People

June 18, 2018

Erie Insurance, a homeowners and automobile insurer based in Erie, Pa., has named Matt Palczer as vice president of property and subrogation.

Palczer began his career with Erie Insurance in 2002 as a mail clerk in the Murrysville, Pa., branch. He has since served in positions of increasing responsibility, including as a multi-line adjuster, property adjuster, property reinspector, property examiner and property claims reinspection manager. He is involved with Erie’s drone program.

Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc. (S&S) has hired Jessica Thayer as the Financial Services Risk Solutions (FI) Practice Group leader.

Thayer has specialized in directors and officers, errors and omissions, fidelity, cybersecurity, employment practices liability and fiduciary liability for investment advisors, mutual funds, hedge funds and securities and broker dealers for more than 16 years. She will be joining Starkweather’s Financial Institutions team.

Previously, Thayer was a senior vice president at Liftman insurance as well as for Marsh Inc., in which she was responsible for professional management liability insurance for all financial institutions in the New England region.

Established in 1879, Starkweather & Shepley is headquartered in East Providence, R.I. The firm provides commercial and personal insurance, health and employee benefits, surety bonding and risk management services. These services are provided nationally and internationally through its partnership with Assurex Global.

Narragansett Bay Insurance Company (NBIC) has named Glen Tiziani senior vice president of Sales & Distribution, effective May 21, 2018.

NBIC, a Rhode Island-headquartered, wholly-owned subsidiary of Heritage Insurance Holdings Inc., offers specialty insurance services and products to homeowners through a network of independent agents along the Eastern Seaboard.

In his new role, Tiziani will be responsible for profitably growing NBIC’s distribution and agency relationships. Additionally, he will manage a team of field managers and oversee all sales activities, agency marketing support, communications and training.

Tiziani has nearly 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, working in underwriting, sales and sales management. He has worked on both the agency and carrier sides and has experience working with independent agencies and brokers.

He most recently served as sales regional vice president for American Modern Insurance Group. While there, he managed the Eastern U.S. sales operations and was responsible for providing strategic direction and driving sales growth across a 17-state region.

Tiziani’s additional past work experience includes serving as a regional insurance manager for AAA Allied Group Inc. and as a senior sales professional at SAFECO Insurance Co.

Exude Inc., a Philadelphia, Penn.-based organizational health and strategy company, has hired Gregory Offner Jr. as a director.

In this role, Offner will oversee the growth of the Commercial Insurance and Risk Management Division.

Prior to joining Exude Inc., he worked with The Graham Company and with Riggs, Counselmann, Michaels & Downs (RCM&D) as a producer.

Alliant has hired New York-based sports and entertainment insurance specialist Joe Charles as senior vice president.

In his new role, he will work to grow the firm’s presence within the entertainment, sports and private client services segments.

Prior to joining Alliant, Charles was CEO and principal of a New York-based full-service insurance brokerage and risk management firm. He also has experience overseeing the sports and entertainment divisions of several regional brokerage firms.

Insurance Center of New England (ICNE), a privately owned and independent insurance agency with three offices in Agawam, Gardner and Westford, Mass., has hired Lori A. Slezek as chief financial officer.

In this role, Slezek will report directly to ICNE President and CEO William Trudeau and will oversee accounting, human resources, IT and financial planning and analysis, as well as assist with any of the company’s future acquisitions.

Prior to arriving at ICNE, Slezek was the director of finance and administration at the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, a private non-profit organization in Wethersfield, Conn.

In addition to her work with The Partnership, Slezek previously served as director of Administration and Finance for the Mental Health Association of Springfield, Mass.

Slezek has served in a variety of financial roles for local insurance carriers and agents as well.