People and Places

Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corp.(LWCC) hired David T. White as director of internal audit. White will be responsible for providing overall direction for the internal audit function. He was previously audit unit manager for General Reinsurance’s North America and Australia operations and also held several finance, accounting and audit positions with NYNEX, which is now Verizon Communications.

PWIB Texas announced that Teresa Hamm has joined the company as accounting manager. In this capacity she will be in charge of accounting and related activities for the firm’s Dallas and San Antonio offices. Hamm has eight years’ experience with other insurance organizations.

Burns & Wilcox promoted Aubrey Salonen to commercial underwriter in the Houston office. Salonen joined Burns & Wilcox in 2001 as an assistant underwriter.

Ann Arn, a commercial lines CSR with Gans & Smith Insurance Agency in Longview, Texas, has won the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas’ Accredited Customer Service Representative of the Year award. Additionally, Lori Flores, vice president of Frost Insurance Agency, San Antonio, was named the André Juneau Young Agent of the Year. Both awards were presented at the trade association’s 110th Annual Conference & Trade Show in early June.

Fred Steves, executive director of Myron F. Steves, sponsor of the ACSR award, presented the honor to Arn.

Arn holds the ACSR designation in both personal lines and commercial lines.

Her community and civic experience includes volunteering in her church, as a teacher in a comprehensive educational program for children and at the community rescue mission.

Flores, the André Juneau Young Agent of the Year award winner, has been an insurance professional all her adult life, having started at age 17, when her mother urged her to get a summer job.

Flores worked her way from CSR to sales to senior management. She serves the IIAT membership in a number of capacities including service as the president-elect of her local agents association, as co-chair of the young agents, and leader of several projects including the IIAT’s “Party 101: Consequences” student education program. She works on IIAT’s IMPACT campaign and in the coming fiscal year she will serve on the Young Agents Advisory Council.

Flores serves on the board of a local children’s home in San Antonio and works with the local fire and police departments for the benefit of children.

Clyde Fitch of Travelers, sponsor of the Young Agent award, presented the award to Flores. It is named in honor of André Juneau, a past Young Agent of the Year and past president of the association.

H.W. Kaufman Financial Group/Burns & Wilcox has realigned the company’s senior management team. Seven executives were promoted to senior vice president or vice president positions with corporate responsibility to both the H.W. Kaufman Financial Group and Burns & Wilcox. The promotions include:

Gary Batten, to senior vice president from vice president. In addition to his continued management of the New Orleans and Baton Rouge offices, Batten also is responsible for Burns & Wilcox’s Atlanta, Little Rock, Ark., and Birmingham, Ala., offices.

Donald Carson, to senior vice president from vice president. He retains responsibility for the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston offices. Carson also is responsible for Kaufman Financial Group/Burns & Wilcox special projects and operations.

Harvey Goldenberg, to senior vice president from vice president. He assumes responsibility for all California offices — Fresno, Modesto, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco.

Wayne Bates, to vice president from associate vice president and director of Special Risk Division (SRD) — International. Bates will continue to oversee SRD — International.

Michael Franzese, to vice president from vice president and manager of the Daytona Beach, Fla., and Tampa, Fla., offices. He will continue to direct these offices.

Michael Maharaj, to vice president from vice president manager of the Phoenix and Albuquerque, N.M., offices. He will retain responsibility for these offices.

Kermit Shaulis, to vice president vice president and manager of the Pittsburgh office. He will continue to oversee the Pittsburgh office.

Additionally, Ken Laderoute has been promoted to vice president of underwriting from associate vice president and director of SRD — Domestic. He continues his role with SRD — Domestic and is responsible for the company’s Farmington Hills, Mich., and Cleveland offices.

San Antonio-based Argonaut Group Inc. appointed Ronald B. Given to the position of senior vice president and general counsel. Given succeeds Byron L. LeFlore, Jr., who was named to the newly created role of executive counsel.

Given will assume responsibility for all operational and legal duties of the office of general counsel while LeFlore will continue to provide counsel and oversight regarding the external and strategic affairs of the company, including its merger and acquisition activities.

Given joins Argonaut Group after 29 years with Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw, where he has been partner since 1985.

Houston-based international specialty insurance group HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. appointed Lisa A. Moore as vice president of human resources. Moore has served in human resources and legal departments since 1983 and has most recently been vice president of Human Resources for Landry’s Restaurants Inc.

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