People – West

The IMA Financial Group Inc. has named Robin Heller its chief technology and operating officer in Denver, Colo.

In the newly created role, Heller will oversee strategic technology development.

Prior to IMA Heller was president and CEO of The Leadership Investment, a Colorado nonprofit.

Her experience includes leading technology teams for American Express, First Data and Western Union.

IMA is a financial services company specializing in risk management, insurance, surety and employee benefits solutions.

Peggy Drew has joined Crystal & Co.’s commercial property/casualty department as managing director.

Drew will also serve as the team leader for the firm’s Los Angeles, Calif., office.

Her responsibilities include the development, administration and execution of account service strategies for a variety of industries including manufacturing and distribution, restaurants and nonprofit organizations.

Drew has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. Prior to Crystal & Co., Drew was a senior vice president with Wells Fargo Insurance Services. She began her insurance career with Marsh.

New York-based Crystal & Co. is a risk and insurance advisor and insurance brokerage.

Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Cos. has named Mark Martinez senior field representative.

Martinez will help promote growth in Southern California. In this capacity, he is responsible for identifying prospects for appointments while providing information about available resources and new developments to existing members of the distribution network.

He also functions as agents’ field liaison with Berkshire Hathaway Guard’s underwriting, loss control and claims staff.

Martinez has more than 25 years of experience, primarily representing national carriers.

In October 2012, Guard Insurance Group was acquired by National Indemnity Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

LP Insurance Services Inc. has named Bridget Brundige and Andrea Cantlon to its northern Nevada sales team.

Brundige is responsible for developing new business relationships as well as retaining and servicing existing clients.

Brundige was most recently a patient account specialist with DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.

Cantlon is responsible for developing new business relationships, and retaining and servicing existing clients.

She was most recently a private banker with Mutual of Omaha Bank in Reno.

Reno, Nev.-based LP specializes in property/casualty, surety, workers’ compensation, employee benefits, medical/professional practice, personal and risk management services.

King Insurance in California has named Laura Fondarella as vice president of marketing and product development.

Fondarella has been involved in the development and merchandising of various personal lines and commercial niche products serving the homeowners, mobilehome park and professional liability specialties.

She was previously a field representative and marketing manager.

Fondarella has been with the firm for 18 years.

King Insurance is a specialty program manager headquartered in San Juan Capistrano.

Newport Beach, Calif.-based Alliant Insurance Services has named Robert Bennetsen to lead its Alliant Americas division as executive vice president and senior managing director.

Bennetsen will spearhead Alliant’s effort to expand its presence in the middle market through strategic acquisitions and organic growth.

Bennetsen has experience on the carrier and brokerage sides of the business.

He previously served as executive vice president and managing director of Alliant Employee Benefits.

Alliant is a large insurance brokerage that provides property/casualty, workers’ compensation, employee benefits, surety, and financial products and services.

Alfred W. Bottalico has joined Locke Lord LLP’s global regulatory and transactional insurance practice group in Los Angeles, Calif., as an insurance specialist.

Bottalico is a former deputy commissioner for the financial surveillance branch of the California Department of Insurance.

Bottalico has 38 years of regulatory experience in all aspects of financial regulation and examination of insurance companies, including statutory accounting, auditing and California Insurance Code.

Dallas, Texas-based Locke Lord is an international law firm.

Topics California Alliant