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John B. Suhr, MS, CPCU, CRM
Partner
John B. Suhr has taken a passionate role in the design and implementation of services designed for the Private Client Group, as well as Premier Account divisions. Mr. Suhr joined Suhr Risk Services in August 1980 after completing post-graduate studies at Loyola University of Chicago. Prior to earning his Masters of Sciences, he received his Bachelors degree from Santa Clara University. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Suhr has held various positions within the organization. He was awarded the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1987, which is extended to insurance professionals of the highest professional caliber.
James D. Carter, CPCU
Partner
Prior to joining the agency in 1975 as a Commercial Lines Broker, Mr. Carter spent five years working as an underwriter for two national carriers. He was appointed to the Griffiths Insurance Agency Board of Directors in 1979, acquired the agency in 1989, and finalized the merger agreement with Suhr Risk Services in May, 2001. Mr. Carter is nationally recognized for the depth of his insurance knowledge, as evidenced by his service on a multitude of national, statewide and local committees including CNA and Oregon Mutual’s National Producer Councils as well as the Board of many nonprofits. He is often a lecturer on his specialization in California Workers Compensation alternative risk financing approaches. Mr. Carter earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1976, and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Kevin M. Baker, CIC, ARM, AAI, CRIS
Partner
Kevin Baker is responsible for the leadership of the sales team and the strategic planning process at Suhr Risk Services of California Insurance Brokers. He also oversees the Finance, Marketing and Information Technology divisions. In addition, Mr. Baker also serves as Secretary/Treasurer and Officer Liaison to the Finance Council for the Insurance Brokers & Agents of the West, “IBA West”. IBA West is the nation’s leading regional trade association representing approximately 45,000 insurance professionals in California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska. He is a past President of the Independent Brokers and Agents of Silicon Valley, past Chairman of the IBA West Young Brokers and Agents Committee, Past Co-Chair of the IBA West California First Advocacy Fund, and a past Chairperson of the IBA West Service Corporation, the for-profit arm charged with the development of member products. He has also served on numerous insurance company advisory boards.
In his local community Kevin is currently serving as a Vice President for the Bellarmine College Preparatory Dads’ Club and along with his wife of 23 years, Cathy, as 2011 Class Representatives for the West Point Parents Club of Northern California. Kevin is also a past Vice President of the Campbell Chamber of Commerce and past President of the Campbell Kiwanis Club.
Edward Stark, MBA, MS, CPCU, ARM
Executive Vice President
Nonprofit Division
Mr. Stark is the Principal in our Novato office and serves as advisor to the Suhr Risk Board of Directors. Mr. Stark holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Masters of Science in Operations, Research and Statistics from California State University, Long Beach. In addition, he obtained his Masters in Business Administration in Finance and Insurance from Golden Gate University. After several years as a company underwriter, he moved to the agency and brokerage side of the industry. Mr. Stark was a Senior Vice President for a national firm for over 16 years before joining Suhr Risk Services in 1987. He has a tremendous commitment to the industry having served as President of the Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West, the Northern California CPCU Chapter, the San Francisco Insurance Forum, the Novato Chamber of Commerce, the North Bay Ecumenical Council Board of Directors, the Novato Youth Center Board of Directors and the Novato Human Needs Board of Directors. Mr. Stark was also named the Insurance Person of the Year by the Santa Clara Chapter of CPCU. Throughout his career, Mr. Stark has worked closely with Nonprofit Organizations and currently insures over 400 nonprofit organizations nationally.
Patricia Coutermarsh, CRIS
Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operating Officer Pat oversees operations from Suhr’s three Northern California branches, ensuring quality service delivery to all of its clients worldwide.
Coutermarsh has more than 27 years of experience on the brokerage side of the business. She began her career on the East Coast, spending 14 years in sales and management capacities. In 1986, she joined one of the largest privately held brokerage firms in the country to enhance operational efficiencies. In 1989, she founded her own company, Accelerated Performance Inc., serving as an independent consultant specializing in insurance industry projects. Her focus continued in the areas of operational evaluations, automation, sales and marketing. In 1993 and for the 11 years that followed, Coutermarsh headed the property and casualty operations at Calco Insurance Brokers from their main branch in San Mateo, California. Most recently, she spent 14 months as COO of All West Insurance Brokers.
William A. Rush, CPCU, ARM, CIC
Senior Vice President of Operations
William Rush is the Senior Vice President of Operations and Director of Company Relations at Suhr Risk Services of California. As Senior Vice President of Operations, he is charged with the responsibility of long-term planning, as well as direction of the capital investments required to exercise the company’s strategic vision. As Director of Company Relations, Mr. Rush oversees the company’s relationships with its insurance carriers. Mr. Rush joined Suhr Risk Services in November 1998 after managing a successful Silicon Valley brokerage firm for more than 20 years. He is past President of the Silicon Valley Insurance Brokers and Agents Association and has served on the Finance Committee of the Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West. Also, Mr. Rush has served on the Agency Councils of the Unigard, Reliance and Fireman’s Fund. He is a member of the Western Speakers Society and a featured speaker for SCORE of Santa Clara County.
Donna Rand
Senior Vice President
Employee Benefits
Ms. Rand, who joined Suhr Risk in 1996, has over 16 years of employee benefits expertise. Her experience covers the analysis and implementation of all Employee Benefits products. As an insurance professional, Donna not only understands her clients’ needs, but also has a keen awareness of how to produce and deliver the most value-enhanced programs from our carriers.
Thomas P. Befumo, MA, CLU
Vice President
Estate and Business Life Insurance Planning Division
Tom Befumo is responsible for the advanced business and estate life insurance planning for clients of Suhr Risk Services. Tom joined Suhr in 1980. He began his prominent life insurance career with Prudential in 1974. For the past 28 years he has specialized in designing and implementing life insurance solutions for business owners, professionals and high net worth clients. He believes in the value of working as a team with other trusted advisors, such as Attorneys and CPAs. Tom received his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from the American College, Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania after receiving his undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (BA) and graduate Master of Arts (MA) degrees from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. Tom is the President of the Peninsula Estate Planning Council and Past President of the Foster City Rotary Club. He has been active in Rotary International for over 23 years.
James Juzeler, CPCU, ARM
Vice President
Prior to joining the organization in 1994, Mr. Juzeler was employed for 13 years at a well respected San Francisco insurance brokerage. He also has 6 years experience on the company side, working in the underwriting and marketing departments of a national carrier. Jim earned his Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1991. Representing the Western Suppliers Association since 1993, Jim is responsible for the direct management of over 95% of the accounts in its Group Insurance Programs. As an experienced insurance professional, Jim not only understands his clients’ needs, but has a keen awareness of how to produce and deliver the most value-enhanced programs from our carriers.
Mike Panza, ARM
Director of Risk Services,
Private Client Group and Premier Client Division
Mike is the Director of Risk Services for the Private Client Group and Premier clients. In that role, he is charged with managing the Workers’ Compensation claims filed by our clients. Mike initiated his insurance career in 1975 with Employers Insurance of Wausau as a Workers’ Compensation Adjuster. From 1978 to 1985 he held positions of Claim Supervisor and Branch Claim Manager for Cypress Insurance Company, a division of Berkshire Hathaway. He was then self-employed between 1985 and 1990 as a Private Investigator conducting surveillance for insurance companies trying to control insurance claim fraud. Then, between 1990 and 2003, he worked for 1 of the world’s largest insurance brokerage firms and a premier regional broker. He held positions including Technical Services Manager, Branch Claim Manager, Western Region Claim Manager and Corporate Claim Manager. He joined our firm in 2003. Mike focuses his skills in Claim Management and Risk Management techniques to assist clients manage their factors that affect their cost of risk. He has been called upon to speak at numerous insurance education seminars, classes and annual events and was a panel presenter at the 2001 RIMS Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Pamela Roberts, CISR
Team Leader
Select Accounts
In Ms. Roberts’s role as a Team Leader for Select Accounts she is challenged with creating, managing and directing the service team for our Select Accounts. Ms. Roberts joined Suhr Risk Services in 1991. She brought a tremendous passion for insurance as well as 10 years of experience working in a management position with one of the largest brokerage firms in the world. Ms. Roberts has served in various industry board positions including the Insurance Brokers and Agents of Silicon Valley.
Judith K. Lazarri
Team Leader
Finance Division
Ms. Lazarri is the Team Leader for the Finance Division of Suhr Risk Services of California. In that role, she is responsible for designing and maintaining the financial controls and structure of the Corporation. Ms. Lazarri joined Suhr Risk Services in August 1996 as a Finance Manager. Her current role as Team Leader commenced in March, 2002. Ms. Lazarri’s engagement in insurance accounting began in May 1984 when she accepted a post as a Junior Finance Administrator for a well-established Silicon Valley brokerage firm. She held a number of accounting positions, including the position of Senior Accounting Administrator for a publicly held insurance brokerage operation, prior to joining Suhr Risk Services in 1996. Ms. Lazzari has served on the National Chapters Committee for the Applied Systems Client Network (ASCnet) and is the current Treasurer of the Silicon Valley ASCnet.
Nancy Boncore
Senior Life Underwriter
Team Leader: Estate and Business Life Insurance Planning Division
Ms. Boncore is responsible for the design and implementation of life insurance, disability income and long term care insurance planning for individuals and families. In addition to working directly with clients to establish their insurance needs, Nancy facilitates the underwriting and placement of all insurance coverage within the division. Nancy brings great organizational skills with over 12 years experience with Suhr Risk Services in administration. This includes 9 years of experience in underwriting and placement of complex insurance solutions with particular expertise in high risk, hard to place coverage.
Donna Fortunato, CIC, CISR
Director of Marketing
Premier Accounts Division
Donna Fortunato, CIC, CISR, proudly joined the ranks of Suhr Risk Services in 1990, subsequent to a nine year marketing tenure with a global company. She is charged with the responsibility of developing and maintaining extraordinary carrier relationships on both the underwriting and marketing levels, which is instrumental in bringing contractual solutions and pricing advantages to the clients of Suhr Risk Services.
Serving the mutual interests of carrier and client alike, Donna maintains a keen pulse on the market conditions, underwriting cycles and industry trending. Her 23 years of marketing experience, supported by the well-respected CIC and CISR designations, join in tandem to bring quality insurance solutions to our insureds on a consistent basis.
Annie West
Senior Package Claims Manager
Premier Accounts Division
Ms. West has served as the organizations’ Claims Manager from 1989 until her promotion to Senior Claims Manager in 2001. Her vast experience with the insurance product(s) and tenacious approach, in tandem with our state of the art claims processes, ensures prompt, accurate and fair settlements. Her attention is dedicated to our Premier Account Division allowing her to build an excellent knowledge of customer’s business purpose, needs and nuances within their industry. Working closely with the insurance carrier she makes certain that the claims process is smooth and continuously strives for end results with the least amount of inconvenience to the customer as is possible. She supports our customers through communication and detailed clarity of facts throughout the claims process, helping them to understand the coverage afforded by their policy and obtaining required information needed to achieve the desired results. Ms. West meets all challenges head-on, focuses on continuing her insurance product education and looks forward to exceeding customer expectations.
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