Executive Contacts
United States Liability Insurance Group is committed to making it easier for our Customers to do business.
Executive Bios
Senior Leadership
Thomas P. Nerney, CPCU
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Thomas P. Nerney brings years of leadership experience to his role as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer for 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 eighteen years before joining United States Liability Insurance Group in 1996. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from The Haub School of Business at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and he was inducted into The Haub School of Business Hall of Fame in April of 2009. He also earned a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation from the American Institute of Property and Casualty Insurance in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Mr. Nerney’s undergraduate studies were completed at Cabrini College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science and Philosophy.
An active member of the community, Mr. Nerney is a founding member of three local not for profit organizations - Good Sports of Wayne, A Front Row Seat to Learning and The Nerney Family Foundation. He is on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Risk Management and Insurance and a former member of the Board of Trustees at St. Joseph's University. Mr. Nerney is also a former member of the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, Cabrini College. He has always had a love for basketball and is currently the assistant coach at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. In 2009, Germantown Academy had a very successful 31-0 season. As coach for the Amateur Athletic Union Girls Basketball Teams, 20 of the young women earned full Division I scholarships. Aside from basketball, Mr. Nerney also enjoys running, weight lifting and playing golf along with spending time with his family. He and his wife, Jill, are on the Board of Trustees at La Salle Academy, a school for students in grades three through eight whose parents and guardians desire, but cannot afford, a quality Catholic education. Mr. Nerney believes strongly in the importance of philanthropy and helping others as a way of creating opportunities where they do not presently exist.
David Charlton, RPLU
Executive Vice President, Underwriting
Chair of Community Goal #2
Mr. David Charlton is the Executive Vice President of Underwriting for United States Liability Insurance Group. 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, coaches soccer and is an active member of Calvary Fellowship Church and the Whitford Country Club.
Steven R. Zodtner, CPCU, ACS, ASLI
Executive Vice President, Underwriting
Chair of Community Goal #3
Mr. Steven R. Zodtner brings thirty years of financial services/insurance business development, sales and leadership expertise to his position as Executive Vice President of Underwriting at United States Liability Insurance Group.
Before joining United States Liability Insurance Group 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. He is on the Board of Baker Industries, which serves the homeless and disabled.
Jack Carballo, CPCU, RPLU, ASLI
Senior Vice President, Administration
Mr. Jack Carballo is the Senior Vice President of Administration for United States Liability Insurance Group. 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.
Tom Snyder, ASLI
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Mr. Tom Snyder brings seventeen years of experience in underwriting and leadership to his role
as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for United States Liability Insurance Group. Prior to joining United States Liability Insurance Group 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 in 1988, a Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 1996 and an Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance designation in 2004. 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 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 tee-ball.
Rich Petersen
Senior Vice President, Corporate Counsel and
Chief Compliance Office Corporate Secretary
Mr. J. Richard Petersen, Jr. brings over twenty-six years of legal and government affairs expertise to his role as Senior Vice President, Corporate Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary for United States Liability Insurance Group. 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, sailing and coaching.
Louis F. Rivituso, CPA
Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Trustee & Plan Administrator for the United States Liability Insurance Group Employee Retirement Plans
Mr. Rivituso brings more than thirty-five years of financial insurance company leadership experience to his role at United States Liability Insurance Group.
Prior to his service at United States Liability Insurance Group, 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.
Shelley Palma
Senior Vice President, Claims
Chair of Community Goal #4
Ms. Shelley Palma brings thirty-three years of experience to her tenure as Senior Vice President of Claims for United States Liability Insurance Group. 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.
Diane Duda, FCAS, MAAA
Senior Vice President and Chief Actuarial Officer
Chair of Community Goal #1
Ms. Diane Duda is the Senior Vice President and Chief Actuarial Officer for United States Liability Insurance Group. She brings more than twenty-five years of commercial and personal lines actuarial experience to her role.
Before she joined United States Liability Insurance Group 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 member of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Ms. Duda enjoys bicycling, choral singing and sewing.
Lisa Kuesel Traynor, MS, CSCS
Vice President and Executive Director of Personal Development
Lisa Kuesel Traynor is Vice President and Executive Director of Personal Development for United States Liability Insurance Group. She brings eighteen 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 over the past 10 years and is certified by the NSCA, ACE and IDEA. Ms. Kuesel Traynor enjoys the fine arts and dance, fitness, cooking and spending time with her family.
Dorie Culp
Vice President, Chief Technology Officer
Ms. Dorie Culp brings more than twenty-five years of experience to her role as Vice President/Chief Technology Officer for United States Liability Insurance Group.
Prior to joining United States Liability Insurance Group 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.
Specailty Underwriting Teams
Reiner R. Mauer, CPCU
Senior Vice President, Personal Lines Team
Mr. Reiner Mauer is Senior Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Personal Lines and Private Label Teams for United States Liability Insurance Group. 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 United States Liability Insurance Group 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.
Rob Ling, CPCU, AIS, ASLI
Vice President, Non Profit Package Team
Mr. Rob Ling is Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Non Profit Package Team at United States Liability Insurance Group. 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 Multicultural Alumni Advisory Group at LaSalle University. Mr. Ling is an avid cook who enjoys spending time with his family and golfing.
Cheryl Russell-Ryan, RPLU, CPCU, AU
Second Vice President,
Liquor Liability Team
Mrs. Cheryl Russell-Ryan is Second Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Liquor Liability Team for United States Liability Insurance Group. 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.
Drew Mitala, RPLU
Senior Vice President, Professional Lines Team
Mr. Drew Mitala is Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager and Product Team Leader of Professional Lines for United States Liability Insurance Group.
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.
Christine Murray
Second Vice President, Professional Liability Team
Ms. Christine Murray brings over twenty years of specialty lines insurance experience to her role as Second Vice President and Product Team Leader for the Directors & Officers and Employment Practices Liability products of United States Liability Insurance Group. 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.
Michael Adamski, CPCU, RPLU
Second Vice President, Professional Liability Team
Mr. Michael Adamski is Second 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 United States Liability Insurance Group 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 sailing, skiing and spending time with his wife Lauren and his children, Michael and Julia.
Regional Property and Casualty Teams
Don Spence, CPCU
Vice President, Mid Atlantic Property & Casualty Regional Team
Mr. Don Spence is the Product Team Leader for the Mid Atlantic Property & Casualty Regional Team. Prior to joining United States Liability Insurance Group 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.
Tom Toland
Second Vice President, Mountain/Northwest Property & Casualty Regional Team
Mr. Tom Toland is Assistant Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Mountain/Northwest Property & Casualty Regional Team. Mr. Toland has been with the company since 2000, serving in various capacities within the Property and Casualty 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 volunteer Assistant Coach for the Great Valley Varsity Boys Soccer Team. His interests include soccer, skiing, golf and traveling. Mr. Toland is proud to be a Philadelphia Eagles fan.
David Chuang, INS, PCUD, AIS
Assistant Vice President, Florida-Georgia Property & Casualty Regional Team
Mr. Chuang is Assistant Vice President and the Florida-Georgia Regional Product Team Leader for United States Liability Insurance Group. Mr. Chuang started with United States Liability Insurance Group in 2004 as a Package Underwriter and eventually became Florida Team Leader within the former Southeast Region. Prior to United States Liability Insurance Group, Mr. Chuang spent four years with GenRe as an Internal Auditor and Tax Accountant.
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 family and friends, golf, music and supporting the New York Yankees and UCONN Huskies' Basketball Team.
Rahman Miller, CPCU, ARM, INS, RPLU, PCUD, ASLI, AU, ARC, ACS, AIM, AIAF, IR
Assistant Vice President, Mid South Property & Casualty Regional Team
Mr. Rahman Miller is Assistant Vice President of the Mid-South Property and Casualty Team and the Mid-South Regional Product Team Leader for United States Liability Insurance Group. 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 United States Liability Insurance Group, 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.
Michael Murray, AU, AIS
Second Vice President, Greater Metro New York Property & Casualty Regional Team
Mr. Michael Murray is Second Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Greater Metro New York Property & Casualty Regional Team at United States Liability Insurance Group. 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.
Patrick Bethel, ASLI
Vice President, Midwest Property & Casualty Regional Team
Mr. Patrick Bethel is the Product Team Leader of the Midwest Property & Casualty Regional Team for United States Liability Insurance Group. 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 has or is serving as a coach for their varsity basketball, soccer and softball programs. 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.
Jeff Estabrook, CPCU, ARe
Second Vice President, New England Property & Casualty Regional Team
Mr. Jeff Estabrook is the Product Team Leader of the New England Property & Casualty Regional Team for United States Liability Insurance Group. He has been with the company since 2009. Previously, Mr. Estabrook was a reinsurance broker at Aon Benfield from 2003 until 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before this engagement, he served as a reinsurance broker at Guy Carpenter in Philadelphia, PA from 1993 to 2003. Prior to his insurance career, Mr. Estabrook practiced law in Philadelphia, PA.
Mr. Estabrook received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences and a Juris Doctor degree from the Cornell University Law School. Mr. Estabrook has achieved both the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Associate in Reinsurance designations. An active Cornell alumnus, Mr. Estabrook has served as chair of several Cornell national alumni organizations as well as local fund raising and alumni boards. His interests include coaching youth lacrosse, singing in his church choir, American history, physical fitness and enjoying time with his wife Lisa and their two children, Sarah and Graham.
Manus Friel, ASLI, RPLU, CPCU, AU
Vice President, California Property & Casualty Regional Team
Mr. Manus Friel is Vice President and Product Team Leader for the California Property & Casualty Regional Team. Prior to leading the California Regional Team, Mr. Friel spent seven years in 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, CPCU, RPLU, ASLI, AIS
Vice President, Texas/Oklahoma Property & Casualty Regional Team
Karl Koppel is Vice President and Product Team Leader of the Texas/Oklahoma Region Property and Casualty Underwriting team for United States Liability Insurance Group. 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, Associates in Surplus Lines Insurance and Associates in Insurance Service. His interests include golf, skiing, classic/antique cars and spending time with his family.
Home | Sitemap | Fraud and Privacy Policy | Contact Us
©2010 United States Liability Insurance Group. All Rights Reserved.
190 South Warner Road PO Box 6700 Wayne, PA 19087