Meet Our Team
Nikki Gifford - Agent & President
Nikki Gifford, CIC, Licensed Agent, was raised in Sarasota and grew up in the insurance agency. From the time she was 10-11 years old, she could be found in the office filing or doing the mail. Nikki joined the agency in 1993, after graduating from Florida State University, with a degree in Marketing and Merchandising. To further her knowledge and career she obtained her Certified Insurance Counselor designation and completed the elite sales training in Chicago, IL through CNA Insurance. Nikki’s father believed the best way to learn how a business operates was to perform every position within the agency as every position is an integral part to a business success. Outside of the agency Nikki can most likely be found on a tennis court, on the water, or spending time with family.
Victor Garraus
Victor Garraus, Licensed Sales Agent, grew up in Sarasota attending Tuttle Elementary, Brookside and Riverview High School. Victor comes from a family of restaurateurs that emigrated from Spain through Cuba. Chez Med restaurant, their family restaurant, a long-standing restaurant on Siesta Key was the location of many weddings and community functions. After years in the family business Victor became head chef at Sarasota Memorial Hospital but as his family was growing his sales personality led him to join the agency. Victor graduated from Johnson & Wales Culinary Institute and while restaurants will always be in his blood he found a way to use this passion for helping those in the hospitality industry as well as many other clients with their insurance concerns. Victor is very involved with his family and community, he has coached recreational soccer, been a longstanding member of Sertoma of Venice, active member within his church, First Presbyterian in Sarasota, and the go-to person for many events when an extra helping hand is needed.
In Memory Of Our Agency Founder, Russ Gifford
Russ Gifford, our President, was raised in Sarasota. His father was a General Contractor that built many of the homes in South Gate and surrounding areas. Russ was a native and attended Southside Elementary and Sarasota High School. He graduated from Florida State University and subsequently moved to California to begin his carrier as California State Workers Compensation Insurance Agent. After a few years he moved back to his hometown and started Russ Gifford Insurance in 1969, which grew from 1 employee to 15. In 1992, he purchased the Heiden Insurance Agency in Venice and combined the Sarasota location with our current location on the Island in Venice. Over the years Russ participated in Sarasota Ski-A-Rees, Sarasota Jaycees, Rotary, Sportsman Club, Sarasota Y Sharks, Miss Sarasota Softball, Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Venice Chamber of Commerce, and many other community organizations. Russ had a strong sense of Ethics and was well known for his hardball personality of doing what is right and going to battle for what he believes in. Russ instilled this same work ethic in his daughter, Nikki Gifford, who continues to operate the agency with the same tenacity, hard work, and ethics her father believed in. Personal Lines Department
Ilsa Garcia - Licensed Account Manager/Agent
Direct Line 941-584-6503
Email - ilsagarcia@giffordheidenins.com
Paula Shock- Licensed Account Manager/Agent
Direct Line 941-584-6507
Email - paula@giffordheidenins.com
Cin-Dee Cawley- Personal Lines Assistant
Direct Line 941-584-6512
Email - cin-dee@giffordheidenins.com
Arelys "Ari" Reyes- Licensed Account Manager/Agent
Direct Line 941-584-6513
Email - arelys@giffordheidenins.com
Misty Tarque- Licensed Account Manager/Agent
Direct Line 941-584-6505
Email - Misty@giffordheidenins.com
Commercial Lines Department
Karen Chambers
- Licensed Account Manager/Agent
Direct Line
941-584-6511
Clare Jorge – Licensed Account Manager/Agent
Direct Line
941-584-6502
Email - clare@giffordheidenins.com
Mechelle Sein
– Licensed Account Manager/Agent
Direct Line
941-584-6516
Email - mechelle@giffordheidenins.com
Sandy Piercy
–
Commercial Lines Assistant
Email - sandypiercy@giffordheidenins.com
General Office
Community Involvement
We don’t live by the statement “All Work, No Play!” Gifford-Heiden Insurance
loves the community that we live in, so we try to give back as much as possible. Check out some of our previous and current community involvement:
- Venice Sertoma – Member, Victor Garraus
- Sunrise Rotary – Past member, Russ Gifford and Nikki Gifford
- Society of Certified Insurance Counselors – Nikki Gifford
- Florida Association of Insurance Agency – Agency Member
- Sarasota United Soccer League – Coach, Nikki Gifford and Victor Garraus
- FC Sarasota Soccer Parent Liaison & Fundraiser committee member – Nikki Gifford and Victor Garraus
- Sarasota High Soccer – Board Member, Victor Garraus
- Special Athletes Booster – Agency Contributor
- Leukemia Society Team in Training – Triathlon Participant, Nikki Gifford
- First Presbyterian Church – Insurance Liaison, Victor Garraus
- Middle School Youth Leader, Nikki Gifford
- Senior High Youth Leader, Victor Garraus
- Pine View Band Booster – Nikki Gifford, Victor Garraus
- Pine View Orchestra Booster – Nikki Gifford, Victor Garraus
- Venice Chamber of Commerce – Agency Member
- Sarasota Chamber of Commerce – Agency Member
- Shark Tooth Festival Supporter
- Tiny Hands Foundation – Agency Employee Supporter and other various community events!
Represented Companies
Gifford-Heiden Insurance works with many companies to provide you with multiple options for a competitive insurance quote. Please take a look at some of the companies we work with:
