The Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia approved its 2005-2006 slate of officers at the group’s annual convention last month at the Landsdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va.
Thomas L. Welch, of Welch, Graham & Ogden Insurance, succeeds M. Steven Harris as president. Harris, who is with Richardson, Harris, Boatwright, becomes immediate past president.
Michael F. Funkhouser, of Haun & Magruder Inc., was chosen president-elect. Also elected were Tyler W. Hancock, Ford & Thomas Insurance Agency, as first vice president; Cynthia Amick, Nusbaum Insurance Agency, as second vice president; and Hubel Robins III, Robins Insurance Agency, as treasurer.
SAN Group, a network of more than 180 independent insurance agencies in the Northeast, announced several organizational changes from its New Hampshire headquarters.
Michele DeForest was promoted to senior vice president. DeForest’s new emphasis is on the overall development of SAN’s strategic partner relationships, including strategic planning with carriers across the entire Northeast region. She will continue to manage and grow the overall network in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and will personally continue making new appointments. She has been with the SAN Group since 1994.
Connie Bedaw was promoted to vice president of agency development. In this newly created position, Bedaw will assist high growth potential member agencies in agency development and new business opportunities. She will also maintain her overall responsibility for AccessPlus. Bedaw has been with SAN Group since its inception.
Karen D’Agostino was named regional vice president for eastern Massachusetts and is charged with growing the SAN Group network in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Suffolk counties. She brings almost 30 years of experience as an underwriter and marketing manager, most recently at Hanover Insurance.
Mary Ann Guay was promoted to vice president of agency operations and is responsible for the overall management of internal operations for SAN agency services and company results. She is also responsible for SAN’s quality control program, including the tracking and monitoring of all company results. She has 15 years of insurance experience and has been with SAN since 1998.
Also, Deanna Morrison was promoted to AccessPlus manager. She will now be responsible for the daily operations of AccessPlus. These duties include monitoring customer service surveys, staffing, workflow, new member orientations and participating in insurance company meetings. Morrison has been with SAN Group since 1986.
SAN Group is the founding member of SIAA Inc., an international independent insurance agency network.
Allied North America, a risk and insurance brokerage firm for the construction industry based in Jericho, N.Y., has appointed Lauren M. Gregory as senior vice president/risk management specialist. Gregory will design risk financing techniques for potential and existing clients. Gregory will also assist in all areas of business development. Gregory will be based at company headquarters in Jericho, N.Y., and will report to David Marino, president of Allied North America of New York.
Gregory joins Allied after a 22-year career at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York, where she most recently held the position of director of risk and insurance management.
Robert Hartwig, vice president and chief economist of Manhattan-based Insurance Information Institute, was recently appointed to a one-year term as an at-large director of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York Inc. As an IIABNY at-large director, Hartwig will help guide the association’s board of directors on policies and issues vital to the interests of the organization’s members at more than 1,900 locations statewide. Hartwig serves as a media spokesperson for the property/casualty insurance industry and is quoted frequently in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today and Business Week.
The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York Inc. also honored a number of individuals and groups recently at its 2005 annual business meeting. The award recipients included Mark Rollins III, co-chairman and chef executive officer of The Rollins Agency Inc. in Tuckahoe, who was presented the annual Community Service Award. Rollins was recognized for his volunteer work with Bridges to Community, which promotes cross-cultural learning through goodwill trips to developing countries. In January, Rollins led a group of 18 agency owners on a trip to Nicaragua. Rollins also raised more than $400,000 to build houses in Nicaragua.
Webster Insurance, a subsidiary of Webster Financial Corporation in Waterbury, Conn., has promoted William N. Guerrera to senior vice president, public entities division and Frank N. Pulito to senior vice president, financial services.
Guerrera is responsible for property, casualty and risk services, developing customized risk management solutions for public entities and large corporations. Before Webster, Guerrera spent more than 20 years with the Litchfield Insurance Group, where he served as a partner.
Pulito is responsible for developing employee benefit plans. In 1999, Pulito, who has more than 20 years experience in the field, joined Benefit Plans Design and Administration Inc., which was acquired by Webster Insurance in 2001.
USI Holdings Corporation has appointed Mark L. Gardner to the newly created position of director of compliance. In his new role, Gardner will lead the design of a plan to solidify the company’s legal regulatory compliance program while further institutionalizing the company’s code of business conduct and the industry’s evolving business practice standards. Gardner will report to Ernest J. Newborn II, USI’s senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, as well as to the audit committee.
Gardner joins Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.-headquartered USI from General Star Indemnity Company, where he served as vice president and chief compliance officer. Prior to General Star, Gardner served as deputy superintendent for the New York State Insurance Department.
The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey Inc. presented Glenn Watkins with the Company Person of the Year award. Watkins is a marketing representative for Cumberland Mutual in Bridgeton N.J.
Topics New York
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