People – West

The Leavitt Group has hired Jim Lineweaver, a client advisor, in its Tacoma, Wash., office.

Lineweaver has 25 years of insurance experience. He specializes in large manufacturing risks, forest products, transportation, wholesale distribution, architects and engineering.

Prior to joining the agency, Lineweaver was a partner with a large regional brokerage firm. He also managed the northwest for a specialty insurance company.

The Leavitt Group provides clients with risk management services, and a range of employee benefit solutions.

The Surplus Line Association of California has elected Ian Fitt, CEO and chairman of Western Re/Managers Insurance Services Inc., chair of the SLA Executive Committee, the organization’s board of directors.

Also elected were Denis Brady, president of Burns & Wilcox Brokerage, who becomes vice chairman, and Chris Houska, California managing director of R-T Specialty LLC, who becomes secretary/treasurer.

Fitt takes over from Pam Quilici, executive vice president of Crouse & Associates Insurance Services of Northern California Inc., who completed her 2013 term as chair and was elected to a seat on the board.

Completing the 13-member board are: Dean Andrighetto, ACE Westchester Specialty Group; Janet Beaver, Scottish American; Tom Ciardello, Worldwide Facilities Inc.; Rupert Hall, M.J. Hall & Company Inc.; Chris Kiley, AMWINS; Phil Mazur, Swett & Crawford; Davis Moore, Worldwide Facilities Inc.; Les Ross, Wholesale Trading Co-Op Insurance Services LLC; Gerald Sullivan, The Sullivan Group.

Additionally, SLA members reelected Harry Low, a former insurance commissioner and retired presiding justice of the California Court of Appeal, as mediator.

All individuals elected will serve until balloting is completed following the next SLA Annual Meeting in January 2015.

San Francisco-based SLA operates as a self-governed private organization. Appointed by the insurance commissioner in 1994, the association serves as the statutory surplus line advisory organization to the California Department of Insurance.

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers Association of Los Angeles recently installed new officers and directors for 2014.

The new IIABA-LA lineup for officers are: Ryan Wunderlich, Hub International Insurance – president; Martin Flannery, Poms & Associates Insurance Brokers – vice president; AJ Scott, Timothy Cline Insurance Agency – secretary/treasurer; Bradley Rutt, Elkins Jones Insurance – immediate past president.

IABA-LA directors are: Gail Stonehouse, Lloyd S. Berkett Insurance; Jon Axel, Hub International Insurance; Zach Kuperman, Whorton Insurance; Joshua Valdivia, White & Company Insurance; Robb Greenspan, The Greenspan Co.

IIABA-LA represents agents and brokers throughout the Los Angeles area.

Klamath Falls, Ore.-based Work First Casualty Co. named Brian Schumacher vice president of information services.

Schumacher previously served as director of information services. He has 13 years of experience in information systems management.

Work First is licensed in 46 states, and provides workers’ compensation insurance to temporary staffing companies.

James Eldredge has joined The Buckner Co. in Utah

Eldredge has more than a decade of insurance experience, mostly within the commercial insurance sector. He focuses on contractors, real estate development, professional liability, environmental and pollution, nonprofits, manufacturing and distribution.

Salt Lake City, Utah-based The Buckner Co. provides services to several industries including construction, trucking and transportation, restaurants and technology.

Marjorie Berte, vice president for state affairs for the American Insurance Association’s Western region, announced plans to retire on March 31.

Berte joined AIA in 2011 and has been responsible for overseeing AIA’s government affairs efforts in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Prior to AIA, Berte was undersecretary for the Business, Transportation & Housing Agency in the administration of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Her public service also includes deputy secretary for the State & Consumer Services Agency, and director of the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Joe DiGiovanni, AIA’s senior vice president for state affairs, will oversee the Western region in coordination with Steve Suchil, AIA’s assistant vice president for state affairs, until Berte’s successor is named.

AIA represents roughly 300 insurers that write more than $100 billion in premiums annually.