About Cornerstone Risk Partners

A trusted carrier partner and captive manager, built by specialty insurance operators who combine hands-on underwriting experience with modern technology.

Who We Are

Specialty expertise, backed by technology

Cornerstone Risk Partners (CRP) is a trusted carrier partner and captive manager. Our team designs, underwrites, and manages specialized insurance programs and products — applying advanced technology, including AI-driven analytics, to keep every program disciplined, compliant, and profitable.

Our leadership brings together decades of experience across captive formation and management, specialty underwriting, and travel & accident-and-health program administration. That experience spans retail agency ownership, carrier-side underwriting, reinsurance placement, and building programs from the ground up — from long-term-care dental captives to nationwide travel insurance operations.

CRP is based in Macon, Georgia, with team members supporting programs across the country.

100+ Combined years of industry experience across leadership

30+ States where our programs have operated

4 Core practice areas: captives, underwriting, travel, and program development

Leadership Team

The people behind the programs

John Neel

Executive Chairman

39 yrs industry / 32 yrs reinsurance & captives · CIC · Macon, GA

Provides strategic oversight, governance, and capital leadership as the firm builds a specialty underwriting platform focused on complex and emerging risks.

President & CEO, The Sanford Company (2002–present) — insurance consulting, management, and TPA services
Managing Partner, Sanford Insurance (2010–present) — grew a retail agency into a $6.5M revenue business spanning P&C, Employee Benefits, and Bonds
Built three separate captives for a major Georgia health system: professional/general liability, reinsurance, and workers' comp
Custom-built a portable dental program for long-term care patients, including front, captive, and reinsurance (2009–2026)

Ford Neel

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

11 yrs industry experience · Macon, GA

Leads the firm's strategic direction, business development, carrier partnerships, and organizational growth initiatives.

Executive Vice President, The Sanford Company (2025–present) — strategic growth, operations, and management
Commercial Producer & Account Manager, Sanford Insurance (2016–2025) — grew the agency's P&C portfolio and managed senior dental care programs
Helped build a senior dental program for long-term care patients (front, captive, and reinsurance); sold the company in 2026
Sits on three captive boards of directors; corporate signer for two

Brian Emmerling

Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer

20 yrs industry experience · Tampa, FL

Leads the firm's operations, technology strategy, and program administration.

AVP Underwriting, IAT Aviation — co-created the IAT Aviation Insurance Department
Underwriter, AIG Aviation — managed the EAA Antique Classic Aircraft Program and Robinson Helicopter Program
Sr. Software Engineer, GE Energy / L3Harris / Northrop Grumman — classified and unclassified programs
US Army veteran; FAA licensed pilot; FAA Airframe & Powerplant licenses

Morgan Lauderdale

Operations Manager

In the insurance industry since 2015 · BBA, Finance · Georgia State University

Runs Cornerstone Risk Partners' daily operations, building the processes and structure that support the firm's partners and its growth.

Insurance industry experience since 2015 across a range of roles, building strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Moved into accounting, where her finance background helped her ramp up quickly
Combines insurance experience with financial discipline to keep operations running smoothly
B.B.A., Finance — Georgia State University

Lisa M. Minton

Vice President, Travel

20 yrs industry experience · Waupaca, WI

Leads the firm's travel division strategy across product management, supplier relations, sales, and operations.

Director of National Sales Operations, Integrated Specialty Coverages (2025–present)
Central US Sales Manager, Travel Insured (2019–2025); Account Executive, Arch RoamRight (2013–2019)
Built CRP's travel insurance division from the ground up — product research, underwriting coordination, and compliance
Active with the American Society of Travel Agents and the US Travel Insurance Association

Want to work with our team?

Whether it's a new captive, a specialty program, or a travel product, we'd like to hear about it.

Get in Touch