Business Moves

Buckeye Insurance Group, Marias Technology

Buckeye Insurance Group, of Piqua, Ohio, formed Marias Technology, an information technology company. Marias Technology provides a range of IT services in areas such as system and Web hosting, information technology consulting, and business process outsourcing including document printing, assembly, and mailing. For insurance companies, Marias can provide a specialized segment of services in areas of computer system migration, process improvements, computer system testing, and insurance technology consulting.

Marias also provides business continuity and availability services for businesses of all sizes and in all industries. For years business continuity was mainly referred to as disaster recovery. The basic concept is still the same, but the need for business continuity has moved well past disasters.

Buckeye revamped portions of its former corporate offices in Covington, Ohio, to facilitate the needs of Marias Technology. The building features a fully-functioning computer datacenter to fulfill the needs of Marias’ system and Web site hosting clients. For those Marias clients who desire business continuity and availability services, the building features stand-by workstations, each with a computer with Internet access, a phone, as well as access to printers, copiers, and fax machines.

Marias Technology is led by Buckeye Insurance Group Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Technical Operations R. Christopher Haines, and Information Systems Manager Jim Kessler.

The Marias name originates from a high mountain pass in the Montana Rockies. The discovery of the pass helped many people find their way over the mountain. Marias Technology’s motto is “Helping businesses over the technology mountain.”

In addition to Marias Technology, Buckeye Insurance Group operates Buckeye State Mutual Insurance Co. and Home and Farm Insurance Co.

Buckeye State Mutual, Middle Georgia Mutual

Buckeye State Mutual Insurance Co. (BSMIC) agreed to affiliate with Middle Georgia Mutual Insurance Co. (MGM) of Griffin, Ga. The agreement is contingent upon regulatory approval from the Ohio and Georgia Departments of Insurance, as well as the boards of both Buckeye and MGM.

The closing is expected by March 31.

BSMIC will hold a majority on the MGM board. Terry R. Gordy will continue as president of MGM and report to R. Douglas Haines, president and CEO of BSMIC.

Middle Georgia Mutual was founded in 1894 and wrote $6.7 million in direct premium in 2010. MGM markets its product in rural Georgia aligning effectively with Buckeye’s current rural exposure in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado.

BSMIC offers personal auto, home, farm, farm auto, dwelling fire, and personal umbrella insurance.

Ryan Specialty Group, TRU, Concord Specialty Risk

Chicago-based Ryan Specialty Group LLC (RSG) launched Technical Risk Underwriters (TRU), a specialty managing general underwriter (MGU) focused on providing best-in-class underwriting for complex construction and property risks. TRU is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

The MGU is led by an experienced group of underwriters, engineers and construction specialists dedicated to developing and deploying new analytical tools for broadening clients’ property risk-transfer options.

TRU provides immediate availability of a Course of Construction Difference in Conditions (DIC) and Deductible Buy-Down Program. The program is backed by A.M. Best currently rated “A+” XV insurers with capacity for policies that may be up to 36-month term. Coverage capabilities include: named windstorm and storm surge, earth movement including sprinkler leakage, flood, including soft costs and extra expense, and is available for projects of all sizes and scope.

TRU President Michael J. Pilla said TRU is developing other products for construction and technical risk clients that range from small projects to large engineered risks.

RSG also acquired New York-based Concord Specialty Risk, a managing general underwriter and consultant that provides transactional risk insurance and loss mitigation-evaluation services.

Concord Specialty was founded by CEO David S. De Berry and his brother, President Kenneth W. De Berry.

R-T Specialty, American E&S

Chicago-based R-T Specialty, the wholesale brokerage unit of Ryan Specialty Group, agreed to purchase the wholesale insurance business of American E&S Insurance Brokers (AES) from Wells Fargo Insurance Services.

R-T Specialty will acquire substantially all of the operating assets and related liabilities of AES, including eight office locations: San Francisco, Fresno and Irvine, Calif., as well as New York, Denver, Atlanta, Nashville and Seattle. It expects to hire nearly all of the employees in those office locations.

Neal Aton, president and CEO of Wells Fargo Insurance Services, said the sale of its excess and surplus insurance wholesaler allows the company to focus on core retail operations and other niche businesses including Wells Fargo Special Risks, which offers customers underwriting and backroom support services.

In recent months, R-T Specialty also acquired professional liability intermediary Oakbridge Insurance Services of Connecticut and Southeast wholesaler McAuley Woods.

McGowan Companies

The McGowan Companies Inc. in Fairview Park, Ohio, rebranded its core insurance operations.

McGowan and Co. Inc., which designs, administers and markets highly-specialized programs of insurance, was renamed McGowan Program Administrators.

Statehouse Casualty Managers Inc. and The Windward Group Inc. merged to form McGowan Excess & Casualty, a managing general underwriter that specializes in writing umbrella and excess liability products for a range of commercial customer types and sizes.

McGowan, Donnelly & Oberheu LLC, a wholesale insurance broker specializing in the placement of professional and management liability risks, will retain its name.

The company’s rebranding campaign is designed to eliminate any confusion in the marketplace and to make it easier for brokers to access all McGowan product offerings, the company said.

Applied Systems Client Network
Applied Systems Client Network (ASCnet), the users group of Applied Systems insurance agency management software, completed its transition to new offices near Chicago and hired several new staff, announced Steve Johnson, CEO.

The new Chicago-based staff will support ASCnet members and partners throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Christina Ciurej will serve as director of operations overseeing accounting and human resources, while streamlining operations and creating efficiencies. She has more than 12 years experience in the not-for-profit arena, most recently as vice president at the National Association of Quick Printers.

Susan Carlson is ASCnet’s new director of education. She will lead strategic development and execution of all educational activities and programs. Her more than 30 years of experience in adult education include a decade in association education management, most recently at the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Jennifer Fininis was previously project coordinator at the American Hardware Manufacturers Association, and now will assist Carlson as education coordinator.

LaTosha Holden isASCnet’s new marketing manager, bringing eight years of association marketing experience to the position. Holden was most recently marketing specialist at the American Academy of Dermatology. At ASCnet, she develops and manages the marketing strategy for all programs and services.

Barb Vargas is a part-time administrative assistant, who will draw on her five years of non-profit association administrative experience as she supports ASCnet staff, members and partners.

ASCnet had called the Orlando area home since the mid-1980s. The Chicago move is part of a multi-year effort to centralize ASCnet’s activities throughout North America and sharpen the group’s value to members. The change enables ASCnet to centrally locate its leadership, and it allows for improved collaboration with a key stakeholder, Applied Systems, which is based south of Chicago.

Staff leaders who will continue to work from the Orlando, Fla., area are: Lynn Walsh, director of member relations, who helps members achieve maximum value from their membership; Muriel Hogan, chapters and events manager, who supports chapter volunteers and coordinates ASCnet’s meetings and events; and Aaron Hardy, information technology manager, who supports the ASCnet-related automation needs of members, chapter leaders, committee leaders, business partners and staff.

Topics Ohio Georgia