People

Dallas-based global insurance and reinsurance broker, Colemont, added Catherine L. Wall as assistant vice president and associate legal counsel.

In this newly created role, Wall will assist in overseeing the company’s overall domestic legal needs, including monitoring and managing litigation matters, corporate governance issues, and licensing and regulatory compliance.

Prior to joining Colemont, Wall worked as an associate attorney at Strasburger & Price in Dallas, Texas, where she handled bankruptcy, environmental, employment, and product liability matters.

Ron Klimek has been promoted to vice president of Marketing and Business Development for Pasadena, Calif.-based Western Security Surplus Insurance Brokers Inc. Klimek will oversee the sales and marketing efforts for all WSS offices with a goal of increasing market penetration in California and Texas.

Brian Dakota is the new Texas marketing representative and will be responsible for new agent appointments and qualifications as well as re-qualifying the WSS existing agency plant in Texas.

Jennie Reed and Khlanie Jackson have been promoted to broker positions. Reed joined the WSS underwriting staff more than a year ago; Jackson has been with WSS for almost three years as an associate broker.

Cherry Keal will be assuming the role of brokerage tech in Dallas and will be training with Jackson.

Insurance education provider, The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, based in Austin, Texas, selected Beverly A. Messer as vice president, in charge of National Business Development for the not-for-profit organization.

Messer began her insurance career in 1975 when she joined her family-owned insurance agency located in Northwest Indiana. Her responsibilities included all aspects of sales and agency operations.

She has been honored twice as the Insurance Agent of the Year by the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana (IIAI), and is also an instructor for Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) institutes and Certified Insurance Service Representatives (CISR) courses.

First Premium Insurance Group Inc., a Louisiana-based regional property and casualty insurance broker, announced its newest team member, Danny Gendusa. He joined First Premium as commercial lines manager.

Gendusa has been in the insurance industry for 27 years and is experienced in all areas of personal and commercial lines. He is licensed in property/casualty, surplus lines, and life/health insurance.

Gendusa is the past president of Professional Insurance Agents of Louisiana (PIA) and is active in lobbying for passage of state and national legislation with respect to agent issues, tort reform, and catastrophic event stop loss programs.

Calabasas, Calif.-based Countrywide Insurance Group, a member of the Countrywide Financial Corporation, named Myron Hendry as managing director and chief operating officer of Countrywide Insurance Group.

Prior to this appointment, Hendry was responsible for overseeing Countrywide Insurance Group’s central operations, claims and information technology. He has more than three decades of experience in the insurance industry and an extensive background in multiple lines of business, such as personal, commercial, life, health and accident insurance. He also has held senior management positions and worldwide responsibility at some of the industry’s most-respected insurance companies, including Safeco and CNA.

Texas General Agency Inc., based in San Antonio, has hired Jay Wagoner to serve as product development manager. Prior to joining TGA, Wagoner was executive vice president of Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, managing their Texas operation. He has 21 years of experience in the insurance industry.

Texas General Agency Inc. is a full service managing general agency serving the excess and surplus lines market in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hallmark Financial Services Inc.

USG Insurance Services Inc., a national wholesale broker of commercial insurance headquartered in Tampa, Fla., announced that Michael House, former Florida and South Carolina branch manager, is relocating to Louisiana to serve as branch manager in that state.

House has held the position of USG Florida and South Carolina branch manager for four years and has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry. Prior to joining USG, House was the brokerage manager for Oversteet & Newell, marketing manager/senior underwriter for Universal Specialty Underwriters and underwriting supervisor for Symons Intl. Group. His areas of expertise include garage, property, and casualty.

The Louisiana branch is one of 11 USG offices nationwide.

Frank Crystal & Company expanded its employee benefits division with two key appointments in its Houston office.

The company announced that Corky Saenz and Jay Donnella have joined Frank Crystal as directors in the employee benefits department.

Saenz has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry with significant expertise in self funding analysis, FSA plan design and implementation, consumer driven health plans, disability, legislative and compliance issues, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, key account team management, and employee benefit communications. Prior to joining Frank Crystal, he was a vice president at Aon Consulting, where he was the practice leader for mid market employers.

Donnella has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. He has significant experience working with group medical and ancillary lines, both self-funded and fully-insured. Prior to joining Frank Crystal, he was a vice president at Willis.

Frank Crystal & Company, founded in 1933, is headquartered in New York City.

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Topics Texas Agencies Louisiana Market Training Development