously served as a Senior Product Manager at CoreLogic.
Gary Raphael
Head of Business Development
Gary has more than 30 years of experience in executive risk mitigation, loss control and claims with multiple companies including AIG, ACE and Fireman’s Fund. Under Gary’s leadership AIG Private Client Group became the first carrier to introduce proactive wildfire defense and event response to policyholders, an approach since adopted by the industry more broadly.
Douglas Mann
Head of Strategic Alliances & Talent Acquisition
Douglas has spent more than 25 years advising insurance companies on their executive recruiting/talent acquisition strategies and market sector alliances, as well as advancing innovation for reinsurance carriers, brokers, managing general agents (MGAs), and insurtechs.
Jim Jirsa
Head of Artificial Intelligence & Analytics
Prior to joining Property Guardian, Jim spent five years as Vice President of Data Science at Performance Trust Capital Partners, focusing on Analytics and Machine Learning. He currently holds a Bachelor of Science from Saint Louis University, a Master of Science from the University of Notre Dame, and is working on another Master of Science in Applied Math at DePaul University.
Chris Barks
Head of Operations
Chris is a seasoned operations executive with over 20 years of experience in financial services and insurance, including leadership roles at IBM and Tokio Marine Highland. His strategic expertise drives our company’s growth through innovative processes that prioritize client needs and feedback. Chris’s approach ensures that our services evolve in tandem with client expectations, fostering stronger partnerships and delivering enhanced value.
Joshua Clifton
Head of Marketing & Communications
Josh has two decades of experience in leading marketing and communications strategy, content development and digital initiatives in the insurance and publishing industries. Prior to joining Property Guardian, he served as Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Tokio Marine Highland and in a variety of leadership roles at CNA.
Mary Benjamin
Head of Human Resources
Mary is a seasoned HR professional with two decades of experience in the field. She brings a wealth of expertise cultivated across various sectors within the insurance industry, including Fortune 500 companies.
Our People
I love the energy that comes with being surgically focused on a mission that’s disruptive.
Gary Raphael, Business Development
We’re on a mission to transform property insurance for catastrophe-prone areas with solutions that truly stand apart in the industry — driven by the remarkable talent of our team and an unwavering commitment to innovation.
Pat Blandford, Chief Executive Officer
While some companies just have the experience, and others have the technology, we’re bringing the two together.
Paul Brady, Wildfire Insights & Mitigation
OUR VALUES
Values that matter to us and to our clients
Growth Mindset
Our commitment to getting better every day elevates our collective pursuit of excellence.
Positivity in Action
We champion a positive vibe! Practice mutual respect, humility, and collaboration that sparks innovation.
Own It, Be Bold
Our culture is built on accountability, empowerment, and adaptability. Take ownership and never settle.
Team First Ethos
The team and our shared success come first. If you’re here for you, you’re in the wrong place.
Customer Obsessed
We’re obsessed with delivering exceptional experiences for all our customers. Exceeding expectations is our standard.
Innovate, Never Hesitate
We never say, “We can’t.” Instead, we ask, “How could we?” We focus on what’s possible and fuel innovation.