Lyssa-Noel Frater
Danone Simpson
Danone Simpson’s career has been anything but ordinary. Before becoming CEO of Montage Insurance Solutions, she spent nearly two decades in front of the camera, working as an actress and model, even taking a turn as a cheerleader for one of the professional American football teams. She moved to California with Willaminia Modelling Agency and later landed a role in the TV Series Dallas for 10 years. Experienced at 18 years of age, a tragic accident and being uninsured led her into her true calling of understanding the true importance of insurance.
“I thought I was interviewing for a PR and marketing role,” she recalls, “but it turned out to be insurance. I fell in love with the client side of it, the ability to serve, and I realized this was where I could make the biggest impact.”
Her perspective shifted after reading Mary-Kay Ash’s story of founding the Mary Kay cosmetics company at the age of 40. “I was literally dancing around my office,” Simpson says. “It hit me that I was just getting started, and I could build something extraordinary.”
That belief became the foundation of Montage Insurance Solutions, a company owned by Simpson. From the beginning, her guiding question was simple but profound: How can I help you? “I asked every HR professional I met, ‘What do you need? How can I support you?’ Then I built our services around those answers,” she explains.
Today, Montage is known for tailoring solutions to each client, whether a nonprofit, school, credit union, manufacturing firm, or tech company. “Even if two clients are in the same industry, their needs are different,” Simpson says. “We don’t fit them into a box. We design commitments around their mission.” That dedication has earned Montage a good reputation in an industry dominated by large firms and consolidations.
With 28 employees, Montage is intentionally structured as a “flat” organization. Simpson oversees 12 department heads, ensuring leaders are directly involved in strategy. “We hire seasoned professionals who are both creative and technical. That combination is unique in our industry,” she notes.
Montage also educates clients through its compliance-focused HITpodcast.com and a continuing education series for HR professionals. “Our mission is to serve your mission,” says Simpson. “If we can take the burden off HR teams and help them thrive, then we have succeeded.”
The company’s size also allows for a boots-on-the-ground approach. While Montage works with clients across the United States and even supports global operations, Simpson herself prioritizes California-based companies. “It matters to be present,” she says. “Our clients know they are working with the same team no matter where their sites are.”
Beyond strategy and service, culture plays a central role at Montage. Simpson highlights a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. “For me, DEI is about equal rights for all people,” she says. “Our workforce reflects the communities we serve, and I’m very proud of that.”
Montage also nurtures young talent alongside experienced leaders. “I have three new-generation employees who are incredibly tech-savvy,” Simpson shares. “One graduated and came back to work for us because he loves Montage. That’s the kind of culture we are building, where people want to grow with us.”
Family, too, is woven into the company’s DNA. Simpson’s son-in-law, Tobias Kennedy, has worked with her for nearly two decades and now serves as president of Montage. “He’s brilliant,” she says. “We finish each other’s sentences. Having him by my side ensures the company will thrive for future generations.”
Her husband, Mark, also contributes his expertise after a long career managing major departments at Paramount Studios. Together, the family brings strength, continuity, and shared purpose to the firm.
For Simpson, community impact is just as important as business growth. Montage often partners with nonprofits and community-based organizations, guided by a mission statement she keeps refreshingly concise: Our mission is to serve your mission with dedication, service, and integrity, while protecting your assets and giving back to the community.
She remains focused on the fundamentals. “Our goal is not to be the biggest,” she emphasizes. “It’s to provide meaningful service, grounded in ethics, for clients who trust us with their employees and their assets.”
As she looks ahead, Simpson continues to innovate while staying true to the values that shaped her journey. From acting stages to insurance boardrooms, her story reflects resilience, reinvention, and the power of asking a simple question: How can I help you?