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Brentwood Services Administrators Inc. has selected Theresa Vinson as a new senior claim representative in the Raleigh, N.C., office, according to Jeff Pettus, president and CEO of BSA.

In her position as senior claim representative, Vinson is responsible for reviewing, processing and handling medical workers’ compensation claims as assigned by Shirley Girard, senior claims supervisor in the BSA Raleigh, N.C., office. Vinson determines the compensability of the claim and extent of liability. She also communicates directly with clients, employers, injured workers, physicians and attorneys, and manages claims in a timely and economic manner.

Prior to joining BSA, Vinson worked for CorVell Corporate in Raleigh, as a claim specialist.

Brentwood Services Administrators Inc., headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., provides claims management and loss control services to employers and employer associations with self-insured and large deductible programs for workers’ compensation and other casualty lines.

Ascend Insurance Brokerage is expanding its presence with the opening of a new office in Nashville. The company has tapped Sara Anderson to head its new Nashville effort as assistant vice president of the company, expanding Ascend’s executive staff.

Anderson has eight years of experience in the insurance industry, including a specialty in coverage to support the needs of artists and artist management. Formerly an account executive at HUB International, Anderson also worked at Robertson Taylor.

According to Ascend Insurance Brokerage CEO Paul Bassman, the opening of the Nashville office will expand the company’s event security and staffing offerings for the event space and the entertainment industry at large.

Ascend Insurance Brokerage specializes in entertainment insurance and risk management services.

The Main Street America Group announced Jeff Kusch, who has led the company’s field sales function for the past two years, has been promoted to executive vice president, insurance operations.

In addition to continuing to oversee the super-regional property/casualty insurance carrier’s sales and marketing operations, Kusch will also have responsibility for its three core product areas: commercial lines, personal lines and bonds.

Product vice presidents Dan Gaynor (commercial), Nancy Giordano-Ramos (bonds) and Debbie Murphy (personal) will report to Kusch. Additionally, Main Street America’s five regional presidents will continue to report to Kusch: Mark Berger (Northeast Region); Steve Berry (New England Region); Chris Cox (Florida Region); Tiffany Daly (Western Region); and Dave Randle (Southeast Region).

Kusch will continue to report to Main Street America chairman and CEO Tom Van Berkel.

In addition to his new executive vice president position, Kusch will remain president of three Main Street America affiliate carriers: Austin Mutual Insurance Co., Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Co. and Spring Valley Mutual Insurance Co.

Kusch joined Austin Mutual in 1992 as an accounting manager. His leadership roles at Austin Mutual included treasurer, secretary, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board. Following Austin Mutual’s affiliation with Main Street America in 2012, Kusch became its Western Region president, a role he held until his appointment in 2015 as senior vice president, field operations.

Prior to joining Austin Mutual, Kusch was a member of the senior audit staff at Coopers & Lybrand LLP.

The Main Street America Group is a mutual insurance holding company which writes business through its nine property/casualty insurance carriers. The company is based in Jacksonville, Fla.

Baldwin Risk Partners (BRP), a Tampa-based insurance distribution and consulting holding company, has appointed Joe Finney to president, Mainstreet Insurance Group (MIG).

MIG is a division of BRP focused on providing insurance brokerage coverages and products to mainstreet Americans and businesses. Operating companies in the MIG group includes The Villages Insurance Partners and Ryan Insurance.

In his role as president, Finney is responsible for establishing the organization’s strategic and operational performance, developing and facilitating the execution of business integration plans and sharing of operational best practices for newly acquired operations, and identifying acquisition and merger opportunities.

Finney joins BRP with over 30 years of experience. He previously served as an operating partner with Concentric Equity Partners where he was also the chief executive officer for Environment Pest Services LLC. He has also served as the CEO and president of Tire Centers Divisions for Michelin North America, and president of Sears Automotive Group.

Topics Workers' Compensation