Executive Bios

	Seth Amendola, Senior Account Executive - Connecticut
	Seth joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 2004 and is currently responsible for marketing and brokerage of middle market and large casualty business including general liability, products liability, umbrella, environmental, worker’s comp, auto liability and foreign liability. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Seth was an underwriter for Discover Reinsurance in their Specialty Marketing Group responsible for managing and growing a book of group captive business. Prior to Discover Re, he worked at General Reinsurance. Seth is a graduate of Quinnipiac University.
	Suzanne Averill, Account Manager - Connecticut
	Suzanne joined S. H. Smith & Co. in the Brokerage Department of the Connecticut office in 1999. Her responsibilities include assisting in the placement and servicing of mid and large sized insured programs specializing in product liability, umbrella/excess, as well as environmental liability. She has over 23 years of experience in the insurance service industry. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, her most recent experience included working as a commercial insurance customer service representative at a large independent retail agency. Suzanne has obtained her CISR designation.
	Scott G. Bartlett, Vice President - National Program Sales - Connecticut
	Scott joined S.H. Smith & Co. in September 2001. He handles national sales and marketing for exclusive umbrella liability programs along with general brokerage services and professional liability services. Prior to joining S.H. Smith, Scott was president of his own company where he served as Program Administrator for two risk purchasing group umbrella liability programs. He has also worked as a retail broker for Acordia.
	Charles Bellingrath, Assistant Underwriter - Connecticut
	Charles joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2007 as an assistant underwriter in the Professional Liability Department. He is responsible for assisting in underwriting, rating, quoting and binding miscellaneous errors and omissions coverage. Charles is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, and is a graduate of Assumption College.
	Kendra M. Beverley, Administrative Staff Manager - Connecticut
	Kendra joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 1995. She is a member of our Small Accounts team where she is a manager to the underwriting assistants. Her previous experience includes policy issuance, as well as working on affidavits and binders. She is currently working on her CISR designation.
	Marci Bitner, Underwriter - Connecticut
	Marci joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2006 as an assistant underwriter in the Program Department. She will be augmenting our program as the Educational Institution Underwriter. Marci has extensive experience in all lines of property and casualty, general liability, commercial auto, and D & O insurance as an associate underwriter of distinction with Mutual of Enumclaw Insurance Company in Washington State. Prior to that, she was a commercial lines rater with the same company.
	Jeff Blumberger, Vice President - Connecticut
	Jeff joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 2002. He currently manages the Program Department as well as supervises two underwriting programs--Petroleum and Educational Institutions--and the firm’s managing general agency facility for Charter Buses. Jeff participates fully in all aspects of the insurance business from quoting to account management. His primary responsibility is to administer and maintain underwriting integrity in the Program Department while creating new programs. Before joining S.H. Smith & Co., Jeff was an underwriter at Chubb where he was responsible for managing a multifaceted book of business including the evaluation of new business. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Hartford.
	Cynthia Bruce, Workers Compensation Underwriter - Connecticut
	Cynthia joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2005. As a member of our Small Accounts team, she is responsible for underwriting accounts for workers compensation. Cynthia has extensive experience with workers comp. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, she was an underwriter. Her other experience includes Royal & Sun Alliance in their Northeast Workers Compensation Center where she worked on worker’s comp programs. She is a graduate of the Katharine Gibbs School in Boston.
	Nancy Casida, Executive Assistant - Connecticut
	Nancy joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 1991 and is currently the executive assistant to the president, as well as a licensing coordinator. At S. H. Smith, her responsibilities include planning corporate meetings and conferences, as well as coordinating all company membership and conference participation. In addition, she handles the corporate licensing nationwide. Nancy is a member of the Securities & Insurance Licensing Association, and has a degree in business administration.
	Laurel A. Clain, Underwriter - Massachusets
	Laurel joined S.H. Smith & Co. in November of 2002. Her responsibilities include underwriting binding authority business for new and renewal commercial accounts. Laurel has over 20 years of insurance experience and has been both a retail and mutual company underwriter. She holds her property and casualty broker's license and is actively pursuing her CPCU designation.
	Terrence G. Coughlin, Regional Vice President, Sales - Ohio
	Terry joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 1993. He is currently responsible for marketing S.H. Smith products, programs and expertise throughout Ohio to independent retail agents. Prior to joining S.H. Smith, Terry was a Branch Manager of CNA's office in Cincinnati and Cleveland. He also worked as a Personal Lines Manager and Commercial Lines Marketing Manager for Aetna in Cincinnati. Terry is an MBA graduate of Canisius College and has his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation. He is an associate member of the Cincinnati Insurance Board, a member of the Insurance Board of Northern Ohio, and ARM of Ohio.
	Heather Cruikshank, Assistant Underwriter - Connecticut
	Heather joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2007 as an assistant underwriter in the Program Department. She is responsible for assisting in underwriting for the firm's exclusive umbrella liability programs. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Heather was a broker assistant at an excess surplus lines broker, and prior to that, a quality assurance analyst at Chubb Specialty Insurance.
	Les Dalmata, Regional Sales Manager - New York
	Les joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 2006. His responsibilities include marketing S. H. Smith products and programs within the eastern New York and Vermont territories. Prior to joining S.H. Smith, Les's experience included developing markets and relationships as well as supporting independent agents and their clients. He has over twenty years' experience within the insurance industry. In addition, Les is a doctoral candidate from Montana State University.
	Gretchen Decker, Renewal Underwriter - Connecticut
	Gretchen joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2007 as a renewal underwriter in the Small Accounts Group. Her responsibilities include underwriting binding authority business for renewal commercial accounts. Gretchen was previously a commercial lines broker for an insurance agency, and has experience in both customer service and the insurance industry.
	Carol Gazsi, Account Executive/Operations Manager - Connecticut
	Carol joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2001 n the Professional and Management Liability Department. Her current job responsibilities include brokering allied and specified medical, D&O, EPL and fiduciary accounts. She also manages the operations of the department. Carol is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society. She is a graduate of Western New England College.
	April Gilcreast, Underwriter - Massachusets
	April joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2007 as an underwriter in the Small Accounts Group. Her responsibilities include underwriting binding authority business for new and renewal commercial accounts. April was previously a commercial sales/account analyst, and prior to that, a customer service representative and underwriting assistant. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire.
	Patricia J. Giliberto, Senior Underwriter - Connecticut
	Pat joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 1989. She is a member of the Professional and Management Liability Department and is responsible for underwriting and brokering lawyers professional liability, employed counsel liability as well as miscellaneous errors and omissions coverage. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Pat was employed with CIGNA in the Healthcare Department. She is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society and a graduate of the University of Hartford.
	Lauren Gill, Renewal Underwriter - Connecticut
	Lauren joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2003. Her responsibilities include underwriting binding authority commercial renewal accounts. Lauren is a member of the Hartford Association of Insurance Women, as well as a member of the Young Insurance Professionals. She also has her CISR designation.
	Dailene Gonzalez, Brokerage Service Specialist - Connecticut
	Dailene joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 1999, and moved into the Brokerage Department in 2004. Her responsibilities include supporting the brokerage production team including new business input, file maintenance, endorsements, and renewal solicitations. She is also responsible for quoting, issuing, and binding small umbrellas. Dailene is currently working on her CISR designation.
	Jennifer Guire, Underwriter - Connecticut
	Jennifer joined S. H. Smith & Co., in 2006 as an assistant underwriter in our Small Accounts Group. She is responsible for underwriting new commercial lines business with the firm's binding authority markets. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Jennifer graduated from Union College and is a graduate of the S. H. Smith internship program. She also completed the Hartford School of Insurance Commercial Lines Coverage Specialists course and received her CLCS designation.
	Blake Hamre, Senior Account Executive - Massachusets
	Blake joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2003. He currently is an account executive in the Professional and Management Liability Department where he is involved in marketing and placement of directors and officers’ liability (non-profit, private and public company), employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, healthcare (D&O/E&O), real estate E&O, insurance agents E&O, lawyers E&O, architects and engineers E&O, and miscellaneous E&O. Blake has over 18 years of experience in professional liability and D & O underwriting. For 10 years he served as senior underwriter for miscellaneous errors and omissions coverage for a major insurer. Immediately prior to joining S.H. Smith he was senior underwriter at The Hartford. Blake is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society. He is a graduate of Concordia College as well as from the College of Insurance.
	Tina Hartley, Assistant Office Manager - Connecticut
	Tina joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 2002 and is currently an assistant office manager. At S. H. Smith, her responsibilities include surplus lines tax filings and policy stamping, surplus lines laws and regulations compliance, as well as agency agreement and update management. She is a member of the Connecticut Young Insurance Professionals organization. She also has her CISR designation.
	Stephen Hunziker, Regional Vice President - Minnesota
	Steve joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 2001. He is a broker for management and professional liability coverage including D&O, EPL, Professional and E&O. He is also the manager of the Minnesota office, where he is responsible for marketing activities for the region. Prior to joining S.H. Smith, Steve was Vice President and manager of the professional liability department at Northland Insurance Companies. He also worked as a supervising underwriter for the St. Paul Companies. Steve holds a Registered Professional Liability Underwriter designation. He is co-founder and past chairman of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society's North Central chapter, and he is a current member of PLUS's RPLU committee. Steve has his MBA from the College of St. Thomas.
	Alesha Hyatt, Assistant Underwriter - Connecticut
	Alesha joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2007. As an assistant underwriter, she assists in all facets of the firm's Petroleum Program, including initiating the binding process, quoting and setting up accounts. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, she was a commercial lines CSR for a retail insurance agency. She holds her property/casualty license in CT and is currently in the process of obtaining her AAI designation.
	Ryan Kelly, Divisional Manager - Small Accounts Division - Massachusets
	In 2006, Ryan joined S. H. Smith & Co. as an underwriter in the Small Accounts Group. He is responsible for managing the day to day operations of the division, in addition to underwriting binding authority business for new and renewal commercial accounts. Ryan was previously a commercial lines broker for an insurance agency, and is a graduate of Boston University.
	Jonathan Kinder, Sales Manager - Small Accounts Division - Connecticut
	Jon joined S. H. Smith & Co. in the Small Accounts Group in 2005. His responsibilities include underwriting new business as well as workers compensation programs. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Jon was a sales executive. In addition, he handled large account customer relations and managed five sales representatives. Jon is a graduate of the S. H. Smith internship program.
	Kimberly Latka, Claims Specialist - Connecticut
	Kim joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2007. As a claims specialist, Kim is responsible for reporting all claims as they are received. She also assists agents with any inquiries regarding claims, and obtains loss runs as well. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Kim was an inside claims representative for Great American Insurance. She is a graduate of the University of New Haven.
	Jeanine Loomis, Senior Account Executive - Minnesota
	Jeanine joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2005. Her responsibilities include brokering management and professional liability policies, including D&O, EPL, Professional and E&O, as well as marketing for the Minnesota office. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Jeanine was an account executive specializing in marketing and servicing directors & officers, employment practices, professional and fiduciary liability policies. Jeanine has her Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) designation and is working toward her Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation. She is currently the chair of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society's North Central Chapter, as well as the current membership committee chair and secretary for the Young Insurance Professionals of Minnesota. Jeanine is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.
	Jason Lukens, Assistant Vice President - Connecticut
	Jason joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 2000. He is currently responsible for the brokering and marketing of middle market and large commercial casualty accounts. His lines of business include general liability, products, foreign liability, worker’s compensation, umbrella/excess and environmental/pollution. Previously, Jason was a Senior Underwriter for The Hartford, where he was responsible for the production and growth of middle market accounts. He is a graduate of Bryant College.
	Edward Martindale, Senior Account Executive - Connecticut
	Edward joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 2004 and is responsible for placing comprehensive property, marine, and DIC coverage on difficult risks. Ed is also responsible for cultivating relationships with these carriers. Ed has over 15 years of property insurance experience. He has two years of property wholesale experience plus spent six years at Marsh as a property broker. Ed is a graduate of Connecticut College.
	Mark Mattson, Regional Sales Manager - Minnesota
	Mark joined S. H Smith & Co. in 2007 as Regional Marketing Manager. His responsibilities include marketing S. H. Smith products and programs on behalf of the St Paul, MN office. Mark was most recently District Marketing Representative for Unitrin Business Insurance. Prior to that he was with Berkley Risk Administrators Company, RJF Agencies, and had held claims and risk management positions at the St. Paul Companies. Mark graduated from Concordia College, and holds an Associate in Claims designation from the Insurance Institute of America.
	Todd McDonald, Account Executive - Connecticut
	Todd joined S. H. Smith & Co., in 2004 as a member of the Professional and Management Liability Department. He is responsible for assessing the exposures of companies involved in the technology/media industry, and those traditional companies managing their information technology exposures. Todd brokers technology errors & omissions, internet liability, media liability, miscellaneous professional liability, and related management liability coverage. Todd graduated from S. H. Smith's first formal summer intern program directly after graduating from Amherst College.
	Michael McIntire, Regional Sales Manager - Massachusets
	Mickey joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 2006. His responsibilities include marketing S. H. Smith products and programs throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Prior to joining S.H. Smith, Mickey's experience included developing and maintaining a book of business for both self-insured and fully-insured programs for a national third-party administrator. He is a graduate of Keene State College.
	Laura Michienzi, Account Manager - Massachusets
	Laura joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2003 in the Brokerage Department of the Massachusetts office. Her responsibilities include assisting in the marketing and placement, as well as servicing of mid and large size accounts, specializing in contractors, product liability and umbrella/excess coverages. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Laura was a commercial account manager at a retail agency. She is a graduate of Massachusetts Bay Community College.
	Mark J. Mullarkey, Vice President - Connecticut
	Mark joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 1997. He is responsible for brokering/underwriting various lines of professional liability including directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, miscellaneous errors and omissions, architects and engineers errors and omissions, medical malpractice as well as has management responsibility for a portion of the professional brokering staff. Prior to joining S.H. Smith, Mark was a Senior Underwriter and Manager for Executive Risk. His responsibilities included underwriting directors and officers liability, employment practices liability and fiduciary. Mark is a former member of the board of directors for the Connecticut Young Insurance Professionals, and is a current member of the PLUS-Hartford chapter steering committee. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Connecticut State University, and his MBA from Iona College, Hagan School of Business.
	Lyn Nielsen, Underwriter - Minnesota
	Lyn joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2006 as a commercial lines underwriter. Prior to joining S.H. Smith, Lyn was a professional liability underwriter for St. Paul Travelers. She had also been an underwriter for Gulf Insurance and Northland Insurance. Prior to joining Northland, Lyn had worked for several independent agencies in the St. Paul and Minneapolis area.
	Earl O'Garro, Divisional Manager - Small Accounts Division - Connecticut
	In 2001, Earl joined S. H. Smith & Co. as a new business underwriter in the Small Accounts Group. Earl is responsible for managing the day to day operations of the division along with writing full lines within the department. Previously his focus was on liquor liability and special events. Earl is a member of the Connecticut Young Insurance Professionals organization. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University as well as from the S. H. Smith internship program.
	Renee Paul, Program Support Analyst - Connecticut
	Renee joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2008. Within the firm's Program Department, her responsibilities include the collection and analysis of all current program data including Petroleum and Chartered Buses, as well as evaluating data for potential development of additional programs. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, she was an underwriter at Great American Insurance Company, and prior to that, an account manager at Travelers Insurance Company. She is a graduate of the State University College At Buffalo.
	Richard Porter, Sales Manager - Professional & Management Liability Division - Connecticut
	Richard joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2008. His responsibilities include marketing the Professional & Management Liability Department to independent retail agents. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Richard was regional sales manager for Progressive Insurance where he was in charge of new business production for the American Bankers Association Insurance program. Prior to that he was a partner at Associated Intermediaries Insurance Agency. Richard is a graduate of the School of Banking of the University of Wisconsin, and has an undergraduate degree in Finance and Insurance from Northeastern University.
	James Sheehan, Vice President - Connecticut
	Jay joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2005, as a member of the Professional and Management Liability Department. He has considerable expertise in brokering directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, management and professional liability for investment advisors, mutual funds, hedge funds, venture capital and private equity firms. In addition, Jay specializes in the placement and negotiation of representations and warranties insurance, tax liability insurance and contingent liability insurance. Prior to joining S. H. Smith & Co., Jay served as a Vice President and team leader in Marsh USA Inc.'s Private Equity Mergers and Acquisitions practice. Prior to that, he was a member of Marsh's Commercial Casualty Department. Jay received his undergraduate degree from Providence College and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.
	Hamilton Smith, Account Executive - Connecticut
	Hamilton joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2006 as an account executive in the Brokerage Department where he assists with marketing renewals as well as with new business. Hamilton has completed The Hartford School of Insurance Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist class, and received his CLCS designation. He is a graduate of the University of Hartford as well as from the S. H. Smith internship program.
	Matthew Smith, Account Executive - Connecticut
	Matthew joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2006 as an account representative in the Professional and Management Liability Department. His current responsibilities are within the areas of directors & officers liability insurance as well as errors & omission coverage. His previous experience includes brokering errors and omissions insurance at Health Lambert Brokers UK. Matthew is a graduate of the University of Hartford, has participated in several carrier training programs, and is also a graduate of the S. H. Smith's internship program.
	Patrick Smith, Senior Account Executive - Connecticut
	Patrick joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2008 in the Professional and Management Liability Department where he is a senior account representative. His responsibilities include brokering all professional liability lines, with a special emphasis on directors & officers liability insurance as well as errors & omission coverage. His previous experience includes a position as a senior executive protection underwriter at Chubb Specialty, where he was a specialist in directors & officers liability coverage. Patrick is a graduate of Trinity College, and is a member of PLUS.
	Kristen St. Pierre, Office Manager - Connecticut
	Kristen joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 1998 and is currently the Office Manager. She is responsible for managing and supervising the firm's administrative staff in the West Hartford office, as well as the firm's Boston office. Her position includes all facets of human resources management, including recruitment and staffing and benefit administration.
	Heidi Stoddard, Account Representative - Connecticut
	Heidi joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2007. As an account representative in the Professional and Management Liability Department, Heidi is responsible for brokering non-profit directors and officers liability for condominium and homeowners associations. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Heidi was an underwriting assistant. She is a graduate of Bay Path College, and holds her property/casualty license in CT.
	Susan Theriault, Assistant Underwriter - Connecticut
	Susan joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2007. She is an assistant underwriter in the Program Department, where she is responsible for rating and quoting for the firm's Bus Program. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Susan was a commercial account manager at a retail agency. She is an Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU), and has her CT producer's license.
	Kim Twerdy, Account Manager - Connecticut
	Kim joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2007 as an Account Manager in the Brokerage Department. Her responsibilities include assisting in the marketing and placement of mid and large sized insured programs, specializing in property, product liability and umbrella/excess coverages. Prior to joining S. H. Smith, Kim was an Assistant Vice President in the Global Property Department at Marsh, Inc., and most recently at a large retail agency specializing in property and casualty placements in the commercial insurance division. Kim is a graduate of Manchester Community College. She also holds a Connecticut Producers License and is ACSR designated.
	Darren Valencia, Senior Account Executive - Connecticut
	Darren Valencia joined S.H. Smith & Co. in 2003. He is responsible for non-profit and small private business that includes writing D&O, EPL, fiduciary, crime, as well as community bank business. Prior to joining S.H. Smith, Darren was with Chubb Specialty Insurance as a senior underwriter. Darren is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, has participated in several carrier training programs, and is a graduate of the University of Hartford.
	Jennifer Zadrowski, Personal Lines Underwriter - Connecticut
	Jennifer joined S. H. Smith & Co., in 2002 as a personal lines underwriter. Her responsibilities include brokering personal lines accounts within our Small Account group.
	Rob Zimmerman, Underwriter - Connecticut
	Rob joined S. H. Smith & Co. in 2005 and is an assistant underwriter in the Program Department. His responsibilities include assisting in underwriting the firm’s exclusive umbrella liability programs. Rob is a graduate of Manchester Community College and is licensed in Connecticut as a producer of property/casualty insurance.