Jerry Blais

Tom Ellis

Zurich North America appointed Jerry Blais to a newly created executive position as head of Zurich’s South Central region. Headquartered in Dallas, the region consists of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Blais previously worked at Zurich as a regional marketing executive from 2000 to 2002. Prior to accepting this new position, Blais served as business development manager for Blais Excess & Surplus Agency of Texas Ltd.

New Day Underwriting Managers LLC, an environmental and construction-related professional liability resource for insurance agents and brokers, appointed Timothy Squyres as vice president. Based in Houston, Squyres will help agents and brokers nationwide to coordinate specialty environmental and construction insurance programs for their clients.

Squyres joined New Day Underwriting from XL Environmental and its predecessor, ECS Inc., where he held the position of regional vice president of Global Sales for seven years. Prior to joining ECS/XL, Squyres worked as a producer for A&A, Willis Corroon Marine and Energy, and a boutique energy agency in Houston, selling all lines of coverages, including environmental, to oil and gas companies and contractors and their downstream
suppliers.

Dallas-based McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP announced that partner Tom P. Ellis, III, has completed the requisite training and examinations to achieve Certified Risk Manager status, joining an elite group of risk management professionals to attain this designation.

To attain the CRM designation, Ellis completed five courses in the program and passed extensive examinations in each of the following subject areas: Principles of Risk Management, Analysis of Risk, Control of Risk, Financing of Risk and Practice of Risk Management. The CRM program features practical, “hands-on” course content, designed to be applied immediately to the risk manager’s daily work.

As head of MHBT’s construction practice, Ellis advises construction companies and contractors/subcontractors on their insurance and risk management needs. In addition to the CRM, he previously received the CPCU, CLU and CPU professional designations.

Dallas-based Pacific Wholesale Insurance of Texas announced that Carrie Keel has joined the firm as associate underwriter/broker. In this position she will handle a full range of commercial lines.

Keel brings 25 years of experience to her new position. She has served several leading wholesalers in the Southwest, working with a broad mix of coverages, and has extensive contacts among independent agents in Texas.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners announced that Brett Palmer joined its Government Affairs office in Washington, D.C., as managing director of government relations. He will represent NAIC members before state, federal and international groups on insurance-related matters, oversee the preparation of testimony and analysis of legislation, and brief NAIC members who testify or visit congressional offices.

Western Surplus Lines Agency Inc. in Abilene, Texas, promoted Frank Peck to the position of vice president. Peck will be involved in the overall management operations of Western with his continued emphasis being on both underwriting and marketing the agency’s broad complement of commercial-related specialty insurance products and exclusive binding authority programs.

Peck joined Western in January 2004. Prior to that he was a successful independent real estate agent and part owner of a major real estate firm in Abilene for 12 years. His marketing and technical skills have aided Western in increasing its annual premium writings and providing enhanced service to its clients and producers.

The Galveston Gulf Coast Insurance Board recently elected new Board members to lead the organization for the 2005-2006 term. Leah Calloway, with Truman Taylor Insurance, was elected president. Other officers include: Vice President Mike Tarlton with Texas Affordable Insurance; Secretary Gigi Heffernan with Heffernan Insurance Agency; and Treasurer Maggie Adams with A & P Insurance Center.

The Galveston Gulf Coast Insurance Board is comprised of two organizations that merged in 2003 – the Gulf Coast Insurance Agents and the Galveston Insurance Board. It has 19 agency members and additional associate members.

Dallas’ RISC Inc. announced that Roger Herron joined the firm as a senior underwriter in its MGA department. He will be focusing on small to mid-size property, general liability, liquor liability, inland marine, auto and umbrella coverages.

Herron began his career with Continental Insurance after obtaining his BS in Commerce and Industry. He obtained an Associate in Underwriting (AU) in 1998 and has over 18 years’ industry experience on the company, agency and wholesale side.

Cunningham Lindsey U.S. Inc., headquartered in Dallas, added Laura Pastore as property analyst and trainer. Pastore has many years of experience as an adjuster, supervisor, trainer and project manager. She is a certified trainer for both IntegriClaim and Xactimate. Her primary responsibility will be as a project manager and analyst for CLUS’ new MSB Analytics Application.

USI Holdings Corporation appointed Mark L. Gardner to the newly created position of director of compliance. In his new role, Gardner will lead the further design and implementation 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.

To submit information for this department, e-mail ijtexas@insurancejournal.com.