People and Places
Fort Worth-based Higginbotham & Associates named Greg Meserole and Matt Burns as managing directors of the company’s newly opened office in Austin. Meserole and Burns were most recently senior vice presidents and partners with Nieman Hanks Puryear, a division of Frost Insurance Agency Inc.
Meserole, whose practice consists of commercial property and casualty insurance and risk management consulting, has served a broad variety of businesses and high-profile individuals in more than 19 years of practice in Austin. After seven years in agency partnership with his father, Meserole joined Nieman Hanks Puryear in 1992. He is a past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Austin (IIA of Austin) and is currently an Education Committee member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT).
Burns has been in the insurance industry as a commercial broker for 10 years, focusing his practice in the life sciences, social services and medical industries. He currently serves on the Board of IIA of Austin, as well as on the Young Agents Committee for IIAT.
Trent Courtney joined Networked Insurance Agents as territorial sales vice president for the state of Texas. Courtney has 28 years’ experience in the property/casualty insurance industry and has held several underwriting and marketing management positions. Former employers include national multi-line carriers, national specialty carriers and regional managing general agencies. With the majority of his experience coming from assignments within Texas, NIA said it looks forward to Courtney spearheading the firm’s successful entry into the Texas marketplace.
MaximInsurance reported it recently promoted two employees, Karen Walker and Pam Allison. Walker was promoted to commercial lines trainee, and Allison to executive assistant to Ron Masters, president of MaximInsurance.
Allison has been with MaximInsurance for 10 years and served as a marine insurance account executive prior to the promotion.
Walker, who has been with MaximInsurance for almost six years, previously served as a customer service representative (CSR) for personal lines.
U.S. Risk announced that Jason Stevens of the Austin branch has successfully completed the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA) Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR) designation program. To complete this designation Stevens attended a minimum of eight days of intensive insurance training and passed four comprehensive examinations.
Eustis Insurance & Benefits, privately held insurance brokers operating in the Gulf States Region, announced an expansion of its Houston office with the addition of Brian Specht, who joined the firm as president of Eustis Insurance Texas. Specht has 16 years of experience as an insurance professional. He most recently was vice president of Business Development in Houston for one of the world’s largest insurance brokers. He earned his reputation as an industry expert as a regional underwriting manager for 12 years for both AIG and Chubb.
MarketScout, based in Dallas, reported that Rod Newcomer has joined the firm as vice president and chief financial officer. Newcomer will direct MarketScout’s expanding finance and accounting operations and manage the newly formed Premium Finance Division. Additionally, he will work directly with MarketScout’s executive team in managing the distribution of products across the United States. Newcomer has significant experience in managing the accounting and operational functions for insurance companies and most recently served as controller for XL Insurance America Inc.
Insurance services provider Gilsbar Inc., based in Covington, La., added Janet Niles as vice president of MedCom Care Management Inc., Gilsbar’s medical management subsidiary. Niles is responsible for MedCom Care Management’s current case management and utilization management programs, and new product
development. Niles has over 25 years experience in the nursing and medical management fields. She most recently served as vice president of Health Services for Ochsner Health Plan. Niles has served as director of Medical and Quality Management for various health plans, as well as Adjunct Professor for Loyola University’s Masters in Nursing Program.
The Galveston Gulf Coast Insurance Board recently elected new officers to lead the organization for 2004-2005. Carolyn Wagner, who has been a member of the organization since 1990 as a representative for MaximInsurance, was elected president. Other officers include: Vice President Leah Calloway, with Truman Taylor Insurance; Secretary Mike Tarlton, with Texas Affordable Insurance; and Treasurer Gigi Heffernan, with Heffernan Insurance Agency.
The Galveston Gulf Coast Insurance Board is the result of the merger in 2003 of two organizations—the Gulf Coast Insurance Agents and the Galveston Insurance Board—and has 19 agency members, as well as additional associate members.
David Kurland was named vice president of Business Development at Property Loss Consulting Inc., an independent adjusting firm with offices in Atlanta, Baltimore and Dallas. As VP, Kurland will finalize the alliance formed with IMACC (Independent Mitigation and Cleaning/Conservation) and develop the infrastructure within Property Loss Consulting Inc. for handling the Virtual eAdjuster segment of the business. Most recently, Kurland served as assistant vice president of Home Office Claim Operations for EULER ACI. Prior to that, he worked at Zurich Insurance Group, Crum and Forster Commercial Insurance, Orion Group and Underwriters Adjusting Co.
Sidney R. Ferenc and Steven M. Menzies were recently elected to new management positions by the board of directors of San Francisco-based Applied Underwriters.
Ferenc assumes the position of chairman of the Board while continuing in his capacity of chief executive officer.
The board approved the appointment of Menzies as president. He will also continue in his position as chief operating officer.
Ferenc and Menzies founded Applied Underwriters in 1994. Applied provides workers’ compensation and financial services to businesses across the United States through the system of independent property/casualty agents.
Art Moossmann was named president, Specialty Insurance, at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. The Specialty business combines the company’s marine business lines with its excess and surplus, professional liability and agribusiness products.
Moossmann joined Fireman’s Fund in 1999 as president and CEO of Fireman’s Fund McGee Marine Underwriters, the New York-based unit of Fireman’s Fund that writes ocean and inland marine insurance in the United States. He previously served as president of the International Marine business at Guardian Royal Exchange. He began his career in insurance as an underwriter at Talbot Bird & Company Inc., which was sold to Guardian Royal Exchange in 1987.
The Citizens and Hanover Insurance Companies named Sophia A. Phillips vice president, commercial marine division. Phillips comes to Citizens and Hanover from St. Paul Travelers where she served as vice president of the company’s commercial inland marine division. Prior to joining The St. Paul, she was vice president of marine operations at Kemper Insurance for seven years, leading the commercial inland and ocean marine profit center to create one of the industry’s most profitable marine operations. Phillips serves on the Board of Directors of the Inland Marine Underwriters Association and is the chair of the organization’s National Education Committee.
Arrowhead General Insurance Agency Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif., announced several new appointments.
Martin F. Sullivan Jr. will serve as vice president of the motorcycle unit. He will be responsible for production, assigning claims TPA, marketing and transitioning Lincoln General Motorcycle Program to Arrowhead. His principal focus will be on program enhancements and expansion into other states. Arrowhead General acquired the Sullivan & Sullivan General Insurance Agency motorcycle book of business on June 1. Sullivan has 15 years of experience in the insurance industry and at Sullivan & Sullivan was responsible for all aspects of the firm.
Ryan O’Connor was promoted to vice president of marketing – field operations. He has eight years of experience in the insurance industry. O’Connor previously served as assistant vice president – personal lines.
Lauri Thum was promoted to vice president of marketing – personal property. She will be responsible for marketing to alternative and affiliate distribution sources and will oversee all personal property-related marketing in 10 states. Thum was previously assistant vice president – marketing at Arrowhead.