Robert Knowles, Jr. is an insurance professional with more than 40 years of experience. He has been with Knowles Insurance for over 35 years, taking over as President of the agency in 1988. Bob specializes in large and complex accounts across a number of industries including manufacturing, public entities, education, and construction.

He is very active in the Scranton community having served as President of The Country Club of Scranton, and Waverly Community House, Board of Directors for Scranton Preparatory School, and The Greater Scranton YMCA, Board of Trustees for Keystone College, Vice Chairman of Mercy Health Partners, Director for Franklin Security Bank, and chairman of the Scranton City PAC. He currently serves as Trustee and Vice Chairman at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation, and a board member at the University of Scranton’s Kania School of Business.

Bob is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Matthew Knowles is Vice President of Knowles Insurance and is responsible for leading the firm’s sales initiatives and business development strategy.

Prior to joining Knowles Insurance, Matt worked as a high-risk healthcare underwriter at Chubb Insurance and as a Cyber and Professional Liability insurance specialist at Willis Towers Watson. At Willis Towers Watson, he advised large global organizations on complex cyber and professional liability risks and was responsible for negotiating coverage and program structures on their behalf.

At Knowles Insurance, Matt specializes in the manufacturing and nonprofit sectors, advising clients on complex insurance and risk management programs. He has particular expertise in captive insurance and other alternative risk transfer structures.

Matt is an Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI), a Certified Cyber Risk Manager (CCRM), and holds a VPAL certificate in cybersecurity from Harvard University.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Matt serves as Treasurer of the board of the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Counties and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Country Club of Scranton.

Jack joined Knowles Insurance in 2026. Prior to joining the company, he was an investment professional at Affiliated Managers Group (AMG), where he focused on minority and majority equity investments in financial services companies. In addition, he played a key role in implementing long-term succession plans across several AMG portfolio companies.

Before joining AMG in 2020, Jack worked at Evercore, where he focused on M&A advisory within the financial services sector. Jack has a B.A. from Villanova University

Susan Kelly has been in the insurance industry and with Knowles Insurance for over 30 years. Susan is Vice President, Sales as well as President of Knowles Insurance Partners/Welch Agency, an affiliate Agency. Susan specializes in large and complex accounts.

Susan is a recipient of the Top 25 Women in Business in NEPA. She is also active in our community serving on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Tunkhannock, the Board of Director’s of Dress for Success Lackawanna, as past President of the NEPA Chapter of CPCU’s and a member of NEPA National Association of Women Business Owners.

Susan has earned designation as a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) from the American Institute for CPCU, the insurance industry’s most respected professional recognition. She attended Lackawanna College and Bloomsburg University with a degree in Accounting.

Todd Zimmerman has been in the insurance industry and with Knowles Insurance for over 25 years. Todd is Vice President, Sales at Knowles Insurance. Todd works across many industries including hospitality, construction, and real estate.

Todd is extremely active in the community. He is a board member of the Abington Little League, and the Abington Area Joint Rec. He is a past board chairman for Summit Christian Academy and a past Vice President of the Clarks Green Borough. He also serves on the Ethics Board of VNA Hospice.

Todd holds his Associate in Insurance Services (AIS) designation. Todd is a graduate of Liberty University.

Kathy joined Knowles Insurance in 2018. Prior to joining Knowles Insurance Kathy held various leadership roles with communications and manufacturing companies. Kathy handles all accounting and human resource matters at Knowles Insurance. Kathy is a graduate of Kings college with a degree in business administration and accounting.

Ellen has more than 10 years of experience in the insurance industry. Ellen joined Knowles Insurance in 2011. Ellen manages Knowles Insurance commercial lines department and specializes in large/complex accounts across a number of industry sectors. She holds a Certified Insurance Service Representative(CISR) designation. Ellen has been very active in the community and currently sits on the board of directors of Dress for Success Lackawanna.

Cheryl has more than 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry. She joined Knowles Insurance in 2010. Cheryl specializes in personal insurance. She is a graduate of the McCann school of business.

Nicole Charles has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry and has been with Knowles Insurance since 2003. Nicole specializes in medium and large accounts. She works heavily with non-profits and construction risks. She is a graduate of Lackawanna College with a degree in accounting.

Mary has more than 19 years of experience in the insurance industry. She joined Knowles Insurance in 2019. Mary specializes in medium and large accounts. Mary is a designated Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR).

Mary Boyle joined Knowles Insurance in 2018. Mary specializes in medium/large accounts across a number of industry sectors. She graduated from the University of Scranton with a degree in accounting.

Kayla joined Knowles Insurance in 2021. Kayla specializes in personal insurance. She is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in communications.

Carrie has over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry. Carrie specializes in small business accounts. She currently holds a Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) designation.

Keira joined Knowles insurance in 2021. She specializes in small/medium commercial accounts. She graduated with her Master’s degree from Marywood University in 2023.

Krystie Messenger graduated from Lackawanna College in 2011. She joined the team in 2022 and brings nearly two decades of experience as the previous director of recruiting and retention for Bolus Freight Systems. She assists our commercial lines account managers on renewal business.

Ann Patton, a Licensed Property Casualty Agent, has over 40 years of experience in the insurance industry. She joined Knowles Associates in 2008 and handles personal, small, medium & large commercial accounts.

Tracey has more than 17 years of experience in the insurance industry and has been with Knowles Insurance since 2019. She specializes in personal lines insurance. She is a graduate of Lackawanna College with a degree in accounting.

Ryan is a licensed insurance professional with over 8 years of experience in the industry. He specializes in both personal and commercial lines of coverage. He holds active licenses in Property and Casualty insurance and Life, Health, and Accident insurance. Currently with Knowles Insurance, Ryan works closely with individuals and businesses to provide tailored insurance solutions that protect what matters most.

Before joining Knowles Insurance, he spent six years at Liberty Mutual, focusing on personal lines policies and building a strong foundation in client service and policy management. A graduate of King’s College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, he brings a solid understanding of business needs to his work in commercial insurance.

Known for his clear communication, attention to detail, and client-first approach, Ryan is passionate about making the insurance process straightforward and building lasting relationships based on trust and reliability.

Ava Murazzi is an enthusiastic professional starting her career in the insurance industry. She joined Knowles Insurance in 2025 after completing a three-year internship with Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Company from May 2022 through June 2025. During her time at Berkshire Hathaway GUARD, she gained valuable experience in risk management, analytics, and accounting procedures, which provided a strong foundation for her career.

At Knowles, Ava works in the commercial lines and accounting departments. She is currently pursuing her Property & Casualty license to expand her expertise in the insurance field further.

Ava earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from The University of Scranton. During her time at the university, she was an active member of the Kania Women in Business Club and the Career Coaches Program, while consistently maintaining Dean’s List honors. She was also a member of the women’s golf team. She graduated cum laude in 2025.

Lidia is a 2026 graduate of the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. During her time at the university, she was named to the Dean’s List while serving as a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and working in the restaurant industry. She also served as captain of the women’s golf team and was consistently recognized as an NCAA All-Conference athlete. Lidia is excited to begin her career in the insurance industry and is grateful to be a member of the Knowles team.

Belén Ponce joined Knowles Insurance in 2026 as a Personal Lines Assistant. She is currently pursuing her Property & Casualty license to expand her knowledge and grow within the insurance industry.

Belén holds a master’s degree in business Intelligence and Data Analytics and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Public Relations. Her background includes customer service, business operations, sales, and process improvement. She is also the founder of a custom fine jewelry business and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Originally from Ecuador, Belén moved to the United States in 2019 to pursue her master’s degree. She now resides in Clarks Summit and looks forward to helping Knowles Insurance continue to grow while providing excellent service and support to its clients.