Cullen S. Piske

Cullen Piske leads Palomar Surety, which was established in February 2026. Previously, he served as President of Gray Surety beginning in 2013, where he guided the company’s growth from a regional carrier into a national surety provider. During his tenure, Gray underwent two ownership transitions, culminating in its successful acquisition by Palomar. Cullen brings more than 20 years of experience in the surety industry.

Cullen earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and his MBA from the University of New Orleans. He lives outside New Orleans with his wife and three children.

Michael Pitre

Michael Pitre has served as Chief Operating Officer of Palomar Surety since February 2026. Prior to this role, Michael was the COO of Gray Surety since 2013. He designed Gray Surety’s custom software, which manages all aspects of the surety bond lifecycle: file management, underwriting, bond issuance, and claims. Before joining Gray Surety, he was a Senior Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, working with Department of Defense clients on cybersecurity. Before entering the private sector, he was an officer in the United States Marine Corps for eight years. He left the service as a Major in 2009. Michael holds a BA from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Loyola University New Orleans.

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson has served as Chief Financial Officer of Palomar Surety since February 2026. Robert has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, including 10 years as a partner with Ernst & Young LLP, where he served public and private insurance entities in the property and casualty, life, and health sectors. He joined Gray Surety in April 2021 as CFO, overseeing the finance, accounting, and treasury functions for the company. He received his BS in Accounting from the University of New Orleans and is a licensed CPA in Louisiana. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Louisiana Society of CPAs. He serves on the Board of Directors of the University of New Orleans Research and Technology Foundation. Robert is an avid runner and enjoys traveling with his family.

Leigh Anne Henican

Leigh Anne Henican has served as Senior Vice President of Claims & Corporate Secretary of Palomar Surety since February 2026. Leigh Anne has more than 13 years of experience in insurance defense, with 10 years of experience solely devoted to handling surety bond claims. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a BA in Public Relations and Political Science and received her law degree from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. She started as Surety Claims Counsel with Gray Surety in 2013 and became Surety Claims Manager in 2015. She was then promoted to Senior Vice President of Claims in 2018 and named Corporate Secretary in 2021. She is a frequent speaker at surety claims conferences across the country, including the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice’s Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference and the Pearlman Association. She serves as a vice chair of the ABA TIPS Fidelity and Surety Law Committee. In her free time, Leigh Anne enjoys spending time with her family.

Cody Chew

Cody Chew joined Palomar as Home Office Director and Senior Vice President in February 2026. Cody started in the surety industry in 2006 as an underwriting trainee. Previously, he served on the Gray Surety team since in 2018 as the Regional Manager of Mississippi & Louisiana. He recently stepped into his current role to assist in the continued growth of the Palomar Surety footprint. He holds a BA in Marketing and an MBA from Mississippi State University. He currently serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Risk Management & Insurance Program at Mississippi State. In his spare time, Cody enjoys outdoor activities, spending time with his family, and attending Mississippi State sporting events.

Parker Smith

Parker Smith is an Executive Vice President for Palomar Surety. He spent several years in mortgage banking before joining an independent insurance agency, where he began his surety career as an account executive. Previously, Parker joined Gray in 2007 and has been with the company for 16 years, where he now oversees day-to-day operations of our Southeastern Region covering Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. Parker holds a BS in Finance from The University of Alabama. He also attained an Associate of Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) designation in 2009. Parker enjoys spending time with his wife and two children as well as staying active through trail running and other physical fitness activities.

Allen Hudson

Allen joined Palomar Surety in 2026 as a Home Office Director and Vice President, supporting the firm’s Commercial Surety business and continued growth through underwriting leadership, portfolio management, and agency relationships.

With nearly 15 years of experience in the surety industry, Allen has developed a strong background in commercial surety through underwriting and managing complex accounts in partnership with agents nationwide.

Allen holds a BS in Finance from The University of Alabama. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and playing tennis.

Patrick J. Lynch Sr.

Prior to joining Palomar in 2025 as Head, Atlantic Territory, Patrick Lynch, Sr. founded First Indemnity of America Insurance Company in 1979 to provide specialized surety solutions within the state New Jersey. Mr. Lynch brings 47 years of industry expertise to the organization, rooted in a diverse background of entrepreneurship and public service. Prior to FIA, he served the City of Newark as a fireman for 14 years and spent 20 years at the helm of a family-owned business. His subsequent work as a lobbyist for the NJ Independent Meat Packers Association and various first responder organizations led to the development of group insurance programs that served as the catalyst for FIA. Mr. Lynch’s civic contributions include an appointment by Governor William Cahill to Chair the State’s Veterans Hospitals and a seven-year tenure as Board Member and Investment Chairman for Inter-Community Bank.

Patrick J. Lynch Jr.

A seasoned veteran of the surety bonding industry, Patrick Lynch Jr. offers over 27 years of specialized expertise. He joined Palomar in 2025 and currently serves as Vice President, Atlantic Territory Manager.

Patrick’s extensive career began in 1998, progressing from Underwriter Trainee to Senior Underwriter before ascending to his current executive leadership role in 2020. A graduate of the NASBP Contract Surety School (1998), he has maintained his Property Casualty Insurance License since 2013 and has held a Merchant Marine License since 2009. His deep technical knowledge and decades of leadership make him a cornerstone of Palomar’s underwriting excellence.

Jason Sayers

Jason oversees Palomar Surety’s Carolinas region, which includes South Carolina, North Carolina, and Southern Virginia. Over the last 17 years, he has held a variety of professional roles in the construction industry in North Carolina. Prior to joining Gray Surety, he spent more than a decade at one of Raleigh’s premier construction law firms as its Controller, and in 2016 he joined one of the nation’s top 10 largest insurance brokerages as a Surety Bond Account Executive. He graduated from Gettysburg College with a BA in Music Performance and completed Levels I and II of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers William J. Angell Surety School. Jason was the recipient of the coveted NASBP football in the Level II class.

Michael Kremheller

Michael Kremheller is a Vice President for Palomar Surety. Michael has over two decades of experience in developing books of business for emerging surety markets in Texas and surrounding states, including three years with Gray Surety. He has a BA in Finance & Accounting from Sam Houston State University and an MBA from Texas A&M University. Throughout his career, he has been promoted to several executive-level positions at various surety companies. He has served as an officer of a number of surety organizations and stays involved with the Construction Financial Management Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, and American Subcontractors Association. Michael thoroughly enjoys hunting, playing golf and tennis, and spending time with his family.

Kai Paloma

Kai Paloma is an Assistant Vice President for Palomar Surety. Previously, Kai joined Gray Surety in 2019 as an Underwriter in the Phoenix Office. As Western Territory Manager, he oversees California, Nevada, and Arizona. Prior to joining Gray, Kai served as a Field Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army, was stationed in Germany, and deployed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade to Afghanistan. Kai graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he studied Human Factors Engineering. He earned his master’s degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. Kai completed Levels I and II of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers William J. Angell Surety School.

David Martinson

David Martinson is an Assistant Vice President for Palomar Surety. Previously, David joined Gray Surety in 2022 to lead the company’s expansion into the Upper Midwest region, which includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. With a decade of experience in the surety industry, he has developed a strong background in writing contract bonds across the United States, working at several sureties of varying sizes. David holds a BA degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MEd degree from Bowling Green State University. Prior to his surety career, he worked as an accountant at Cargill and served as a college hockey coach at both alma maters. David earned his Associate of Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) designation in 2016 and currently serves on the board of the Minnesota Surety Association. Outside work, he prioritizes time with his family, including his three young children, is involved with his church community, and enjoys golfing, hiking, and attending sporting events.

Ryan Thomas

Ryan is an Assistant Vice President for Palomar Surety. He is based in Oklahoma City, where he oversees Gray Surety’s Great Plains Region of Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. Ryan holds dual bachelor’s degrees in finance and management from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and earned his Associate of Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) designation in 2014. He brought his nearly 15 years of experience and leadership in surety and accounting to Gray Surety in 2023. Ryan devotes his time outside work to his family and fitness pursuits, including running and cycling.