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Teresa Miller was appointed administrator of Oregon’s Department of Consumer and Business Services Insurance Division. Miller joined the Insurance Division in July 2008 and has been serving as acting administrator since November.

An Oregon native, Miller has a strong background in legislative and policy issues, serving as legislative director for Gov. Ted Kulongoski, a lobbyist for several businesses and organizations, and an attorney for the Oregon Department of Justice.

At DCBS, Miller leads the 90-employee Insurance Division, which helps ensure the financial soundness of insurers, the fair treatment of consumers, and the affordability and availability of insurance products in Oregon.

The Hanover Insurance Group named John Casper regional president of its emerging western region. Based in Denver, Casper will lead the company’s efforts to expand its footprint in the western part of the country.

“We have established strong momentum that has created increasing demand for our franchise outside of our current geographic footprint and we believe the western region represents a tremendous opportunity to grow,” said John C. Roche, vice president, field operations, marketing and distribution.

Casper brings more than 20 years experience to The Hanover, having worked with leading carriers and a large broker in the West during his career. Most recently, he was president and chief operating officer for Van Gilder Insurance Corp. in Denver, responsible for all insurance operations.

Prior to joining Van Gilder in 2007, John served in sales and underwriting leadership roles at St. Paul Travelers and USF&G. Among other roles at St. Paul Travelers, John was regional president of the West region from 1998 to 2007.

Colemont Insurance Brokers headquartered in Dallas promoted Blake Baker to vice president in the company’s Woodland Hills, Calif., office.

Baker is a workers’ compensation specialist with more than 20 years of experience. He specializes in construction, large risks, high x-mod, and difficult-to-place risks. He heads the Workers’ Compensation Division for Colemont’s Southern California operations.

Colemont also promoted Bob Black to vice president in the company’s Atlanta office. Black joined Colemont in 2004 as an associate broker responsible for marketing all lines of property and inland marine business. He specializes in the placement of a variety of property risks, including catastrophe-exposed business, national property schedules, distressed business, and builder’s risks.

Additionally, the company named John Cleary vice president and casualty broker, working as part of the Hartford, Conn., office from his physical location in New Jersey.

Van Nuys, Calif.-based Momentous Insurance Brokerage Inc. hired Steve Rivera as account executive with the firm’s high net worth practice. Rivera has five years of experience in the insurance industry, most recently at Countrywide Insurance Services. He began his career at a large national brokerage in Los Angeles as a personal lines producer. In addition to his producer role, Steve was also responsible for managing a team of personal lines account managers, handling process improvement and assisting with daily sales operations.

San Diego-based Cavignac & Associates, a risk management and commercial insurance brokerage firm, hired Barbara M. Cohn as a senior commercial account manager within its construction department. In her new position, she serves as the contact for select agency clients. She is responsible for coordinating the risk control services for these clients as well as managing their insurance programs.

Cohn is a 27-year veteran of the commercial insurance industry. Prior to joining Cavignac & Associates, Cohn served as an account executive for two years with Willis Insurance in Phoenix, where she led the service teams.

Frank Ceglar was promoted to executive vice president and general counsel of Farmers Group Inc. Ceglar’s legal career with Farmers began in 1977 when he was hired as assistant corporate counsel. Before joining Farmers, he practiced law for an insurance defense firm, and for a national certified public accounting firm. During his Farmers career, Ceglar has been promoted several times, most recently in 2008 when he was named senior vice president and associate general counsel; and later in 2008 when he was named acting general counsel.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer named Judith A. Patrick chair of the board of SCF Arizona, the state’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance. Patrick becomes the first woman appointed to the post, and the Tucson, Ariz., resident is the first chair from outside the Greater Phoenix Area.

Former Gov. Fife Symington originally appointed Patrick to the SCF Board in 1992 and reappointed her when her first term expired. She retained her position as the board’s vice chair with appointments by governors Jane Hull and Janet Napolitano. She worked for 27 years in various roles in Pima County before retiring in 2000. She is a partner in R.G. Patrick Land Planning and Consulting.

Along with SCF Arizona, Patrick also is the Board chair for SCF Premier Insurance Co. and sits on the boards of the Southwestern Fair Commission Inc. and the Pima County Self Insurance Trust Fund. In her new role, Patrick said she wants to ensure corporate stability and increasing competitiveness through sound strategic planning, efficient management and well-defined goals.