IMA Financial Group has appointed Karen Schwartz (pictured) as Washington market president, effective August 1. Schwartz, a six-year IMA veteran, moves into the role from her previous position as Pacific Northwest market leader, employee benefits.
Schwartz joined Parker, Smith & Feek, an IMA company based in Bellevue, Washington, in 2020. In her most recent role, she led more than 100 associates across the firm's employee benefits operations in Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.
In the Washington market president role, Schwartz will oversee strategy across IMA's property and casualty and employee benefits business lines in the state. Her mandate includes cross-line collaboration and growth initiatives, while retaining responsibility for client service.
Schwartz brings nearly 15 years of insurance industry experience spanning client service, sales, and executive leadership.
Steve Brockmeyer, IMA West president, said Schwartz's familiarity with the Washington and Pacific Northwest operations made her the logical choice for the role. "Her deep understanding of our clients, our people and our business makes her exceptionally well positioned to lead the Washington market," Brockmeyer said.
Schwartz said the appointment would focus on building on the firm's existing foundation. "I've always believed our industry is about finding thoughtful solutions that help organizations manage risk, achieve their goals and take care of their employees," she said. "As we continue to grow, my priority is to build on our collaborative culture, invest in our talented associates and deliver meaningful value for our clients."
The appointment comes as IMA pursues a broader growth strategy. The Denver-based brokerage completed an equity recapitalization in May 2026, bringing in Oak Hill Capital and New Mountain Capital as minority backers.
The firm retained majority employee ownership across its 3,000-plus associates, and its revenue has grown nearly 400% since 2020.
