People & Places

Robert J. Bothwell has been appointed managing director of Beecher Carlson Holdings Inc.’s new office in Boston. Bothwell, a former principal at William Gallagher Associates will also head the company’s National Energy Practice. The firm also announced that Brenna C. Melvin joined the office as a senior vice president and Geraldine Kerrigan will be vice president.

Bothwell has more than 17 years experience in the power generation industry. His background includes work with domestic and international insurance markets to develop comprehensive insurance and risk management programs tailored to the diverse needs of the power generation industry. He led William Gallagher Associates’ energy practice group, working with power generating facilities of all types. His responsibilities included creating global solutions on prototypical equipment, political risks, trade disruption, and general insurance.

Bothwell successfully implemented insurance programs for IPP projects in several South American and Pacific Rim countries, as well as multiple U.S. projects. Bothwell also provided guidance for the risk management and insurance needs of several merchant plants in the United States and advised several insurance companies regarding the deregulation process.

Melvin was previously marketing director for William Gallagher’s power generation business handling all risk management and service issues for large energy accounts. She also has experience in Willis Corroon Corp.’s risk management department. Melvin is a licensed insurance broker and is pursuing an associate in risk management designation.

Kerrigan is a former senior client coordinator at William Gallagher Associates in their energy and environmental practice, she also provided customer support and served as mentor leader.

Beecher Carlson’s Boston office is at 99 Derby Street, Suite 200, Hingham, MA 02043.

The Commission on Helathcare Certifica-tion has approved Jean Feldman, Rebecca Pierce, Nancy Sollenberger and Denise Guzzo, CHOICE Medical Management Services LLC nurses, as Medicare Set-Aside Consultant Certified.

Feldman is a senior vice president of Care Management Operations for CHOICE. CHCC offers the MSCC certification program for case managers, health care professionals, attorneys and insurance professionals who are involved in authorizing, developing or overseeing Medicare Set-Aside Arrangements for injured employees who meet the criteria for Medicare Set-Aside when settling workers’ compensation claims.

Stevi Arnold has joined Montgomery Insurance in the Atlanta Regional Office, Duluth, Ga. as territory manager for the state of Georgia. She will be responsible for new business and agency management. Arnold, formerly with Summit Consulting, has more than six years of industry marketing experience.

Ten Main Street America Group employees received the company’s highest honor, being inducted into the Circle of Excellence during a March 10 ceremony in Keene, N.H. The 10 employees were selected for their achievements in 2004 and represent all locations where the company has operations: Keene, N.H.; Jacksonville, Fla., Richmond, Va., Syracuse, N.Y.; and Auburn, Mass.

Established in 1985, The Circle of Excellence is an annual recognition program for Main Street America’s employees. Circle of Excellence members are nominated by fellow employees and selected by the company’s senior management team for their embodiment of the organization’s core values: ownership, relationships and service.

The 2004 Circle of Excellence honorees are: Mary Broy, agency development manager, Richmond; Tom Frazier, manager, treasury services, finance, Keene; Chris Harper, senior personal lines product analyst, Jacksonville; Joel Heller, business development manager, Keene; Jeff Matthews, senior program manager, Information Systems and Services, Keene; Nancy Preus, purchasing coordinator, administrative services, Keene; George Rivett, manager, claims adjuster center operations, Auburn; Michele Seymour, manager, compensation, human resources, Jacksonville; Penny Smith, senior commercial lines team underwriter, Jacksonville; and Lisa Wood, regional office services manager, Syracuse.

Tom Van Berkel, president and CEO, congratulated the employees for demonstrating their personal commitment to the three qualities that are vital to The Main Street America Group’s continued success: they take ownership of their responsibilities, build strong working relationships and provide outstanding personal service.

A record 132 nominations were received for the 2004 Circle of Excellence. The Main Street America Group employs more than 100 active Circle of Excellence members. The company operates three property and casualty insurance carriers: National Grange Mutual Insurance Company, Old Dominion Insurance Company and Main Street America Assurance Company.

The Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia reports the death of Stephen M. Merritt of Buford, Ga. Merritt passed away unexpectedly Sunday, March 6. Merritt had been an agency management specialist with Selective Insurance Group since 1991. Among his many accomplishments, he received the PIA of Georgia Company Representative of the Year in 1993 and 1995. He also served on several PIA of Georgia committees over the years, including the Convention Committee and CIC/Education Committee. Merritt mentored many agents throughout Georgia’s insurance industry.

Mauricio Alonso has been named senior vice president and regional director of Latin American and Caribbean operations for Crawford & Co. of Atlanta. He will also be a member of the international management team. Alonso took over on March 1 at Crawford’s Latin American and Caribbean headquarters in Miami.

Prior to joining Crawford, Alonso was vice president of AIG’s Latin American Claims Division. He held various roles in the Latin American region and has been a resident of Mexico and Brazil. His prior positions include claims manager, AIF Mexico; claims manager, AIG Brazil; regional AIG Mexico director; and regional claims supervisor for GEICO.