People

Midlands Management Corp. of Oklahoma City named Richard Jonathan Bird as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Bird will assist in leading all aspects of Midlands, including strategic marketing, business growth, implementation of new business opportunities and allocation of business resources. He will report to President and Chief Executive Officer Charles C. Caldwell.

Bird has 19 years of experience in the insurance industry, including extensive international expertise. During the last 16 years, he has focused primarily on the workers’ compensation, casualty, life and health lines of insurance. His background includes work with insurance markets based in Europe, the United States and Bermuda, significant participation in Treaty Reinsurance and Programs, and direct product placement.

Prior to joining Midlands, Bird was with Arthur J. Gallagher in London where he managed workers’ compensation and property and casualty package units.

San Antonio-based SWBC Insurance Services hired Lori Flores as senior commercial lines producer. Her focus will be construction risks and large accounts.

Prior to joining SWBC, Flores worked for 10 years at Frost Insurance Agency.

In 2007, Flores was selected as Young Agent of the Year by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas. She is currently the president of the Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio.

Insurance company MaximGroup, based in Texas, has added Greg Gandy as senior account manager.

Previously, Gandy worked at Federated Insurance for 13 years serving as division manager, and at W.M. Rigg for more than a year as a marketing representative.

MaximGroup provides various insurance products including personal insurance, commercial insurance, health insurance, life insurance and commercial marine insurance. MaximGroup services more than 4,000 clients and employs over 40 employees with locations in League City and Dickinson, Texas.

Dallas-based McQueary Henry Bowles Troy L.L.P. (MHBT) reported that Trey Halbert, an employee benefits consultant in MHBT’s Austin office, is a finalist for the 2008 Austin Under Forty (Au40) Awards. Hosted by the Young Men’s Business League and the Young Women’s Alliance, the Au40 Awards recognize young men and women in Austin who excel in their professional fields and make considerable contributions to the community.

More than 200 nominations were received for the 2008 Au40 awards, and 50 finalists were selected, including Trey Halbert in the Financial Services category. From the 50 finalists, Au40 will select and honor the 10 most outstanding, community-oriented men and women of Greater Austin at the 10th Annual Au40 Awards event on March 7, 2008, at the Austin Music Hall.

Past winners include Michael Dell, Lance Armstrong, Mayor Will Wynn, MariBen Ramsey, Sara Hickman, Justice Don Willett, Lynn Sherman and Reid Ryan.

2008 finalists were pulled from public nominations and were judged half on professional merit and half on community commitment. Leadership, special skills, notable contributions, experience, community service and overall achievements were among the criteria upon which the nominees were judged.

All finalists fall into one of 10 categories of professional fields, including Arts/Entertainment, Business/Entrepre-neurship, Community Service, Financial Services, Government/Public Affairs, Legal, Medical/Health Care, Real Estate, Technology/Sciences and Youth/Education.

Of the category winners, the one who possesses an unmatched dedication, passion and spirit to create opportunities and make the impossible possible will be named Au40’s 2008 “Austinite of the Year.”

Denise Brignac has been named chief deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

Brignac joined the department in 1991 and was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program, an effort to attract new insurers to Louisiana and to provide adequate and affordable insurance to property owners of this state. Along with her new appointment, Brignac will also serve as Commissioner Jim Donelon’s designee on the board of the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

She will remain as the commissioner’s designee and chairwoman of the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan, as well as the special deputy to the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association and the Louisiana Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association.

Brignac joined the department as a field examiner and held several positions in the Office of Financial Solvency before becoming the division’s deputy commissioner in March 2004.

Caroline Brock was appointed to replace Brignac as deputy commissioner of Financial Solvency.

Brock, a Certified Financial Examiner, has worked as the LDOI chief examiner since 1998, overseeing the division responsible for the examinations of insurance companies licensed in Louisiana. She joined LDOI in 1988 as a field examiner and has held several positions in the Office of Financial Solvency.

Brock will be responsible for LDOI’s compliance with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners accreditation program.

The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission named Eric Paul Wells as the newest administrative law judge, effective March 1.

Since March 2004, he has been the deputy prosecuting attorney for the 15th Judicial District (comprised of Yell, Logan, and Scott counties), as well as county attorney for Scott County and in private practice with the Tatum Law Firm. He also has been the city attorney for Ola.

The AWCC administers the state’s workers’ compensation laws for employees, employers, medical providers, legal representatives of these groups, and other stakeholders in the workers’ compensation community.

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