Nominees Announced for the Inaugural 2019 Emerging Leaders Conference in Miami

Brooke Kelley
847-553-3671
brooke.kelley@pciaa.net

FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT

October 25, 2018

Nominees Announced for the Inaugural 2019 Emerging Leaders Conference in Miami

CHICAGO — The Emerging Leaders Conference, powered by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), the Insurance Careers Movement (ICM), and A.M. Best, today announced its inaugural class of 83 of the best and brightest rising talents in insurance who have been invited to an exclusive executive development and networking event in February 2019.

“The Insurance Careers Movement was launched to address the pending talent shortage in the insurance industry,” said Jessica Hanna, PCI’s senior vice president of public affairs. “The industry needed a centralized campaign to showcase the innovation and excitement in insurance jobs. The first phase was to build a grassroots, social media, and digital movement to spread the word that insurance is the career trifecta—stable, rewarding, and limitless. The Emerging Leaders Conference is the next dynamic and tangible phase of the Insurance Careers Movement. We are proud to show ideas turning into action.”

The Emerging Leaders Conference is the next global industry initiative from the Insurance Careers Movement, which aims to harness the tremendous responses and energy from the first digital engagement phase of the ICM. The conference is multi-dimensional, providing company CEOs a way to get involved in industry-wide recruitment, in addition to developing new leaders within the industry. Insurance industry CEOs and executives were asked to nominate rising stars within their organizations. These up and coming leaders will receive executive training from top industry icons, giving emerging leaders new perspectives on industry challenges, opportunities, and enterprise-wide leadership. The conference will provide networking opportunities, and in turn the participants will be recruited to become ambassadors for the industry.

The nominees below represent a wide-range of job functions including actuarial, claims, client relations, finance, marketing, product development, risk management, sales, technology, and underwriting. They work from coast to coast as well as overseas. Nominees have approximately 8-10 years of job experience and are already making a positive impact on their companies and the industry.

“The Emerging Leaders Conference nomination process was created to help spark internal conversations about rising stars within companies and to provide a professional development opportunity that rewards high performers. The conference is career focused and will also embed health and wellness strategies to help fuel a healthy executive lifestyle,” said Marguerite Tortorello, president of Tortorello Communications and one of the founding members of Insurance Careers Movement.

The following quotes about the nominations highlight the outstanding caliber of the selected Emerging Leaders Conference attendees:

“It is rare to find an individual with the passion, dedication, and professionalism that she exhibits each and every day. It is at times when tension is high and the pressure of a deadline looms that great leaders rise to the occasion. There is no better individual than she that we would want in control during those times.”

“His passion and commitment to his core responsibilities show his desire to excel in his role. He treats his work as his craft, constantly striving for improvement by way of industry designations and furthering his education. However, he realizes that his individual success will not grow the company, it takes the entire team, working in unison with focus, determination, and a touch of fun that will put us on a path for growth and success. His passion and motivation inspire others on the team to accomplish our goals and create a better future for the next generation.”

“She is a consistent high achiever who continually challenges herself and those around her to excellence. Her personal contributions to the branch and organization are framed by her high degree of confidence, honesty, respect and passion for success.”

The Emerging Leaders Conference will be held Feb. 24 - 26, 2019, at the Confidante Hotel during the 4^thAnnual February Insurance Careers Month. The agenda will feature panel discussions with leading company CEOs providing insights on major industry trends and sharing knowledge on some of the most pressing issues facing insurance.

The nominees will have an opportunity to network with insurance executives from diverse job functions in a vibrant environment. Click here to learn more iabout the Insurance Careers Movement or how to get involved.

We encourage you to follow the conversation on social media #ELC2019. For information on sponsorship opportunities contact Kristen McCann at kristen.mccann@pciaa.net

Jyotipriya	Ajay	Amica Mutual Insurance Company	Assistant Vice President
Eduardo	Amador	Weston Insurance Management, LLC	AVP, Director of Marketing
Scott	Applequist	American Agricultural Insurance Company	Actuary
Kasey	Baker	CM Regent - wholly owned subsidiary of Church Mutual Insurance Company	Manager of Broker Relations & Distribution
Julie	Berenz Anderson	The Hanover Insurance Group	Associate State Manager
Andy	Bloechl	CM Vantage	Director of Operations
Joshua	Bouchez	Trident Insurance	Territory Marketing Manager
Sarah	Braughler	United Educators	Associate Vice President
Phil	Brodeur	RLI Insurance Company	AVP, Risk Services
Holly	Brokaw	Illinois Casualty Company	Underwriting Manager
Colin	Burns	COUNTRY Financial	Director, Brand Marketing & Activation
Meagan	Campbell Shields	LWCC	Investment Portfolio Manager and Enterprise Risk Specialist
Bruno	Caron	A M Best Company	Financial Analyst
Raymond	Charrier	Confie Seguros	AVP, Claims
Stephanie	Coe	CNA	Business Analysis Director
Nick	Coldwell	The Hanover Insurance Group	AVP New Business
Nick	Cook	Crum & Forster	SVP- Small Business Team
Patrick	Crotty	Navigators Management Company, Inc.	Vice President, Environmental
Kathleen	Dalton	Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company	Assistant Vice President Operations
Ryan	Daniele	MJ Insurance	Director, Strategy & Operations - Risk Management
Daniela	De Leon Pacheco	Argo Group International Holdings	Manager of Business Operations for Latin American Operations
Lisa	DeCarolis	CNA	Risk Control Consulting Director
Nicole	Dinan	Westfield	Commercial Lines Product Management and Underwriting Practices Leader
Mandy	Donovan	Illinois Casualty Company	Product Development Supervisor
John	Eckmair	Utica National Insurance Group	Director of Underwriting Operations
David	Edgerton	Erie Insurance	VP, IT
Tim	Ekberg	COUNTRY Financial	Director, Field Operations
Simon	Evans	Argo Group	Senior Recruitment Manager, International
Rosa	Figueroa	Catalina U.S. Insurance Services LLC	Senior Claims Examiner
Jamie	Flowers	Illinois Casualty Company	Legal Counsel
Jenna	Francis	Electric Insurance Company	Senior Claims Adjuster
Candice	Germain	The Segal Group	Senior Broker
Marc	Glickman	Argo Group	Underwriting Director
Karen	Guard	Nationwide Insurance	AVP, Product - Personal Lines
Zain	Hasan	NICG	Founder & CEO
Janelle	Henkel	COUNTRY Financial	Director of Billing Operations
Sarah	Hinman	Utica National Insurance Group	Digital Delivery Manager
Kelly	Hirn	Church Mutual Insurance Company	Claim Shared Services Manager
Daniel	Hofmeister	A.M. Best Company	Financial Analyst II
Shane	Hutsen	Argo Group	University Relations Program Manager
Brent	Johnson	Accredited Surety and Casualty	Programs Manager
Rebecca	Joseph	The Hanover	Executive Middle Market Sales Underwriting Specialist
Clifton	Kersey	Vela Insurance Services	Assistant Vice President, Segment Underwriting Director
James	Kienzle	CNA	Director Strategic Coverage Counsel
Meredith	Krasnecky	Lincoln Financial Group	Business Process Improvement Consultant
Lynn	LaGram	The Hartford	Assistant Vice President, Product Management
RICK	LANTER	ASSURANT	VICE PRESIDENT
Aaron	Lee	Ally Insurance / Motors Insurance Corporation (MIC)	Director of P&C Underwriting
Courtney	Lehman	Westfield	Actuarial Leader
Thompson	Mackey	EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants	Risk Management Consultant
KUNAL	MALHOTRA	ASSURANT	PRESIDENT, INNOVATIONS
Lauren	Marsh	PayneWest Financial	Team Lead - Select (small business commercial)
Mohideen	Masood	Utica National Insurance Company	Technical Delivery Manager
Alison	McLean	Swiss Re	Head Behavioral Research
Sean	Metzger	Lancer Insurance Company	Division Manager
Kristi	Milbourn	American Family Insurance	Talent Acquisition Manager
Alex	Miller	United Educators	Associate Vice President
Lane	Miller	Johnson Lambert LLP	Principal
Tyler	Nielsen	Utah Business Insurance Company	VP Operations
Christina	Parrott	American Family Insurance	Compensation Manager
Nicole	Parrott	FBL Financial Group, Inc.	Specialty Lines Vice President
Nicholas	Petcoff	Conifer Holdings, Inc.	Executive Vice President
Leah	Porath	Erie Insurance	IT Manager
Alison	Powell	Erie Insurance	Inside Claims Supervisor
Kelly	Ruud	CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company	Assistant Vice President, Financial Systems
Robert	Ryan	Navigators Management Company, Inc.	NY Marine Branch Manager
Chris	Schumacher	Church Mutual Insurance Company	Actuary
Sephora	Sciara	CAA Insurance (CCG)	AVP, Insurance
Nick	Scott	Spinnaker Insurance Company	General Counsel
James	Shay	ACIG Insurance Company	Vice President
Amanda	Sklavenitis	Ohio Insurance Institute	Vice President, Education and Workforce Development
JooHye	Smith	MetLife Auto & Home	Manager
Dana	Soubra	CAA Insurance (CAA Club Group)	Vice President, Insurance
Jessica	Soufrine	Amerisure Insurance Company	Assistant Vice President, Field Marketing and Underwriting
Lynanne	St. Denis	Navigators Management Company, Inc.	Vice President, Commercial Excess Casualty
Ryan	Stieg	Stieg Insurance, a Division of PayneWest Insurance	Client Relations Director, Commercial Insurance
Katie	Stryker	CNA	Consulting Director
Yen	Tang	MassMutual Life Insurance Company	Head of FP&A Data Analytics
Alison	VanOtterloo	Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company	Vice President
Kari	Vaughn	CNA	Actuarial Consultant (P&C)
Ryan	Vigus	CSAA Insurance Group	Vice President
Karen	Williams	Argo Group	Group Senior Manager of Training and Organizational Development
Deidre	Wright	Business Insurance	Director, Engagement & Marketing

PCI promotes and protects the viability of a competitive private insurance market for the benefit of consumers and insurers. PCI is composed of nearly 1,000 member companies, representing the broadest cross section of insurers of any national trade association. PCI members write $220 billion in annual premium, 37 percent of the nation's property casualty insurance. Member companies write 44 percent of the U.S. automobile insurance market, 30 percent of the homeowners market, 35 percent of the commercial property and liability market and 37 percent of the private workers compensation market.