Security First Announces Senior LevelAppointments

Werner E. Kruck has been named COO and Marilyn Reynolds has beenpromoted to vice president of operations at Florida-basedhomeowners’ insurance provider Security First InsuranceCo.

Kruck, whojoined the company in 2008, has more than 35 years of experience inthe insurance industry. Reynolds began her insurance career in 1996and has more than 20 years experience in project management, systemdevelopment, and employee and client training. She joined SecurityFirst in 2006 as director of operations.

Security First provides homeowner and dwelling fire insurance tomore than 115,000 customers throughout Florida.

Anderson Joins North American Risk Services

Industry veteran O.L. Anderson has joined North American Risk Services (NARS) asa regional business development executive. Anderson moved to NARSfrom Crawford Claims Services, where he was a senior vicepresident, business development.

Founded in 1996, the third party claims administrator isheadquartered in Altamonte Springs, Fla., and serves insurers,brokerages, managing general agencies, reinsurers, liquidationbureaus and self-insured funds nationwide.

Susan Ray New Communications Director atFAIA

The Florida Association ofInsurance Agents has hired Susan Ray as its director ofcommunications. Ray previously served as director of public affairsat Florida State University’s National High Magnetic Field Lab andas a senior executive at Ron Sachs Communications.

Fun With Safety

Larry Capello of Ft. Myers has published a bilingualcartoon-illustrated safety handbook for the undergroundutility Industry. Capello said the book is designed to help bridgethe safety language barrier on underground utility worker jobsites and to assist in the prevention of workplace injuries. The5.5-by-3.5-inch spiral “flip book” shows and tells the safe andunsafe way to perform key tasks in Spanish and English. Moreinformation is available at SafetyToons4U.

James Vertino Moves to HPS

Tampa-based HealthPlan Services (HPS)has appointed James Vertino as its chief information officer andexecutive vice president of technology. Vertino’s previouspositions include vice president of systems and technology andacting CIO for CareSource, vice president of enterprise technologyfor MetLife, vice president and chief administration officer ofEquity Technologies at Lehman Brothers, and project manager for Dun& Bradstreet.

HealthPlan Services (HPS), a Water Street Healthcare Partnersaffiliate, is the largest independent provider of sales,distribution, benefits administration and customer service andretention solutions to the insurance and managed careindustries.