People

Associated Agencies Inc., based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., has promoted Joshua Herz to president, making him the fourth person in the same family to hold the position.

Herz succeeds his cousin, Max (Skip) R. Schrayer, who was recently named CEO. As president, Herz will maintain his current client base and actively mentor new salespeople within the company.

As CEO, Schrayer will continue to maintain his own client base and oversee operations.

Herz has been vice president of the company since 2009. He also sits on the executive boards of Associated Agencies and one of its affiliates, Auto and Home Insurance Agency. Prior to joining Associated Agencies, Herz worked at General Electric for four years.

A producer of large accounts, Schrayer manages the largest book of business in the office. He also serves as sales manager and as a member of the board of directors. Schrayer remains president of Auto and Home Insurance Agency in Downers Grove, Ill.

Edgewood Partners Insurance Center named Hali Nielson senior vice president of private client services in its Irvine, Calif., office.

Nielson has 19 years of experience in insurance and risk management for high net worth clients with significant property and liability exposures. Prior to EPIC, Nielson was personal lines manager for Hamilton Brewart Insurance, where she also specialized in individual risk management and insurance programs for high net worth private clients. Earlier in her career, Nielson managed a State Farm office in Huntington Beach, Calif., and spent five years as a personal lines and private client services producer with UnionBanc Insurance Services Inc.

EPIC has offices in Los Angeles, Irvine, Fresno, Folsom, San Francisco, San Mateo, Petaluma and San Ramon, Calif.

Delaware-based commercial insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm Lyons Companies appointed Michael F. McDonald a risk management advisor.

McDonald specializes in risk management, alternative risk financing and corporate insurance programs. He is experienced in property/casualty insurance program design and implementation for middle market and complex risk clients. His client expertise includes the construction and real estate industries, public sector entities, professional service firms and manufacturers.

Prior to joining Lyons Companies, McDonald worked with several national insurance brokers, most recently Wells Fargo Insurance Services. He has more than 16 years of industry experience, much of it working with complex risk and alternative finance solutions.

McDonald has earned both the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist designations.

Lyons Companies has offices in Wilmington and Rehoboth, Del.

Kemper Corp. announced that Denise I. Lynch has been named property/casualty group executive. She will report directly to Donald G. Southwell, Kemper’s chairman, president and CEO.

In her new role, Lynch will be responsible for Kemper Specialty, Kemper Direct and Kemper Services Group, in addition to continuing to lead the Kemper Preferred business.

Lynch replaces James A. Schulte, who announced his resignation as property/casualty group executive, effective November 30.

Lynch joined Kemper Corp. in January 2009 and is based in Jacksonville, Fla. Before joining Kemper, she served as vice president of sales and marketing excellence for the property and casualty insurance operations of The Hartford.