People

Texas-based Specialty Insurance Managers Inc. appointed several new vice presidents.

Karen Ashton was named vice president of the Arlington, Texas, branch. Bonnie Stalkfleet is now vice president of the Granbury branch. Christi Menke was appointed vice president for IT. Faith Davis was named vice president, General Lines Underwriting, in Austin. Greg Sovey is now vice president of Brokerage.

Specialty CEO Mike Berry said each new vice president has at least 20 years of experience in the insurance, “with many of those having been with Specialty.”

The Dallas office of Swett & Crawford has added Eric Johnson and Ryan Moore.

Johnson joins as an underwriter with Swett & Crawford’s Dallas contract unit. He has 21 years of experience in the commercial property and casualty business. Johnson spent the last four years with UBI, a division of AmTrust North America, working with agents in the Austin and Dallas markets underwriting programs in the hospitality and construction segments. He also has served as a senior underwriter for Safeco Insurance in Richardson, Texas, where he was a general liability specialist. Johnson began his insurance career with USF&G in Denver.

Moore, a property broker, comes to Swett & Crawford from AIU Holdings in Dallas where he served as a risk management underwriter for large casualty programs. Prior to that assignment, Moore worked with Amerisure Mutual Insurance in Irving, Texas, as a marketing underwriter where he served independent agencies and brokers on middle market business in Austin and San Antonio. He also has worked for The Hartford in Phoenix, Ariz., and Charlotte, N.C., where he was a claims representative.

Specialty Risk Associates Inc. has added Terri Morgan to its Shreveport, La., team. Morgan worked as a commercial lines account executive in Virginia and Wyoming before moving to Louisiana. She has joined Specialty Risk as a commercial lines assistant underwriter and has more than 20 years experience in the insurance industry.

Ray Jimenez has joined Seattle-based Safeco Insurance, a Liberty Mutual Agency Markets company, as South Texas regional manager for the Central Region. He will oversee day-to-day field operations as they pertain to personal lines, agents and territory managers. Jimenez previously was a territory manager for America First Insurance in South Texas. He also has served as regional marketing vice president and branch vice president for Royal & SunAlliance, in addition to having experience on the agency side of the industry.

Houston-based insurance wholesaler London American Risk Specialists Inc. has promoted Chris Chiodetti to multi-lines manager. She will be responsible for all multi-lines/middle market operations, underwriting and servicing for London American and will report to Rob Arnold, president.

Chiodetti has been a professional member of the London American team and a veteran of the insurance industry for more than 15 years.

Dallas-based insurance and risk management services firm Apex Global Partners (AGP) has appointed John Stone as managing director of its Houston Aviation Operations.

Stone, a pilot, is experienced in structuring insurance and risk management programs for aviation clients, according to AGP’s announcement. He has a degree in insurance and risk management, and has formerly served as a risk manager, as well as a broker in a global brokerage firm.

The Insurance Professionals of Shreveport/Bossier (Louisiana), a chapter of the National Association of Insurance Women, International, has installed the following officers for the 2009-2010 term.

Jan Edwards, senior underwriter for Pelican General Agency, was installed for a second term as president.

Lee Runge, with Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation, was installed for a second term as vice president. Runge is the Region VI winner of NAIW’s “Confidence While Communicating” speak-off contest and the Region VI Rookie of the Year.

Teri Rhodes, inside marketing manager for Imperial Fire and Casualty, will serve as treasurer for a second term.

Shirley Pierce, of Maynard, Clark and Teasley, was installed as secretary.

Insurance Women of Dallas Inc., the Dallas, Texas, chapter of the National Association of Insurance Women, International, has installed officers for 2009-2010 officers.

Ashley Hansen, a partner in Buchanan Clarke Schlader LLP, Certified Public Accountants in Colleyville, was installed as president of IWD. Gayla Mitchell, vice president of SIG Insurance Professionals in Dallas, is vice president. Jan Savage, Commercial Department underwriter in Carrollton, was installed as secretary. Casey Varnado, of Buchanan Clarke Schlader LLP, will serve as treasurer for a second term.

The Independent Insurance Agents of Central Texas announced the following new board members for 2009-2010: President Steven Lewis, Anco Insurance; Vice President Kyle Paschall, Naler Insurance Agency; and Past-President Don Sorrell, Pinnacle Insurance Group. Officers are: Lora Sykora, Insurance Network of Texas; Karla Griffis, Insurors of Texas; and Secretary Mandy Welbrock.

Topics Texas Agencies Excess Surplus Louisiana Underwriting London Risk Management