People and Places

The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) has named Leonard C. Brevik as executive vice president of the association and chief executive officer of its for-profit subsidiary, PIA Services, Inc. Brevik most recently headed Bak-Brevik Investments, a real estate investment firm. From 2000 to 2003, he served as chief marketing officer and vice president of business development for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers. From 1989 to 2000, Brevik held executive positions with the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America and its subsidiary organizations.

The Professional Insurance Agents of New York State Inc. (PIANY) announced David Delaney, president and chief executive officer of Lancer Insurance Group, is the 2004 recipient of the Long Island RAP Executive of the Year award. The formal presentation took place April 22 at the PIANY Long Island Regional Awareness Program’s annual awards luncheon. Delaney has been president of the Lancer Insurance Group since he and his brother founded the company in 1982. Lancer has become one of the country’s largest specialty, commercial automobile insurers. Delaney’s background includes 30 years of experience in insurance and reinsurance with such companies as American International Group, American Re-Insurance Co. and American Risk Management.

PIANY also named Daniel Maher Jr., executive director of the Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY), to receive its 2004 Louis A. Morelli Memorial Award. PIANY presents the award, which is given in memory of PIANY’s honorary director Lou Morelli, each year to an individual who has a reputation for working toward the betterment of the American agency system and for the professional growth of the association. Maher is a registered lobbyist in New York state and has introduced a number of changes to the New York insurance law. ELANY is a statutorily created industry advisory association responsible for facilitating and encouraging compliance with New York’s excess line law. Prior to his experience at ELANY, Maher was a senior vice president and general counsel with Lancer Insurance Co.

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) has assembled a new team to lead its federal affairs lobbying efforts located in the association’s Washington, D.C. office.

Last December, NAMIC Federal Affairs Sr. Vice President, David A. Winston, was named to head the department. Prior to joining NAMIC, Winston spent more than 22 years with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) where he was most recently vice president, functioning as chief federal lobbyist, and managing their Government Affairs Department and grassroots efforts. Prior to joining NAIFA, Winston served on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Marliss A. Browder, who joined NAMIC last summer, is one of the department’s two federal affairs directors. A former federal legislative manager for Kemper Insurance Cos., she also served on the majority staff of the House Banking Committee and was staff assistant to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky).

Also joining the NAMIC staff as federal affairs director is Alane R. Allman-Dent. Prior to joining NAMIC, Alman-Dent was legislative counsel to Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee and former North Dakota Insurance Commissioner. Prior to joining the Congressman’s office, Alane was a Presidential Management Intern with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and concluded her career there as a legislative representative.

The Casualty and Surety Club of New York has elected William J. Casey Jr., vice president of Zurich North America’s Northeast region, as its new president. Casey served as the organization’s first vice president in 2003. As president, Casey will plan initiatives to expand the growing reach of the club, which was established in 1909 to foster intra-industry partnership and dialogue in the New York metropolitan area. The club also provides nearly a dozen scholarships to college students to promote careers in insurance.

The Insurance Brokers’ Association of the State of New York elected its 2004-2006 administration during the association’s spring board meeting recently in New York City.

Donald F. Privett of New York, N.Y., president and owner of Privett Special Risk Services LLC, will serve as president. He most recently served a term as executive vice president. Privett has been an IBANY member since 1987.

Walter L. Harris of New York, N.Y., president of Tanenbaum-Harber Co. Inc. will serve as executive vice president. Most recently, Harris served as secretary/treasurer and is a member the government affairs committee.

F. Daniel Gabel Jr., of New York, N.Y., president of Hagedorn & Co., will serve as secretary/treasurer. He is a member of the government affairs and strategic planning committees.

Dick Impastato of North Stamford, Conn., president and chief operating officer of Foa & Son Corp. will serve as immediate past president of IBANY.

William D. Kiley, president, Connecticut Underwriters Inc., based in Middletown, Conn., announced that its Massachusetts office, Conexco Insurance Agency, in Westbororugh, is now headed by Jared J. Steele. Steele has been named assistant vice president and underwriter. Steele joins Conexco from Penn America Insurance Co., where he served as senior underwriter for the northern region. Prior to that, he was with New England Excess Exchange in Montpelier, Vt.

Boston Insurance Brokerage Inc. (BIB) announced that Nick Creatore Jr. has joined the Boston firm as vice president specializing in the placement of directors and officers liability insurance. Creatore joins BIB with 11 years of D&O underwriting and brokering experience in the New York and San Francisco territories with National Union Fire Insurance Company and ECM Insurance Services Inc.