Our weekly round-up of news about the latest appointments, hirings, retirements, achievements and accolades from in and around the Massachusetts insurance industry…
Appointments
Quincy Mutual’s Jeff Couden Elected as the 2019 Boston CPCU Chapter President
Quincy Mutual’s AVP of Property Claims, Jeff Couden, has been sworn in as the 2019 Boston CPCU Chapter President. Mr. Couden was welcomed along with the rest of the 2019 CPCU Board Members during the Boston Chapter’s Annual Business Meeting, which featured Commissioner of Insurance Gary Anderson as Guest Speaker. In a letter to his fellow members, Mr. Couden said he could not be happier to be the new CPCU President, particularly for the upcoming year in which marks the 75th anniversary of the CPCU Society.
The following photo is of the entire 2019 CPCU Board Members and comes courtesy of the Boston CPCU Chapter.
Jackie Roy Joins Optisure Risk Partners
Peter R. Milnes, CEO of Optisure Risk Partners, a national insurance and risk management firm headquartered in Manchester, NH has announced that Jackie Roy has joined the firm as an Account Executive in the business insurance division, providing professional and commercial insurance and risk management programs.
“Jackie’s specialty of developing insurance solutions on an individual client basis with an enterprise risk management approach advancing from the traditional risk management concept integrates well with Optisure’s Managed Exposure Program(r)” said Milnes, “and her recognized expertise in construction, real estate & habitational firms, manufacturing & distribution, restaurants and other service industries is a welcome addition to our bench strength in those areas. We are delighted she has chosen to join the Optisure team.”
During the past 30 years Jackie gained extensive business knowledge working within the insurance industry and being a business partner within the construction industry. She obtained her CPCU designation in 1999 and is currently working on completing The Institutes Cyber Risk Management Program. She provided workers compensation seminars and training for various sector programs as well as expert statements for proposed legislation led by various construction and service industries. She is very pro-active for each specific client as well as whole industry segments.
Optisure provides best in class resources in building optimized, holistic insurance and risk protection strategies for successful families, estates and businesses along with their owners and executives. Optisure’s regional partners operate locally but with global capabilities, addressing the entire spectrum of risk management, employee benefit and property-casualty insurance needs. Their expertise in program underwriting and aggressive program structures enables clients to enjoy some of the most competitive terms and premiums in the marketplace. The organization employs 80+ talented insurance professionals throughout the Northeast and Florida and secures more than $180 million of insurance premiums annually for its clients.
Jackie can be reached at Jackie.Roy@Optisure.com or 603-300-6763.
Boston Mutual Adds Two New Regional Sales Directors to Drive Growth
Lesley Schafer and Brendan Sharpe will oversee sales and support in Central and Tri-State regions of the US
Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, today announced that Lesley Schafer and Brendan Sharpe have been appointed Senior Regional Sales Directors for the life insurance carrier. Ms. Schafer will oversee the Central region, covering Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Western Pennsylvania. Mr. Sharpe will oversee the Tri-State region, covering Southern New York State, New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania.* Both will be responsible for driving sales and managing producer relationships and activity in their respective territories.
“As we build out our strong foundation of talented regional directors, we continue to grow our sales team with experienced personnel,” said Jim Jacobsen, Executive Vice President of Distribution at Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company. “Both Lesley and Brendan have extensive backgrounds in sales and employee benefits, which will aide in driving our ongoing collective success as we head further into 2019.”
Ms. Schafer will be a key asset to the sales team, bringing long-term voluntary benefits experience and strong speaking engagement expertise. She most recently was Regional Sales Manager and Sales Consultant at Allstate Benefits, with a focus on voluntary benefits. Prior to joining Allstate Benefits, she served as a life and health sales executive at Warner Pacific Insurance Agency and Michigan Planners, Inc., and as a benefits administrator at Infinisource. Her speaking engagement experience includes both national and regional seminars and webinars focused on federal health care regulation. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business communications from Tri-State University in Angola, Indiana.
With more than 25 years in the financial and insurance industries, Mr. Sharpe’s experience with several employee benefit companies will help drive sales support and expansion efforts in the Tri-State region, both for Boston Mutual and its subsidiary, Life Insurance Company of Boston & New York. Most recently, Mr. Sharpe was the Core Market Sales Representative and the National Sales Consultant for Specialty Markets at Guardian Life Insurance Company. In this position, Mr. Sharpe was responsible for a wide range of products, including life, critical illness, disability, dental, and hospital indemnity. Prior to Guardian, he was at Prudential Financial, UNUMProvident, Shevlin Financial Group, and Thomas James Associates. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
Accolades
Marlborough’s Marshall Insurance Agency Opens New Branch in Hudson
Marshall Insurance Agency, Inc. of Marlborough, MA is celebrating the addition of a new branch in downtown Hudson, MA at 19 Main Street. Fully operational since July 2018, the agency hosted a grand opening celebration in late November, with an official ribbon cutting followed by a complimentary lunch and networking.
“The decision to open the Hudson location has been the right one for us,” states agency President, Pete Marshall, CPCU, AU. “We’ve gained a significant number of clients since we’ve opened, and the downtown business community has been very welcoming and supportive.”
A life-long resident of Hudson, Pete is actively involved in his community and as a result, Marshall Insurance Agency has many clients in the surrounding neighborhood. Pete’s considerations for opening the new location included the ability to better serve clients in his hometown and to have more of a presence in the Hudson community.
The Hudson office is currently managed and run by the agency’s Vice President of Operations, Jeff Hoisington, who has proven to be a key member of the Marshall Insurance team. Jeff has been involved in the local business community for years and has been instrumental in the office’s success. “We’re very fortunate to have found the right office space at the right time, and to have such a valuable team member steering the ship there,” says Pete.
Marshall Insurance Agency is a full-service insurance agency that specializes in auto, home, life, and business insurance products. Pete founded Marshall Insurance Agency with the desire to offer clients the absolute best service while utilizing his knowledge and experience to ensure the proper insurance plan is in place.
