People

Garrett Sprowls, general counsel and managing broker of Austin-based Professional Lines Underwriting Specialists Inc. (PLUS Inc.), has been elected president of the Texas Surplus Lines Association Inc. (TSLA).

Other newly elected TSLA officers and directors include: Vice President Matt Leicht, owner/underwriter at Craig & Leicht in Houston; Secretary/Treasurer Jennifer Mier, executive vice president with AmWINS Group in Dallas; Director Lynn Bordelon with McClelland & Hine Inc. in Dallas; Director Jeff Fields with Markel Mid South in Dallas; Director Rose Perez with USG Insurance Services Inc. in Houston; and Director Tiffany Way with All Risks Ltd. in Austin

The new officers and directors were elected at TSLA’s 62nd Annual Meeting held Nov. 13 in Austin.

At the meeting, the “Joe Howse President’s Award” was presented to both Sarah Guzzetta, M.D. Jensvold & Co. Inc., chairperson, Host Committee, and Tiffany Way, chairperson, Advertising Committee, for outstanding work on their respective committees.

The “Don King Committee Member of the Year” award was presented to Jeff Fields, Markel Mid South, for his work on the Social Media Committee.

Susan Denise Gardner and Eric S. Berger have been appointed to serve on the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Commission.

Gardner, of Clinton, is a certified financial examiner and market conduct manager, and the former chief deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

Berger, of Metairie, is the senior vice president of Governmental Affairs at the Gray Insurance Co. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America

Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is the property insurer of last resort in Louisiana.

H.W. Kaufman Group and Burns & Wilcox promoted six insurance professionals in the South Central region.

The promotions were announced at a recognition dinner during the annual 2017 Kaufman Leadership Meeting.

Matthew O. Brady was promoted from vice president, regional product director, to vice president, associate managing director, at Burns & Wilcox in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Kip Ulmer was promoted from underwriting manager to associate managing director at Burns & Wilcox in New Orleans.

Richard E. Strattan was promoted from product manager to associate managing director at Burns & Wilcox in Houston.

Nick M. Freeman was promoted from broker to associate managing director at Burns & Wilcox Brokerage in Dallas.

Lindsay C. Doyle was promoted from underwriting manager to associate managing director at Burns & Wilcox in Houston.

Cain Webber was promoted from underwriter, Commercial Insurance, to underwriting manager, Commercial Insurance, at Burns & Wilcox in New Orleans.

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Metro Detroit, H.W. Kaufman Financial Group includes: Burns & Wilcox Brokerage, Burns & Wilcox Canada, Burns & Wilcox Re, Atain Insurance Companies, Afirm, Global Excess Partners, R.B. Jones, Royal Premium, Minuteman Adjusters, and London-based, Chesterfield Insurance Brokers, Lochain Patrick, and Cranbrook Underwriting.