The Emerging Leaders Conference announces its 2020 class

More than 100 professionals from the U.S. and overseas were selected as part of the 2020 class of “Emerging Leaders” and invited to attend the Emerging Leaders Conference in Austin on Feb. 25, 2020. This year’s class includes professionals from all areas and functions of the industry, including actuarial, claims, client relations, finance, marketing, product development, risk management, sales, legal, technology, and underwriting. In addition, all of the nominees have more than eight years’ experience and already have a proven track record of success in the industry.

Hosted by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), the Insurance Careers Movement (ICM), and AM Best, the Emerging Leaders Conference aims to spotlight the rising stars in the insurance industry.

“We are pleased to see the momentum and strong industry support for the Emerging Leaders program,” said David Sampson, president and CEO of APCIA, in a statement. “This underscores the industry’s commitment to creating meaningful developmental opportunities for the next generation of leaders. The Emerging Leaders Program is another example of the industry’s dedication to talent recruitment and retainment.”

At the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to sit in on panel discusses with company executives, where they will offer their perspectives on the trends shaping the industry today.

“The Emerging Leaders Conference is held in conjunction with the 5th Annual February Insurance Careers Month, where we look to not only recruit talent to the insurance profession but also spark internal conversations about the rising stars within companies that someday will fill the C-Suite offices,” Marguerite Tortorello, president of Tortorello Communications and one of the founding members of the Insurance Careers Movement, said in a release. “The conference is unique in its focus on providing emerging leaders new perspectives on industry challenges and opportunities while calling upon them to become ambassadors for the industry.”

To learn more about the Insurance Careers Movement, visit the organization’s website.

Class of 2020 Emerging Leaders:

• Aaron Parker, MJ Insurance, Vice President, Client Experience
• Abbas Raza, GSFSGroup, Performance & Analysis Manager
• Abey Thomas, EWI Re, Vice President Risk Management
• Adam Kerns, Zurich North America, AVP, State Affairs, Government & Industry Affairs
• Alex Ulmer, RAS, Business Development Manager
• Alyssa Bouchard, Gamma Iota Sigma, Director of Education and Programming
• Andrea Rossi, Guaranty Fund Management Services, Vice President of Operations
• Andrea Zdaniewski, Erie Insurance Group, Counsel II
• Andrew Ford, Utica National Insurance Group, Managing Actuary
• Ashley Burris, Protective Insurance, Vice President of Accounting & Financial Reporting
• Barbara, Keyes, Utica National Insurance Group, AVP, Director of Business Owners Policies
• Benjamin Kimmons, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, Vice President – Actuary and R&D
• Brennan McLoughlin, Property & Liability Resource Bureau, Education Counsel
• Brian Budzicz, Zurich North America, Assistant General Counsel
• Candace Rhea, The Hartford, Underwriter
• Chris Draghi, AM Best, Senior Financial Analyst
• Clarisia Seay, Accredited Surety and Casualty, HR Director
• Daisy Lopez, Crum & Forster, AVP
• Danny Hayes, Cincinnati Insurance Companies, IT Resource Manager
• David Amaro, Hamilton Insurance Group, VP, Associate Legal Counsel
• Denise Campbell, AIG, AVP
• Dennis Saldana, Society Insurance, Director of Commercial Underwriting
• Elektra Croy, Motors Insurance Corporation (Ally), Director, Statutory Accounting & Reporting
• Frank Gualtieri, Hartford Steam Boiler, AVP, Product Manager, Personal Lines Lead
• Garrett Pendleton, AIG, VP Manager Airport and Product Liability Claims
• Ginger Witte, Protective Insurance, Director of Internal Audit
• Ivy Kitzinger, Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group, AVP Professional Liability Claims
• Jamie Ancheta, MJ Insurance, Client Executive
• Jeff Beatty, BMIC, Director of Underwriting, Express Account Underwriting
• Jeff Woronick, The Hartford, Data Management Solution Owner
• Jessica Tanner, Argo Group, Vice President, Primary Casualty
• Jing Shi, CSAA Insurance Group, VP, Marketing Strategy and Analytics
• Jolene Kerr, COUNTRY Financial, Investment Services Manager
• Jon Swartz, FBL Financial Group, Inc, Managing Actuary
• Justin Grimm, The Hartford, Director
• Kate Ro, NJM Insurance Group, General Counsel
• Keith Allen, Lancer Insurance Company, Assistant Vice President
• Keri Petersen, Alliance Member Services, Claims Manager
• Kim Aday, Nonprofits Insurance Alliance, CFO
• Kimberly Sanders, Weston Insurance Management, LLC, Regulatory Product Administrator
• Koleman Brenner, Church Mutual Insurance Company, IT Administration & Finance Manager
• Kristi Houston, CompWest, Regional Director Business Development
• Kristin Heiges, Secura, Director of Marketing
• Larry Phillips, Authur J Gallagher, AVP
• Laura Sutter, RLI, Actuarial Director, P&C Products
• Lavanya Lingala, CSAA Insurance Group, Commercial Operations Manager
• Leah Gooley, ALPS, Underwriting Manager
• Levi Fisher, American Modern Insurance Group, r. Territory Sales Manager (West)
• Lindsey DiGangi, PA Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co, Senior Business Analyst
• Lori Yash, MAPFRE INSURANCE, Director Claims
• Maegan Weller, The Hanover Insurance Group, Director, Commercial Operations and Service
• Mahnoor “Noor” Amjad, Argo Group, Director of BI and Analytics
• Matt Ryan, American Modern Insurance Group, Operations Consultant
• Megan Euston, Erie Insurance Group, Manager, Digital Marketing
• Melissa Rice, CSAA Insurance Group, Senior Manager, Internal Audit
• Melissa Williard, BMIC, Director of Underwriting, Middle Market
• Melissa Yarnell, Nonprofits Insurance Alliance, CRO
• Michael Rosenau, Society Insurance, Director of Risk Control
• Michael Thomas, Country Financial, Director, Personal Lines Underwriting
• Michelle Gauder, Zurich Insurance Company, Assistant Vice President of Medical Bill Review
• Mike Maurer, Accident Fund, Divisional Director of Business Development
• Mike Piercy, American Modern Insurance Group, Claims Field Manager (West)
• Mike Strange, Cincinnati Insurance Companies, IT Service Manager
• Molly Kerr, Co-operative Insurance Companies, Underwriter II
• Monica Groves, American Family Mutual Insurance Company, State Government Affairs Director
• Montell Taylor, AF Group, Director of Operations
• Morgan Kimble, Erie Insurance Group, Medical Management Claims Facilitation Supervisor
• Nancy Enderby, United Educators, Associate Vice President, Underwriting
• Nate Wenzl, RAS, Business Development Manager
• Nathalie Hiemstra, RLI, AVP, Claim (Executive Products)
• Nick Johnson-Hill, Crum & Forster, AVP
• Nicole Jolley, Church Mutual Insurance Company, Director of Special Business Unit
• Nitesh Patel, United Educators Insurance, AVP, Information Technology
• Noah McClain, Mutual of Omaha, Product Development Manager
• Noy Saunders, Zurich Insurance Group, Training & Quality Specialist
• Pete Alburtis, The Hartford, Managing Director, Houston Regional Office
• Rachel Lynch-Herrington, The Hanover Insurance Group, Director Claims
• Rebecca Selman, TMLT, Associate Education Coordinator
• Roxanna Maiberger, TMLT, Associate Risk Management Representative
• Ryan Reik, State Auto Insurance Companies, Enterprise Agent Reporting Lead
• Scott Gennusa, RLI, AVP, Inland Marine
• Scott Johnson, WCF Insurance, Director, Product Development
• Scott Kelley, Argo Pro, Underwriting Manager
• Seth Ochsner, CM Select, Senior Product Director
• Shannon Ahlborn, Westfield, Distribution Programs and Strategy Leader
• Shantell Bishop, Argo Insurance, Underwriting Manager
• Sonia Dziubek, CNA Insurance, Director – Strategic Sourcing and Innovation
• Spencer Borisoff, Monarch E&S Insurance Services, Director of Marketing / Junior Underwriter
• Stephanie Hunt, Crum & Forster, Director
• Stephanie Lynn, Church Mutual Insurance Company, ERM Director / Actuary
• Steve Butler, Westfield, Personal Lines Product Management & Underwriting Practices leader
• Taylor Jones, Questpro, College Recruiting Manager
• Teresa Lala, Crum & Forster, AVP
• Terron Kemp, Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Regional Casualty Claims Manager
• Terry Smith, ClearPath Mutual Insurance Company, Accounting Manager
• Thomas Hoffey, MAPFRE USA, Supervising Attorney
• Tracie Caldwell, COUNTRY Financial, Manager, Life Policy Services
• Tracy Yaun, Amerisure, AVP, Liability Claims
• Valentino Elliott, CNA Insurance, Small Business Strategy Consulting Director
• Victoria Chen, CNA Insurance, Claim Director (Specialty)
• Whitney Brooks, CNA Insurance, IT Business Analysis Director
• William Linthicum, The Hanover Insurance Group, Assistant Manager – Surety

Related:

• Welcoming Generation Z
• Zurich’s apprenticeship program makes launching a career in insurance easy
• How insurance can recruit the next generation of talent

Have you joined our group ALM Young Professionals Network on LinkedIn? We’re having powerful conversations that tackle the challenges we all face early in our careers. Request to join here.