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Promotions
Arbella Promotes Joe Salerno to Senior Vice President of Claim
The Arbella Insurance Group (Arbella) is pleased to announce the promotion of Joe Salerno to the position of senior vice president of claim. Salerno’s promotion is in recognition of his excellent performance as the leader of Arbella’s claim organization. He reports to chief operating officer, Janet Corcoran.
Since joining Arbella in 2014, Salerno has led the implementation of numerous service and loss management improvements, built robust training and development programs, and has assembled a strong claim management team. In a highly competitive marketplace, Arbella’s claim service continues to be a differentiator, garnering consistently excellent feedback from both agents and customers.
“Joe has built a strong claim organization that is recognized as one of the best in the industry,” said John Donohue, Chairman, President and CEO of Arbella Insurance Group. “This promotion recognizes Joe’s contributions as an exceptional leader of the claim department.”
Salerno oversees more than 350 claim professionals located in Arbella’s headquarters and five branch claim offices who provide claim services for personal and commercial lines of business in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Salerno is a graduate of the State University of New York at Potsdam, where he earned a BA in Political Science. With more than 30 years of claim experience, Salerno has held senior management roles with national carriers, including Travelers and Zurich
Appointments
Arbella Appoints Bob Bizak as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing
The Arbella Insurance Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob Bizak as senior vice president of Sales & Marketing. Reporting to Arbella’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Gayle O’Connell, Bizak will lead the entire Sales & Marketing organization and is responsible for the relationships with Arbella’s 500 independent insurance agents located throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Bizak is a seasoned executive with nearly 35 years of industry leadership and technical experience. As a Massachusetts native, Bizak brings a deep knowledge of New England and many strong relationships with Arbella’s local independent insurance agents to the role. Prior to joining Arbella, Bizak worked for 18 successful years as a partner with Rogers & Gray Insurance Agency where his primary focus was on growing their commercial insurance division and leading agency acquisition and growth initiatives.
After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from the Sawyer Business School of Suffolk University, Bizak started his industry career with Wasau Insurance Company as a sales trainee. He was promoted to sales manager for Eastern New England, before he left to launch his successful agency career which spanned the next 15 years before joining Rogers and Gray.
“We have had a very strong relationship with Rogers & Gray for decades. I have known Bob for more than 20 years and he is a respected independent agency leader. Bob will bring incredible knowledge, energy and creativity to the Sales & Marketing role and Arbella, and I am excited to have him on our team,” said O’Connell.
John Donohue, chairman, president and chief executive officer added, “We are lucky to have been able to fill this role with someone of Bob’s caliber. He knows Arbella well and has a deep respect for the independent agency model. He has already hit the ground running.”
Bizak’s breadth of experience, strong industry relationships and deep alignment with Arbella’s core values position him well for success in his new position. Bizak lives with his wife Ann Marie in Hanover, Massachusetts. The Bizak’s have one daughter, Audrey who also works in the industry as a Commercial Underwriter and has her CPCU designation.
Retirements
Staffing News at MAIA & Number One Agency
This update comes verbatim from the MAIA’s latest newlsetter which can be accessed here.
When MAIA’s Education Program Coordinator Emily Oliver announced that she’d be retiring from MAIA after 31 years, we were happy for her, sad to be losing a beloved colleague, and worried about replacing such an experienced and knowledgeable team member! As it turned out, the solution was already close at hand. We’re pleased to say that Colleen Lahna, longtime Program Manager for MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency, is taking over Emily’s role in our Education Department. And we’ve hired a new employee, Lori Kane, as a new Number One Program Manager.
Emily Oliver, Retiring After 31 Years
Emily joined MAIA in 1988 in government affairs, and also served in marketing before joining the education team. “I will miss Emily’s professional expertise and the positive energy she brought into our office each day,” says MAIA VP and COO Heather Kramer. “We are so grateful for her years of service to our association. She has been a good friend and a valued colleague, and we all wish her the very best in her next chapter.” Emily’s last day is Friday, August 30. If you call or visit our offices that day and find us sniffling and tearing up a bit, just ignore it.
Colleen Lahna, Education Program Coordinator, MAIA
Colleen is taking over Emily’s role after spending almost 16 years with Number One, where she covered RLI and workers’ comp before taking on the challenge of the hospitality market. “What a ride it has been,” says Ann Tobin, Number One’s VP of Agency Services! “I’m so glad that Colleen is only moving down the hall,” says Ann, “She’s here if Lori has questions, but more importantly, we still get to hear her laughter and have her on the team!” Colleen attended our most recent CIC and has been training extensively with Emily.
Lori Kane, Program Manager, Number One Insurance Agency
Lori joined our team a few weeks ago and has been spending time with Colleen to learn the ins and outs of Liquor Liability, General Liability, Commercial Property, and Excess Coverage, as well as private and commercial Temporary Event Policies. We know that Lori’s insurance background, great attitude, and focus on top-notch customer service will make for a smooth transition!
Please join us in wishing Emily a wonderful retirement; congratulating Colleen on her new role; and welcoming Lori to the MAIA/Number One “family”!
Here’s how you can now reach Colleen & Lori:
Colleen Lahna
Education Program Coordinator, MAIA
508-634-7379 or clahna@massagent.com
Lori Kane
Program Manager, Number One Insurance Agency
508-634-7361 or lkane@massagent.com
