Heavyweight Counsel: Meet the 2014 National Underwriter P&C Editorial Advisory Board

Daniel J. Kaufman

Corporate Vice President and Managing Director

Burns & Wilcox

In his position, Daniel marks the third generation of Kaufman leadership at Burns & Wilcox, following his grandfather (founder) and his father (chairman, president and CEO). Daniel joined the Chicago office as broker in 2010 and two years later assumed the title of director, in which he helped develop the company's leadership program and grew the firm's presence in the Chicago market. He holds a law degree from Loyola University, Chicago, and is admitted to the State Bar of Michigan. 

Ted Besesparis

Senior Vice President of Communications

National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA)

At the national agents association, Ted writes and publishes content related to insurance public policy. In addition, he oversees the PIA Branding Program and is staff liaison to The PIA Partnership, PIA's national agency-company council. Earlier this year, he served a six-month stint as interim executive vice president of PIA National. Before joining the association in 1995, Ted worked as a reporter and radio talk show host in Palm Beach, Fla., and Washington, D.C.

Brady R. Kelley

Executive Director

National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices

Brady is responsible for the overall management of NAPSLO's staff activities, services to members and business operations; he began his career with NAPSLO in September 2011. Before that, he served as chief financial and business strategy officer for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which he joined in 1998. He and his family live in Kansas City, Mo., where he is a member of the Audit and Finance Committee of the Liberty Public Schools Board of Education.

Anita Z. Bourke, CPCU, AINS

Executive Vice President

The Institutes

Anita leads and contributes to the product-development process and also sits on the executive council at The Institutes in Malvern, Pa. Before joining the organization, she served as president of IMA of Kansas (a regional broker and subsidiary of The IMA Financial Group) and held various positions at Willis Group, including having served as president of Willis Commercial Network. She holds the CPCU designation and served as president of the CPCU Society from 1997-1998.

Michael Liebowitz

Director of Risk Management and Insurance

New York University

Since 2006, Michael has held responsibility for the global property & casualty insurance program at New York University. Previously, he was director of risk management, safety and security at Bridgeport Hospital & Healthcare System Inc. in Connecticut for 18 years. During his tenure at the company, he singlehandedly created the risk-management department that supported the activities of five companies. Michael served as RIMS president in 2007-2008.

Laurie Champion

Managing Director, Enterprise Risk Management Practice

Aon Global Risk Consulting

Laurie leads Aon's consulting team, providing enterprise risk management, business continuity, supply chain and related services to clients in the Americas, and is a member of Aon's global automotive practice. At Coca-Cola Enterprises she served as vice president of risk management and was global director of risk management for Ford Motor Co. She has served on the RIMS ERM committee and the RIMS Standards and Practices committee.

Gregory Maciag

President and CEO

ACORD

Since joining ACORD in 1977, Gregory has served the company in various capacities and was appointed its president in 1994. His vision positioned ACORD as a world-class nonprofit standards development organization: He led its expansion into the Life & Annuity segment and a 2001 merger with WISe that increased participation for large commercial lines and reinsurance. Gregory is a nationally recognized columnist and publishes a personal blog at acordceo.org.

Jeff Colburn

Managing Director

Marsh Risk Consulting

Jeff is responsible for U.S. operations of Marsh Risk Consulting (MRC) and is based in Washington, D.C. He oversees the strategic development of MRC's practices, consulting expertise and talent, and supports collaboration and engagement across Marsh and with clients. With 25 years of experience, his areas of consulting expertise include enterprise risk management, workers' compensation cost containment and business continuity.

Joseph S. Murphy

Head of Distribution and Strategic Relationships

Zurich North America

Joseph is responsible for driving Zurich's Select Broker Strategy and for enhancing its position with its Global and National Strategic Brokers. Previously, he was regional executive of Zurich's Mid-Atlantic Region, directing all market-facing operations of Zurich for North America Commercial and Global Corporate units. He joined Zurich in 1999 and also has served as senior vice president of marketing and regional management and as VP/distribution management.

Ken A. Crerar

President

The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB)

Ken has served as president of the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB) since 1992. Under his leadership, The organization has expanded sixfold. He broadened CIAB's state affairs activities and spearheaded the creation of a for-profit subsidiary offering business services to Council members, as well as the Foundation for Agency Management excellence. Crerar also led the CIAB's efforts to create The World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries.

Sarah Elizabeth Pacini

Vice President, Risk Management and Insurance

Advocate Health Care

At Advocate, Sarah develops, implements and directs its system-wide risk management, claims management, risk financing and insurance programs to ensure a consistent and optimal approach to minimizing liability and risk exposure. Sarah also has worked as a trauma nurse at a Level I emergency department and, with her summa cum laude law degree, practiced as a prosecutor in the criminal division of the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office.

Tim Cunningham

President

OPTIS Partners

Tim is one of the founding principals of OPTIS Partners, a Chicago-based specialty investment banking consulting firm that focuses on the insurance distribution sector. In a career that spans more than 35 years, he has worked as both agency principal and advisor and consultant to agencies and brokerages. Tim also serves as the chairman of the board of the Insurance School of Chicago and is a former president of the Chicago Board of Underwriters.

Victor Parker

Director of Risk Management

City of Los Angeles

Victor leads the city's risk management team that includes providing services to 40 city departments including police, fire, transportation, sanitation, recreation and parks, the L.A. Zoo and libraries. He has been its director for 12 years and has served the City of L.A. for 21 years in various risk management positions, including at the country's largest municipal utility L.A. Water and Power and the City's airport department that manages four airports, including Los Angeles International Airport.

James Hackbarth

President & CEO

Assurex Global

With a career that spans more than 25 years, Jim began his career as a sales representative for IBM and later moved to management positions at Price Waterhouse, Policy Management Systems and Agency Management Systems. In 1996 he founded and served as CEO of Cornerstone Partners, a Columbus, Ohio-based consulting firm handling recruiting, venture capital activities and acquisition due diligence. Jim joined Assurex Global in 2003.

Gary Pearce

Vice President, Risk Management Group

Kelly Services

At Kelly Services Inc., the global staffing company for which he has worked for the past 20 years, Gary leads the Risk Management Group, which consists of the Global Safety, Health and Environmental, Risk Management, Unemployment Compensation, Workers' Compensation and Risk Intelligence departments. Previously, he was risk financing manager for a regional health care corporation and vice president of an international insurance brokerage firm.

Bernd G. Heinze, Esq.

Executive Director

American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA)

In his role as executive director of the AAMGA, Bernie speaks, testifies, lectures and teaches to insurance professionals, ratings agencies, congressional and state legislators, industry organizations and colleges in the U.S. Before joining the AAMGA, he served as vice president and chief litigation counsel for a Fortune 500 insurance company and was an equity litigation partner at a law firm handling insurance defense and coverage cases.

Sarah Perry

Risk Manager

City of Columbia, Mo.

Sarah began her insurance and risk management career in the early 1980s with a major insurance broker. She served as the risk manager for an Iowa hospital and for a workers' compensation trust in Missouri before joining the City of Columbia in 1997 as its risk manager. Previously, Sarah served as president of the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) board from 2008-2009 and was on its board of directors from 2003-2010.

Demmie Hicks

Founder and CEO

DBH Consulting

In 1994, Demmie founded DBH Consulting, where she helps organizations shape succession plans and provides leadership development. She led the Griffith Foundation's multi-generational Insurance Education & Career Summit in 2011. Previously, she was an associate and later a partner with Hales & Associates, a management consulting firm. Demmie volunteers and participates on the Board of Outreach Advocacy Center, a nonprofit serving Atlanta's homeless.

Carla Cirelli Wynn, AVP

Strategic Claims Management

ARAMARK

Carla leads an internal group of claim professionals supporting the Global Risk Management Department. She is responsible for property & casualty claims programs at ARAMARK including TPA management, claim resolution, and internal education and training in an effort to mitigate loss and favorably impact insurance programs. She is a licensed insurance agent in the state of Pennsylvania, has her AIC designation and is the president of RIMS' Delaware Valley chapter.