Our Management Team

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Michael Emerson
Director of Business Consulting and Operations
/COO

Bio

Michael joined the Stonehouse family company as Director of Business Consulting & Operations to drive and manage the company’s future growth strategy.

Michael was born in Melbourne, Australia and attended LaTrobe University where he graduated Bachelor of Economics with Honors and majors in International Economics and Econometrics.

Michael started his business career with the Reserve Bank of Australia – that country’s Central bank. After graduation he was seconded to the Central bank of Papua New Guinea to help establish that country’s monetary independence from Australia, with management of international banking projects. He was also actively involved in specific analysis and reporting of the country’s economic conditions.

In ensuing years Michael was the key person to establish strategic and business consulting practices with Coopers & Lybrand (PNG) and then Ernst & Young (Australia – Entrepreneurs and Middle Market – built to 100 consultants over 3 states in 6 years).

After moving to the USA in 2004, Michael, for ten years, held positions of Executive Director for Brookdale Senior Living at their South Bay and Santa Monica communities.

Michael is a US citizen since 2016 and is resident in Murrieta with his wife of 26 years, Cel. Of their six children two are based in Australia, and the others in US states – TX, MA and NYC.
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Cel Emerson
Office Manager
cel@thestonehousegroup.com

Bio

Cel joined the Stonehouse family group of companies as Client Relationship & Office Manager to facilitate the Group’s future growth. Cel is an energetic, positive team player involved in business office management and marketing where her administrative, interpersonal, customer-focused, communications, and organizational skills add value. Her expertise covers a wide range of business experience. This includes client relations and marketing, office and business management, business software applications, consulting, supplier negotiations, project management and training.

Over recent years she has held positions that involved management of medical practices. Prior to that in Australia she held a number of senior roles. She was a Senior Manager with Qantas Airways responsible for ensuring the QANTAS Business Units’ IT needs were thoroughly defined and met by QANTAS IT. She also held a position of Business Unit Manager with the Sheraton Hotels Group. She was also a Senior Manager with the Business Services Consulting Practice of Ernst & Young. In that role her primary responsibilities included business development, overall project management, integration and coordination of sub-projects, and development of positive client relations.

She received a Bachelor of Arts (Business Administration) degree from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, graduating Magna Cum Laude. On a personal note she is a sports enthusiast and participates daily in personal fitness activities. She enjoys theatre, ballet and music. She has been an extensive traveler with a multi- cultural background having grown up in the Philippines, lived in Australia and now a resident of USA as a naturalized US Citizen.
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Josh Emerson
Regional Director Business Lines /CEO
Josh@stonehouseins.com
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Tom Somers
Assistant Agency Manager/Partner

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Bio

Tom brings to his role as a Certified Financial Planner a wealth of business, insurance and financial experience accumulated during his career as an executive in various service industries in New York, Europe and California. Tom is known as a thoughtful, innovative advocate for his clients, dedicated to helping them achieve financial security.

Tom holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California and a Masters in International Relations and Economics at Columbia University in New York. During his business career, Tom pioneered opportunities for US companies in Eastern Europe, and as entrepreneur started successful businesses in Austria and Russia.

Tom focuses his efforts on helping business owners and professionals. He is an active member of a number of community organizations, among them the Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce, Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society and the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, which recently recognized Tom as its “Ambassador of the Year.”

Tom lives with his wife of 25 years Olga and daughter Mary in Fallbrook, California conveniently located for his clients who are mainly in San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties.
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Susan Taylor
Client Service Manager & Benefits Specialist
susan@stonehouseins.com
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Ericaliz Emerson
Office Manager