People – Southeast

Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners (BKS-Partners), an independent insurance brokerage firm, has appointed Steve Olson to advisor.

Olson comes to BKS with over 25 years of industry experience in the Tampa Bay market. Most recently, he served as area SVP for Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. Prior to that he served as area president, Tampa, where he managed all aspects of recruiting, sales, service, financials and client engagement oversight for Gallagher. Olson also served 12 years with Aon Consulting where he represented clients of all sizes in the development of benefits strategies. Olson will be based from the company headquarters in Tampa.

BKS-Partners provides private risk management, commercial risk management, employee benefits, and Vitality programs to clients throughout the U.S. and internationally. Headquartered in Tampa, BKS-Partners has seven offices located throughout the state of Florida.

ClearView Risk Holdings, LLC announced that Keith Driggers and Barbara Glennon have joined its subsidiary Southwest Risk, LP. Both will serve as vice president and broker in the Tallahassee office, which will be branded as ClearView Risk – Florida.

Driggers is a 21-year veteran of the insurance industry where he previously worked at FHB Insurance as its chief executive officer. Prior to that, Driggers held positions with McNeary, Marsh and Brown & Brown in their Orlando offices.

Glennon is a 37-year veteran of the insurance industry where she previously worked at FHB Insurance as a senior broker. Prior to that, Glennon was the marketing manager for Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance in Tallahassee.

Robert Howey, president of Southwest Risk, said Driggers and Glennon will lead Southwest Risk’s foray into the Florida market with a focus on construction and other E&S casualty risks. It will conduct business under the name ClearView Risk – Florida.

“This is our first office in Florida, and we are actively looking at additional opportunities to expand our presence in Florida,” said Howey.

ClearView Risk Holdings, LLC is the parent company of Southwest Risk, LP, Southwest Risk Agency Services, LLC, Strata Underwriting Managers and Strata Claims Management. Southwest Risk, LP is a specialized wholesale brokerage.

Disabled Veterans Insurance Careers (DVIC), the non-profit organization that helps train, educate and create employment opportunities within the insurance industry for disabled veterans, celebrated the graduation of Joanne Smith on June 30. The five-month program prepares disabled veterans to embark on a customer service career in property/casualty insurance, with an emphasis on personal auto and homeowners lines.

According to Gary Bryant, president and CEO of DVIC, Smith spent the last six months training and working toward completing the program.

“With her military training and insurance training combined, she has a very successful career ahead of her,” Bryant said.

Smith was recently hired by the Gary Green Insurance Agency, a State Farm agency in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Crichton Group, an independent insurance agency in Middle Tennessee, has promoted industry veteran Dan Hite to the position of partner and vice president. Previously, Hite served as commercial insurance advisor for the agency.

In his new role, Hite will be responsible for business development, fostering carrier relationships and mentoring new team members. Additionally, he will help lead and advance the company’s healthcare and special liability practices and oversee the agency’s insurance product development.

Prior to joining The Crichton Group, Hite was an executive vice president at Brown & Brown of Tennessee, Inc., where he served for 30 years. He first began his career at Cooper, Love & Jackson.

Members of the Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia (PIA of Georgia) elected Hamilton Tillman president at their annual meeting held at Lake Oconee, Ga.

Tillman is president of Tillman Insurance Agency, Valdosta, Ga., and specializes in business insurance and works with clients including construction, bonds, and general business insurance. Tillman Insurance provides insurance services including commercial, personal auto, homeowners, and life insurance.

Others elected as officers of PIA were: President-elect – P. K. Martin, IV (Hood Insurance Agency of Lawrenceville); Vice-president – Lorie M. Yauney, SPHR (J. Smith Lanier & Co. of West Point); Treasurer – John T. Franks (Franks & Associates of College Park); Secretary – Mike Kaplan (BB&T Insurance Services of Macon); and National Director – Victor Hamby (Hamby & Aloisio of Atlanta).