Register for the PIWA Panel Discussion

How to Build a Successful Career in the E&S Wholesale Business

Oct. 24, 1-2:30 p.m.

Are you new to the excess-line business, or do you know people who are starting their careers in the industry? Join us for a panel discussion focusing on How to Build a Successful Career in the E&S Industry.

Moderator:

PIWA President, Robert Farella
Robert Farella is the current president of PIWA and he has over 35 years of experience in the wholesale insurance business. He has served as vice president–Casualty at Amwins for the past 12 years, and he previously spent 18 years in casualty roles at Swett & Crawford. Robert holds an AAS in Accounting from Kingsborough Community College. He has been married to his wife Lorraine for 37 years, and together they have two sons, Joseph (who also works at Amwins), and John (in accounting), as well as one grandchild, Hudson.

Panelists:

Dave Grafstein–Amwins
Dave Grafstein is the executive vice president of Amwins Brokerage and the branch manager of its office in Stamford, Conn. A graduate of SUNY Albany, Dave began his career as a casualty underwriter in the National Accounts department at Hartford Specialty in 1986. In 1990, he transitioned to wholesale brokerage at Bryson Associates, which was acquired by Aon in 1992 and later merged with Swett & Crawford in 1999. In 2001, Dave became a partner in the startup, Partners Specialty Group, which was sold to Amwins in 2017. He has been married to his wife Cindy for 32 years, and they have three adult children, Jack, Ellie and Michael.

Pamela Howell–IAT Insurance Group
Pamela Howell is the vice president of Excess Casualty within the Excess and Surplus division at IAT Insurance Group. A graduate of Fisk University, Pamela began her career as an underwriter trainee at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Corp., in Philadelphia. Over her more than 30-year career, she has worked with major carriers such as AIG, Zurich, Everest Re and AXA, building expertise in casualty lines of business across both insurance and reinsurance sectors. In her current role at IAT, she leads initiatives in the small- and middle-market excess space. Pamela is based in Norristown, Penn., where she continues to drive success and innovation within her team.

Robert Lynch–SES, part of Alliant Underwriting Solutions
Robert Lynch is the senior vice president of Property and Package Underwriting at SES, an Alliant Underwriting Solutions company. Robert’s insurance career began in 1981 when he joined The College of Insurance as a work-study student sponsored by AIG. After six years in program underwriting, he transitioned to Starr Associates as an assistant secretary, where he developed a large and profitable book of property and package business. In 1991, Robert co-founded First Capital Group, an MGA serving the wholesale brokerage community, where he served as executive vice president for 17 years before overseeing its sale to AWIS in 2006. Robert has been married for over 40 years, and has six children and two grandchildren.

Thomas Lynch–Jencap
Thomas Lynch is the senior vice president of Jencap’s NYC Casualty Team. A graduate of St. Francis College in Brooklyn, Thomas started his career as a multilines producer at NIF Group in 2013. After Jencap acquired NIF in 2017, Thomas’ role grew, and over the course of his 10-year career, he has built a book of business totaling nearly $100 million in premium. His current focus is on middle-market to larger-brokerage placements, while his team continues to handle smaller- and middle-market accounts.

Markel (Red Bank NJ office)

310 NJ-35, Red Bank, NJ 07701

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