Leon Van Berkum began his insurance career as an exclusive agent but quickly realized a single company could not satisfy the diverse needs of all of his customers. He established Northland Independent Group in 2009 as a full service agency representing individuals, families, and businesses in the Kansas City area. Leon is from Alta, IA and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University. He is married with two grown children.
Rebecca Walker joined the agency in 2010 with a background in claims and agency management. Rebecca was born and raised in Joplin, MO and received her education from Rockhurst University in Kansas City. She is married and has one son in college, one son in the Air Force, and a son and daughter in high school..
Diane Smith brings to the table 14 years of insurance expertise, after being a Farmers agent for 7 and then opening Freedom Insurance in 2011. Our two agencies merged in January 2017, expanding our services to include business insurance and health plans for seniors, including Medicare. Diane is deeply connected to the Riverside community. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Riverside Chamber of Commerce for 9 years, is a member of the Briarcliff Business Partner Alliance, and has been on the Riverside Music Fest committee since 2011.
Robert Hackney came to us in May 2020, specializing in customer relations and administration. Rob grew up in the Kansas City area and earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Kansas State University. After spending several years in Topeka, he and his family relocated to Parkville. Rob and his wife have 2 children.
We strive to be a leader in the insurance industry by:
Our goal is to apply our 30+ years combined experience and ongoing insurance education by providing a customized insurance plan with superior customer service.