Mr. Thomas P. Nerney brings years of leadership experience to his role as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer for USLI (United States Liability Insurance Group). Previously, Mr. Nerney was the President and Chief Operating Officer for Philadelphia Insurance Companies, which markets and underwrites specialty products nationwide. He was part of the senior management for 18 years before joining USLI in 1996.

Mr. Nerney earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from The Haub School of Business at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pa., and he was inducted into The Haub School of Business Hall of Fame in April of 2009. He also previously served on the Board of Trustees at St. Joseph’s University. Mr. Nerney earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation from the American Institute of Property and Casualty Insurance in Malvern, Pa. and subsequently was presented the Franklin Award for outstanding achievement and contributions to the insurance industry by the Philadelphia Chapter of the CPCU Society in 2008. He continues to serve on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Risk Management and Insurance.

Mr. Nerney completed his undergraduate studies at Cabrini College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science and Philosophy. He is currently the Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees and was also inducted into the Cabrini College Athletic Hall of Fame for basketball in 2006. Mr. Nerney continues to share his love for basketball as the assistant coach of the girls’ varsity basketball team at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pa. He also previously coached Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) girls’ basketball teams for nine seasons. Twenty-five of the young women he coached received full Division I scholarships.

Tom and his wife Jill are also active members of their community. They believe strongly in the importance of philanthropy and helping others as a way of creating opportunities where they do not presently exist. Mr. and Mrs. Nerney are founding members of A Front Row Seat to Learning and The Nerney Family Foundation, two local not-for-profit organizations. A Front Row Seat to Learning helps students who cannot afford the opportunity of a private high school education. A Front Row Seat to Learning currently has 35 students attending a variety of private high schools here in Philadelphia and has more than 200 students abroad in Rwanda. Mr. Nerney and his wife are also former members of the Board of Trustees at La Salle Academyin Philadelphia. La Salle Academy is a school for students in grades three through eight whose parents and guardians desire, but cannot afford, a quality Catholic education.

Mr. Nerney also assisted the Cristo Rey High School in Philadelphia with its start-up efforts and serves on its Board of Trustees. Opening in September 2012 with 125 freshmen, Cristo Rey is dedicated to providing a Catholic college-preparatory education to underprivileged youth. USLI also hosts four Cristo Rey students during the 2012-2013 school year who rotate one day of work each per week throughout the year. The wages they earn go directly toward the cost of their education.

Additionally, Mr. Nerney serves on the Board of Trustees at Main Line Health Systems, is the Executive in Residence for 2012 at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. and is a former founding member of Good Sports of Wayne. He also enjoys running, weight lifting, playing golf, yoga and spending time with his family.

Lisa Kuesel Traynor is Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer for USLI. She brings 20 years of experience in the health, wellness and education fields to her role. Ms. Kuesel Traynor is a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree as a Health & Wellness Specialist and a Master of Science degree in Exercise & Sport Physiology.

 

Before joining the Company, Ms. Kuesel Traynor served as Director of the Graduate Hospital Executive Health & Sports Medicine Center and then went on to create Premiere Health & Fitness in Malvern, PA. She has served as an adjunct professor at both West Chester University and Cabrini College and is certified by the NSCA, ACE and IDEA. Ms. Kuesel Traynor enjoys ballet dance and theater, teaching fitness classes, cooking and spending time with her family.

Mr. David Charlton is the Executive Vice President of Underwriting for USLI. He has been with the company since December of 1993. Mr. Charlton gained his initial insurance industry expertise during his six year tenure at Philadelphia Insurance Companies, where he held the position of Manager of Professional Liability.

He is a 1987 graduate of Babson College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Mr. Charlton obtained his Registered Professional Liability Underwriter designation from the Professional Liability Underwriting Society in 1999. He is a past chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Professional Liability Underwriting Society, enjoys golf and being involved with his children's sports and is an active member of Calvary Fellowship Church and the Whitford Country Club.

Mr. Steven R. Zodtner brings over thirty years of financial services/insurance business development, sales and leadership expertise to his position as Executive Vice President of USLI. Before joining USLI in 2001, Mr. Zodtner served as Vice President for Safeguard Scientifics (NYSE: SFE). Prior to that, Mr. Zodtner co-founded Aligne, Inc., a Fortune 500 management consulting firm, which was subsequently sold to Safeguard. Mr. Zodtner also served as a Vice President for Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia. Mr. Zodtner began his broad-based career in Detroit at the I.B.M. Corporation in 1979, leaving in 1992 after having served as East Coast Business Sector Executive in I.B.M.'s Insurance Sector. Mr. Zodtner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Jack Carballo is the Senior Vice President of Administration for USLI. He has been with the company since June of 2000. Mr. Carballo gained his strong background in administration at Philadelphia Insurance Companies, where he ultimately held the position of Vice President of Administration. Prior to his seventeen-year tenure at Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Mr. Carballo was a Senior Insurance Adjuster at GAB Business Services, Inc. in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Carballo earned a Bachelor of Science degree from La Salle University and, from 1976 to 1983, attended several professional programs at GAB Casualty Claims School and Vale Technical Institute.

Mr. Carballo has earned many professional designations including; Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, Associate in Claims, Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Reinsurance, Associate in Insurance Services, Associate in Regulation and Compliance, Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance and Associate in Information Technology. In his free time, Mr. Carballo enjoys reading and running.

Mr. Snyder brings over 20 years of experience in underwriting and leadership to his role as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for USLI. Prior to joining USLI in 1997, Mr. Snyder was an Account Manager in workers' compensation at EBI Companies and, from 1993 to 1996, held positions with the Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance, including Field Underwriter and Sales Representative. Mr. Snyder has served on the National Committee on Compensation’s (NCCI) Underwriting Advisory Council.

 

Mr. Snyder earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester and has achieved the following designations: Certified Property Casualty Underwriter, Certified Insurance Counselor, Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance and Associate in Marine Insurance Management. An active member of the Community, Mr. Snyder served as a Councilman for Pennsylvania’s Langhorne Borough from 1995 to 2001, was a Volunteer Probation Officer in Middletown Township from 1995 to 1997, and served on the Swedesford Chase Homeowners Association Board of Directors, including a term as president. Mr. Snyder has four children: Ryan, Sean, Gracie and Lucas. He enjoys golf, running and coaches soccer and baseball.

Mr. J. Richard Petersen, Jr. brings over thirty years of legal and government affairs expertise to his role as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and  Corporate Secretary for USLI. Mr. Petersen was previously Senior Counsel of Legal and Public Affairs for CIGNA Corporation. Prior to this role, he served as Chief Counsel for CIGNA Integrated Care, Inc., a former subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation that provided integrated healthcare, disability and workers’ compensation offerings.

 

In 1987, Mr. Petersen joined Intracorp, the country’s largest provider of workers’ compensation and disability case management, where he served as Chief Counsel and Vice President of Government Affairs for eight years. Prior to this role, Mr. Petersen held senior positions at CIGNA Corporation for six years, including Assistant Vice President of Government Affairs and Counsel, Property and Casualty Law. Prior to his long tenure in the insurance industry, Mr. Petersen was engaged in private legal practice for four years. Mr. Petersen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Drexel University and a Juris Doctorate from Widener University’s Delaware Law School. In 1979, he was admitted to the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Petersen’s interests include golf and sailing.

Mr. Rivituso brings more than thirty-five years of financial insurance company leadership experience to his role at USLI.

Prior to his service at USLI, Mr. Rivituso held positions as Director, Treasurer, Controller and Vice President of Internal Audit and Vice President of Investments for several property and casualty insurance and reinsurance companies. While in the public accounting practice, he specialized in audits and examinations of insurance and reinsurance companies. Mr. Rivituso maintains an active Certified Public Accountant status in Pennsylvania (80 hours of cpa credits bi-annually). He is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Ms. Shelley Palma brings thirty-five years of experience to her tenure as Senior Vice President of Claims for USLI. Prior to joining the company in 1998, Ms. Palma served as Assistant Vice President for the Home Office Major Markets Claim Service division of CNA, a leading global insurance organization. From 1995 to 1997, Ms. Palma was the Vice President and Manager of one of the Company’s risk management claims offices. Prior to CNA ‘s acquisition of Continental Insurance Company, Ms. Palma held various management positions at the Continental. Her ultimate position at Continental Insurance Company was Assistant Vice President of Regional Litigation, Liability and Property Claims in the New Jersey home office.

Ms. Palma holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Language Education, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Pittsburgh.

Ms. Diane Duda is the Senior Vice President and Chief Actuarial Officer for USLI. She brings more than twenty-five years of commercial and personal lines actuarial experience to her role.

Before she joined USLI in 2002, Ms. Duda was the Vice President and Senior Actuary of Specialty Lines for ACE USA, the U.S. based division of the ACE Group of Companies. Prior to ACE, Ms. Duda was employed with CIGNA Property and Casualty Insurance Companies for nine years where, in her most recent role, she served as Vice President and Division Financial Officer for Specialty Insurance Services. Ms. Duda began her career with Prudential Property and Casualty in 1980. Ms. Duda is a graduate of Lehigh University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics. She is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Ms. Duda enjoys bicycling, choral singing and sewing.

Ms. Dorie Culp brings more than twenty-five years of experience to her role as Senior Vice President/Chief Technology Officer for USLI.

Prior to joining USLI in 2007, Ms. Culp was CEO of Leaders Counsel, a management consulting firm that provided operational expertise and leadership coaching to Chief Information Officers and other senior executives. She has worked in Fortune 100 companies, mid-market companies and start-ups.

Ms. Culp began her career at IBM where she held progressively responsible positions in Systems Engineering, Product Management, Service Quality and Sales Management. After IBM, she held diverse leadership roles at several companies where her responsibilities included interface between the business and information technology in the development, implementation and process improvement of key business and infrastructure applications. A significant portion of her time was spent as a Principal with Aligne, Inc., specializing in information technology outsourcing consulting and helping Chief Information Officers of Fortune 500 companies apply business and financial management principles to their IT organizations. Ms. Culp earned her Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University. She lives with her husband, son and daughter in Philadelphia. Her interests include family, sports and reading.

Mr. Ken Moses brings more than 28 years of insurance experience to his position as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Director of Sales Training. He held several positions at USLI including the first Executive Director of Customers’ College. Before joining USLI in 2004, Mr. Moses served as President and CEO of USI – Rental Specialties in Irvine, Calif. providing insurance to the car and equipment rental industries. Previously, he also held various sales positions with Empire Fire & Marine Insurance Company, a member of the Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich), during his 11-year tenure including National Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager and Account Executive.

Mr. Moses earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University. His interests include spending time with his wife, Margaret, and two children, Bobby and Lauren, boating, traveling and outdoor activities. Mr. Moses is also a Philadelphia Flyers season ticket holder.

Ms. Sasha Moul is the Senior Vice President of Administration for USLI. She has been with the company since June of 2002. Before joining USLI, Ms. Moul was an Account Executive for Legion Insurance Company. Prior to that, she held various leadership positions at Professional Underwriters Corporation in Wayne, Pa. Ms. Moul began her insurance career in 1989 as a summer intern at Continental Insurance in York, Pa.

Her professional designations include Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, Associate in Management and Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance. Ms. Moul is a 1993 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. She lives with her husband, Jon, and two children, Lillian and Thomas, in Collegeville. Her interests include spending time with her family, traveling, camping and biking.

Mr. Reiner Mauer is Senior Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Personal Lines and Private Label Teams for USLI. Mr. Mauer gained his insurance experience during his thirteen-year career at Old Guard Insurance Group, Lancaster, PA, where, in his most recent role, he served as Executive Vice President for Personal Lines. Previously, Mr. Mauer served as Senior Vice President of Business Operations for Talk America Holdings, Inc., Reston, VA. He was a member of the senior management team for both organizations before joining USLI in 2005.

Mr. Mauer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Widener University. He also earned a Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. Mr. Mauer holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Surplus Line Insurance and Associate in Claims designations. He is an active member of his Community and an officer in two local not-for-profit church organizations. His interests include family, sports and singing.

Mr. Rob Ling is Senior Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Non Profit Package Team at USLI. Prior to joining the company in 1998, Mr. Ling was a Senior Underwriter for State Farm Insurance Company, the largest U.S. insurer of cars and homes, for three years.

In 1995, Mr. Ling completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance at La Salle University. His professional designations include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Insurance Services and Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance. He is an active member of the Valley Forge CPCU chapter, serving as a CPCU society champion. Mr. Ling is an avid cook who enjoys spending time with his family and running.

Mrs. Cheryl Russell-Ryan is Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Liquor Liability Team for USLI. Prior to joining the company in 2003, she was a risk manager for an international lawn and garden company. Mrs. Russell-Ryan has also worked as a Professional Liability Underwriter for a managing general agency and has five years of retail insurance experience. 

Mrs. Russell-Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Messiah College. Her professional designations include Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter, Associates in Underwriting and Registered Professional Liability Underwriter. Her interests include playing tennis, cycling, cooking and spending time with her husband, Tony. 

Ms. Christine Murray brings over twenty years of specialty lines insurance experience to her role as Vice President and Product Team Leader for the Directors & Officers and Employment Practices Liability products of USLI. Prior to joining the company in 2004, Ms. Murray was the Executive Protection Underwriting Supervisor for the Philadelphia office of Chubb Insurance Group. For ten years prior to that, she was a Home Office Territorial Underwriting Manager for the Fidelity Department of Reliance Surety. She started her career with CIGNA Bond Services in Philadelphia and Atlanta underwriting surety and fidelity. 

Ms. Murray holds her Bachelor of Science in Finance and Organizational Management, Summa Cum Laude, from LaSalle University and her Master of Business Administration in Finance, Magna Cum Laude, from Drexel University. In her free time, Ms. Murray enjoys spending time with her family, going to the movies and traveling. 

Mr. Michael Adamski is Vice President and Errors & Omissions Product Team Leader for the Professional Liability team.  Mr. Adamski has over fifteen years professional liability underwriting experience and first developed professional liability underwriting expertise at Philadelphia Insurance Companies prior to joining USLI in 2000.   

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree at La Salle University in 1992, a Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) designation in 1998 and a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation in 2006. Mr. Adamski enjoys spending time with family in his spare time. 

Mr. Phillip Reese is Vice President and Regional Team Leader on the Professional Lines Team for the Greater Metro New York, Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. Mr. Reese joined USLI in March of 2000. He has served in multiple different capacities within the organization in addition to underwriting and leadership, including Business Analysis and Quality Assurance Systems Coordination between underwriting and internet technology and Product Leadership of the Technology Errors & Omissions product.

In 2009, Mr. Reese left USLI to start up Gateway Specialty Insurance, a specialist wholesaler, which solely focused on the placement of nonprofit packages. Mr. Reese returned to USLI in December of 2011 to head up regions within the Professional Lines team.

He has experience building a brokerage from the ground up and selling both Directors & Officers and Errors & Omissions coverages. Mr. Reese also has an understanding of the benefits of how technology supports initiatives, which uniquely positions him to help his team and his customers to differentiate themselves and successfully sell their products.

Mr. Reese is a 1996 graduate of S.U.N.Y. Geneseo in upstate New York where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre. He has also earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) designations. Mr. Reese enjoys golf, swimming, camping and watching football, especially with his family.  

Ms. Kimberly Bennett Mullins brings over 10 years of experience in Professional Liability to her role of managing the Southeast and Southwest regions for the Professional Liability Team. Since joining the company, she has held various roles within our Professional Lines Team, including Product and Team Leader of Non Profit Directors & Officers/Employment Practices Liability, Community Association and Public Officials Liability products. Prior to joining the insurance industry, Ms. Mullins worked in financial services and lending.

Ms. Mullins is a graduate from West Chester University and currently holds the position of secretary for the PLUS Mid-Atlantic Chapter. Her interests include traveling, spending time with family and friends and aviation. 

Ms. Sue Nelson is Vice President and Regional Leader for the Western Professional Lines team. She has been with the company since 1999. She held the roles of Non Profit D&O Product Leader and then Regional Team Leader for the Southeast Property and Casualty team prior to moving to California in 2010 to open our Western Professional Lines office. Before joining the company, Ms. Nelson worked for several years at Selective Insurance Company as a Property/Casualty underwriter.

Ms. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Seton Hall University. She has been involved with numerous fundraising and non-profit organizations. Ms. Nelson served eight years as a member of the Sparta, New Jersey Board of Education, five of which she served as Board President. She holds designations for Charter Property Casualty Underwriter, Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance, Associate in Underwriting as well as Professional Customer Service. Her interests include family, swimming, golf and reading. 

Mr. Don Spence is Senior Vice President/Regional Commercial Lines Team Leader for the Mid-Atlantic, Greater Metro New York, New Jersey and New England regions. Prior to joining USLI in July 2005, he spent twenty-four years with Crum and Forster. His extensive commercial insurance experience includes underwriting, marketing and managerial roles in Dallas, San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York City.

Mr. Spence completed his Master of Business Administration degree at St. Joseph’s University in May 2000. He is a 1981 graduate of The University of North Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing. Mr. Spence is a designated Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter. He enjoys golf, skiing and hiking. 

Mr. Tom Toland is Second Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Mountain/Northwest Regional Commercial Lines Team. Mr. Toland has been with the company since 2000, serving in various capacities within the commercial lines team. Mr. Toland is a 1999 graduate of Millersville University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a minor in Athletic Coaching.

He is active in the community serving as a goalkeeper trainer for various youth soccer camps in Southeastern, PA. His interests include soccer, skiing, golf and traveling. Mr. Toland is proud to be a Philadelphia Eagles fan and supporter of the Philadelphia Union.

Mr. Chuang is Second Vice President and the Florida-Georgia Regional Product Team Leader for USLI. Mr. Chuang started with USLI in 2004 as a Package Underwriter and eventually became Florida Team Leader within the former Southeast Region. Prior to USLI, Mr. Chuang spent four years with GenRe as an Internal Auditor and Tax Accountant learning various aspects of the reinsurance industry.

Mr. Chuang is a 2000 graduate of the University of Connecticut where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Mr. Chuang's interests include spending time with his wife and friends, golf, music and personal fitness.

Mr. David Roberts is Assistant Vice President and Regional Commercial Lines Team Leader for the Florida/Georgia region. Mr. Roberts started his career with USLI in 2007 as an underwriting assistant for the Midwest Regional Commercial Lines Team before becoming an underwriter in 2008. In 2009, he accepted the opportunity to be a founding officer of Gateway Specialty Insurance: a wholesale brokerage specializing in insuring nonprofits and social services. Mr. Roberts returned to USLI in April 2012 for his current position.

Mr. Roberts is a 2006 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Minor Certification in Spanish. His professional designations include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, Associate in Underwriting and Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance.

Mr. Roberts’ interests include spending time with his wife, Amy, and son, Jack, playing ice hockey and rooting for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Mr. Rahman Miller is Second Vice President of the Mid-South Regional Commercial Lines Team and the Mid-South Regional Product Team Leader for USLI. Mr. Miller began his career as an underwriter on the Package Team in 2003 and eventually became a team leader in the Midwest Region. Prior to his service at USLI, Mr. Miller studied Risk Management and Insurance at Temple University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in 2001.

Mr. Miller has earned several professional designations including; Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, Associate in Commercial Underwriting, Associate in Insurance Accounting and Finance, Associate in Regulation and Compliance, Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Customer Service, Associate in Management and Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance. Aside from learning about insurance, Mr. Miller enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, weight lifting, running and traveling. 

Mr. Michael Murray is Second Vice President and Commercial Lines Team Leader of the Greater Metro New York Regional Team at USLI. Prior to joining the company in 2001, Mr. Murray served 11 years in various capacities specializing in Social Service business. 

Mr. Murray is a 1990 graduate of Pennsylvania State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Insurance.  His professional designations include Associate in Underwriting and Associate in Insurance Services.  Mr. Murray enjoys coaching baseball for his two children, golf and is a Penn State Football fan. 

Ms. Leslie Dreisbach is Assistant Vice President and Commercial Lines Team Leader of the New Jersey Regional Team at USLI. Ms. Dreisbach joined USLI in 2002 as an underwriter on the Package Team and later moved to the Greater Metro New York Regional Commercial Lines Team. To help better service New Jersey customers, Ms. Dreisbach welcomed the opportunity to lead the newly formed New Jersey Regional Commercial Lines Team in 2012. 

Prior to joining USLI, Ms. Dreisbach graduated from Rider University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing. She received her master’s degree in Business Administration from Penn State Great Valley in 2009.  

Ms. Dreisbach’s professional designations include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Management, Associate in Insurance Services, Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance, Associate in Underwriting and Associate in General Insurance. Her interests include spending time with her husband and two children, running and snowboarding. 

Ms. Karen Gorski is Second Vice President and Midwest Regional Product Team Leader for USLI. Ms. Gorski started in 2004 as a Commercial Liability Underwriter and eventually became a team leader in the Midwest Region. Prior to USLI, Ms. Gorski spent two years with Kemper Auto and Home, A Unitrin Company, as a quality and training specialist. 

Ms. Gorski is a 2002 graduate of Bloomsburg University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Management. Her professional designations include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, Associate in Underwriting, Associate in Personal Insurance and Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance. Ms. Gorski’s interests include spending time with family and friends, reading and traveling. 

Ms. Karen Ford brings over twenty years of insurance experience to her role as Assistant Vice President and Regional Commercial Lines Team Leader of the New England Regional Commercial Lines Team. Prior to joining USLI in 2008, Ms. Ford was the Vice President of ESIS Innovative Services and Recovery Services International, at ACE USA, the U.S. based division of the ACE Group of Companies. Prior to ACE, Ms. Ford was employed with CIGNA Property & Casualty Insurance Companies for thirteen years where she held various management positions and served most recently as the Director of Loss Dollar Programs.

Ms. Ford is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She also earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems from Drexel University. In her free time, Ms. Ford enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, as well as attending various fine art shows.

Elina Vaysman is Assistant Vice President and New England Regional Commercial Lines Team Leader for USLI. She has over twenty years of commercial property and casualty insurance experience, including ten years with USLI. Prior to joining the company in 2001, Mrs. Vaysman held positions with a progressively increasing level of responsibility at Aetna Life & Casualty, Donegal Mutual and XL Insurance. 

Mrs. Vaysman graduated with a degree in economics from Kiev National Economic University in Ukraine. Her professional designations include Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance and Associate in Customer Service. Her interests include the fine arts, reading, traveling and spending time with her family.

Mr. Manus Friel is Senior Vice President and Product Team Leader for the California/Hawaii/Mountain/Northwest Commercial Lines Team. Prior to leading the California/Hawaii/Mountain/Northwest Commercial Lines Team, Mr. Friel spent seven years on the Sales & Marketing Team working as a Regional Marketing Manager and then as a Senior Account Executive. Mr. Friel began his career in the insurance field with United States Liability in March 1999 as an Underwriter Trainee.

Mr. Friel graduated from the Waterford Institute of Technology in 1996 with a Degree in Leisure Management. His professional designations include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, Associate in Underwriting and Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance. Mr. Friel is an active golfer and keen soccer and Gaelic football enthusiast.

Karl Koppel is Vice President and Product Team Leader of the South Central Regional Commercial Lines Team for USLI. Prior to joining the company in 1998, Mr. Koppel was a Senior Underwriter and Product Manager for Philadelphia Insurance Companies for four years. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Koppel was a Public Auto underwriter at Baldwin Sadler Corporation.

Mr. Koppel is a 1991 graduate of Pennsylvania State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. His professional designations include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance, Associate in Insurance Services, Associate in Reinsurance and Associate in Customer Service. His interests include golf, skiing, boating, classic/antique cars and spending time with his family.

Mr. Drew Mitala is Senior Vice President, Business Development Manager and Product Team Leader of Professional Lines for USLI. Prior to joining the company in 1997, Mr. Mitala was part of The Vanguard Group’s Daily Valuation division for three years. From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Mitala was a Special Agent for the Prudential Insurance Company.

 

Mr. Mitala is a 1994 graduate of Pennsylvania State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He received a Registered Professional Liability Underwriter designation from the Professional Liability Underwriting Society in 2000. Mr. Mitala is the former Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Professional Liability Underwriting Society and is a Philadelphia Eagles fan, as well as a boating and golf enthusiast. 

Mr. Patrick Bethel is Senior Vice President and Business Development Manager for the Mid-Atlantic, Mountain/Northwest and South Central regions at USLI. He has been with the company since 2001. Previously, Mr. Bethel was an Underwriting Manager at Professional Underwriters Corporation in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Before this engagement, he served as the Managing Director of the Social Service Unit at Reliance Insurance Company. Mr. Bethel was a Senior Underwriter at the Professional Underwriters Corporation from 1991 to 1997 and at the American International Group from 1987 to 1991. He began his insurance career at Wausau Insurance Company in 1985, where he was a Senior Casualty Underwriter.

Mr. Bethel received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, Risk Management and Insurance from La Salle University. An active member of his local parish, Mr. Bethel is a board member of St. Mary CYO and is serving as a coach for their girls' basketball program. Additionally, Mr. Bethel serves on the board of the Notre Dame Academy Rowing Club. His interests include coaching youth athletics, Irish history and culture and spending time with his wife Megan and their three children, Mary Rose, Erin and Sean.

David B. Rucker brings over thirty years of leadership experience in the property and casualty insurance business to his position as Senior Vice President/Business Development Manager/Regional Commercial Lines Team Leader for the Florida/Georgia and Mid-South regions at USLI. During his career, he lead sales teams in three distinct segments of the property and casualty insurance business: retail agency, wholesale agency and insurance carrier. Prior to joining USLI in 2011, Dave was Senior Vice President for SE Operations for a national excess and surplus lines wholesaler handling business through out Florida and Georgia. Dave also has extensive insurance company experience holding senior leadership positions with Orion Capital, Royal and Sunalliance and Fireman's Fund Interstate. During his 20 years in Texas, he owned an excess and surplus wholesale agency, managed a retail agency and lead a standard lines field office for Crum and Forster. Dave is a Bachelor of Science graduate of Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico. He has been a Certified Insurance Counselor since 1988.

Mr. Adam Taylor is Vice President, Regional Sales Manager (Midwest Region) and leads our Chicago Regional Office. Mr. Taylor joined USLI in 2003. Prior to relocating to Chicago, he held leadership positions on USLI's Professional Lines and Liquor Liability underwriting teams. Mr. Taylor earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation in 2005 and his Registered Professional Liability Underwriter designation in 2007.

 

Mr. Taylor is a 2003 graduate of Ithaca College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with a second designation in international business. He is also an avid sports fan and golfer.

Ms. Kathy Carhart is the Senior Renewal Team Leader and leads the Commercial Lines Renewal Team for USLI. Ms. Carhart began her career at USLI in 2001 as an underwriter on the Commercial Lines Team. Prior to joining USLI, she worked in the Commercial Lines market for several large carriers.

Ms. Carhart studied marketing and management at Elizabethtown College and earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Ms. Carhart has earned professional designations, including Charter Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance and Registered Professional Liability Underwriter. She is a member of Team in Training and is an avid fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading and traveling.

Ms. Janine Pizza is Assistant Vice President and leads the Specialty Renewal Teams for USLI. She joined USLI as an underwriter on the Personal Lines Team in 1998. Prior to joining USLI, Ms. Pizza was an Account Manager in workers’ compensation at EBI Companies. Ms. Pizza studied Risk Management and Insurance at Temple University where she earned a bachelor’s degree.

Ms. Pizza has earned professional designations, including Associate in Risk Management and Associate in General Insurance. Ms. Pizza and her husband, Joe, are active members of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church where they are involved in various organizations, including the Pre-Cana team. In addition to reading, Ms. Pizza enjoys spending time with her husband and her children, Joey and Gianna.