People – South Central

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Cos. added John Brooks as a senior field representative for Arkansas, Louisiana and eastern Texas.

A graduate of Louisiana State University, Brooks has been part of the insurance industry in the South for almost 10 years and has extensive commercial lines experience that includes a focus on marketing and agency relations.

The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) has elected Bo Gilbert chairman of its board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

Gilbert is the assistant vice president for USAA Government Relations in the Midwestern Region. At USAA, he is responsible for local government matters for 13 states. Gilbert has 25 years in the insurance, regulatory and legislative arena.

Robert Zeman, corporate counsel for Allstate, was elected vice chairman. Also elected were: Treasurer Lyndell Haigood, regional vice president, State Auto Insurance; and Secretary Tom Fitzpatrick, senior vice president/branch manager, Chubb Group of Insurance Cos.

Joe Johnson, vice president and regional manager of the United Fire Group, will serve as immediate past chair.

Insurance Technologies Corporation (ITC), a provider of insurance marketing, rating and management software and services based in Carrollton, Texas, promoted Laird Rixford to president.

Rixford joined ITC in 2008 as vice president of product development and marketing when ITC acquired his company, Evolution Designs, and its product, Insurance Website Builder. In 2011 he created AgencyBuzz, ITC’s automated agency marketing tool.

Founder and former president Scott Upfield will continue to be actively involved with the daily operations of ITC as CEO.

Michael G. Dileo has been promoted to the position of senior vice president of operations at Louisiana-based regional workers’ compensation underwriter Stonetrust Commercial Insurance Co.

Dileo has almost 25 years of commercial lines experience including extensive executive level management experience in workers’ comp underwriting and claims operations. He previously held the position of vice president of underwriting and his responsibilities will now include all operations for the underwriting and claims divisions.

Stonetrust operates in five states including Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas.

BevCap Management LLC, a captive insurance program manager based in McKinney, Texas, announced that Jason Dixon has joined its team.

Dixon brings 18 years of experience working with employee benefits, and health and welfare programs. Most recently an area vice president and senior consultant at Gallagher Benefit Services, he has served in various other positions including account executive for PCA Healthplans, branch manager for Associated Group Brokerage and middle market new business development leader at Marsh Inc.

Texas Commissioner of Insurance Julia Rathgeber appointed Randle Loving, Paul Rainey and Cynthia Vickers to the board of directors of the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas for terms to expire Dec. 31, 2016.

Loving is vice president of Loving and Etheredge Inc., doing business as Texas Commercial Insurance Facilities. He has worked in the property/casualty market since 1990. Loving has been involved with the surplus lines market since 2002. He is also officer and owner of TIF Premium Finance of Texas.

Rainey is president of RSI International Inc. He has served in the past as president of the Texas Surplus Lines Association. He currently serves as president for the National Association of General Agents and is a committee member for the American Association of Managing General Agents.

Vickers is the risk and insurance director for Express Energy Services Operating LP. She has been a member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society, Women’s Energy Network and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society.

Vickers has worked in the casualty insurance industry for more than 20 years.

Select Insurance Markets LP of Houston, Texas, added Heather Kendrick as a marketing representative.

Kendrick’s responsibility will include adding new agents, as well as field support for the existing group of SIM agents in Texas and Louisiana. She is located in Austin.

Kendrick has an extensive background in insurance, including her most recent position as senior territory manager for Superior Access in Texas. Previous to Superior Access she was a personal lines underwriter for Mercury Insurance.

Select Insurance Markets LP, an MGA for personal lines products, continues to expand its operations in Texas, Louisiana and other states moving into 2014.

State Auto’s Western Region division, based in Austin, Texas, announced new assignments and promotions effective Jan. 1, 2014.

Lyndell Haigood, previously regional vice president – personal insurance, becomes regional vice president – government relations. Haigood will serve as a lobbyist for and representative of the company before regulators and legislators.

Greg Rose, previously regional financial officer, is now regional vice president – personal insurance. He has more than 22 years of insurance experience and is active in the CPCU Society where he’s held several leadership roles at the local chapter level.

Mark Heyde, sales manager for State Auto’s Midwest region, will serve as personal lines sales manager serving Arizona, Colorado and Utah reporting to Greg Rose. Heyde is a member of the CPCU Society, Missouri Insurance Coalition, South Dakota Insurance Alliance, BIG “I” and PIA Associations in his respective states’ of responsibility. He has earned numerous industry designations including CPCU, CIC, ARM, AU, API, AM and AIS.

Todd Richardson, regional vice president, business insurance – Texas and Oklahoma, will assume expanded responsibilities for the states of Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Oklahoma. Richardson brings more than 25 years of experience to the role. He currently holds the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation and working toward his Certified Risk Manager (CRM) and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) designations.

Tim Goeller, regional vice president for business insurance – Arizona, Colorado and Utah, will assume sales management responsibilities for his current territory and will report to Todd Richardson. Goeller joined State Auto in 1990.

Houston-based managing general agency and program manager, MD Jensvold, named Teri Brinson and Sarah Guzzetta as executive vice presidents and corporate officers.

Brinson has been in the insurance industry since 1976 and with Jensvold for more than 21 years. She underwrites and brokers all lines of commercial insurance with a focus on energy, transportation and construction related risks. Brinson is currently serving as director of the Texas Surplus Lines Association. She holds the CPCU designation.

Guzzetta has been with Jensvold for 20 years and played a leading role in developing and contracting with the variety of markets Jensvold offers today. She is a broker with expertise in oil and gas, and large marine accounts.

MD Jensvold also has locations in Lubbock and San Antonio.