ABIG Leadership Team

We're pleased to introduce your Agent & Broker Interest Group leadership team!

Chairman

Brian K Taylor

CPCU

Brian has been in the industry since the last 46 years. He holds a BA History and MBA from Bellarmine University. He has a rich work experience from the industries’ major players from Aetna, Marsh McLennan and Allstate. He is currently the Owner of Allstate Agency. He is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren and enjoys family time, fitness, history, golf, travel.

Vice Chairman, Webinar Guru, Website Ringmaster

Michele Schrotter

CPCU, CRM, RHU, CIC, AAI, AINS, CPIW

Contact: micheleschrotter@bouchardinsurance.com

727-642-3743

Michele is the Agency Risk Manager for Bouchard Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company.  She has 25+ years of experience in the insurance industry, ranging from commercial rating/underwriting for a carrier to sales & service for an independent agency. She served on the CPCU Nominating Committee and is a past president (twice) of her local CPCU chapter. She serves as her MMA region D&I Council chairman, and earned the NDCCDP designation. She is a Florida certified CE instructor.

Immediate Past Chairman

Ramya Sunad

CPCU, ARM-E

Contact: ramya.sunad@gmail.com

917-689-2631

Ramya Sunad has been in the insurance industry since 2005. Currently she is client service manager at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. She has worked in all three domains of the industry, having served as a carrier, managing general agent and broker. Sunad served as president of the North Alabama CPCU Society Chapter 2016. Sunad is a Bachelors in Electrical & Electronics Engineering and Master’s of Science in Insurance Management from Boston University.

Secretary

OPEN POSITION! Reach out to the ABIG leadership team to apply!

Tweeter / Profile Master

Deborah L. Botts

CPCU, CRM

Debbie has worked at Gregory & Appel since 1998 and she specializes in commercial risks including, ski resorts, non-profits, arts and cultural entities, religious institutions, and condominiums. Her insurance certifications include CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter), CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor), CRM (Certified Risk Manager), AINS (Associate in General Insurance), and CAWC (Certified Authority on Workers Comp). She is Past President of the Central Indiana Chapter Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, has served on the CPCU Society Annual Meetings Task Force, and currently serves on the CPCU Society Agent & Brokers Interest Group Committee.

#techie

Matthew A. Struck

CPCU, ARM-P, ARM-E, MBA

Contact: mstruck@treadstonerisk.com

Matthew co-founded Treadstone Risk Management in 2017. He received his BS Degree in 2003 from Tulane University and his MBA in 2007 from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He holds a New Jersey Insurance Producers license with authorities in Property & Casualty, Life, and Health Insurance.

Assistant Webmaster

Nekayle Whitaker

Contact: nekaylewhitaker@gmail.com

Nekayle is studying Risk Management & Insurance at St. John's University. He is a member of the Gamma Iota Sigma Chapter of St John's, a Resident Assistant on the Queens campus, and a mentor in a program called R.I.S.E. (Reach, Inspire, Succeed, Empower.) He boasts a 3.73 cumulative GPA. He has a strong desire to build his network and improve his career and academic development. He has a strong desire to be very successful and remain in the insurance industry!

Local Chapter Liaison

Richard A. Coskren

CPCU

In November, 2016, Richard joined The Institutes as a member of their Risk and Insurance Knowledge Group. During his 35-year insurance career, he has served as the senior training officer in four P&C companies (Zurich-American, Home, Chubb and Crum & Forster) and as CEO of the Insurance Educational Association, a California-based non-profit offering classroom and on-line pre-licensing, CE and proprietary technical designation training. In 2005, he returned to his native NH to begin a consulting career at Polestar Performance Programs, Inc., an insurance-only sales coaching company focused on behavior change.

Director

Manus C. "Chris" O'Donnell

CPCU, ARM, AMIM, MBA

Contact: codonnell@mtb.com

Manus C. (Chris) O'Donnell is an Administrative Vice President for M&T Bank in Buffalo, NY. Chris is Director of Corporate Insurance & Risk for the bank. In that capacity Chris manages the department that is responsible for the internal insured and self-insured programs for the corporation. Chris graduated from SUNY Buffalo State and holds an MBA from Canisius College of Buffalo as well as his professional designations CPCU, ARM & AMIM. He is also past Chair of the RIMS Standards & Practices Committee, past Chair of the CPCU Society Agents & Brokers Interest Group, a past member of the Executive Committee of the board of directors of the CPCU Society.

ABIG Leader

Lisa Bracero

CPCU, AFIS

Lisa is an Account Executve at Warren G. Bender Co.  She has been in the industry for 15 years, and lives in California.  She makes incredible insurance videos.  Check her out on YouTube!

Member

Derek Lacy

CPCU, AAI, CIC, CRM

Derek is a Senior Commercial Risk Consultant with Bowen, Miclette & Britt Insurance Agency in Maitland, FL.  He has been in the insurance industry since 2001.  He earned his BS degree from the Kelley School of Business adn earned his CPCU in 2014.

Interest Group Governor

Steve Florence

CPCU, CLU, AIC, API, AIS

Director, Customer Care Center - Sales State Farm Insurance Steve became the Interest Group Governor for the Agent & Broker Interest group in 2017.

Past Chair

Cal Durland

CPCU

Cal is an Industry Advocate for the Insurance Digital Revolution, the Past Chair of the CPCU Society Agent & Broker Interest group, Past President of CPCU Society Westchester Fairfield and Hudson Chapter, and current Membership Chair of the Warwick Valley Country Club.

CPCU Society Liaison

Mary Ann Cook

CPCU

Mary Ann Cook, CPCU, MBA, AU, AAI, is Senior Vice President, Knowledge Resources and Content Development at The Institutes in Malvern, responsible for guiding the design and development of the material for The Institutes'​ designation, certificate, and custom learning solutions. With nearly 20 years as an insurance industry executive before joining The Institutes, she is a valued speaker and author in a variety of areas, with a particular focus on insurance education, the agent and broker marketplace, and coverage placements.

CPCU Leadership Council Liaison

Sharon Koches

CPCU, AAI, AU, RPLU

Sharon was elected as a member of CPCU Society Leadership Council at the 2016 CPCU Society Annual meeting in Honolulu.