Manuel Amezcua is a dreamer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and executive in the wealth management and insurance industry who is obsessed with adding value and solving problems in every room he enters. He currently serves as CEO for MassMutual Great Lakes and is also the founder of the Podium Group which has a concentrated focus on serving professional athletes, business owners, and CEOs.

Inspired by growth and connection, Manuel is the host of At the Podium podcast and has spoken at 50 conferences and companies across the country, delivering messages centered on servant leadership, being a great teammate, and doing the things most will not – to achieve the greatness that most will never experience.

Manuel’s leadership philosophy is grounded in a commitment to hard work, having a mindset of abundance, and upholding a standard of excellence. He was named a 2023 and 2024 Inspirational Leader by Employ Humanity, and has been recognized each year since 2019 as one of Detroit’s 500 ‘Most Powerful Business Leaders in Metro Detroit’ by DBusiness Magazine.

An advocate and steward for his people, Manuel’s conviction of fostering a thriving company culture has led to the firm’s recognition on Metro Detroit’s Best & Brightest Companies to Work For’ list annually since 2018, as well as Crain’s Detroit Business ‘Cool Places to Work in Michigan’ list in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

However, his devotion to support and empower others is not confined to the workplace. In his seven-year span leading MassMutual Great Lakes, the firm has sponsored and supported over 60 nonprofit organizations. Manuel has also received MassMutual’s national Community Service Award in 2015, 2019, and 2022, and the 2019 Huebner Service Award from the Society of Financial Services Professionals Detroit Chapter.

Manuel believes that in order to make a profound impact in any area of life, it takes relentless hustle and grit coupled with gratitude and genuine goodness.

At the forefront of Manuel’s personal life are his wife, Samantha, and two children, Ava and Atlas.

Board Service:

Manuel serves on the Board of Governors at the Skyline Club, the Executive Committee for the Game on Cancer, and the DePauw Centers Co-Curricular Advisory Board. He also served as Chair of the Chicago Melanoma Research Foundation’s Wings of Hope Gala for three years. He has provided previous board service to the Melanoma Research Foundation, NAIFA Chicago, POSSE Chicago’s Leadership Council, the Center for Economic Progress, and the Reilly C. Bush Foundation.

Paul Davis is a former professional and college basketball player with a winning mindset, a competitive spirit, and a strong desire to positively impact the world. He serves as a Partner with Podium Risk Management, providing vision and strategy for the firm as it helps active and retired athletes, entertainers, c-suite executives, and business owners create long-term financial security, stability, and success. Paul was promoted to partner in 2020 by Podium Risk Management's founding partner Manuel Amezcua, President and CEO of MassMutual Great Lakes. 

His basketball career started at Rochester High School, where Paul was ranked one of the top players in the nation and named Michigan's Mr. Basketball in 2002. He was recruited to Michigan State University by legendary coach Tom Izzo and was instrumental in leading MSU to the Elite Eight and Final Four during his college years. Paul went on to the NBA, where he played for the L.A. Clippers and the Washington Wizards. He also played professional basketball overseas in Russia and Spain. He retired in 2016 after undergoing seven knee surgeries. 

Paul grew up in Rochester, Ml, and is a graduate of Michigan State University. Locally, he serves on the board of Fleece & Thank You, which provides handmade fleece blankets to children staying overnight in Michigan hospitals, and heads the nonprofit organization's development and fundraising efforts. 

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Professional Career

During his 12-year tenure in the NFL, he played with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and 8 years with the Chicago Bears, retiring as the second leading Tight End in Bears history for catches, yards, and touchdowns behind only Hall of Famer Mike Ditka. Before entering into the NFL, Desmond set Wake Forest University receiving records and finished his college career as the all-time leading receiver in Atlantic Coast Conference history and a degree in communications. Since retiring from football, Desmond has blazed an impressive path as a Partner, inspirational speaker, and business coach. Desmond is now leading his own company, The Insurance People. Through his work in the financial arena, Desmond is firmly dedicated helping people live better lives by making good financial decisions.

As a professional speaker, Desmond has spoken and consulted for companies, associations, and schools across the nation including Fortune 500 health care company Baxter, Chicago United, IL Diversity Council, BOMA-Building Owners, and Managers Association, Avon Farms Boarding school, First Institute Medical School, American Cancer Society, to name a few.

He has appeared on ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC, WGN, ESPN, Comcast News Makers, and other network TV and radio stations as a thought leader, author, speaker, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and coach.

Desmond is the author of Before and Beyond the Game and was named 2012 Mentor of the Year by Congressman Danny Davis for his work in the Chicago and Polk County Florida Communities.

Philanthropy

Desmond served as President of NFL Alumni Chicago for 3 years. Before stepping away, Desmond increased fundraising by 600%, formed relationships, provided financial support, and integrated player involvement with Ronald McDonald House, Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, and Holiday Heroes. After leaving as President of NFL Alumni Desmond, started The Desmond Clark Foundation which helps under-served youth access resources to attend college and cancer patients without means of transportation receive transportation back and forth to medical facilities to receive the treatment they desperately need through American Cancer Society’s program Road to Recovery.

Desmond serves on the Illinois Board for the American Cancer Society and Party for a Cure.

Education

Desmond graduated with a BA Degree in Communications from Wake Forest University in 2008.

Desmond helps provide vision and strategy for the Podium Group organization.

The Insurance People are not affiliated with MML Investors Services, LLC or its affiliated companies.

Bill Burke is a former quarterback at Michigan State, where he played for 7-time national champion head coach Nick Saban. Widely regarded as the greatest college football coach of all time, Saban recruited Bill to be part of his first recruiting class at MSU in 1995. During his time in East Lansing, Bill led the Spartans to wins over Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame and helped MSU finish his senior season ranked 7th in the country. After college, Bill spent an offseason with the New York Giants, continuing his education on the intricacies of the sport as well as leadership and how championship teams are built. 

Originally from Ohio, Bill chose to make the East Lansing area his home where he lives with his wife Christina, son Blake and daughter Brooklyn. He is passionate about the role that athletics can play in a young person’s life and has volunteered his time to develop young athletes in the Mid-Michigan area, both as a coach and as a board member. 

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