New Hires and Promotions at Risk Partners, Maritime, PMA and Wells Fargo - Around the Industry

People & Places

Risk Partners Inc. named Tripp Craig its vice president of business development. Craigg has more than 25 years of experience in alternative risk and specialty programs and will help build out Risk Parter's specialty casualty placement and niche program business services.

Steve Handmaker was promoted to chief marketing officer at Assurance. During his tenure at Assurance and more than 20 years of professional marketing experience, Assurance says Handmaker became a charismatic speaker, an expert in digital marketing within the industry, assisted Assurance's small business and private insurance operations with his executive oversight and financial responsibility, and strongly influenced Assurance culture with his pop-culture knowledge.

Maritime Program Group (MPG) welcomed two new crew members. Dana Downes assumes the overall responsibilities for all commercial recreational marine business written with New Hampshire Insurance Co., North American Specialty and Chubb as the vice president of MPG's Recreational Marine division. Shari Trefil has more than 23 years of industry experience and will work with new and existing broker relationships to cross-sell products and access markets and risks outside of MPG's programs as a senior broker.

Ken Stanley will assume the newly created role of senior vice president–distribution management and field operations for PMA Cos. He has more than 25 years of industry experience. In his new position, Stanley will execute PMA's agency distribution strategy and lead its network of branch offices.

Wells Fargo Insurance chose Jon Lindstrom to fill the role of managing director for its Colorado offices. He will lead business development, client service and sales and cross-sell for the company's insurance operations in Colorado. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2012, Lindstrom held various positions at Willis Group Holdings and Arthur J. Gallagher. He also founded Lindstrom & Associates Inc., a commercial brokerage firm based in the Denver Metro area.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Cochrane & Co. acquired J. L. Von Arx and Associates, a surplus lines wholesaler headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. The acquisition provides:

• A broader and deeper range of products and markets to meet business needs
• A commitment to cutting-edge technology solutions
• Greater support and resources for J. L. clients
• A financially strong and conservative partnership with long-term growth strategies
• Marketing, accounting and IT support teams

Connecture Inc. acquired DRX, a web-based shopping and enrollment systems provider for consumers of Medicare health plans those comparing name brand pharmaceuticals with therapeutic alternatives. Both companies share a committment to making it less expensive for consumers to to compare plans and enroll in the right one. Trends such as acceleration of senior enrollment into managed care and the increasing utilization of competitive marketplaces in the private sector attracted Connecture to DRX.

News

The Real Time/Download Campaign will hold its second Real Time Day on April 9, 2013 to increase activity and awareness for the independent insurance agent channel to save time and costs on industry workflows. The day will update providers and carriers about building profitability by using Realt Time and Download tools. Plans include:

• Web broadcasts featuring discussions with Real Time and Download agent users and technology experts
• Webinars and educational events sponsored by agency management systems user groups
• Presentations by insurance carriers and vendors on using Real Time tools
• Contests and prizes to recognize success in Real Time and Download usage and participation in Real Time Day.

The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research announced the Certified School Risk Managers Program's (CSRM) plans to conduct classroom courses in Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey and Washinton as well as its 16 original state offerings. CSRM provides the following CE approved courses:

• Fundamentals of Risk Management
• Handling School Risks
• Measuring School Risks
• Funding School Risks
• Administering School Risks