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The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America named Jeffrey Junkas regional manager, state government relations. Junkas brings to PCI 15 years of public affairs experience, including six in the property/casualty insurance industry. He will be responsible for government relations in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Jennifer McPhillips was promoted to senior director of federal government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) and will serve as a Democrat lobbyist on the group’s bipartisan Capitol Hill team. McPhillips previously served as senior director of political affairs in charge of the group’s grassroots program. She also assisted in managing the Big “I” political action committee, InsurPac. She first joined the Big “I” team in 2006 after working for Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa).

Overby-Seawell Co. announced that Lee-Ann Hollister joined its executive sales team as part of the company’s nationwide expansion. She will be based in the firm’s Kansas City, Mo., office and will focus on marketing OSC’s portfolio of lender-based insurance products and its propriety loan-tracking system throughout the country. Prior to joining Overby-Seawall, she was regional vice president at Life of the South/Fortega Financial Co.

Overby-Seawell is a Georgia-based specialty insurance broker. In 2010, it was acquired by Cleveland, Ohio-based Breckenridge IS Inc., a specialty underwriting manager, wholesale broker and insurance services company.

The Ohio Department of Insurance announced that Bill Rossbach, who was with the Financial Regulation unit for 35 years, retired on February 28. Rossbach most recently served as chief regulatory officer. He joined the Financial Regulation staff in 1976, was promoted to assistant director, and then named chief regulatory officer in February 2008. As chief, he managed the department’s Risk Assessment Division; Product Regulation and Actuarial Services Division; the Fraud, Enforcement and Licensing Division; and Consumer Affairs operation.

Farmington Hills, Mich.-based wholesale broker Burns & Wilcox named Grace Cunningham as director of its Leisure and Recreation Center of Excellence. Cunningham joined the Burns & Wilcox team in 2009 as a managing underwriter. She has 30 years of underwriting experience in specialty lines and is an expert in sports, entertainment, leisure and recreation risks.

The Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP) named former budget officer Grady Martin as the new director of its Resource Administration Division. In this position he is responsible for the department’s annual budget and dedicated funds, as well as insurance agent licensing, human resources, accounting and more. Martin took over Jan. 1 for Rochelle Hendrickson, who retired at the end of 2010 after 28 years in state government.

Indianapolis, Ind.-based MJ Insurance added Sarah Hanson as claims coordinator and Aaron Shields as a property and casualty producer.

Hanson will join the Claim Services team at MJ’s headquarters in Indianapolis, bringing seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining MJ Insurance, Hanson worked as a personal lines underwriter at Safeco Insurance Co.

Shields brings more than five years of industry expertise to MJ Insurance. Shields will focus on business development and service for large- and middle-market clients. Additionally, he will be involved in developing risk management programs and practices for current and prospective clientele. Prior to joining MJ Insurance, Shields served as account executive in the Broker Services Division at Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc.

Topics Agencies Legislation Ohio Human Resources