Introducing the 2023 CRF Speakers!

Speaker Topic: Cyber Criminals Get Creative: How to Prepare and Protect Your Business.

Andrew Abolt provides risk advisory services within Marsh’s US Cyber Practice. His key client responsibilities include cyber risk program design and placement to ensure that the broadest available coverage is delivered to meet the unique needs of each client.
Using cyber risk analytics and threat modeling, Andrew works with clients to identify the specific cyber risks impacting their business and industry sector and provides coverage and risk transfer strategies to address them. Andrew joined Marsh in July of 2018, following more than 11 years with CNA Insurance in Chicago. During his time at CNA, Andrew held various underwriting roles within the Technology E&O and Cyber practice and served as the underwriting team lead in the Midwest supporting clients with over $1BN in revenue. Andrew has significant experience assessing and managing complex technology and cyber risk and has demonstrated expertise in areas including heavy manufacturing, network business interruption, technology products errors and omissions, financial technology and data processing, retail, and healthcare.

Speaker Topic: Getting Creative: How a Single Parent Captive Can Mitigate the Hard Property Market.

Edward (Ted) Allen is USI’s Midwest Regional Technical Resource Leader. Based in Cincinnati, OH, he oversees the delivery of claims support services, loss control services, property and casualty analytics modeling, and complex Executive Risk, International, Property, and Casualty insurance placements.

Speaker Topic: How the pros handle MLB Risk Management

Received the Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter designation in 1999. Currently the Director of Industry Risk Management at Major League Baseball, with responsibility for a 30 Club League-Wide Insurance Program covering all property and casualty lines of insurance. Also responsible for our captive insurance company, MLB BASES, domiciled in Vermont. Involved with Club and League asset protection insurance in the forms of Life insurance, Event Cancellation insurance, and event-specific Disability insurance. Manage League-Wide loss control and claims management efforts. Prior to joining MLB in 2000, spent 4 years at Ingersoll-Rand Company as the Assistant Risk Manager and 2 years at MetLife as a Risk Analyst.

Speaker Topic: How the pros handle MLB Risk Management

Currently, Manager-Risk Management at the Milwaukee Brewers. In this capacity, responsibilities include developing, implementing, and administering comprehensive risk management programs that protect the Club’s assets. This includes claims management and internal loss control measures. Prior to joining the Milwaukee Brewers, worked as Sr Insurance and Claims Analyst for Clarios, a global automotive battery manufacturer. Other roles have included direct claims management, occupational health and safety, and loss control responsibilities with Travelers Insurance & Goodwill of Southeastern WI & Metro Chicago. Holds the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) and Certified Subrogation Recovery Professional Designation (CSRP)

Speaker Topic: Connecting C-suite Business Objectives to Risk Management Strategies

Cheryl Baker has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, covering various areas of focus including mergers and acquisitions, professional liability, corporate claims, and cyber risks, as well as the strategic utilization of captive insurance companies.  Cheryl successfully works with internal and external colleagues to assess risks and assist executive leadership in making risk-intelligent decisions.  Cheryl is the president of the Stellantis US-based captive and sits on the Captive Insurance Companies Association board, CICA’s Amplify Women Executive Committee and the Detroit RIMS Chapter board.  She has earned an MBA from Louisiana State University-Shreveport, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, as well as the ARM, CIC, CRM, and Associate in Captive Insurance designations.

Speaker Topic: How to Turn the Great Resignation into the Great Retention of Insurance Professional

Gail Bartholomew is the Global Insurance Manager for Nouryon, based in Chicago, IL.  Gail is responsible for all risk management, insurance, and claims management of Nouryon’s global operations.  Gail is also involved in due diligence, contract review and M&A activities. Nouryon, a leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals, was spun off from AkzoNobel in 2018.  While not a household name, there are very few homes in the US and around the world that don’t have a component of Nouryon somewhere within. Gail joined AkzoNobel as Senior Risk Management Coordinator in 2001, and in 2005 left to accept the role of Underwriting Director with CNA where she managed a property and casualty portfolio of architect and engineering clients.  In 2008 she returned to AkzoNobel as Risk Manager and went with Nouryon at the separation in 2018.

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Speaker Topic: Collaborating for Success: Evolved Solutions

Leslie Batterson is the Director, Claims and Business Partner Solutions at Aon Corporation. Her role at Aon include strategically working with Aon clients to improve casualty risk and claims program results and the overall impact of claims on client organizations. Specializing in workers’ compensation, duties include establishment of program benchmarks and metrics, claims quality and operational reviews and audits, marketing of claim services, return-to-work program review and design, managed care program review and design, and overall client advocacy on all casualty claim issues.

Speaker Topic: Connecting C-suite Business Objectives to Risk Management Strategies

Robert serves as Regional Chief Sales Officer and member of the Midwest Executive Leadership & Management Team.  He is responsible for driving corporate growth, business development, and sales strategies across Hub International’s target client industries, products, and market segments. Prior to joining Hub International, Robert served in various Executive Leadership roles at Aon, Marsh (formally JLT Group), and USI. For over two decades, Robert served as a Producer and Client Executive for global corporate clients such as BP (pre-and-post-Deepwater horizon), Honeywell International, Takeda – Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Sears Holding Corporation, and General Growth Properties (pre-and-post-bankruptcy).

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Speaker Topic: Your Future in the Risk Industry: Q & A and Discussion for Rising Risk Professionals

Gordon Brill is an Assistant Vice President and Property Practice Leader for Marsh USA

Speaker Topic: How to Turn the Great Resignation into the Great Retention of Insurance Professionals

Matt Cloud is a Vice President of claims of Auto and General Liability for ESIS, A Chubb company. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing claims operations for national clients. As part of his responsibilities, he works directly with clients, risk managers, and his leadership team to drive positive results for all stakeholders.
Mr. Cloud has more than two decades of insurance and claims experience. Prior to ESIS, he worked for a global insurance carrier with responsibility for North American Casualty operations. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at a national life insurance carrier and at a national property and casualty carrier. His tenure has included commercial and general liability, auto property damage, life and health, and national strategy. Mr. Cloud earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a focus on leadership from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He holds an Associate in Insurance Services designation and a green belt in Six Sigma.

Speaker Topic: Harnessing AI to Reduce TCOR

Carlos is the Head of Risk Management for the Kraft Heinz Company. Carlos has been with the Heinz/Kraft Heinz for 9 years. In addition to structuring our global insurance program, Carlos is responsible for management for two captive insurance companies, assisting operations in loss control efforts, and managing claims both on an insured and self-insured basis. Carlos also sits on the Enterprise Risk Committee for Kraft Heinz. Carlos also has a passion for math and looks for ways to incorporate his love of math into his role in managing organizational risk. 

Speaker Topic: Collaborating for Success: Evolved Solutions

Cathy is a Vice President, Regional Sales at CorVel Corporation. Over the past 30+ years, she has worn many hats, including claims and account management and most recently enjoying sales and consulting with employers, brokers, and carriers. She enjoys working with her insurance industry peers and mentoring upcoming insurance professionals when possible. Cathy is involved with the local Chicago RIMS and is on the committee to improve membership.

Speaker Topic: Collaborating for Success: Evolved Solutions

Jonathan is the Vice President of Global Risk Management and Safety at Encore – a full-service global event production company. His responsibilities include insurance, claims management, and safety. He leads the development of strategic objectives and ensures effective enterprise risk management for all levels of the organization. Jonathan manages the risk management team, as well as external business partners including brokers, consultants, third-party administrators, and legal counsel.

Riskonnect Risk Manager Roundtable Moderator

William joined Riskonnect in 2012 as a Systems Consultant after graduating from the University of Georgia with a MIS and Finance degree. William has served in multiple roles within the organization implementing, services, and advising customers on solutions to common Risk and Insurance challenges. As the Insurable Risk Sales Manager, William matches his technical skills and systems knowledge to help customers realize the value of Riskonnect’s solutions.

Speaker Topic: Collaborating for Success: Evolved Solutions

Christina has nearly 30 years of experience in the industry working in claims handling, occupational health program and business development, corporate risk management, TPA leadership, and global claims operations. She is currently the Managing Director, of Liability Claims Services with Safety National developing and leading a multi-functional team responsible for account management, data analysis, and process efficiencies; collaborating both internally and externally. 

WTW, Risk Manager Roundtable Moderator

Dominic Keller is based in the San Francisco office and consults with domestic and international companies across numerous industries on optimal cyber risk management strategies. He specializes in identifying, quantifying, and mitigating key organizational cyber risks and then developing consensus-based, cost-effective solutions that align with the organization’s overall business goals. He emphasizes a cross-functional approach, involving key stakeholders and business units across the organization, to ensure that a comprehensive, organization-wide strategy is developed to manage the people, technical and financial risks impacting an organization’s cyber resilience. Dominic has global experience, practicing as an attorney for ten years in California and Australia and working as a cyber insurance broker. He has the CISSP certification and has studied Corporate Strategy at the Chicago Booth School of Business. He is a regular speaker at industry and academic events across many disciplines including cybersecurity, risk management, legal, actuarial modeling, and executive level cyber risk management.

Speaker Topic: Cyber Criminals Get Creative: How to Prepare and Protect Your Business

Laura Meade is the Director of Risk Management for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS), a telecommunications company providing both wireless and broadband services based in Chicago, IL. She is responsible for leading the enterprise’s insurance and claims management programs as well as supporting various risk planning and mitigation strategies, including cyber incident response. Prior to joining TDS, Laura worked as a casualty broker at Marsh in Chicago. Laura graduated from Illinois State University’s Katie School of Insurance in 2007 and earned an MBA in Risk Management from Loyola University Chicago in 2014. Laura holds her CPCU and ARM designations, was previously a Chicagoland RIMS Chapter board member and committee chair from 2017-2019, and a current Chicagoland Risk Forum board member.

Speaker Topic: Your Future in the Risk Industry: Q & A and Discussion for Rising Risk Professionals

Cal McCarty is the VP of Commercial Sales & Response for North America and Canada for ServiceMaster Recovery Management

Speaker Topic: The Resiliency of Risk Engineering and Risk Management – how traditional and innovative solutions prepare and mitigate risks.

Ellen Marie Michael has extensive experience in the field of risk management and insurance consulting including her current role as AVP Midwest Sales & Distribution for ZRS. Her nearly thirty years of risk management consulting; including risk engineering, climate resilience, business resilience, and DEI solutions, to clients of all sizes, and complexities affords a unique perspective and the agility to communicate with all levels at business partner organizations.

Speaker Topic: Getting Creative: How a Single Parent Captive can Mitigate the Hard Property Market.

Doug O’Brien has led the National Casualty and Alternative Risk Practices for USI (formerly Wells Fargo Insurance) for the past 10 years. These practices assist clients and colleagues in the analysis, design, marketing, and placement of casualty and alternative risk financing programs. Additionally, the practices are responsible for identifying and implementing solutions to address our clients’ changing needs and communicating relevant property/casualty and alternative risk-oriented issues to clients and colleagues. Doug has more than 30 years of experience managing large casualty accounts, placing both primary and excess liability coverage in the U.S., European, and Bermuda marketplaces.

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Speaker Topic: Getting Creative: How a Single Parent Captive Can Mitigate the Hard Property Market.

As part of the SRS Advisers team, Jesse is responsible for delivering the firm’s captive consulting services primarily in the central United States including conducting feasibility studies and coordinating the implementation of new captives. He is a certified Captive 360° master facilitator, helping clients develop and execute strategic plans to maximize the utilization of their captives. Additionally, he provides thought leadership and education through regular involvement in various webinars, conferences, and industry groups. Jesse joined SRS in September 2017 with 12 years of experience in captive consulting and implementation, risk financing, and actuarial analysis. 

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Speaker Topic: Harnessing AI to Reduce TCOR

Mike Paczolt is a Principal in Milliman’s Chicago office and manages Nodal®, a predictive modeling and decision-support solution that utilizes AI and NLP to analyze structured and unstructured data for early claim intervention, allowing clients to optimize claims management and reduce claim costs. Mike is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and specializes in property and casualty insurance. His clients include insurers, self-insureds, pools, MGAs, start-up ventures, and medical management companies.

Speaker Topic: How to Turn the Great Resignation into the Great Retention of Insurance Professional

Katie is currently Americas Risk Manager at LaSalle Investment Management. An operationally independent subsidiary of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) and one of the world’s largest real estate companies, LaSalle manages capital for institutions and private investors, investing in private and public real estate equity and debt through a range of investment vehicles. Gathering and maintaining global renewal data to facilitate insurance program renewals is the key function that Katie provides, while also assisting the US Asset Management group in contract reviews and other matters related to asset acquisitions and disposals. 

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Speaker Topic: Connecting C-suite Business Objectives to Risk Management Strategies

Richard Rabs is currently the Vice President of Risk Management for Lakeshore Recycling Systems, LLC a leading privately-held waste diversion, recycling, and portable services provider. With nearly 40 years of claims, safety, and risk management experience, Rich has previously held field and corporate management positions for an insurance company, a third-party administrator (TPA), and a national broker. He also led an online claims course for The Institutes and taught for the Insurance School of Chicago. As a member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), he was a past chair of the External Affairs Committee. He is also a current and founding trustee of RiskPAC (RIMS’ Political Action Committee).

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Keynote Speaker

Tom founded Incapital, later renamed InspereX, in 1999 and was the CEO of the firm through 2009. During that period, Tom was named to Institutional Investor Magazine’s “40 Most Influential in E-Finance” five times and was the 2010 E&Y Midwest Entrepreneur of the Year in Financial Services.  In 2009, Tom led his family’s bid for the Chicago Cubs. In 2016, the organization won its first World Series title in 108 years, snapping the longest championship drought in North American major sports history. Among many recognitions, Tom was named the Sports Business Journal Executive of the Year in 2017. 

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Origami Risk, Risk Manager Roundtable Moderator

Gina is a skilled, senior leader in risk management and technology with over 25 years of experience in risk management, consulting, client service, management, and sales. As a Senior Sales Executive at Origami Risk, Gina is responsible for delivering new business solutions to prospective clients. Prior to joining Origami Risk, Gina was a Senior Sales Executive at Riskonnect, where she was a sales leader and an integral part of the organization’s rapid growth and customer satisfaction. Gina holds a Pre-Law degree from Penn State University. She also has her ARM designation

Speaker Topic: Connecting C-suite Business Objectives to Risk Management Strategies

Scot Schwarting is the Director of Enterprise Risk Management at R1 RCM Inc. He is responsible for planning, designing, and implementing the company’s overall risk management process and framework including its Enterprise Risk Management initiative. Scot serves as a risk management subject matter expert interfacing with Legal, Human Resources, Finance, Internal and External Auditors, Operations, and IT Security. Reporting routinely to management and the Board of Directors Audit and Compliance Committees. Prior to joining R1 RCM Scot served as Director of Risk Management at Whirlpool Corporation and OSI Group. Scot serves on the National RIMS Enterprise Risk Management Committee.

Speaker Topic: Getting Creative: How a Single Parent Captive can Mitigate the Hard Property Market

Theresa Severson is the vice president, insurance and risk at Kite Realty Group – a publicly traded REIT that owns and operates high-quality open-air shopping centers, including properties with a mixed-use component. In her role, Ms. Severson oversees the insurance risk management and insurance program for operational and corporate exposures, claims management, Business Continuity and Enterprise Risk Management. In addition, she has led the formation and management of captive insurance companies. Ms. Severson joined Retail Properties of America, Inc. (“RPAI”) in 2008 and played an integral part in the strategic transaction that merged RPAI into Kite Realty Group in October of 2021.

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Speaker Topic: Collaborating for Success: Evolved Solutions

Darren has more than 25 years of experience in workers’ compensation, liability, managed care and disability management services for local and national clients. As an Area Vice President with CorVel Corporation, he is involved in operations and service delivery of Workers’ Compensation and Liability Claims, Managed Care Services as well as Sales and Account Management oversight.

Speaker Topic: How the pros handle MLB Risk Management

Dino Stiris serves as the Manager of Risk Management for the Chicago Cubs. In his current role, Dino oversees all aspects of the organization’s risk management needs. He joined the Cubs in December 2005 as a Media Relations Intern. From 2007-2014, Dino held positions within the Cubs’ Human Resources Department where he oversaw the organization’s workers’ compensation program and 401(k). Prior to joining the Cubs, Dino worked for ESPN Radio in Chicago as a sports reporter. Dino graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Media Studies). In his free time, Dino enjoys playing sports, especially baseball, basketball, golf, volleyball and holds a CRM designation.

Speaker Topic: Collaborating for Success: Evolved Solutions

Brad is an Account Executive at CorVel Corporation. His core responsibility is working with employers, brokers, and carriers to strategically improve claim program processes and outcomes with the ultimate goal of improving care for employees while reducing the overall cost of risk.

Speaker Topic: Cyber Criminals Get Creative: How to Prepare and Protect Your Business

Nathan has been infatuated with technology from a young age, which led him to begin pursuing a career in Information Technology as a networking intern at a Caterpillar Inc in 2008. The following year, he joined RLI Insurance Company’s IT department, where he worked with the support and security teams on various initiatives. In 2019 Nathan moved from his Manager role in IT to become an Underwriter for RLI’s Cyber Liability practice, where he underwrote Fortune 500 companies, examining and discussing their security posturing with CISOs. Now with AXA XL, Nathan is a Senior Underwriter working with brokers on primary and excess Cyber and Tech E&O risks, and lends his technical insight to the underwriting team. Nathan holds the AIS, CISSP, CPCU, CPLP, MCP & RPLU+ designations, and has served on various committees for the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (currently serving on the Cyber Professional Liability Practitioner Committee), and is also currently serving on the North America Event Advisory Committee for ISC2.

Speaker Topic: Connecting C-suite Business Objectives to Risk Management Strategies

Scott has a diverse background with experience in building purpose-driven sales teams and cultures within a complex risk management and human capital environment. With his management consulting and sales leadership, he strives to make a positive impact in our communities and on society as a whole. He spent his early career helping drive sales growth for clients in the Emerging Markets for Western companies abroad looking at specific perspectives for global growth. Specifically, his prior experience and background was helping run growth in the industry for Asian Pacific Markets. Scott also knows and has studied the Japanese language. He believes in delivering distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. 

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Gallagher Bassett, Risk Manager Roundtable Moderator

Lauren Zambelli is the Regional Vice President for GB’s Risk Management Sales team, responsible for driving business growth while deepening GB’s relationships with clients across the territory. Lauren has spent her entire career at GB. Since participating in the Gallagher Sales Internship Program in the summer of 2015 and joining full-time in June 2016, she has served as a Producer Associate, Account Executive, and Assistant Vice President. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Professional Sales, and Legal Studies with a Minor in Psychology from Indiana University Kelley School of Business and also holds an Associate in Risk Management designation.