CHICAGO - This year, 102 insurance professionals from across the country as well as overseas were selected as “Emerging Leaders” and will be invited to attend the 2020 Emerging Leaders Conference, Feb. 23-25, 2020, at the Hotel Van Zandt in Austin, Texas.

The conference, hosted by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), the Insurance Careers Movement (ICM), and AM Best, is designed to recognize the best and brightest rising talents in the insurance industry. Those selected represent a wide range of job functions including actuarial, claims, client relations, finance, marketing, product development, risk management, sales, legal, technology, and underwriting. Nominees have more than 8 years of job experience and are already making a positive impact on their companies and the 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. “This underscores the industry’s commitment to create 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.”

“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,” said Marguerite Tortorello, president of Tortorello Communications and one of the founding members of the Insurance Careers Movement. “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.”

“APCIA and the Insurance Careers Movement are thrilled to continue our partnership with AM Best and appreciate their strong commitment to addressing talent in the industry in innovative ways,” said Sampson.

The Emerging Leaders Conference agenda will feature panel discussions with leading company CEOs and senior executives providing insights on major industry trends and sharing knowledge on some of the most pressing issues facing insurance.

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

We encourage you to follow the conversation on social media #ELC2020. For information on sponsorship opportunities contact Ashley Solovy (ashley.solovy@apci.org).

Class of 2020 Emerging Leaders

Mike Maurer, Accident Fund, Divisional Director Business Development

Clarisia Seay, Accredited Surety and Casualty, HR Director

Montell Taylor, AF Group, Director, Operations

Denise Campbell, AIG, AVP

Garrett Pendleton, AIG, VP Manager Airport and Product Liability Claims

Keri Petersen, Alliance Member Services, Claims Manager

Leah Gooley, ALPS, Underwriting Manager

Chris Draghi, AM Best, Senior Financial Analyst

Monica Groves, American Family Mutual Insurance Company, State Government Affairs Director

Mike Piercy, American Modern Insurance Group, Claims Field Manager (West)

Levi Fisher, American Modern Insurance Group, Territory Sales Manager (West)

Matt Ryan, American Modern Insurance Group, Operations Consultant

Tracy Yaun, Amerisure, AVP Liability Claims

Mahnoor "Noor" Amjad, Argo Group, Director, BI and Analytics

Jessica Tanner, Argo Group, VP Primary Casualty

Shantell Bishop, Argo Insurance, Underwriting Manager

Scott Kelley, Argo Pro, Underwriting Manager

Larry Phillips, Arthur J Gallagher, AVP

Melissa Williard, BMIC, Director of Underwriting, Middle Market

Jeff Beatty, BMIC, Director of Underwriting, Express Account Underwriting

Koleman Brenner, Church Mutual Insurance Company, IT Administration & Finance Manager

Stephanie Lynn, Church Mutual Insurance Company, ERM Director / Actuary

Nicole Jolley, Church Mutual Insurance Company, Director Special Business Unit

Danny Hayes, Cincinnati Insurance Companies, IT Resource Manager

Mike Strange, Cincinnati Insurance Companies, IT Service Manager

Terron Kemp, Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Regional Casualty Claims Manager

Terry Smith, ClearPath Mutual Insurance Company, Accounting Manager

Seth Ochsner, CM Select, Senior Product Director

Sonia Dziubek, CNA Insurance, Director, Strategic Sourcing and Innovation

Victoria Chen, CNA Insurance, Claims Director (Specialty)

Valentino Elliott, CNA Insurance, Small Business Strategy Consulting Director

Whitney Brooks, CNA Insurance, IT Business Analysis Director

Kristi Houston, CompWest, Regional Director Business Development

Molly Kerr, Co-operative Insurance Companies, Underwriter II

Jolene Kerr, COUNTRY Financial, Investment Services Manager

Tracie Caldwell, COUNTRY Financial, Manager, Life Policy Services

Michael Thomas, COUNTRY Financial, Director, Personal Lines Underwriting

Stephanie Hunt, Crum & Forster, Director

Nick Johnson-Hill, Crum & Forster, AVP

Daisy Lopez, Crum & Forster, AVP

Teresa Lala, Crum & Forster, AVP

Melissa Rice, CSAA Insurance Group, Senior Manager, Internal Audit

Jing Shi, CSAA Insurance Group, VP, Marketing Strategy and Analytics

Lavanya Lingala, CSAA Insurance Group, Commercial Operations Manager

Andrea Zdaniewski, Erie Insurance Group, Counsel II

Morgan Kimble, Erie Insurance Group, Medical Management Claims Facilitation Supervisor

Megan Euston, Erie Insurance Group, Manager, Digital Marketing

Abey Thomas, EWI Re, Vice President Risk Management

Jon Swartz, FBL Financial Group, Inc, Managing Actuary

Alyssa Bouchard, Gamma Iota Sigma, Director of Education and Programming

Abbas Raza, GSFSGroup, Performance & Analysis Manager

Andrea Rossi, Guaranty Fund Management Services, Vice President of Operations

David Amaro, Hamilton Insurance Group, VP, Associate Legal Counsel

Frank Gualtieri, Hartford Steam Boiler, AVP, Product Manager, Personal Lines Lead

Keith Allen, Lancer Insurance Company, Assistant Vice President

Lori Yash, MAPFRE USA, Director Claims

Thomas Hoffey, MAPFRE USA, Supervising Attorney

Jamie Ancheta, MJ Insurance, Client Executive

Aaron Parker, MJ Insurance, Vice President, Client Experience

Spencer Borisoff, Monarch E&S Insurance Services, Director of Marketing / Junior Underwriter

Elektra Croy, Motors Insurance Corporation (Ally), Director, Statutory Accounting & Reporting

Noah McClain, Mutual of Omaha, Product Development Manager

Kate Ro, NJM Insurance Group, General Counsel

Melissa Yarnell, Nonprofits Insurance Alliance, CRO

Kim Aday, Nonprofits Insurance Alliance, CFO

Lindsey DiGangi, PA Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co, Senior Business Analyst

Ivy Kitzinger, Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group, AVP Professional Liability Claims

Brennan McLoughlin, Property & Liability Resource Bureau, Education Counsel

Ashley Burris, Protective Insurance, Vice President of Accounting & Financial Reporting

Ginger Witte, Protective Insurance, Director of Internal Audit

Taylor Jones, Questpro, College Recruiting Manager

Alex Ulmer, RAS, Business Development Manager

Nate Wenzl, RAS, Business Development Manager

Scott Gennusa, RLI, AVP, Inland Marine

Laura Sutter, RLI, Actuarial Director, P&C Products

Nathalie Hiemstra, RLI, AVP, Claim (Executive Products)

Kristin Heiges, Secura, Director Marketing

Michael Rosenau, Society Insurance, Director of Risk Control

Dennis Saldana, Society Insurance, Director of Commercial Underwriting

Benjamin Kimmons, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, Vice President - Actuary and R&D

Ryan Reik, State Auto Insurance Companies, Enterprise Agent Reporting Lead

Rachel Lynch-Herrington, The Hanover Insurance Group, Director Claims

Maegan Weller, The Hanover Insurance Group, Director, Commercial Operations and Service

William Linthicum, The Hanover Insurance Group, Assistant Manager - Surety

Candace Rhea, The Hartford, Underwriter

Pete Alburtis, The Hartford, Managing Director, Houston Regional Office

Jeff Woronick, The Hartford, Data Management Solution Owner

Justin Grimm, The Hartford, Director

Roxanna Maiberger, TMLT, Associate Risk Management Representative

Rebecca Selman, TMLT, Associate Education Coordinator

Nancy Enderby, United Educators Insurance, A Reciprocal Risk Retention Group, Associate VP, Underwriting

Nitesh Patel, United Educators Insurance, A Reciprocal Risk Retention Group, AVP, Information Technology

Barbara Keyes, Utica National Insurance Group, AVP, Director of Business Owners Policies

Andrew Ford, Utica National Insurance Group, Managing Actuary

Scott Johnson, WCF Insurance, Director, Product Development

Steve Butler, Westfield, Personal Lines Product Management & Underwriting Practices leader

Shannon Ahlborn, Westfield, Distribution Programs and Strategy Leader

Kimberly Sanders, Weston Insurance Management, LLC, Regulatory Product Administrator

Michelle Gauder, Zurich North America, Assistant Vice President of Medical Bill Review

Noy Saunders, Zurich North America, Training & Quality Specialist

Adam Kerns, Zurich North America, AVP, State Affairs, Government & Industry Affairs

Brian Budzicz, Zurich North America, Assistant General Counsel