Business Moves
Security Planning, CSIPros
Salt Lake City-based Security Planning & Insurance Corp., an insurance carrier in the childcare industry, launched Charter School Insurance Professionals (CSIPros), an insurance company to focus exclusively on providing whole-package insurance to charter schools nationwide.
According to Patrick Treend, president of Security Planning Insurance, CSIPros provides property/casualty, worker’s compensation and affordable health and employee benefits.
Networked Insurance Agents, AmCom
Grass Valley, Calif.-based Networked Insurance Agents, a subsidiary of Strongwood Insurance Holdings Corp., acquired AmCom Insurance Services Inc.
AmCom, established in 1996, is a full service managing general agency located in San Ramon, Calif. James Furey, who has been president of AmCom, remains with the firm in a similar capacity as president, sales development.
AmCom focuses on commercial automobile programs, including artisan contractors, inland marine, intermediate trucking and sand and gravel. The corporation has more than 120 brokers throughout California.
With this acquisition, Networked offers a broader array of products to its 1,300 affiliated brokers throughout the western states. Networked Insurance Agents is an insurance aggregator, providing independent agencies with a variety of services including access to more than 50 carriers. Serving agents in 11 western states, the company writes business in all states.
Wells Fargo, AIM Administration
Wells Fargo Insurance Services Inc., part of Wells Fargo & Co., acquired AIM Administration Inc., a single office, employee benefits insurance brokerage firm located in Salt Lake City. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Serving customers in Utah since 1985, AIM Administration specializes in providing employee benefits services including group medical, group dental, other related ancillary products and consulting services, as well as employee benefits programs.
WFIS said AIM’s strong customer focus fits its business model. “They will strengthen our growing presence in Utah and further support Wells Fargo Insurance Services and the Wells Fargo commitment to help our customers succeed financially,” said Stu Young, managing director of Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Salt Lake City office.
Crystal Cowley and Shannon Sagers will be moving to Wells Fargo Insurance Services’ Salt Lake City office. John Hepworth will be serving AIM customers from Wells Fargo Insurance Services’ Ogden office. Brad Kuhnhausen, managing principal, will be working with Wells Fargo Insurance Services in a consulting capacity, assisting the team members with transitioning the business.
ACE Private Risk
ACE Private Risk Services, part of the ACE Group, expanded the availability of its ACE Platinum Portfolio policy to Washington. Shannon Detroit was appointed territory manager for the state.
Based in Seattle, Detroit will be responsible for the appointment and management of independent agents in Washington, and will lead efforts to promote the ACE Platinum Portfolio program.
The ACE Platinum Portfolio is designed to meet the needs of affluent and high net worth individuals and families. .
“Washington represents a very important state for us,” said Steve LoCascio, regional vice president for the Western region of ACE Private Risk Services. “It is one of the last states in our national rollout with high concentrations of well-to-do individuals and high value homes.”
Allstate
Allstate Insurance Co. is looking to appoint 51 exclusive agency owners in Colorado in 2010.
We see a significant opportunity in the current economy to attract mid-career, mid-level managers to own and operate their own business and represent Allstate in Colorado,” said Perry Nassif, Allstate’s Colorado recruiting director. “We’re working with business brokers and through our own recruiters to find professionals with financial or sales backgrounds, who are dedicated to customer service.”
New agents will be appointed throughout the state, including in the Denver metro area, Northern Colorado, Colorado Springs, Southern Colorado and the Western Slope. These target cities and areas represent key consumer touch points in Allstate’s broader strategy to aggressively expand the provider’s auto insurance presence statewide, while staking a stronger claim in items like boats, recreational all-terrain-vehicles and motorcycles.
Allstate is one of the largest auto insurers in Colorado with 258,092 cars and trucks insured in the state.
EPIC, Jeffery Stephens
EPIC (Edgewood Partners Insurance Center) acquired Jeffrey Stephens Insurance Services (JSIS), a retail insurance brokerage based in San Rafael, Calif.
JSIS was established in 1993 by founder and principal Jeff Stephens after spending the first 10 years of his insurance career at Marsh and other large national brokers.
During the next 17 years, Jeff built JSIS into one of Marin County’s most successful boutique agencies, serving the needs of clients focused largely in the nonprofit, healthcare and wholesale/retail industries.
Stephens and his team will be based in EPIC’s San Francisco location.
Rubicon
Rubicon Insurance Services moved to a new office in San Francisco. According to the company, the move to 150 California Street, Suite 225, San Francisco, marks the first step in the company’s 2010 expansion.
W. Brown, Vulcan Excess
W. Brown & Associates Property and Casualty of Irvine, Calif., purchased the commercial lines business from Vulcan Excess and Surplus Insurance.
Vulcan President Brad Snow, along with Gina Snow and Linda Hinshaw, will join the W. Brown team.