People

ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, appointed John Nilson senior vice president, western region for ACE Risk Management. Nilson will be based in Los Angeles and oversee ARM branch operations for the western region.

Nilson joined ACE USA in July 1999 as an underwriter for ARM in its Los Angeles branch. He has more than 14 years of experience in the insurance arena. Previously, he was with CIGNA Special Risk Facilities in Houston.

Burn & Wilcox appointed Travis Stuart supervisor of its Albuquerque, N.M., service center operation. He will be responsible for all commercial and personal lines underwriting at the service center. Previously, Stuart was personal lines underwriter at Burns & Wilcox’s Scottsdale, Ariz., office.

The company also appointed Micki Jordan and Kristen Monroy to positions in Nevada.

Jordan, formerly an underwriting manager in the Denver office, assumed underwriting manager responsibilities at the company’s Las Vegas office.

Monroy was promoted to underwriter/office manager for the Reno location. Previously, she was assistant underwriter/office manager.

And, Steve Liverance has joined the company as director of talent acquisition. He will be responsible for implementing a company-wide recruiting strategy.

Yates & Associates of Tustin, Calif., expanded its transportation division and added Mike Thompson as underwriter. Thompson will be responsible for underwriting and issuing commercial auto applications. Most recently, he was with a local wholesaler as the commercial auto supervisor.

Chatsworth, Calif.-based The Harry W. Gorst Co. promoted Nelson Oliva to underwriter for the personal lines department. Oliva joined the firm in 2004 as assistant underwriter.

San Francisco-based Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. expanded its senior leadership team, appointing Charlie Rosson CEO and Mary Sklarski chief operating officer. In conjunction with those promotions, Susan Hunt and Stan Loar are vice chairpersons on the company’s board. Doug Morton continues as the chairman of the board.

Rosson has been with Woodruff-Sawyer for three years, and has more than 16 years of experience in employee benefits and insurance.

Sklarski has been with the company since 2002, and has more than 25 years of insurance experience.

Janet Rowlett was promoted to claims manager of the Stockton District Office for California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund.

Rowlett brings 21-years of workers’ compensation experience to her new post. Her most recent assignment was in 2003, when she was appointed underwriting manager for the Stockton District Office.

Katarina Holstein was promoted to claims operations manager for SCIF’s Los Angeles Claims Services in Glendale. Her most recent assignment was in 2002, when she was promoted to claims manager for Los Angeles claims, Glendale.

Evadne Swift was promoted to claims manager for SCIF’s Oxnard state contracts. She joined the organization’s Arcadia, Calif., District Office in 1990 when she was hired as a claims adjuster. She became San Jose District Office assistant claims manager in 2000.

Maria Rosario D. Martinez was appointed claims manager of Los Angeles Claims Services, Glendale office. Martinez began her State Fund career in 1987 servicing claims for the Woodland Hills District Office. By 2002, she was assistant claims manager in Glendale.

Additionally, SCIF named Erin Chin human resources management services manager. She began her personnel career in 1987, a few months after joining the organization.

Mark McKissock was promoted to operations manager of state contract services claims for SCIF’s north region. State Contract Services is a third-party administrator of workers’ compensation for agencies of California.

Jeurg Morach was named claims manager for SCIF’s Sacramento District Office. He brings more than 18 years of experience to his new post.

Redwood City, Calif.-based ABD Insurance and Financial Services added three professionals to its property and casualty risk management team in San Diego.

Dena Williams joined as senior vice president and broker/producer. She most recently served as a senior vice president with Lockton Insurance.

James C. Peasley joined as vice president and broker/producer in the risk management/major accounts practice. He has more than 15 years of experience.

Lynn L. Dalman brings more than 13 years of experience in commercial insurance and risk management, and joins ABD as a vice president/account executive in the risk management and major accounts practice. She spent the past 10 years at HRH Insurance.

Erin Singmaster rejoined the Financial Services Group as assistant vice president, with responsibility for not-for-profit, private and public company directors and officers/employment practices liability program development and placement. Singmaster (formerly Robinson) was with ABD from 1999 until 2006 as the firm’s private company D&O team leader.

WKF&C Agency Inc. opened a second California office in San Francisco. The office will be led by Dawn E. D’Onofrio, who has been hired as president/San Francisco.

D’Onofrio will oversee marketing and underwriting activities for California and the western states including Arizona, Hawaii, Alaska, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. She began her insurance career in 1989 with a regional wholesale operation.

San Francisco-based Wells Fargo Insurance Services promoted Paul Baldwin to chief operating officer of its American E&S (AES) operations, responsible for strategic business development. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Insurance Services, he was a vice president for Aon Risk Services of Arizona.

Topics California Claims Underwriting Risk Management