Richard Sweet
Founder & CEO
Richard founded Vantage Point Risk on the belief that clients deserve better guidance, clearer communication, and stronger service after the policy is written. He studied mechanical engineering and business operations, then spent about 14 years in the wood products industry and 11 in waste and recycling, working in environments where operations, risk, and real-world problem solving mattered every day. That background is why he sees insurance as part of a broader strategy for protecting assets, income, and families, not as paperwork. He is involved across the agency: sales, service, carrier relationships, and long-term direction.
Outside work, Richard’s life centers on his family, his wife Rebecca, their son, and their two dogs, Olive and Niko. Much of his free time involves the outdoors, hunting and fishing, and some kind of adventure. He is active in the local business community and has served through Springfield and Eugene Chamber committee work.
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Mateo Flores
Chief Operating Officer
Mateo works at the intersection of insurance, real estate, financial services, and agency operations. He believes the right insurance conversation starts with fit: what a client owns, how they operate, which responsibilities overlap, and whether the agency can truly serve them well. At Vantage Point Risk he helps keep the agency focused and disciplined, working across account selection, carrier strategy, client experience, renewals, and service workflows so the agency grows in a way that protects client relationships.
Hugo Canizales
Agency Partner and California Branch Owner
Bilingual: English and Spanish
Hugo has been in insurance since 2013, building deep expertise across personal and commercial lines for individuals, families, small businesses, and mortgage professionals throughout greater Los Angeles. He founded CoverGuard Insurance Agency in Whittier as an independent brokerage, and when it became the California branch of Vantage Point Risk, the mission did not change, it expanded, with more carriers and more support. He pairs insurance experience with a serious technical background, building custom tools that make quoting and communication faster and cleaner, which mortgage professionals on tight timelines especially value.
Hugo is rooted in the Whittier and Los Angeles community. He and his wife, who works in education, are raising a daughter and a young son, and he brings the same energy for new experiences and genuine connection to client relationships.
Sabina Sexton
Licensed Insurance Producer
Property & Casualty, Life & Health
Sabina helps clients with personal insurance, small commercial insurance, Medicare, and life insurance. Born in California, she spent 23 years on Oahu before moving to Eugene in 2014, and she brings 37 years of business and customer-service experience to every conversation. Her approach is straightforward: give clients honest information, provide real options, and help them feel confident in their decisions. She is especially valuable to clients who want a patient, practical advisor who explains options clearly and never pressures.
When she is not working, Sabina is most likely with her grandchildren, cooking for anyone who will sit down, traveling by RV with her husband and their two dogs, hiking, or getting into a good book.
Mariana Cortina
Customer Support and Digital Marketing Coordinator
Bilingual: English and Spanish
Mariana supports both client service and digital marketing. She is completing a degree in International Business and brings experience in international logistics, customer service, documentation, and billing, including time with U.S. logistics companies managing time-sensitive shipments and resolving client issues. That background gives her strong attention to detail and a practical sense of how much clear communication matters when people need answers quickly. She supports clients, agency operations, marketing, and Spanish-speaking communication.
Juan Hernandez
Customer Support Representative
Bilingual: English and Spanish
Juan keeps things moving behind the scenes, making sure clients get what they need quickly and accurately after coverage is in place: certificates of insurance, policy updates, billing questions, and other service needs across the life of a policy. He brings a strong background in customer service, administrative support, and process management, and he is the kind of person who figures out how something works and then makes it work better. High-volume, detail-heavy, time-sensitive work is where he thrives, and he serves clients comfortably in English and Spanish.
