People – Southeast

August 7, 2017

Maximum, an independent, Chicago-based excess and surplus lines wholesaler, has added Anthony Searcy to its transportation practice in the Jacksonville, Fla., area.

Searcy returns to Florida from the Kansas City area where he owned a retail agency before moving on to help build a wholesale transportation practice.

According to Joe Messina, president and CEO, Maximum sees a “tremendous opportunity for transportation in Florida.”

Maximum is a national and surplus lines wholesale broker of specialty products and services. It specializes in property, casualty, transportation, DIC, builders risk and professional lines coverage.

Thad Bynum of Bynum Insurance Agency, a Trusted Choice agency in Clayton, Ga., was installed as president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia (IIAGA), on June 10 during the association’s 120th annual meeting, convention and trade show at Amelia Island, Fla.

Bynum began his insurance career working as an agent and then as a manager for Georgia Farm Bureau. In 2002, Bynum made the transition to become an independent agent when he and his wife, Janelle, opened Bynum Insurance Agency.

Bynum served as IIAG District 2 Director from 2010 to 2015, at which time he was elected to serve on the IIAG Executive Committee.

Nan D. Brunson has been appointed full-time president & CEO of Gulfstream and its affiliates, as well as president & CEO of Catawba Insurance Co.

Brunson currently serves as vice president of Business Development at Seibels and interim president & CEO of Gulfstream. Gulfstream is an affiliate and business process outsourcing client of The Seibels Bruce Group Inc., and Catawba is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seibels.

Seibels said it will immediately begin a search for Brunson’s replacement at Seibels as she moves away from her current role and direct involvement with business development and steps into the full-time leadership positions at Gulfstream and Catawba. As president & CEO of Catawba, Brunson will be responsible for preparing the currently inactive insurer for future business ventures.

Brunson is an executive strategist with more than 25 years of experience in the insurance and technology industries.

Gulfstream is headquartered in the Southeast and writes homeowners, condominium, renters, and flood insurance in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas.