Our weekly roundup of the latest insurance hiring news from in and around Massachusetts.
Appointments
Liberty Mutual Appoints Janelle Edem Chief of Staff for Global Risk Solutions
Liberty Mutual has appointed Janelle Edem Chief of Staff, Global Risk Solutions (GRS), Liberty Mutual’s global commercial and specialty lines (re)insurer, which provides a full range of innovative traditional insurance, specialty and reinsurance risk solutions to businesses around the world.
Reporting to Dennis Langwell, President, GRS, Edem will organize, prioritize and move forward critical strategic issues to facilitate efficient decision making for GRS’ executive office.
“Throughout her 14-year career at Liberty, Janelle has excelled at many key positions, from managing one of our largest global accounts, to heading Claims Analytics & Reporting,” notes Langwell. “Her experience developing, running and continuously improving sophisticated programs, and her strong business knowledge across the organization, will help make her the ideal Chief of Staff.”
Most recently, Edem served as General Manager, UPS Distribution and Service, for GRS’ National Insurance operation. She joined Liberty Mutual after graduating from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with a Master of Business Administration.
Edem has also been active in Liberty Mutual’s Employee Resource Groups (ERG), which bring employees together while fostering an inclusive culture, enhancing personal development and supporting broader business objectives. She served as the first Co-Executive Sponsor of the Liberty Employees of African Descent and Allies ERG, and currently co-chairs the Careers subcommittee of the WE@Liberty + Allies ERG, which helps empower women and allies through programing and mentorship programs.
Edem – recognized in 2015 by Wharton School’s Boston chapter with the Joseph Wharton Alumni Leader Award – also participated in the Next Generation Leadership program from The Partnership Inc., a leading organization that supports multicultural professionals at all levels in an increasingly diverse and global workforce.
SAN Group Names Katie Packard as Personal Lines Placement Specialist
Satellite Agency Network Group, Inc. (SAN) is pleased to announce that Katie Packard has recently joined the largest alliance of independent insurance agencies in the northeast as Personal Lines Placement Specialist for its AccessPlus department.
She had been working at SAN Group on a temporary basis since December, 2018 and began as a new employee on March 4th.
As a Personal Lines Placement Specialist, Packard receives new business from member agencies, markets it with over 20 carriers, finds the best coverage, quotes pricing, and binds coverage on behalf of agents.
Packard works with carriers and member agents to offer the most competitive pricing for varied personal risks in standard markets.
“Katie has become an important addition to AccessPlus,” said Sarah Bassett, SAN’s AccessPlus Manager. “Her experience with a number of sales and project management positions helped her to learn quickly and help SAN member agencies with placement of business. We are thrilled to have her on the team.”
Packard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Colby College in Waterville, ME.
Accolades
MAIA Renews The Partners Insurance Group Five Star Agency Designation
In the April 2nd edition of The Massagent Newsletter, The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) announced that Partners Insurance Groupof Fairhaven, Fall River (2), New Bedford, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, and Tiverton, RI, has renewed their Five Star Agency Designation. They have been a Five Star Agency since 2015 and continue to demonstrate excellence in the five imperatives associated with the designation: Customer Focus, Management/Leadership, Human Resources, Product & Process, and Future Success Initiatives. It is a very select group that has attained this designation; only 26 out of more than 1,500 agencies in Massachusetts hold it.
Heather Kramer, Five Star Consultant and COO/Vice President of MAIA, states, “The Partners Insurance Group not only renewed their Five Star Designation but significantly improved since their last review, which is not an easy task! They have clearly demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement and the belief that being good is not good enough. They continue to look inwardly and evolve positively in staff, structure, technology, sales, claims, communication and more. They are achieving continuous positive financial results and truly can be recognized as a premier workplace.”
Based on mutual trust and respect, the Partners Insurance Group’s mission, vision and core values bring value to all of their clients, employees and strategic partners. They are dedicated to a standard of excellence and continuous improvement, with a goal of creating relationships that will last for generations to come. These are not just words; this is actually how the agency works and all staff believe in these values.
President and CEO Larry Wilson stated, “there is a great deal of trust, respect and confidence that exists throughout the agency. We are fortunate to have a focused and dedicated team, and we are all working towards the same goal — to grow the agency, provide for our customers, and create the best workplace possible.”
MAIA awards the Five Star Agency Designation to independent agencies that go through a vigorous review based on key criteria that affect an insurance agency and how it operates. Upon earning a qualifying score, an agency becomes a Five Star Agency Designee and must go through an intensive review process every three years to prove that they continue to provide superior service, knowledge and value.
For further information about the program, please contact Heather Kramer at hkramer[at]massagent.com
Scholarships
The Essex Chapter of The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women is now accepting applications for its 2019 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