Kaufman, Burns & Wilcox Promote 16 Including Heckman to New Positions

H.W. Kaufman Group and its wholesale insurance broker subsidiary Burns & Wilcox announced promotions of 16 associates across nine locations in the United States and Canada during a virtual company event in November.

One of the most prominent promotions was for Kevin Heckman, who was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, H.W. Kaufman Group. Heckman held the previous title of Corporate Vice President, Global Accounting, and was appointed as interim CFO in March 2020. He has been with the company for eight years.

In his new role, based at the company headquarters in metro-Detroit, he will be responsible for the network’s global accounting and financial operations, including strategic planning and growth strategy for its 15 companies. In addition to responsibilities within the global accounting and finance function, Heckman plays an integral role in mergers and acquisitions activity.

Other promotions announced during the November virtual 2020 Kaufman Leadership Meeting include:

• Rich Fusinski was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, H.W. Kaufman Group, from Corporate Vice President, Chief Information Officer (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
• Josh Hunegs was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, H.W. Kaufman Group, Chief Investment Officer, Atain Insurance Companies, from Corporate Vice President (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
• Paul Smith was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, Carrier Relations, H.W. Kaufman Group, from Corporate Vice President, Carrier Relations (Parsippany, New Jersey)
• Marc Fuhrman was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, National Retail Relations, H.W. Kaufman Group, from Corporate Vice President, National Retail Relations (Los Angeles, California)
• Laura Bates was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, Atain, from Corporate Vice President (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
• Mark Engel was promoted to Corporate Vice President, Marine, and Managing Director, RB Jones Marine, from Managing Director (New York City, New York)
• Michele Rochester was promoted to Associate Vice President, Managing Director, Kaufman Institute, from Managing Director (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
• Drew Dean was promoted to Associate Vice President, Managing Director, Burns & Wilcox, from Managing Director (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• Justin Sadaphal was promoted to Associate Vice President, Director, Operations & Finance, Burns & Wilcox Canada, from Director, Operations & Finance (Toronto, Ontario)
• Brad Turner was promoted to Associate Vice President, National Product Manager, Flood, Burns & Wilcox, from National Product Manager, Flood (Morehead City, North Carolina)
• Kate Wright was promoted to Associate Vice President, Regional Practice Group Leader, Personal Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, from Regional Practice Group Leader, Personal Insurance (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• Danielle Alessandrini was promoted to Associate Vice President, Director, Personal Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, from Underwriting Director, Personal Insurance (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
• Shelby Zgnilec was promoted to Director, Operations & Analytics, H.W. Kaufman Group, from Manager, Operations & Analytics (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
• Jeremy Bittker was promoted to Director, Strategic Initiatives, Burns & Wilcox Canada, from Manager, Strategic Initiatives (Toronto, Ontario)
• Patricia Sheridan was promoted to Director, Commercial Insurance, Burns & Wilcox Canada, from Manager, Commercial Insurance (Toronto, Ontario)

Burns & Wilcox is a member of H.W. Kaufman Group, which has over 60 offices across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and employs more than 2,000 professionals. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in metro-Detroit, H.W. Kaufman Group also includes: Burns & Wilcox Brokerage, Burns & Wilcox Canada, Atain Insurance Companies, Afirm, Global Excess Partners, RB Jones, Stonemark, Minuteman Adjusters, Kaufman Institute and London-based, Burns & Wilcox United Kingdom, Chesterfield Insurance Brokers, Lochain Patrick, Cranbrook Underwriting and Node International.