People and Places

The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas elected three new directors at the trade association’s 110th Annual Conference & Trade Show in San Antonio. Elected to fill three-year terms each were: Cory Brooke, San Marcos; Bill Siddons III, Hillsboro; and Patrick Watkins, Austin. All begin their terms Sept. 1.

Brooke is a partner and risk reduction advisor with TCOR Insurance Management headquartered in Beeville. Brooke, who joined the family agency in 1992, works in the San Marcos office. He began his insurance career as assistant to the receptionist, then moved into commercial insurance where he served as an account manager for five years. Subsequently he moved to operations manager. In 2002, Brooke moved from operations to the field as a producer where he currently holds the position of insurance advisor.

Brooke has also been involved in IIAT Young Agents activities including the annual Young Agents Retreat and golf tournament.

Siddons is vice president of Hill County Insurance Agency in Hillsboro. Siddons has spent 20 years in the insurance industry, first for a short time as a life and health agent. He joined Hill County Insurance full time in 1990.

Industry participation includes service on the agent advisory boards of the Hochheim Prairie Insurance Co., Allstate Insurance Company and Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Company. He is the past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Central Texas and currently serves on the IIAT Trusted Choice Advisory Council. He previously served on the IIAT Rural Agents Committee and Legislative Action Committee.

Watkins is president of the Watkins Insurance Group, Austin. He was named IIAT Young Agent of the Year in 2005.

Watkins has served in a number of industry roles including the IIAT Young Agents committee, Budget and Finance committee and the Legislative committees. He has also served on the Marketing task force. He has served in the chairs and as president of his local association, having been recognized with the President’s Award. Also he has served as chairman of five different committees of his local association, and has been on agent councils for Safeco, Hartford, Unitrin and Myron Steves.

Quirk & Company, in San Antonio, Texas, announced the addition of two Texas underwriters.

Rosita Oaxaca, (formerly Rivera) has 17 years of commercial experience, having held sales and underwriting positions in the wholesale, company and general agency segments. She will focus on habitational risks, developing and servicing new and renewal accounts.

Melody Stanford joined the manufacturing and construction team. She has 20 years of commercial lines experience specializing in middle market heavy construction and oil and gas products.

Joy Keller has rejoined Colemont Insurance Brokers of Texas as executive vice president. Keller will be responsible for strategic business development and will be working with Todd Teitell, president of Colemont Insurance Brokers of Texas, in managing the growth of the Dallas and Houston Colemont offices.

Keller originally joined Colemont-Texas in February 2003 as the vice president of Administration and Operations. She joined Colemont Corporation’s executive team as chief financial officer in October 2003 to lead the company through a management buyout from Heath Lambert, its former parent.

Keller has 22 years of experience in the insurance industry. Her experience includes serving as chief operating officer for an insurance carrier and managing general agency. She also has demutualization and IPO experience.

Burns & Wilcox promoted Aubrey Salonen to commercial underwriter in the company’s Houston, Texas, office. Salonen joined Burns & Wilcox in 2001 as an assistant underwriter.

The Central Oklahoma Chapter of CPCU announced the election of new officers for the 2007-2008 Chapter year.

Leading the group will be: President Denise Engle, claim analyst, Midlands Management; Vice President Robert Sisco, commercial lines manager, Mercury Insurance Group; Secretary Tammy Armer, property and casualty/farm underwriter, Westphalen Insurance; and Treasurer David Alston, commercial lines underwriter, Mercury Insurance Group.

The new officers begin their terms July 1.

The Central Oklahoma Chapter meets the first Monday of each month at the Sportsman’s Club, 4001 NW 39th, Oklahoma City.

Lloyd’s appointed Jose Ribeiro, currently Willis managing director for Latin America and the Caribbean, as its new director of international markets and business development. Ribeiro will take over the management of Lloyd’s international operations in Europe, Asia, Australasia, Africa and South America. He will be working closely alongside Sue Langley, the newly appointed director, Market Operations and North America.

Insurance broker Marsh Inc.named Mark C. McGivney as chief financial officer. McGivney joins the firm from the Hanover Insurance Group, where he was senior vice president of finance, corporate treasurer and chief financial officer for the company’s property/casualty business. As CFO, McGivney assumes responsibility for a worldwide staff of more than 1,000 professionals.

Less than six months after being promoted to the job, Joseph J. Beneducci tendered his resignation as CEO of Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. Chuck Kavitsky, president of Allianz of America and the former Fireman’s Fund chief executive replaced by Beneducci, was named interim CEO.

Beneducci resigned for personal and career reasons, the company said. He joined Fireman’s Fund in 1998 after a 10-year career at Chubb. He previously served as president and chief operating officer before succeeding Kavitsky.

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