John F. Byrnes, President, CEO
John began his insurance career as a commercial underwriter for The Travelers and later for an excess and surplus lines broker. He joined RC Knox & Company in 1980 and became CEO in 1998. He also serves as an account executive for numerous large and complex commercial accounts.
John is a member of the board of RC Knox, the YMCA of Hartford, the Bushnell, Duncaster, Real Art Ways, and the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford. He is a corporator of Hartford Hospital, Hospital for Special Care and St. Francis Hospital.
John received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University in 1976 and later went on to earn his J.D. degree from Western New England School of Law. He holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.
Harold A. Smullen, Jr., Executive Vice President, COO
Hal Smullen is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of RC Knox & Company. He has been with the company since 1987 after eleven years with The Travelers in various underwriting, marketing and management positions. He is a member of the Executive Management Team and Board of Directors of RC Knox & Company and heads the Financial Institutions Group within the Commercial Insurance Division.
Hal is a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter, having received his designation in 1981. He received a BA degree in Economics from Trinity College in 1976, an MBA in Finance from the University of Connecticut in 1985, and the Associate in Risk Management designation in 1998. He is a licensed insurance consultant and has been a speaker on insurance issues related to financial institutions.
Professional memberships include the Society of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters, the Connecticut Chapter of CPCU, and the Professional Liability Underwriting Society.
Edward J. Cooke, Executive Vice President
Ed joined Beardsley, Brown & Bassett as a full partner in 1986, specializing in Industrial, Health Care, and Financial Institution accounts. A graduate of Fairfield University, he has been an insurance broker since 1971 and owned and operated his own agency in Shelton. Edward holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation. He is active in community and faith-based organizations in Greater Bridgeport and the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
John J. Kalbacher, Senior Vice President, Treasurer, CFO
John joined RC Knox & Company in 1990 as treasurer and chief financial officer. Prior to RC Knox & Company, John worked as an audit supervisor and later an audit manager for Coopers & Lybrand where his responsibilities included planning and managing all phases of client engagements or projects under the direction of and in consultation with partners. John is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Connecticut Society for Certified Public Accountants, and the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce.
At RC Knox & Company, John is the manager of the Financial and Administration Division, Senior Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer.
He has a degree in Economics from Middlebury College and received his MBA with a concentration in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1979. He has eighteen years experience servicing the insurance agency industry.
