People
The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big ‘I’) has added Thomas C. Koonce as assistant vice president for federal government affairs in its Capitol Hill office. He joins two fellow assistant vice presidents, Brendan Reilly and John Prible, in the Capitol Hill office.
Koonce was previously the manager of government relations for Accenture LLP, and also has private sector experience. Prior to working at Accenture, Koonce was legislative director for Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), a member of the House Financial Services Committee. Koonce also worked on the Democratic staff of the House Judiciary Committee. He also previously staffed Rep. Stephen Neal (D-N.C.).
Regional wholesaler Russell Bond & Co. Inc. announced that Gary A. Hollederer has been promoted to executive vice president. He joined the Buffalo, N.Y.-based Russell Bond in September 1992 after years with insurers and Buffalo area retail agencies. He is responsible for management of all production, as well as broker and insurer relationships. Hollederer also serves as the president of the Professional Insurance Wholesalers Association of New York, Inc.
Also, Mark M. Palmisano has been promoted to senior vice president. He joined Russell Bond in January 1995 after many years in accounting and banking. He is responsible for financial management, human resource administration, facilities management, information technology and strategic planning.
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America has appointed Genio Staranczak as its chief economist. Staranczak will be responsible for economic analysis of public policy issues facing the industry. Staranczak has a background in macroeconomic analysis and forecasts, microeconomic studies, policy analysis and regulatory research. Before joining PCI, he was the principal telecommunications economist for the Illinois Commerce Commission. He also served with WEFA Group, a macroeconomic forecasting firm.
New York Superintendent of Insurance Howard Mills announced the appointment of Susan Donnellan as the New York State Insurance Department’s deputy superintendent and general counsel. Donnellan had been the deputy general counsel since July 2000. She was instrumental in developing the department’s privacy and e-commerce initiatives and played a key role in the investigations into the conduct of brokers and insurers, according to Mills. Prior to joining the department, Donnellan served as associate general counsel of the Life Insurance Council of New York and before that was counsel and secretary of Swiss Re Life Co. America.
Satellite Agency Network Group Inc. (SAN Group), a network of independent insurance agencies in the New England and New York, has named Christine Roukey director of communications and marketing. She will support SAN members with marketing initiatives including SIAA Insurance Choices, a television branding and consumer program. Roukey has been with the SAN Group since August 2000.
Swett & Crawford has added four new brokers including Mark Travers, who comes to the New York office of Swett & Crawford from Kornreich-NIA Group where he was a broker for a variety of industries, including private equity, real estate and restaurants.
The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey Inc. has elected officers for for 2006-2007, with Andrew Anderson of Beach Haven, N.J., president. He is executive vice president and secretary of the G. Anderson Agency in Haven Beach, N.J. Other PIANJ officers elected include:
Jack Lynn, Medford, N.J., re-elected vice president. He is partner and vice president of Dalton Insurance Agency in Glassboro, N.J.
Gary Rygiel, Colts Neck, N.J., was re-elected vice president. He is executive vice president of Liberty Insurance Associates in Millstone Township, N.J.
William R. Vowteras, Edison, N.J., was elected vice president. He is an owner of Fraser Brothers Group LLC in Edison, N.J., and Kennedy & Ward Insurance Agency in Eatontown, N.J.
Donna Cunningham, Florham Park, N.J., was elected treasurer. She is president of ADP/Statewide Insurance Agencies Inc. in Cedar Knolls, N.J.
Keith Savino, Mahwah, N.J., was elected secretary. He is agent, partner and chief operating officer of WRG in Mahwah, N.J.
John Latimer, Esq., of Riverton, N.J., will serve as immediate past president. He is vice president of The Barclay Group in Riverton and president of J.S. Braddock Agency in Medford.