People & Places

Valencia, Calif.-based QualCorp Inc. has added two new members to its staff. John Spiker has joined as senior programming engineer, and Lourdes Cannon is now form technician.

Spiker is a computer programmer with a background in software development.

Cannon will handle form work and will be working closely with Susan Bobbins, senior project manager in tracking project hours and maintaining service request procedures.

Richard Nauman has been named senior vice president of underwriting and marketing for Physicians Insurance A Mutual Co., Seattle. Nauman has relocated from Louisiana, where he was vice president of underwriting at Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Co. (LAMMICO) and vice president of operations of the company’s insurance agency. Prior to that, he was general manager at USF&G in Detroit, where he was responsible for profit and loss of the Michigan territory.

Katie Freeman Insurance Services in San Diego has named Ben Erdmanis as an account executive in the Warrenville, Ill., brokerage office. Erdmanis worked at Atlantic Specialty Lines – Midwest and was formerly an account executive/junior broker at Euclid Managers in Elmhurst, Ill.

Integrohas hired two principals to serve in its San Francisco office. John M. Orr is principal of executive solutions, and Brian Mercer is principal of alternative risk solutions.

Orr has 15 years of experience representing corporate and insurer clients, most recently serving as senior vice president of Marsh Financial and Professional Risk Practice. Prior to joining Marsh in 2000, he was an attorney and partner with the law firm Arter & Hadden.

Mercer has 13 years of experience in risk finance and quantitative analysis, most recently holding the position of vice president of alternative risk solutions for Marsh’s San Francisco office. Before joining Marsh in 1996, he served as actuarial analyst for casualty risk management for Watson Wyatt Worldwide.

MiniCo Inc. has appointed Mary Schick as the company’s new chief financial officer. She will be responsible for operations, financial results and analysis for the company, as well as responsible for cash management to include investments and banking relationships. Additionally, Schick will oversee capital budgeting and the company’s in-house accounting staff. She also will participate in the company’s tactical and strategic business plan development as a member of the executive management team.

Schick has experience in strategic planning, new business development, mergers and acquisitions, risk management, capital financing, and forecasting. Most recently, she served as chief financial officer for Phoenix Art Group Inc., and she has previously held the position of vice president of finance at The Nexus Group Inc. (d.b.a. RentWise); Modis Training Technologies Inc.; and Protection One Alarm (formerly Metrol Security Inc.).

Cathy Temple, one of Sierra Specialty’s lead underwriters, has won the state championship for the Communicate with Confidence Speak-off Competition. The event was held at the National Association of Insurance Women’s states annual convention in Fresno, Calif. Temple will move to compete at the regional/national finals for the NAIW next spring.

Communicate with Confidence (CWC) is an NAIW educational program designed to teach the skills necessary to prepare and deliver oral presentations. The course is conducted at the local association level, and graduates can participate in a local speak-off.

At each level of competition, the candidates are required to deliver a three-minute prepared speech and a one-minute impromptu speech.

The Insurance Education Foundation (IEF) has announced that PEMCO Insurance CEO Stan McNaughton is the recipient of its 2005 IEF Lifetime Achievement Award.

IEF created the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 to recognize those who contribute to establishing and endorsing insurance education to younger generations. The award is presented annually and recognizes persons who display excellence in upholding the importance of educating the community about insurance.

As a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, McNaughton received a Waterford Crystal Apple, and his portrait will hang on the Lifetime Achievement Wall of Fame inside IEF’s home office in Indianapolis.

IEF will present another Lifetime Achievement Award at the Property Casualty Insurers of America Convention on Oct. 23, 2005 in Chicago.

Chuck Barnes has joined Magellan Insurance Services of San Diego as marketing manager. Barnes’ role will include building agency relations, producer appointments and product development.

Barnes has worked in the insurance industry for more than 25 years. His resume includes ICW, St. Paul Companies and Royal Insurance, among others, serving in different capacities including commercial underwriting, marketing, sales and product development.

Advanced Risk Technologies and Insurance Services Inc. (ART), has appointed Anthony Cazem as vice president. In this role, Cazem is charged with the responsibility of the day to day management of operations, and overall business development for the company’s Concord, Calif., headquarters.

Cazem brings more than 20 years of claims administration and management to ART, with an extensive background in California workers compensation at both carriers and TPAs. Most recently, he worked at The Zenith, handling large accounts as a settlement specialist. Prior to that, he worked as a claims department manager for Farmers Insurance Group. Cazem is active in the San Francisco Industrial Claims Association.