People Moves: Grange Insurance Executive Changes; Butzke President of PIA Wisconsin; Lowe Joins Player’s Health in Minnesota

Executive Changes at Grange Insurance

Grange Insurance Co. in Columbus, Ohio, named John North president of Commercial Lines and Cheryl McRae Lebens president of Personal Lines, both effective Jan.1, 2022. Mike Winner retires at the end of the year after seven years as president of Commercial Lines.

North has more than 25 years of experience in the property/casualty insurance industry. Prior to joining Grange, he served as a senior vice president for Harleysville Insurance, field vice president for Fireman’s Fund Insurance’s largest region in the country, and assistant vice president for Chubb Insurance’s third largest market.

“With Grange for the past nine years, Cheryl has most recently served as Chief Risk & Strategy Officer playing a critical role in developing the company’s strategic plan for the future,” said Ammendola. “Her previous experience driving strategic decisions for our enterprise as a whole, including both personal and commercial lines, positions her well to lead our personal lines business to even more success.”

McRae Lebens has been with Grange for nine years and most recently served as chief risk and strategy officer. With more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, McRae Lebens has held various leadership roles in finance, corporate strategy, sales and marketing for Nationwide Insurance in Columbus and Safeco Insurance in Seattle.

PIA Wisconsin Elects Butzke President for Coming Year

The Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin elected Ryan Butzke of Northbrook Insurance Associates in Slinger, Wisconsin, as its new president of the organization for 2021 – 2022. Other newly elected officers are:

• Vice-President Steve Clements of Clements Insurance Agency in Wausau
• Treasurer Lacey Endres of M3 Insurance, Inc. in Madison
• Secretary Jon Strom of Image of Wisconsin in St. Germain

In addition, two new directors elected to serve three-year terms on PIAW’s board of directors are:

• Mike Endres of Endres Insurance Agency Inc. in Cross Plains
• Tracy Sabol of Robertson Ryan & Associates in Waukesha

Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin is a trade association representing thousands of independent insurance agents from across the state. They provide professional education, advocacy, and other services to insurance agents.

Lowe Joins Player’s Health in Minnesota

Player’s Health, a sports services organization that provides digital risk management services, reporting tools, and insurance to sports organizations, expanded its growing insurance team with the hiring of Jennifer Urmston Lowe as head of business development.

She will lead the development of and entry into the fitness and wellness sector, with an initial focus on sports and fitness facilities.

Lowe has spent 24 years of her career developing and managing national accounts and marketing and underwriting insurance products in the sports and fitness industry. Most recently, she was an executive with Sports & Fitness Insurance, a managing general agent, and has developed strong relationships with fitness facilities, franchises, associations, vendors, and certification bodies.

Lowe is a founding board member of the Fitness Business Association and a member of the Women in Fitness Association (WIFA).

Topics Wisconsin Minnesota