Our Team
Advisors
Leadership
Terry Scali
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Terry founded Milne Scali & Company Insurance Services (MSC) in October 1990 in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2002, Terry sold MSC to a publicly traded National Bank. While the agency continued to succeed, the insurance culture he built did not align with the banking culture. When Terry resigned from the Board of Directors to pursue his business interests, MSC had grown to over $210 million in sales and over $17 million in commission revenues with a net income of over 30% under Terry's leadership.
In January 2006, Terry combined National Commercial Insurance & Surety Specialists, Inc., and Mike Lapre Insurance Agency. Terry and Mike Lapre merged these two agencies to form Lapre Scali & Company Insurance Services, LLC. In 5 years, Lapre Scali grew to over 140+ colleagues in multiple locations throughout Arizona and Nevada, with annual operating revenues above $20,500,000.
Terry joined NFP in 2011 when NFP acquired his firm, Lapre Scali & Company Insurance Services. His vision was to grow NFP, predominantly an employee benefits broker at the time, into a top full-service brokerage with robust P&C capabilities across the country. He served as CEO of NFP Property and Casualty Services, Inc. from 2011 until 2019 and was the team leader for NFP's expansion in the P&C space. In 2018, Terry transitioned to a new role focused on broader corporate strategy. He continued as a member of the NFP board, deploying his P&C industry expertise to help fulfill the company's vision and advise NFP's P&C M&A activity. For his tenure at NFP, P&C revenue grew from $50 M to $500 M through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. Throughout his career, Terry has completed over 140 acquisitions.
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MANAGING MEMBER, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Joseph Scali
MANAGING MEMBER, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
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Joe is the owner and founder of Scali Group, LLC, a buy-side investment banking firm focused on originating insurance agency acquisitions throughout the US that he formed in 2013.
His company has originated 85+ acquisitions in the insurance sector with a total transaction volume of >$500m and has sourced transactions for several of the top 50 US brokers.
Joe began his insurance career scanning and filing documents in the surety bond department of Lapre Scali, LLC, at the age of 16. He later acquired his property and casualty insurance license at the age of 20 and spent college summers cold-calling new clients for the firm.
Joe earned his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Arizona and holds a real estate license in Arizona.
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Coporate Team
Teresa Buelow
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, HR
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
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Teresa has 25+ years of HR experience in the insurance industry. She worked with Mr. Scali for 20 years as an HR executive at MSC, Lapre Scali, and NFP.
Teresa has substantial experience with acquisition integration, due diligence, onboarding, retention, and employee continuity.
She departed Brown & Brown as a regional business partner to join Scali Insurance Group. Teresa is a Society of Human Resources Management member and was named a finalist for the HR director of the year by Phoenix Business Journal.
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Michael Evans
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
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Michael has 20 years+ of experience in diverse corporate tax, audit, accounting, due diligence, and financial analysis, and ten years working with Mr. Scali’s businesses as an audit and tax professional with Semple, Marchal & Cooper, LLP.
He departed as CFO of regional health & wellness operator to join Scali Insurance Group and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
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Dennis Via joined Scali Insurance Group in August 2023 upon returning to the greater Phoenix area. He has an extensive background in insurance agency accounting and management. Some of Dennis’s responsibilities will include supporting Mike with due diligence and agency acquisitions, month-end review, month-end reconciliation, forecasting, budgeting, and analysis. Dennis will also be involved with special projects in mergers and acquisitions and QOE due diligence.
Dennis was recently the Chief Financial Officer of an Oil & gas wholesale/retail distribution company from October 2020 on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Mr. Via had returned to the Maryland area with his family from Phoenix to help with certain family matters while focusing on the growth of this company and its ancillary businesses. He helped to double the size of the company through acquisitions.
Previously, he was the CFO of NFP Property and Casualty Services, Inc. (NFPPC) based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and was also formerly CFO for Lapre Scali & Company Insurance Services, LLC, in Scottsdale, AZ. Mr. Via lived for 15 years in Arizona.
Mr. Via has a Life Insurance, P&C Insurance Carrier, and P&C Agency / Brokerage background. He has been CFO of private and public insurance agencies/brokers for 15 years, including The Horton Group, one of Chicago’s largest private insurance brokers, and NFP Property & Casualty Insurance Company Inc (based in Scottsdale, AZ).
His diverse insurance experience includes 16 years with Zurich Insurance Company, holding Executive positions in several carrier subsidiaries in the US, the North American Headquarters, and the World Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. His Executive responsibilities over the years have included Financial Planning, Internal Audit, Treasury, Investments, Cash Management, Billing and collections, North American Regional Management, Chief Financial Officer and President of Premium Finance operations.
His experiences include M&A activity (including working with PE firms), re-alignments / restructuring, due diligence, transitions and integration, strategic planning, growth strategies, and organic growth initiatives.
Mr. Via also practiced for 11 years as a CPA with Ernst & Young in Baltimore, Maryland, servicing a diverse client base of SEC-registered and privately held companies specializing in life insurance and manufacturing, including Fortune 500. He serviced various clients in the banking, healthcare, real estate, textile, oil & gas, and defense/aerospace industries. He is an accounting graduate of the University of Maryland with a minor concentration in Finance and completed certain postgraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, attended the Management and Executive Development Programs at Kellogg Northwestern, is a member of Beta Alpha Psi (national accounting honors society), and is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI).
His past involvement with civic, charitable, and non-profit organizations has included being a Volunteer in an Advisory Role to the Board of Governors, an Advisor to the Finance Committee of the Board, and a Board member.
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VICE PRESIDENT OF ACCOUNTING AND AGENCY OPERATIONS
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Dennis Via
Scott A. Untrecht
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
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As the VP of Finance at Scali Insurance Group, I bring more than 30 years of diverse corporate finance, accounting, and business leadership experience.
I previously served as Vice President of Finance at Set Jet, Inc., a membership-based private jet company. During my 5 years there, I lead all aspects of their financial strategy, performance reporting and long-range business planning, as well as investor relations, controller, and audit operations. I also oversaw and managed all human resources and business development activities.
Before Set Jet, Inc., I served as Director of Finance and Litigation Support for Semple, Marchal & Cooper, LLP, one of the leading regional Certified Public Accounting firms in the Southwest. During my 15 years there, I was responsible for managing all client-referred forensic accounting and internal investigations resulting from fraud and malfeasance and worked closely with attorneys and court-appointed receivers to provide expert reports and testimony. In addition to my work with litigation, I also led financial strategy and capital structure, sourcing, and real estate management, and oversaw ongoing process improvements across the firm.
Before Semple, Marchal & Cooper, LLP, I worked as a Financial Analyst at The Tech Group, a plastics injection molder and contract manufacturer that serves the medical and consumer industries and was instrumental in preparing it for its acquisition by West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST). Prior to that, I served as a Senior Financial Analyst at Cerprobe Corporation (NASDAQ: CRPB), a company that designs, manufactures, and markets products for the high-performance testing of integrated circuits and other microelectronics components.
I am a former Executive Board member of Every Kid Counts (EKC), a non-profit 501 (C) public charity, which allows youth to participate in programs to give them a great opportunity to learn, be involved and find solutions to the challenges they face in today’s society.
I am a licensed Certified Fraud Examiner and earned my MBA from the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona and my Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HR
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Shelby Saifi
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Shelby Saifi is the Executive Director of Human Resources at Scali Insurance Group, where she leads with a people-first philosophy and a strategic vision that aligns human capital with business growth. With over 15 years of HR leadership experience, Shelby brings a dynamic blend of operational excellence, cultural transformation, and leadership coaching to her role.
Before stepping into this position, Shelby served as an HR partner and business owner, supporting high-growth organizations—including companies with revenues exceeding $300 million—in navigating complex challenges related to talent, compliance, and organizational culture. Her entrepreneurial background sharpened her ability to build systems from the ground up and tailor HR strategies to the unique needs of each business.
Certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) since 2016 and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) since 2020, Shelby continuously applies best practices in HR strategy, leadership development, and process optimization. She is known for implementing technology solutions that streamline HR operations, improve engagement, and foster accountability.
At her core, Shelby believes that HR is about people—not policies. She is celebrated for her warm, approachable leadership style and her ability to build trust across all levels of an organization. Her work fosters inclusive, high-performing workplaces rooted in respect, connection, and shared purpose.
Outside of work, Shelby is a proud mom of two, a frequent traveler, and someone who draws inspiration from experiencing diverse cultures and perspectives. Her holistic approach to leadership and life continues to set a standard for excellence, both within Scali Insurance Group and across the broader HR industry.
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