Updates from the 2019 WSIA Underwriting Summit

The 2019 WSIA Underwriting Summit took place Feb. 24-27, 2019 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. providing networking for the underwriting and delegated authority segment of the WSIA membership as well as an opportunity for the leadership of all member firms to collaborate on strategic issues facing the marketplace.

Five WSIA members were honored for their service to WSIA during the 2019 Annual Business Meeting at the Underwriting Summit.

• Peter Barrett was honored with the Vincent Donahue/Charles McAlear Industry Award. As the association’s highest distinction, the award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the association and the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines industry. Barrett began his insurance career in 1976 and joined Bell & Clements Limited in 1986 where he was appointed managing director in 1989, and became chairman in 2004.
• Brenda Austenfeld was honored with the Earle Dillard Award. The award honors the contributions and outstanding service of a committee chair. Austenfeld is managing director of RT Specialty and president of RT Specialty’s national property practice. She also serves as co-chair of WSIA’s Education Committee.
• Jan Shemanske was honored as the Richard Bouhan Legislative Advocacy Award recipient, which honors individuals whose advocacy helps advance the legislative interests of the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines industry. She joined Nautilus Insurance in 1991 where she is presently vice president with overall responsibility for regulatory compliance activities.
• Barbara Simpson and Chip Pecchio were honored with the Dana Roehrig Award. The award recognizes the efforts of outstanding volunteers to one of the association’s working committees. Simpson serves as vice president of property & casualty for Russell Bond & Co. Inc; she also serves as the markets relationship manager for property & casualty. Pecchio has worked for RSUI Group in Atlanta for nearly 12 years, currently as the binding authority underwriting manager.

Related: Remembering WSIA’s Matthew Scott

New directors, officers named

The following members have been elected as WSIA officers for one-year terms:

• Joel Cavaness of Risk Placement Services was elected president.
• Bryan Sanders of Markel Assurance was elected vice president.
• Davis Moore of Worldwide Facilities LLC was elected secretary.
• Bryan Clark of Gorst & Compass Insurance was elected treasurer.

The following members have been elected to three-year terms as directors:

• Joel Cavaness
• Tim Chaix of R.E. Chaix & Associates
• Bruce Kessler of Westchester
• Dave Obenauer of CRC Group
• Richard Schmitzer of James River Insurance Company

The following outgoing directors’ terms serving the WSIA board of directors were completed:

• Corrine Jones – immediate past president and director since 2013
• Mark Maucere - director since 2014
• Lana Parks - director since 2013
• Chris Peterson - U40 board representative

Related: Leadership defined: Q&A with WSIA President Jacque Schaendorf