People

State Auto Insurance’s previously announced Austin, Texas, claims facility is now operational, the company reported. The following individuals serve on the claims team at the Austin facility:

Sandra Robinson, claims supervisor, has 30 years of experience as an all lines adjuster with management and litigation experience. Prior to State Auto, she was employed with Texas Property & Casualty Guaranty Insurance Association (TPCIGA), Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Allstate, Providence Washington Group and Marsh & McLennan. Robinson also has third party administration experience with several leading companies.

Susan Smith, claims representative, is a 20-year claims veteran specializing in claims investigation. She previously worked for Farmers Insurance Co. and for a law firm specializing in personal injury and commercial litigation. Smith has earned the Associate in Claims (AIC) designation.

Karyn Bartels, claims representative, has 29 years of experience as a multi-line claims adjuster with significant management experience. She has served in claims examiner and supervisory roles with major insurance companies such as Crum & Forester, Travelers, USAA, and Provident Washington Insurance Co.

Scott Dady, property claims representative, has 17 years of multi-line claims adjuster experience and four years of experience as a commercial construction estimator. His catastrophe adjusting experience includes Hurricanes Charlie, Francis, Jeanne, Katrina, and Tropical Storm Hermine, as well as Midwest hail storms and California mud slides.

Whitney Raines, claims representative, has six years of multi-line claims adjusting experience and has served in both in house and on site catastrophe deployments. She previously worked for Travelers Insurance in San Antonio, Texas.

Felix Lopez, claims representative, has 29 years of experience in the insurance industry, including multiline adjusting experience. He has worked for Austin Metro Claims Services, Barron Risk Mgmt. and State Farm Insurance. He also has served as a sales representative with Prudential Insurance.

Michelle Maciok, claims representative, has more than 35 years of experience as a multi-line claims adjuster. She previously was employed by TPCIGA, Tenet Healthcare System Inc., Coronia Corp, USF&G, Mayflower Moving & Storage, Foremost and Allstate Insurance Co.

Tony Mendoza, auto damage appraiser, has 11 years of experience as an auto physical damage appraiser. Prior to State Auto, he worked for Caliber Collision Centers and Rvest Appraisal Services Inc. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

John Shoemaker, claims representative, has 21 years’ experience as a property and automobile adjuster. He joined State Auto in Columbus in 2003 and relocated back to Texas in 2008. He formerly was employed by Tieken Claims Service Inc. and has earned the AIC and Haag Certification. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, his catastrophe experience includes Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge earthquake.

Derek Sewell, property claims representative, has six years of property and automobile claims adjusting experience. He previously was employed by Farmers and Travelers Insurance Co. and served as an independent adjuster affiliated with Tailored Adjustment Services Inc. He is based in Dallas.

Paul Moinot, property claims representative, has eight years of multi-line claims adjuster experience. Based in Houston, he worked at PM Management LLC and St. Paul Travelers Insurance Co. before joining State Auto.

Miguel A. Barrales has been named president of Universal Insurance Holdings of North America, a multi-regional insurance carrier with 170 employees and operations in 17 states.

Universal North America is a subsidiary of Universal Group Inc., Puerto Rico’s principal supplier of property/casualty, auto and life insurance, policy financing and investment products.

Barrales will direct Universal North America’s business operations and strengthen its overall presence and relationships in the United States.

Barrales brings more than 15 years of global experience in underwriting and management to Universal North America. Previously, Barrales was CEO of Flagstone Underwriters Latin America and also held senior management positions with global reinsurer Swiss Re.

Workers’ compensation provider Berkley Net Underwriters created a new south central sales region and named Kevin Foushee as director of business development for the region, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Foushee’s industry experience has included both business development and underwriting, including branch management and regional responsibilities for national carriers.

Global insurance broker Marsh appointed Bill Pieroni to the role of chief operating officer. Pieroni comes from State Farm where he served as senior vice president. In his new role at Marsh, he will be responsible for the firm’s global operations. He will be based in New York and report to Peter Zaffino, president and CEO of Marsh.

At State Farm Pieroni was responsible for U.S. and international strategic planning, competitor and consumer research, internal consulting, as well as leading business strategy initiatives across the company.

HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. promoted Jackie S. Kellems to senior vice president enterprise risk management, reporting to the Houston-based company’s CEO John N. Molbeck Jr.

Kellems joined HCC in 1994. She has 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, including extensive experience in underwriting, corporate insurance and risk management.

Kellems leads HCC’s internal risk committee and assists the enterprise risk oversight committee of the company’s board of directors with its risk management responsibilities.

Texas-based retail and managing general insurance agency, The Woodlands Financial Group Inc. (TWFG), opened 11 new branch locations in three states in August 2011. Among the added personnel included in the company’s expansion are:

Ela Nunes joined TWFG after 34 years as Farmers Agent in Northern California. Nunes is currently licensed in five states.

Quynh Lam comes to TWFG with more than 20 years in the insurance industry, eight of which were with Farmers. Lam’s branch is located in Houston, Texas.

Blake Barnes has opened a new branch location in Amarillo, Texas. Barnes joined TWFG with nine years of experience in the insurance industry, two with AFLAC and seven with State Farm.

Adrienne Colman has opened a new branch location in Silver Spring, Md. Colman comes to TWFG with 16 years of financial services industry experience, the previous three as a scratch agent with Allstate.

Chad Young has opened a new branch location in Bullard, Texas. Young’s previous experience includes seven years with isource Design & Construction Management and four years with Mabry & Associates.

Robert Lee Wagner Jr. has opened up a new branch location in San Antonio, Texas. Wagner is a managing principle member of the National Financial Alliance LLC. He has 31 years of experience in the financial service industry.

Scott Norman opened a new branch in Pottsboro, Texas. Norman comes to TWFG after serving as an independent insurance agent with State Mutual in Rhome, Ga. Prior to joining the insurance industry, Norman served as vice president and general manager of American Cold Storage Inc. for 16 years. He is licensed in Texas and Oklahoma.

Topics Catastrophe USA Texas Auto Claims Property Market