Agency Checklists’ weekly look at the latest hiring and employment news from in and around the Massachusetts insurance industry…
Appointment – Mass Mutual
MassMutual Names Jesus “Laz” Montano Head of Enterprise Information Risk Management & Chief Information Security Officer
Underscoring the importance it places on comprehensive, robust information security and risk management capabilities, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) today named long-time information technology executive Jesus “Laz” Montano as Head of Enterprise Information Risk Management (EIRM) and Chief Information Security Officer. Montano reports to Mark Roellig, MassMutual’s Chief Technology and Administration Officer.
In his new role, Montano will work closely with the company’s executive leadership team, directing a holistic risk management approach across the company, including managing operational and cyber security risks, ensuring all regulatory and compliance requirements are met, and overseeing the safeguarding of MassMutual’s information assets.
“Laz brings to MassMutual both demonstrated expertise and a deep business insight, built on nearly 30 years of technology and cyber security experience, and we look forward to his contributions as part of our unwavering commitment to best-in-class EIRM practices,” said Roellig. “Importantly, Laz is also a tremendous advocate of fostering diversity and inclusion, a basic tenet of our organization.”
“Joining MassMutual is a great honor, and I am very excited to be part of an organization that feeds the very passion that has been at the center of most of my career – which is safeguarding customer’s information and empowering those around me to do the same,” said Montano.
Montano joins MassMutual from Voya Financial, where he served as Chief Information Security Officer for the past four years, responsible for providing leadership, management and strategy for all aspects of the company’s technology risk and information security. Montano has also held technology security leadership roles at OpenSky, MetLife, The Travelers Companies and Lucent Technologies.
A graduate of Charter Oak College, Laz earned his MBA in business and technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is also a Certified Information Security Manager, Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT and serves as a National Technology Security Council Board member.
Appointment – Phillips Insurance Agency, Inc.
Christine Sullivan has joined Phillips Insurance as a Senior Commercial Lines Account Manager. Christine is a University of Massachusetts graduate with a degree in Journalism and holds her Massachusetts Brokers License.
Christine has worked for over 20 years for Aquadro & Associates Insurance in Northampton. Christine will be responsible for handling the insurance programs of business throughout New England.
Phillips Insurance Agency was established in 1953 and is a full service risk management firm with a staff of 25 professionals. The agency handles the personal and commercial insurance needs for thousands of individuals and businesses throughout New England. For more information visit www.pillipsinsurance.com.
Accolades – Rogers & Gray Insurance
Rogers & Gray Insurance Named to BBJ 2018 Best Places to Work List
Rogers & Gray Insurance has been named to Boston Business Journal’s 2018 list of “Best Places to Work”. This is the second consecutive year that Rogers & Gray has earned the distinction.
This year’s Best Places to Work companies are divided into five different categories: Extra small (20 to 49 employees), small (50 to 99 employees), medium (100 to 249 employees), large (250 to 999 employees) and extra large (1,000 employees and over). They were selected based on survey responses provided by employees. Rogers & Gray ranked in the medium category.
“Our employees are the lifeblood of our company and the most important asset we have,” said David Robinson, President & CEO, Rogers & Gray. “We continually strive to create a culture that fosters appreciation, respect, support and growth. It’s an honor to once again be recognized for that commitment by the Boston Business Journal.”
The BBJ will recognize this year’s 80 honorees — and count down each category’s top-ranked places to work — during its annual Best Places to Work event scheduled for the evening of June 20 at Symphony Hall in Boston. In addition, the BBJ will feature the honorees in a special section in its June 22nd edition.
“We are extremely excited to recognize and honor the companies that clearly value and appreciate their employees and have backed that up by putting into place wonderful programs to keep everyone motivated and happy,” said Carolyn M. Jones, the Boston Business Journal Market President and Publisher.
Rogers & Gray has received numerous accolades for its exceptional workplace culture. The company was recognized by The Boston Globe as one of Massachusett’s Best Places to Work in 2017. In 2015, Insurance Journal named the company the “Best Agency to Work For” in the entire United States.
Accolades – Eastern Insurance
Eastern Insurance Group LLC Recognized For Its Commitment To Community
Eastern Insurance Group LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eastern Bank, is being recognized this month as an outstanding example of commitment to the community by the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). Featured in MAIA’s statewide “The Good You Do” campaign, Eastern Insurance is being honored for its efforts in giving back to the communities it serves.
“Eastern Insurance’s community leadership reinforces the idea of business doing good things to help people prosper and drive a higher social purpose,” said Bob Rivers, Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank.
Hope Aldrich, President and CEO of Eastern Insurance, added, “On behalf of our entire team, thank you to the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents for this recognition. We are pleased and humbled to have the contributions of our employees highlighted in this way.”
The employees of Eastern Insurance go above and beyond to embrace the charitable nature of their organization. In 2017 alone, employees served over 2,300 volunteer hours supporting a variety of local causes including the Greater Newburyport YWCA, Rosie’s Place, the Scituate Animal Shelter of Massachusetts, UMass Memorial Medical Center, and the Vernon Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
Each month, MAIA seeks to highlight a Massachusetts insurance agency that takes part in bettering their community through charitable acts or volunteering. As this month’s honoree, Eastern Insurance is featured in MAIA’s MassAgent web magazine, as well as the Association’s social media channels, website, and annual Big Event convention program book.
“Local insurance agencies like Eastern Insurance go above and beyond for their community. We admire their dedication, generosity, and hard work,” stated Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis, President and CEO of MAIA. “They truly deserve this recognition for the good they continue to do in the various communities that they work in.”
Eastern Insurance makes charitable contributions to the community through Eastern Bank and the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation. Their combined outspoken advocacy and community support have exceeded more than $110 million in charitable giving since 1999. In celebration of the Bank’s 200th anniversary in 2018 and to honor its first depositor, Rebecca Sutton, the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation has announced Advancing Women as its 2018 Targeted Grant focus and will commit $1.8 million to community-based organizations focused on addressing a wide range of issues that disproportionately impact women and girls.
Scholarship Opportunity – Deadline August 1st
Frances R. Soderberg
Reminder – The Frances R. Soderberg Scholarship
Soderberg Insurance Services, Inc. is offering an educational scholarship dedicated in memory of the agency’s co-founder Frances Soderberg. Frances was an active member of the North Shore community for over 50 years. In addition to her commitment to her family, she dedicated her life to improving the lives of those with special needs.
Her youngest daughter Karen was born with Down’s Syndrome. Mrs. Soderberg was instrumental in the integration of recreational and educational programs for children and young adults who are mentally disabled. The co-founder coordinated an instructional tennis program that ran for fifteen years. Mrs. Soderberg, along with the assistance of the special needs participants and North Shore community, organized an annual fundraiser for 25 consecutive years to raise money for the recreational, educational, and social programs for the special needs young adults.
The Frances R. Soderberg Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to an individual who shares her same passion to help those with special needs. This scholarship will be awarded to a current college student, or college bound student who shares her commitment for education of individuals with disabilities and improving their overall quality of life. Mrs. Soderberg believed that integration of the handicapped in society is beneficial to all. When a community embraces the disabled, the community evolves into a more passionate, caring place for all residents.
Preferential consideration will be given to North Shore residents. This resident must be a student pursuing a degree or other higher education/vocational career that will help those with disabilities. The selection committee would also like to see evidence of the student’s involvement with the special needs community. Whether it is in a hospital, school, or community event, the selection committee seeks evidence of the applicant’s commitment to this important line of work.
To be considered for the scholarship, please send a personal statement, including personal and professional goals to info@soderbergins.com. Applications will be accepted through August 1st. The award will be made in September 2018.
Kathryn Soderberg, CPCU
800-866-9363
Kathryn@soderbergins.com
Scholarship Opportunity – Deadline May 31st
Reminder – The Ruth E. Roberts Scholarship Award
The Essex Chapter of The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women is now accepting applications for its 2018 Ruth E. Roberts Scholarship Award. The $500 Scholarship is awarded to an individual for use as a college scholarship or as a reimbursement for those with a passing grade for a licensing course and/or exam of an insurance designation course.
To be eligible applicants must be either in the insurance industry or a family member of someone who is employed in the insurance industry planning on attending college, or attending a higher education/trade school, acquiring a new insurance designation or acquiring a new insurance or work related license.
The submission deadline for this year’s scholarship is May 31, 2018. Applications may be obtained from Scholarship Chair:
Marilyn Michalak
41 Pine Street, #43
Peabody, MA 01960
or by emailing her at: MARILYN.MICHALAK@COMCAST.NET
