People
Houston-based insurance agency Bowen, Miclette & Britt named Dan Persha director of environmental risk management. With 30 years of commercial insurance brokerage experience, Persha specializes in heavy casualty, energy and environmental services placements.
Persha holds Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Professional Insurance Agent designations. A participant in Brownfields Pilot Forums in Houston and Dallas, he is a frequent presenter at local, national and regional conferences sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Texas-based wholesale insurance broker Towerstone announced two additions to its staff in Dallas.
Brent Wright joined the company as a senior broker/underwriter. Wright has been involved in the insurance industry since 1999. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in insurance, risk management and real estate from Baylor University, and holds the associate in commercial insurance underwriting (AU) designation.
Jason Catron was hired as a risk control consultant. He specializes in energy, with expertise in transportation and fleet safety. Catron graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelors’ in occupational safety and is working toward his Masters’ in safety, security and emergency management at Eastern Kentucky University. He holds the associate safety professional designation.
First National Bankers Bankshares Inc., based in Baton Rouge, La., hired Delvan Irwin as senior vice president of its newly-established FNBB Insurance Agency LLC in Ridgeland, Miss. Irwin has 20 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industries.
Irwin was previously sales director with Oklahoma City-based Bancinsure.
Dallas-based Apex Global Partners Inc. appointed Joe Bittner managing director of the company’s Employee Benefits Division in Austin, Texas.
Bittner is experienced in implementing and servicing corporate benefit plans, the company said. He previously led two benefit brokerage operations in Texas: Brooks Bittner and Associates and AGP Middle Market Employee Benefits Division.
Dallas-based Lockton Dunning Benefits added several benefits experts.
Steve Bohannon joins Lockton Dunning Benefits as senior vice president of strategy.
Kevin Seelman joins as vice president and team leader. With more than 11 years of experience, he will specialize in servicing clients in the health care industry.
David Hinckley joins as senior account executive and team leader. He has more than 12 years of experience in the insurance and benefits consulting industry.
Dallas-based Van Wagoner Companies, a subsidiary of Lloyd’s broker Chesterfield Group, appointed Simon Bancroft executive vice president. Bancroft has more than 30 years of experience in the United States and London property and casualty insurance markets.
Van Wagoner also promoted Amber L. Browning to vice president and appointed Chip Shattuck a commercial lines underwriter.
Browning has been with Van Wagoner for her entire career. The promotion recognizes her loyalty and dedication, as well as her key involvement in Van Wagoner’s success.
Shattuck previously served as an underwriter for national and regional wholesalers. He has expertise in monoline property/casualty lines, as well as packages representing domestic and international insurance companies.
Amerisafe Inc., a DeRidder, La.-based specialty writer of high hazard workers’ compensation insurance, appointed Brendan Gau executive vice president and chief investment officer. Prior to joining Amerisafe, Gau was employed by AIM Capital Management in Houston.
The Galveston (Texas) Gulf Coast Insurance Board elected new officers to serve from May 2009 through 2011. The new officers are: President Jimmiegale Berg, Town & Country Insurance Agency, Galveston; Vice President Charlie White, Grace White Agency, Pasadena; Treasurer Grace White, Grace White Agency, Pasadena; and Secretary Laura Wilson, Western Insurance Agency, League City.
The Northeastern Oklahoma Chapter of the CPCU Society installed new officers for 2009-2010.
The new officers are President Ron Comeau, President-Elect Amy Bradley-Waters, Vice President J.D. Hatter and Secretary-Treasurer Glenn Aldridge.
The chapter also recognized this year’s winners of its scholarship program: Morgan Reger and Kelsi Morgan. The scholarship program awards $1,000 college scholarships to high school seniors in Tulsa and the adjoining counties who have a parent working in the property and casualty insurance field.
Jim Fenley joined Shreveport, La.-based Ark-La-Tex Underwriters Inc. (ALTU) as marketing director.
Fenley has more than 30 years of experience with insurance wholesalers in Texas. He has held various positions with general agencies, including service in management, marketing and underwriting.
The company said Fenley’s experience in Texas complements ALTU’s increased commitment in that state’s insurance market.
Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry appointed Judge Kent Eldridge as presiding judge of the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court. Eldrige succeeds Judge Mary Black. Judge Eldridge selected Judge Michael J. Harkey as vice presiding judge to succeed Judge Tom Leonard.
The Insurance Professionals of Shreveport/Bossier City, La., recently installed new officers and honored its award winners for the year.
Incoming officers are: President Jan Edwards of Pelican General Agency; President-Elect Lee Runge of Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corp.; Treasurer Teri Rhodes of Imperial Management Corporation; and Secretary Shirley Pierce of Maynard, Clark & Teasley Agency.
Members of the board of directors serving for the 2009-2010 term are Linda Lee, Debbie Dilliard, Elizabeth Day and Dot Davidson.
The award winners are: Boss of the Year Mike Dugan of Deep-South Underwriters; and Insurance Professional of the Year Jan Edwards of Pelican General Agency.