Our Team

Celeste Cobb

Celeste Cobb, CLTC is responsible for developing educational materials that support and enhance the work of CLTC members. It is her job to ensure that existing CLTCs continue to find value in their membership and their CLTC designation. Part of this work includes expanding the visibility and credibility of the CLTC brand with insurance professionals and consumers.

Celeste started her career working with insurance brokers and agents as a UNUM wholesaler, and then spent 7 years in the home office developing a variety of brokerage and sales support programs. From there she joined the MetLife LTCI organization, becoming part of the senior management team, driving the marketing strategy and sales for all of Met’s LTC insurance lines – AARP, large employer, the Federal LTCI Program and Individual product. Her last five years at MetLife were spent developing marketing programs for their Affinity and Association business.

Celeste graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Wheaton College, Norton, MA, with a B.A. in Economics. She was a Truman Scholar and Rhodes Scholar finalist. Celeste also completed a year of study at the London School of Economics.

Max Brewer

Max joined Certirek as an Account Executive. He has deep experience in the financial service industry, having worked in a wide range of roles, including private equity, private wealth, quantitative modeling, and mutual funds. Each of those roles has been in various sales capacities, with his most recent being a senior-level sales position. At each firm, Max was consistently among the top producers and gained valuable experience while covering a diverse client base in different geographic regions.

He also was a Vice President of Business Development at Neuromics, a Biotechnology firm and sold IT software. Having played soccer in college and professionally, Max has a great combination of discipline, a competitive drive and an understanding of the value of a team.

Max holds an Economics degree from Ottawa University, an MBA from MidAmerica Nazarene University, achieved the CDFA designation, and holds Finra's Series 6, 7, 63 and 65 licenses.

Amber Pate

Amber oversees CLTC's operations and provides important oversight for the organization's important functions and programs, including sales and development, graduate benefits and retention, classroom and online training, communications, and more. She joined the organization in 2008 as Director of Graduate Benefits. 

Her passion for long-term care runs deep as she watched her grandmother's mental health deteriorate due to Alzheimer's and has witnessed the benefits of proper extended care planning and how it can protect a family. Her mission at CLTC is to provide professionals with the necessary tools to educate their clients on the importance of having a long-term care plan. 

Amber earned a BA in public relations and business management from the University of South Carolina. She currently resides in South Carolina with her husband and son.

Cynthia Vereen

Cynthia spent over a decade working with Genworth Financial before joining the CLTC team. Her background in the insurance industry allows her to quickly identify the member's needs so they receive the ultimate customer service experience.

Cynthia oversees all new student inquiries, new member processes as well as graduate renewals. She prides herself in providing a superior level of service for CLTC.

Harley Gordon

Attorney Harley Gordon is a nationally recognized authority on long-term care issues. He has been voted one of the "100 Most Influential People in Long-Term Care" by McKnight's Long-Term Care News and was also named one of the "10 Most Influential People in Long-Term Care" by Senior Market Advisor. His book, How to Protect Life Savings from Catastrophic Illness, with over 150,000 copies in print, along with his newest book, In Sickness & In Health, helps consumers understand the devastating emotional and financial consequences of long-term care. Mr. Gordon is also a founding member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, a professional organization that deals with legal and ethical issues facing the elderly.

Mr. Gordon’s views on long-term care financing have been featured in the PBS Frontline documentary, "Who Pays for Mom and Dad," The Wall Street Journal, and the CBS Evening News. He has lectured extensively to consumers and professionals alike, about the importance of planning for long-term care. He has been a featured speaker at Million Dollar Round Table’s (MDRT’s) "Top of the Table," the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), and the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU). He is currently working on a consulting basis with the Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance in order to reform Medicaid eligibility.