Rodney Steele

Dinsmore Steele

As CEO of Dinsmore Steele, I’ve spent the last 16 years redefining how companies build HR infrastructure — not by selling vendors, but by engineering smarter PEO strategies.

Most companies don’t choose the wrong PEO — they choose without a strategy. And it costs them margin, time, and leverage.

We’ve advised 6,000+ companies, delivering over $592M+ in savings — averaging $2,016.78 per employee, per year. Our Strategic PEO Advisory™ compresses a month of provider research into a few days of outcome-driven analysis.

We don’t sell vendors. We design infrastructure that scales.

Trusted by growth-stage founders, PE operators, and portfolio teams, our model is independent, strategic, and proven.

Because the right PEO strategy doesn’t just save money —
It protects your margin and powers your next stage.

Chief Executive Officer

AlphaStaff

Worked with insurance brokers and agents to procure PEO services from AlphaStaff.

Sales

Insperity

Worked with C Suite executives to bring PEO into their companies.

PEO Comparison Expert Empowering Businesses | 3,000+ Companies Served | Co-Host of the Eric and Rodney Show with Robin


📌 We created the category: Strategic PEO Advisory™ — because most companies don’t have a real PEO strategy.

They don’t just overpay.
They outgrow the model — and don’t realize it until margin slips or renewals hit.

At Dinsmore Steele, we help growth-stage companies and private equity teams rethink workforce infrastructure with clarity, precision, and zero vendor bias.

→ Already on a PEO? 

We’ll benchmark and unbundle your costs.

→ Outgrowing your PEO? 

We guide clean, compliant exits.

→ Evaluating options? 

We analyze every certified provider — strategy first, not sales.

What we’ve delivered 

→ $2,016.78 saved per employee/year (PEO clients)
→ $592M+ in total client savings
→ 3,000+ workforce strategies designed
→ Trusted by operators, CFOs, and portfolio teams nationwide

We don’t sell. We solve.

Because the right PEO strategy isn’t about picking vendors — it’s about protecting your margin and scaling with confidence.


As CEO of Dinsmore Steele, I lead the nation's largest PEO brokerage, making HR and employee benefits simpler for businesses. Over the past 16 years, we've saved over 3,000 companies a total of $592 million—an average of $2,016.78 per employee each year.

I developed the easiest, most unbiased platform for comparing the top PEOs in one place, saving businesses over a month of research time. Our service is free, and our expertise is unmatched, helping companies quickly find the right fit without the hassle.

My focus is on providing straightforward, efficient solutions that make life easier for business owners, allowing them to focus on growth while we handle the complexities of HR.

Rob Fenstermaker, Kingdom Builder, Empowering Men to Reignite Their Warrior Spirit

As a Warrior, I lead those seeking to move their life from disengaged to engaged as they regain their power for life and create a more profound impact and significance, as I have navigated this journey. I want to see you make the next great chapter of your life story.

I started a breakthrough journey to create a new mindset. I engaged the services of a coach who was able to show me that I had within my grasp the ability to regain the power in my life. I was able to prioritize my life and relationships so that they were in alignment with the values that comprised the core of my beliefs. Once I was able to put my core values into action, I found that life had a new perspective. That perspective enabled me to discover a deeper meaning. That deeper meaning allowed me to understand how I can use my life to impact the lives of others. 

I enjoy connecting with powerful people who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. I enjoy connecting with people who know that their life has meaning but are struggling to make sense of it. 

I will help you to discover the power that you have and how your life is significant. I will help you to discover the unique creation that you are as you release your unique story upon the world to create eternal significance.  

In working with me, you will:

*Discover an unshakable belief that you can achieve your life goals.
*A deeper understanding of your core life values that are your guide.
*An accountability structure that enables you to maintain focus upon personal goal achievement.

When powerful and bold people work together, they can create a lasting impact.

Are you ready?

Schedule your No Charge 30-Minute Strategy Session today!

https://linktr.ee/robfenstermaker

The Modern Warrior for the Bold Life

Chief Empowerment Officer

State Auto Insurance

Senior Risk Management Analyst

Robert Half

Insurance and Risk Management 

Delaware County, Ohio

Veterans Mission Court Mentor Coordinator

Nationwide Insurance

Develop reporting data and information to help aid business decisions through the implementation of various reports within the centralized claims team. 

Plan and support information projects while maintaining the integrity of information and applied data bases.

Business Information Analyst

Speciality Claims, Power Sports Department.  Oversee the proper disposition of power sports policies (boats, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles and recreational vehicles) for Nationwide Insurance members while continually providing world class customer service that is synonymous with the Nationwide Insurance brand.

Claims Management

Safeware Insurance

* Supervised and lead overall claims operations by developing short and long term goals in order to build an effective claims team.
* Established and oversaw a vendor network to handle customer damages.
* Ensured that established standards are being met by vendors by both customer expectations and maintaining open lines of communication.
* Established all training standards and implementation of an effective training program for claims personnel.
* Oversaw the implementation of the Safeware Extended Service Plan within the claims operations.
* Established and implemented a claims department operation budget. 
* Effectively implemented plan to reduce overall pending and improve customer service metrics.

Claims Management and Vendor Relations

Allstate

* Responsible for investigation and disposition of casualty insurance claims
* Established customer service standards and met all customer expectations.
* Remained in top percentage of regional customer interactions as measured by regional leadership
* Conducted and lead training of 75 office personnel for a new automated Claim File documentation system

Prior positions held include casualty special investigations.
* Investigated suspected fraudulent casualty insurance claims
* Established links between various insurance claims and suspected rings to include staged accident rings and fraudulent medical providers

After over 11 years of service with Allstate Insurance, my service came to an end December 31, 2009 due to company restructuring that resulted in the central Ohio office location being relocated to Indianapolis.  I opted to remain in Ohio.

Senior Casualty Claim Representative

Army National Guard

Retired from service with rank of Major

* Deployed as a commander in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and responsible for leading my company in the execution of Force Protection measures for various US Army installations within the US Army European Command
* Served as Operations Officer for a 575 man battalion as final assignment
* Planned, executed and evaluated all training within the battalion
* Performed career counseling of all enlisted soldiers and officers under personal command
* Implemented Army policies and established company policies
* Ensured that all Army standards were met for the unit

Retired after 25 years of service as a Major.  Commisioned in the Officer Corp in 1988 after serving 6 years as an Enlisted Soldier.  Majority of time was spent in reserve status.

Commissioned Officer

Personal Service Insurance

Responsible for investigation and disposition of casualty, auto liability and auto damage claims
Responsible for preparing auto estimates and evaluating the total loss value of automobiles
Responsible for establishing customer service standards and meeting all customer expectations

Claim Representative

Empowering Men to Discover their Inner Warrior // The Modern Day Warrior // Triatholon Enthusiast // Whiskey Drinker // Practitioner of Wordle // Reignite Your Warrior Spirit // Let’s Chat // 👇

You were not born to play small. You want more.

But somewhere along the line, the fire dimmed.

You’ve got the job. The title. The LinkedIn profile says “success.”
 And yet, deep inside, you feel it,
 That gnawing sense that you’re stuck. Trapped in a life built on duty, not desire.
 You dread Monday before Sunday’s even over.
 And worst of all, you’ve started to believe that this is just how life is.

But that belief is a lie.

The Warrior within you hasn’t disappeared; you buried it under layers of busyness, burnout, and broken dreams.

It’s time to reclaim your power and feel the surge of empowerment that comes with it.

When we work together, we step into the fire, not to burn, but to purify, transforming you into the best version of yourself.

We’ll break down the obstacles that have held you back from achieving your full potential, unlocking a life of fulfillment and purpose.
 We’ll forge a new reality. One built on clarity, courage, and consistent action.
 One step at a time, you’ll stop surviving and start leading a life that ignites your soul, setting you free and inspiring you to new heights.

You were born to be a master in the art of living, a space where work and play, labor and leisure, ambition and peace all flow from the same source: your truth.

🔥 You don’t need a plan. You need a dream and the will to act on it.
 (After all, Martin Luther King didn’t say, “I have a spreadsheet.”)

Inside, you are a soul of fire.
 The kind that lights paths. That purifies purpose. That burns away the fear that’s kept you small.
 Let’s reignite the embers of the dreams you once buried and breathe them back to life.

About Me
 Triathlon Enthusiast // Whiskey Drinker (neat, not sweet) // Practitioner of Wordle (my weapon of choice at sunrise)
 I’m here to help men reignite their Warrior Spirit, to rise, refine, and reclaim the life they were born to lead.

Whether you’re stuck in a cave of comfort or pacing the edge of a breakthrough…
 The call is the same:

It’s time to take the first step.

Let’s break the chains.
 Let’s light the fire.
 Let’s go.

Reclaim. Refine. Rise.

Be Extraordinarily Bold!

Rob Fenstermaker

A ship is safe. Ae in the harbor, but safety was never the mission.

Harbors are for maintenance, not meaning.
 
Open waters are your destiny: for risk, for storms, for discovery.
 
Wisdom doesn’t whisper from the dock; it roars through the wind and the waves.
 
The calm may feel secure, but the stillness of comfort is the slow erosion of purpose.

Realism? That’s the polite assassin of ambition.
 
Dreams should make your pulse quicken. If they don’t, they’re too small.
 
Growth demands motion, and motion means turbulence.

Every storm that shakes your hull strengthens your resolve.
 
Every wave that threatens to drown you teaches you to rise higher.
 
The storms are not interruptions to your purpose. They are your initiation.

Step away from the harbor this week.
 
Chart a course toward what scares you.
 
When fear says “turn back,” answer with “watch me.”
 
That’s where courage begins, and destiny takes the helm.

The ship that never launches from the port will never experience the journey.
 
And neither will you.
 
Calm seas are not your purpose; you will discover it on the voyage. 
So hoist your sails, Warrior.
 
Embrace the storm.
 
Because the only thing worse than failing at sea is never leaving the shore at all.

Where are you still anchored when you should be sailing?

Be Extraordinarily Bold!

PS: Be Bold. Always. The harbor can’t hold a man meant for the horizon.

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the world remembered peace. Warriors remember purpose.
 
Some retire their uniform. Warriors never retire their oath.


In 1918, the guns of World War I fell silent. The Armistice marked not just the end of a war, but the birth of remembrance.

Over time, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a day to honor the peace that ended war and the people who bore its cost.

When I raised my right hand on July 8, 1981, I swore an oath to defend the Constitution, to stand against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to serve with honor. That oath doesn’t come with an expiration date. It became part of my identity, part of my Warrior Code.

Those who have served understand three unshakable truths:

Duty is the discipline to do what’s right, even when no one is watching.

Honor is the courage to carry integrity into every decision.

Country is not a flag. It’s the collective soul of the people who choose to rise.

You don’t need to have worn the uniform to live by these principles. Every man and woman can embody the Warrior Spirit by living intentionally, standing firm in conviction, and leading with courage.

This nation was forged by those who refused to quit. Let’s honor them not only in memory but in action, by living lives worthy of their sacrifice.

Today, pause and honor the Warriors who stood the watch. Then ask yourself:
 
What oath do you still live by?

Live with intention. Lead with honor. Be a modern Warrior in your world.

You never confine the Warrior Spirit to the battlefield. It lives in every man who chooses courage over comfort, honor over apathy, and duty over distraction.

This Veterans Day, let’s reignite the spirit that built a nation, and live boldly for what truly matters.

👉 How has service, your own or someone else’s, inspired the way you live or lead today?

I am Rob Fenstermaker, and I want to see you Reclaim your potential, Refine your mindset, and Rise to new heights.

Be Extraordinarily Bold!

PS: The uniform may come off, but the oath never does.

PPS: Honor isn’t something you wear; it’s something you live.

There’s a reason ancient warriors paused before battle to give thanks.
 
They understood something most modern men forget: gratitude doesn’t make you soft; it makes you unshakable.

When the Warrior Spirit burns bright, gratitude becomes your internal compass. It redirects your focus from what’s missing to what’s meaningful. It transforms chaos into clarity, wounds into wisdom, and pressure into purpose.

This week, I want to challenge you to see gratitude not as a journal exercise, but as a weapon of perspective. The man who learns to be thankful in the storm becomes unstoppable when the skies clear.

If you’re ready to fortify your mindset, this is your forge.
 
Welcome to this week’s Empowerment Report: “The Grateful Warrior Rises Stronger Than the Angry One”

You can’t conquer chaos when bitterness is your blade. Every time you choose gratitude over complaint, you forge another link in your spiritual armor.

Open article: The Grateful Warrior Rises Stronger Than the Angry One by Rob Fenstermaker • 2 min read

The Grateful Warrior Rises Stronger Than the Angry One

A Warrior without empathy can win battles but will lose his Brotherhood.


After a short hiatus, Virtual Friday Whiskey Hour returns this Friday, November 7th.
 
Virtual doors open at 4:50 PM ET, and we go live at 5:00 PM.

This week, we’re diving into something rarely discussed in leadership circles: The Power of Empathy.

In a world obsessed with dominance and metrics, empathy is often dismissed as weakness.
 But the truth? It’s the ultimate leadership edge.

Empathy sharpens awareness.
 It forges trust.
 It transforms how leaders connect, communicate, and command.

When a leader feels the pulse of his people, he doesn’t just inspire them—he multiplies their strength.

So here’s the challenge:
 This Friday, bring your drink, your insights, and your willingness to be uncomfortable.
 Because this conversation will push you to rethink what strength really means.

Join us for an evening where Brotherhood meets bold conversation, and where empathy gets its rightful place in the Warrior’s arsenal.

No scripts.
 
No slides.
 
Just real talk, and real leadership lessons that last beyond the pour.

How has empathy shaped—or challenged—your ability to lead?
 
Drop your thoughts below 👇 or better yet, join the circle on Friday and add your voice.

PS: Leadership without empathy is authority without allegiance.

PPS: Bring your whiskey. Bring your truth. Leave your ego at the door.

The Warrior Brand: To Shave or Not to Shave?

 They say every man must face a defining moment that tests his resolve. For some, it’s a battlefield. For others, it’s a barbershop on a cruise ship that doubles as a whiskey bar.

 Next week, Michelle and I are heading out on a cruise with our friends Shane and Joe to celebrate our anniversaries and Michelle’s upcoming birthday. 🎉

Now, Shane Schaefer, a marketing professional, and Michelle Fenstermaker, an executive retail brand strategist, are turning this trip into a creative adventure for their YouTube channel Take 10 with Shane and Michelle (give them a follow!).

One of their big ideas?
 They want me, the “eye candy prop” (their words, not mine), to get a haircut and shave at the ship’s barbershop.

There’s just one problem…My beard isn’t just facial hair.
 
It’s a symbol. A part of my Warrior Brand that I have forged through years of battle, reflection, and growth.

I told them I’d trim it, but shave it? That’s like asking Batman to lose the cape, or a Spartan to drop his shield.

So I made them a deal:
 If they really want me to shave the beard, I’ll need something significant in return. Maybe a custom bottle of 18-year-old single malt. Perhaps a lifetime supply of beard oil for the recovery phase. Or maybe,  just possibly, a full episode of Take 10 dedicated to “The Rebirth of the Warrior.”

So here’s the real question:
 If I cave and shave the beard for the sake of content, what should I hold out for?

Feel free to drop your best ideas below. I’m crowdsourcing my negotiation strategy. 😉
 (My mind says no way, but I might actually go through with it if the comments can change my mind.)

Would you ever compromise your personal brand, even for a good cause or a good laugh?
 Tell me: what’s the “non-negotiable” part of your brand identity?

I am Rob Fenstermaker, and I want to see you Reclaim your potential, Refine your mindset, and Rise to new heights.

Be Extraordinarily Bold!

P.S. If I do end up shaving, it’ll be the most expensive content cameo in Take 10 history.

Some people say Saturday is for rest.
 
No, Saturday is for glory.
 
Saturday is for identity.
 
Saturday is for college football.

There’s something about the roar of the crowd, the clash at the line, and the fourth-quarter grit that reminds every man what the Warrior Spirit feels like in real time.
 
College football isn’t just entertainment; it’s a weekly masterclass in resilience, discipline, leadership, and heart.

Watch long enough and you’ll see everything we talk about in the Warrior Forge:
Momentum swings that mirror our own battles

Teams that out-heart their talent level

Coaches who win not with strategy alone, but with belief

Players who rise because someone needed them to

And fanbases who stay loyal even during “rebuilding years”. 

 So today, while the games roll and the grills fire, take a moment to ask:
 Where in my life do I need to bring the same energy as a fourth-and-one goal-line stand?
 
That’s where the Warrior breaks through.

Drop your team below.
 Bonus points if you say it with full swagger.
 Trash talk is welcome and even encouraged.

Be Extraordinarily Bold! 🏈🔥

PS: If your team loses today, breathe. Even warriors have rebuilding seasons.

PPS: If you are unsure who the number team in the nation is, just take a look at the photo.

Stop treating your misery like a lifestyle.
 
Pain is a teacher, not a roommate. Will you graduate already?

 Many men live with chronic pain, the kind that gnaws, dull, and endless. It may not come from a torn muscle or a bad back, but from a soul-deep ache: a career they hate, a life that feels caged, a dream long buried under “responsibility.”
 
During my years in corporate life, I saw men trapped by this chronic pain, complaining about their jobs but never changing them, numbing themselves with routine, slowly eroding under the weight of their own inaction.

If that sounds familiar, it’s time to trade your chronic pain for some acute pain, the short, sharp kind that leads to healing.

Acute pain is the admission price for transformation. You can’t build new muscle without tearing the old one first.
 
Quit the job. Start the business. Have the hard conversation. Take the risk. 

These are the bold acts of acute pain that can lead to transformation.
 
When you choose to confront the source of your pain, you don’t just heal, you take back control of your life.

The strongest point of any bone is where it once broke, because it healed stronger. The same is true for you.
 
Chronic pain weakens.
 
Acute pain strengthens.
 
One numbs you.
 
The other shapes you.

 Where in your life are you tolerating chronic pain when what you need is one bold act of acute pain to finally heal?

I am Rob Fenstermaker, and I want to see you Reclaim your potential, Refine your mindset, and Rise to new heights.

Be Extraordinarily Bold!

PS: Comfort coddles. Pain crafts. Choose your sculptor wisely.

PPS:  Don’t fear the fire. Fear what happens if you never step into it.

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The Battle

Rodney Steele

Rob Fenstermaker

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The Battle

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Rob Fenstermaker

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Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Rob Fenstermaker's LinkedIn Performance

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