People & Places
Five Florida physicians recently received the 2005 Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation in Tampa, Fla. The awards honor physicians for demonstrating excellence in treating injured employees, and are presented by CHOICE Medical Management Services LLC, a Tampa, Fla.-based workers’ compensation specialty health care management organization.
The 2005 Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation winners are: Vladimir Alexander, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Alexander Orthopedic Associates in Largo; David Gilbert, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Broward Orthopaedic Specialists in Ft. Lauderdale; Mario Medero, M.D., an occupational medicine physician with Medero Medical, a five-location clinic based in Ocala; Mark Rubenstein, M.D., FAAPMR a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with his own practice in West Palm Beach; and Seth Charles Wachsman, M.D., a pain management specialist with Anesthesia Pain Care Consultants in Tamarac.
The winners were selected from more than 93 nominees after undergoing a stringent, multi-level judging process.
Judging criteria were based on the physician’s record of delivering of high quality care, promoting a return-to-work philosophy and achieving a high rate of patient satisfaction.
Individuals involved in Florida’s workers’ compensation system, including risk managers, claims professionals, nurse case managers, adjusters, employers, physician staff, and injured employees, nominated the doctors.
Rick Espino has been named president of Universal Insurance Holdings of North America Inc. in Sarasota, Fla. and its subsidiary companies, including Universal Insurance Company of North America, Universal Insurance Managers, Inc., Universal Insurance Company of Texas and UIM of Texas, Inc.
Espino has been instrumental in planning and implementing the management strategy for Universal Insurance Group’s entry into the North America market.
Espino began the North America Operations for Universal Insurance Group in Florida in early 2004 and has complete oversight responsibilities for all facets of this division.
Since 1991, Espino has held several positions, including chief financial officer for a multi-state property carrier. Since 1994, Expino has been a CPA, and has been a long-standing member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants.
Founded in Puerto Rico more than 30 years ago, UIG has become a leading property and casualty insurance company.
In 2004, UIG expanded its market and formed the local insurance group known as Universal Insurance Holdings of North America Inc. Since then, this organization has worked continuously in the creation of personal lines products, actively implementing the latest technology and quality systems.
UIC’s toll-free number is (866) 33-UICNA (866) 338-4262) or log on to its website at www.uicna.com.
Larry Chase has been promoted to vice president of Strategic Solutions, for BrightClaim Inc. in Atlanta. His responsibilities include BrightNET, BrightClaim’s network of credentialed claims professionals, and the management of projects and development of business processes that enable the fulfillment of BrightClaim’s commitments to its clients.
Chase was trained in supervising and conducting both casualty and property claims. He has specialized in carrying out investigations of workers’ compensation and professional liability claims. He later served in a variety of corporate staff, management and executive positions for a national provider of risk management services.
Chase has served as subject matter expert, business representative, and manager of projects. His responsibilities included the successful implementation of applications that integrated new business processes and technology and resulted in increased efficiency and response to clients’ needs for improved access to information. Chase also managed initiatives that resulted in significant increases in corporate administrative efficiency through the implementation of new processes and outsourcing strategies.
BrightClaim is a nationwide provider of integrated claims solutions. Its products include networks of credentialed service providers; centralized claim administration, adjudication, and management; property contents claim adjudication and management; and inspection services.
Cathy Sherry has been assigned by Felten & Assoc. to establish a new office in Stuart, 30 miles south of F&A’s headquarters in Vero Beach, Fla.
Ken Felten, F&A president, said the Stuart office will support the firm’s long-standing relationships with clients in this important client market. Felten’s business in Stuart has grown to the point a local office needs to be established.
Sherry, a sales and marketing professional, will play a key role in communicating with F&A’s existing clientele and will also be responsible for developing new business.
Sherry may be contacted at Felten & Associates, 850 North West Federal Highway, Stuart, FL 34994 (772) 403-5822.
Scott Poore has been named vice president of sales and business development for InsurBanc, of Farmington, Conn., a financial services provider to the independent agency community.
Poore will direct the sales and business development efforts, focusing on the needs of independent agencies and developing relationships with carriers across the country.
Poore previously served as managing partner of a private investment fund. He also spent four years as vice president, marketing and sales at Assurance Partners Bank in Carmel, Ind., where he managed the bank’s investor companies and their marketing and sales staff. Poore has worked as a commercial account manager at several agencies including Ottawa Kent, Acordia and Irwin Union. He was also marketing manager for the Westfield Companies in Grand Rapids, Mich.