Brandon Straza founded American Option Insurance in 2011 after spending over a decade in both the financial services and insurance industries. He was born in Decatur, Illinois, where he attended Millikin University, graduating in 2000 with a degree in business finance.
When Brandon’s not running American Option Insurance, he’s engineering several other projects and spending time with his wife, Angela, their son Liam, and their goldendoodle, Veil Olivia. They’re active in the community and their neighborhood.
Brittany graduated from the University of Florida in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. Having received a full athletic scholarship, she was team captain of the women’s golf team. After graduating, she began her career art Northwestern Mutual and then joined one of the largest insurance companies in the Untied States.
Brittany joined American Option insurance Group in 2014 and became a joint owner in 2015. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her two sons, Chase and Logan, playing outdoor sports, and participating in business and civic events.
Amanda Kaye joined American Option Insurance Group in 2012, making her the first and longest tendered employee at the company. With over twenty years of experience in the real estate and financial services industry, she’s adept at many aspects of the business and is driven by a desire for accuracy and consistency.
A native Michigander, she moved to Florida, where she met her husband Joseph. Seven years later, they had their daughter, Pixie. In 2018, the whole family then moved to Texas, location of the American Option home office. With two dogs and three cats, all of whom are rescue animals, she is an animal lover and enjoys feeding the turtles, ducks, and koi in the pond behind her home.
Susan Armel graduated from Bradford School of Business in Philadelphia, PA in 1985; after that time, she moved from the South Jersey/Philadelphia area to be close to her parents and work in the Golf/Resort Industry. She joined American Option Insurance Group in April 2014 and returned in 2021 to pursue her career in the financial services industry. She has a passion to help others and loves her co-workers. When not working, she enjoys spending her time outside on the boat and beach with her daughter, Samantha, her boyfriend, and entire family.
Melanie has known Brandon for over 20 years and has worked for American Option Insurance Group for almost 8 years.
She practiced medicine as a Podiatrist/Foot and Ankles surgeon, practiced in New York City and grew up on Long Island; however, she retired to take care of her family.
Melanie is married with 2 children in college who still keep her busy. She understands that customer service is one of the most important aspects of any business and appreciates that AOIG is founded upon that principal.
Joseph Kaye earned his doctorate at Valdosta State University and began his career in academia. With a background in research, internet technology, and social media, he joined American Option Insurance in 2017, where he leads the marketing, automation, and social media side of the company.
Having lived all over the US, with time in New Jersey, Arizona, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Florida, Joseph is now content in Texas, with his wife Amanda, also with American Option, daughter Pixie, and house full of rescue pets.
Pedro is currently studying at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Mayaguez and is the most recent member to join the American Option family. Pedro enjoys bringing his customer service skills and attention to detail to American Option’s customers (and can do so bilingually).
When he’s not working, Pedro enjoys the outdoors and studying marine life and spending time with his wife, Nelitza.
