People

Alternative market insurance provider, Safety National in St. Louis, Mo., promoted Senior Vice President John Csik to the position of chief financial officer and treasurer.

Csik takes over these positions from Duane Hercules, who will continue in his position of chief operating officer. In his new role, Csik will oversee and manage all financial matters concerning the company.

Csik joined Safety National in 1986 and most recently was responsible for financial reporting and managing the Accounting and Excess Workers’ Compensation Premium Audit departments.

Safety National also elected Executive Vice President Steven Luebbert to the company’s board of directors. Luebbert joined Safety National in 2007 and currently heads Safety National’s business development, marketing and risk control functions.

IMA Inc., an independently owned retail insurance broker, announced that Susan Johnson joined its Wichita, Kan., office as commercial lines claims manager. She will manage the commercial lines claims department and act as a liaison between clients and insurance carriers.

Johnson comes to IMA with eight years of experience as a claims supervisor. Prior to joining IMA, she handled large, complex litigated files, mentored claim representatives, and was responsible for all legal education in Arkansas, Colorado and Utah.

Wholesale insurance broker, Westrope, announced that Edward T. Havermann III joined its Kansas City, Mo., headquarters as a broker in Westrope’s national transportation practice.

Havermann began his career with Intercargo Insurance Co. and then handled transportation accounts for a number of years at Midwest Insurance Agency. For the past several years, he was a producer/underwriter in the wholesale insurance industry with a focus on transportation business, including long-haul accounts.

Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson reported that Lynette Baker, a division chief of the Department’s Market Conduct Division, received the Paul L. DeAngelo Memorial Teaching Award.

This annual award is given by the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES) Foundation in recognition of excellence in insurance education. It honors an insurance regulator, or former regulator, who has continually committed himself/herself to insurance regulatory education.

Lisa Wills was appointed the new vice president of Strategic Planning and Corporate Relations at workers’ compensation services and insurance provider United Heartland in New Berlin, Wis.

In addition, Janine Tracy was appointed United Heartland’s new director of Human Resources and Strategy.

Wills has served as vice president of administration for the past six years. In her new position, Wills is responsible for leading all strategic planning activities; developing and implementing strategies that enhance communication within the company; and leading efforts that will provide critical information needed to run and monitor the overall health of United Heartland.

Tracy has served as manager of Human Resources for United Heartland since 2006, where she has played a critical role in the organization with the development of an onsite human resources department.

Equity Risk Partners (ERP), an insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm focused exclusively on the needs of the private equity industry, added Charles Blackmon as senior principal – executive liability in its Chicago office.

In his new role with Equity Risk Partners, Blackmon will be responsible for account management, client service and business development.

Blackmon joins Equity Risk Partners’ from Marsh, where he most recently held a vice president position in its Financial and Professional Liability practice. He held underwriting positions at both Chubb and CNA Insurance before joining Marsh.