People and Places

IIABA promotes McPhillips to senior director:The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA)has promoted Jennifer McPhillips to seniordirector of federal government affairs, and will serve as one ofthe association's Democrat lobbyists on the bipartisan Capitol Hillteam. McPhillips previously served as senior director of politicalaffairs in charge of IIABA's grassroots program and assisting withthe management of the political action committee, InsurPac.

PIMA elects 2011 leaders: The Professional Insurance MarketingAssoc. elected its 2011 leaders during its annual meeting.Denise S. Friday, vice president, AMA InsuranceAgency Inc., was installed as PIMA's president. Other newPIMA officers include: Edwin Miltenberger aspresident elect; Samuel Fleet as treasurer;Daniel O'Brien as secretary and JamesGallagher as immediate past president. Newly elected boarddirectors are: Allen Bress, Mark Kelsey andShannon Warner. The President's DistinguishedService Award was presented to Chris Petersen,Scot Baraw, Mike McCarthy andDavid Olsen.

Katcef joins Crump as casualty broker:Josh Katcef has joined Crump Insurance Services' Irvinewholesale operation as a casualty broker. Katcef comes to Crumpfrom American E&S where he served as casualty broker for thepast several years. He specializes in construction,products/manufacturing risks as well as pollution and excess.

Young joins Paxys as commercial broker: James L. Young has joined Paxys InsuranceAgency Inc. as a commercial broker-agent. Young has severalyears experience in surety bonds and commercial insurance. He alsois the founder-owner and director of JLY Public Relations, SycamorePress Div., which provides California Dept. of Insurance continuingeducation courses for licensed professionals.

Capitol announces new promotions: Capitol InsuranceCos. announced that Kevin A. Klestinski hasbeen named vice president of property and casualty underwriting,Richard F. Boettner has been promoted to directorof underwriting – brokerage and general agent binding andDavid W. Schirmer has accepted the position ofdirector of audit and product development. Klestinski joinedCapitol in 2006 as director of marketing operations. In thisposition, he provided leadership to the marketing staff to includethe planning, organizing and directing of the day-to-dayoperations. Boettner joined Capitol in July 2002 as staff servicesdirector. In March of 2006, he became the director of P&Cunderwriting – brokerage. In this position, he has providedleadership to the brokerage underwriting staff to include theplanning, organizing and directing of the day-to-day operations. Schirmer joined Capitol in June 2003 as underwritingmanager of Capitol Specialty Insurance Co., becoming director ofunderwriting – general agents in April 2005. He has accepted theposition of director of audit and product Development, and willfocus on P&C underwriting changes and product development.

Read on for other news.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Morrill Group acquires Goldman Ernest &Liner: MorrillGroup, an independent insurance agency based in Norwood, Mass.,has acquired Goldman Ernest & Liner Insurance Agency ofNeedham, Mass. Goldman, Ernest & Liner will operate as asubsidiary of Morrill Insurance. Stephen Linerwill become vice president and head of commercial lines for thecombined entities.

All Risk acquires Champion Special RiskBrokers: All Risk,Ltd. has acquired Champion Special Risk Brokers LLC, CoconutCreek, Fla. Champion Special Risk Brokers has provided specialtyexcess and surplus line products and unique solutions to theindependent agency system since 2006. Steven H.Kass, president, Champion Special Risk, and his team willjoin the existing staff at All Risks' Ft. Lauderdale office.

New Policies

MSO expands House of Worship program: TheMutual Service Office Inc.(MSO) has updated their House of Worship Delaware, Maryland, NewJersey and Pennsylvania.  The MSO House of Worship programis a self-contained package, including property and liabilitycoverages in one easy to use form. Highlights of the changesinclude: increases in supplemental coverage limits; interruption ofcomputer services coverage; credit card/forgery/counterfeit money;employee dishonesty; loss of electronic data; satellite dishes;green upgrade supplemental coverage option; functional replacementcost options for buildings and contents and options for increasedliability and fire legal liability limits.

RLI Corp. offers motorist/uninsured motoristcoverage: RLICorp. has received approval to offer excess uninsuredmotorist/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) on its personalumbrella policy in most states. UM/UIM coverage protects insureddrivers from injuries and property damage related to accidentscaused by drivers who are uninsured or underinsured. Excess UM/UIMcoverage will be available on new and renewal RLI personal umbrellapolicies at a limit of $1 million per accident. The RLI personalumbrella policy is a standalone policy that provides customers witha layer of liability protection over their current homeowners andauto insurance policies.

News

Maritime General Agency changes name: MaritimeGeneral Agency has formed a new business identity: Maritime Program Group, whichcombines three niche marine insurance underwriting facilities –Maritime General Agency, Marine MGA and Windward MarineUnderwriters – into one powerful managing generalagency. Under the new name of Maritime Program Group theagency offers brokers unified and integrated insurance products,expert underwriting, and dedicated services that cover the entirespectrum of marine-related risks.

Goss Reinsurance Brokers changes company name:Goss Reinsurance Brokers LLC,a privately owned reinsurance intermediary firm headquartered inDallas, Texas, has changed the company name to Advocate ReinsurancePartners LLC. The name change was issued because the partnersbelieve Advocate Reinsurance Partners better describes theirmission. Advocate Reinsurance Partners remains a key holding ofparent company U.S.Risk Insurance Group and will continue to actively work withthe various divisions within U.S. Risk. In addition, AdvocateReinsurance Partners has moved its headquarters to UptownDallas.