Harold A. Smullen, Jr., Executive Vice President, COO (See Executive Management Team)
Edward J. Cooke, Executive Vice President (See Executive Management Team)
Robert C. Bursey, Vice President
Rob has been with RC Knox & Company since 1983, and is currently a vice president. He is responsible for negotiating competitive insurance programs, providing comprehensive risk management services, and tailoring insurance coverages for clients specific business risks.
He is a member of the Hartford and Bristol Chambers of Commerce, the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut, and was previously involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Hartford Hospital fund raising activities.
Rob earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management/Marketing with extensive study in accounting from the University of Connecticut in 1982. He is an Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI), a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified Insurance Consultant (CIC).
Preciosa Carneiro, Assistant Vice President
Preciosa has over 30 years of commercial insurance experience and holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation. Graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Sacred Heart University. In addition to handling general insurance needs, she specializes in Medical Malpractice, Contractors, Condominiums and Equipment, Tent and Party Rental Dealers. Prez is currently serving on the Planning Committee of Housatonic Girls Scout. She has also served on the Leadership Counsel of Greater Bridgeport and United Way Campaign Cabinet Leadership Team.
Stephen C. Case, Senior Vice President
Prior to joining RC Knox & Company in 1991, Steve was a vice president for five years with a major national brokerage firm with account executive responsibilities for a number of major clients. Before that he worked for The Hartford Insurance Group as a senior underwriter specializing in large accounts. His responsibilities at RC Knox & Company involve providing in depth insurance risk management service and counsel to large complex property and casualty accounts.
Steve graduated Cum Laude from the University of Connecticut in 1979, with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
He is a member of the Connecticut State Bar and American Bar Associations (Torts and Insurance Practice Section).
Steve earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1997 and is currently pursuing an Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) designation.
J. Michael Collier, Vice President, Manager, Commercial Insurance Division
Mike is Vice President and Manager of the Commercial Insurance Division. In his role, he is responsible for the overall service operations of that Division. In addition to those responsibilities, he is also in charge of developing and maintaining strong relationships with all of the commercial lines insurance companies with which RC Knox does business.
Prior to joining the agency in 1998, Mike held numerous positions with Travelers Insurance over a 25 year span. He started in Albany, NY in commercial lines underwriter and marketing before transferring to the Home Office in Hartford. While there, he was involved in various marketing roles, culminating in responsibility for property-casualty agency marketing programs.
Mike earned his designation as a CPCU in 1983 and is involved in numerous industry committees.
James A. D'Agostino, Senior Vice President
With 34 years of experience in the insurance business, Jim entered the agency business in 1970 and joined Beardsley, Brown & Bassett in 1981 as a partner. Jim is responsible for placement and service needs in the areas of insurance and bonding for medium to large contractors, developers. and other complex commercial clients. He holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Certified Insurance Consultant designations.
Stacie T. Dykins, CPIW, Assistant Vice President
Stacie entered the insurance field in 1981. She graduated from Green Mountain College in 1984 and joined RC Knox and Company in August of 1987 where she currently holds the position of Assistant Vice President.
Stacie has served as a board member on the Young Agents of CT Committee for four years. Has been a member of the Hartford Association of Insurance Women since 1991, holds the Chartered Professional Insurance Women's designation and is active in her local community and church.
At RC Knox & Company she is responsible for the sales of all types of Commercial Property and Casualty business. Her area of expertise include placement of General Liability, Commercial Property, Workers Compensation, Directors & Officers Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Manufacturing, Professional Liability and specific insurance needs for Non Profit Organizations.
Mark A. Fries, Senior Vice President
Mark joined Beardsley, Brown & Bassett in July of 1983, having previously served as Director of Corporate Relations for the University of Bridgeport for eight years. He graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1973. Mark holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation. Mark's professional responsibilities include sales and service functions on behalf of large multi-state, complex commercial accounts. His areas of expertise include Manufacturing, Directors & Officers Liability and Employment Practices Liability.
Mark is a Board of Trustee member for the University of Bridgeport and was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service in 1999. Mark served as a board member for the Eastern Fairfield County United Way for 10 years and chaired the 2001 United Way Campaign. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Cardinal Sheehan Center and was President of the Board from 1998-1999. Mark is also a Board Member of the St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and the Newtown Scholarship Association. Mark is a member of the Bridgeport Rotary Club and a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. In 1999 Mark was awarded the Volunteer Leadership Award by the Bridgeport Volunteer Association.
Thomas A. Gasho, Vice President
Tom joined RC Knox & Company in 1990 following six years of large account experience with two national insurance brokerage firms. Prior to that time, he served four years as an associate group insurance manager for the Prudential Insurance Company. At RC Knox & Company he is an account executive and vice president in the Commercial Insurance Division. In this capacity he is responsible for sales and service of insurance and risk management for large and complex commercial accounts.
He was appointed to the Association of General Contractors of Connecticut Education and Training Committee in 1992.
Tom graduated Magna Cum Laude from Case Western Reserve University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He is presently pursuing his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.
Francine D. Grandmaison, Assistant Vice President
Fran Grandmaison has more than twenty-five years of experience in the insurance industry with an emphasis on servicing property and casualty clients in an independent agency environment. She has applied her technical expertise as an Account Manager and Supervisor of large commercial accounts.
Fran obtained her Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1988 and Associates in Risk Management (ARM) in 1995.
She is Chairperson of RC Knox's Quality Improvement Team and serves as Director of Public Relations for the Connecticut Chapter CPCU and Director of Community Services for the Hartford Association of Insurance Women.
Jon W. Handwerk, Vice President
Jon started in the insurance business with the Continental Insurance Companies in New York where he was a senior underwriting analyst in the home office Personal Lines Department.
Joining RC Knox & Company in 1975, Jon attended the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut Sales and Licensing School that same year. He is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). Presently, Jon is a vice president in the Commercial Insurance Division where he is responsible for the sales and service of insurance and risk management products to large and complex commercial accounts.
He graduated from Hartwick College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
W. Ross Hatch, Account Executive
Ross began his career as an underwriter with Chubb & Son in 1965. In 1968 he joined an insurance brokerage, John C. Paige & Company, and he later worked at two other firms before joining Alexander & Alexander where he held the position of sales manager and eventually senior vice president.
In 1987, he formed his own insurance brokerage firm, Mid Continent Corporation. Ross joined R. C. Knox and Company in 1993 as an account executive responsible for sales and service of large and complex commercial accounts.
Ross is a life trustee of the Old State House Association and was a corporator, trustee and president of the board for Renbrook School;a trustee and vice president for finance for the Connecticut Child Welfare Association;a trustee and president of the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut Science Museum;a vestryman for St. John's Church, a trustee for the Connecticut Advocate for the Arts, and chairman of the "Half Way" House Building committee for the Greater Hartford Jaycees. In addition, he served on the Hartford Republican Town Committee and was the 1983 Republican candidate for the Mayor of the City of Hartford.
Ross is a graduate of Hamilton College and has achieved the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations.
Tuyen T. Le, Assistant Vice President
Tuyen joined RC Knox & Company in 2002 as an Assistant Vice President. Prior to RC Knox, she began her career at The Travelers as a member of the Financial Management Leadership program, working on a number of different financial and accounting projects, and most recently as a National Accounts Underwriter. Currently, Tuyen is responsible for the placement and servicing medium to large commercial clients, who are sizable enough to have significant risk management concerns, but do not have an in-house risk management ?department?.
Currently pursuing her CPCU designation, Tuyen also participates in the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Ronald V. Lesko, Senior Vice President
Ronald joined Beardsley, Brown & Bassett in 1975 and became a partner in 1978. He has 30 years of experience in the insurance business, including claims and marketing expertise obtained with the Hartford Insurance Group. A graduate of Sacred Heart University, Ronald holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Certified Insurance Consultant and Associate in Risk Management designations. Ron is a volunteer for numerous not-for-profit organizations such as Catholic Family Services, the Thomas Merton House, the YMCA and the Bridgeport Economic Development Corp.
Thomas C. Lincoln, Senior Vice President
Tom joined RC Knox & Company in 1983 after seven years in various underwriting and marketing positions for The Aetna Casualty and Surety Company. Currently, he is a Senior Vice President in the Commercial Insurance Division where he is responsible for sales and service of insurance and risk management to large and complex commercial accounts.
He was formerly on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Valley Girl Scouts Council, is a corporator of Hartford Hospital, is currently on the Board of Managers of Camp Jewell (YMCA), and is a member of the Connecticut Chapter Society of CPCU and the Society of CPCU.
Tom graduated from Lake Forest College, 1973, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies. He received his Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1990. He is currently studying for his Associates in Risk Management (ARM) designation.
E. Merritt McDonough, Jr., Senior Vice President
Merritt McDonough is currently Senior Vice President, Commercial Insurance Division, of RC Knox & Company based in Hartford, CT.
Merritt joined RC Knox in 1990 as an Assistant Vice President and has received promotions for his significant contributions to production and community involvement. Merritt is a relationship-oriented executive whose professional responsibilities includes the sales, service and risk management functions on behalf of large multi-state, complex commercial accounts. His concentration extends to Professional Liability (malpractice), Directors & Officers Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Managed Care, Manufacturing and Real Estate.
Merritt has been a leader and an innovator while at RC Knox. His accomplishments include being the first RC Knox agent to:
* design and implement an Owner-Controlled insurance program;
* negotiate D&O and E&O programs for an IPO;
* replace extended warranties of a large healthcare client with an insurance contract;
* broker a stop-loss reinsurance program for a healthcare PHO;and
* insure the foreign exposures of a large publicly held manufacturing company.
Merritt has been in the insurance business since 1984. Prior to joining RC Knox, he worked for a publicly traded international insurance broker where he attained "Summit Club" status for their leading producers.
Merritt is committed to service in numerous not-for-profit community organizations. Merritt is currently the Secretary of the board of Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center. He is also a board member of Hebrew Health Care, Life Choices, board Chairman of Hebrew Community Services and Past Chairman of Easter Seals Greater Hartford Rehabilitation, Inc.
Merritt is a 1983 honors graduate of Boston College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major. He has earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation and holds a Consulting license. He is nearing completion of the Registered Professional Liability Under (RPLU), and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations. He is also pursuing a Masters degree in Education.
Jennifer McEwen-Glover, Account Executive
Jennifer McEwen-Glover received her B.A. from Colorado State University in 1997. Upon graduation, Jennifer worked closely with business owners in relation to their marketing programs. In May 2000, she transitioned into the insurance field and began extensive training. Over the last eight years, she has partnered with many companies and nonprofits helping them to develop their insurance programs.
Jennifer is involved with many organizations, as an Ambassador for both the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. She also serves as the Committee Chair for the Girls Scouts of Connecticut Golf Tournament and sits on the Board of the WIN Group (Women in Networking).
Jennifer has extensive experience in the property and casualty field. Her most recent position was with an insurance carrier as a direct broker and risk manager for the last five years. She joined the Beardsley, Brown and Bassett in 2005. Her background includes the following coverage areas: Workers Compensation, Liability, Automobile, Property, Directors and Officers, Umbrella and Specialty Lines of insurance.
W. Bruce Murray, Jr., Vice President
Bruce joined RC Knox & Company in 1987 as a commercial sales representative, specializing in high-tech, environmental, and manufacturing risks. Presently, he is a Vice President in the Commercial Insurance Division and team leader of the Emerging Industries Group. In this position, he is responsible for production, servicing, and risk management of large complex middle market accounts, national accounts, and rapidly growing technology based companies. The Internet Credit Card Fraud insurance program is a unique "grass roots" initiative that developed during negotiations on behalf of various ASP's.
Some of Bruce's professional and civic activities include: Connecticut Venture Group (Hartford and Stamford Chapters). Regional Connecticut Board of Director of National Association of Corporate Directors, Board of Directors for the WFSB Channel 3 Country Camp, member of the Wadsworth Atheneum, volunteer for Soccer, and member of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church.
Bruce graduated from Villanova University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and later, earned his MBA in Financial Management from Drexel University in 1984. Prior to joining RC Knox & Company, Bruce's diverse background included commercial lending, public accounting, and bankruptcy/reorganization work experiences. Bruce is currently pursuing the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified Insurance Consultant (CIC) designations.
Bruce is happily married, lives in Avon, CT with three daughters and one son
Robert C. O'Connor, Senior Vice President
Rob joined Beardsley, Brown & Bassett in 1990, having previously worked as an account executive in the advertising industry. Rob graduated from Boston College in 1982 and he earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) insurance designation in 2001. His professional responsibilities include sales, service and risk management for commercial accounts. He serves on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut as well as volunteering as a "Project Business" Volunteer. He also serves as the Treasurer and Board Member of the Fairfield YMCA and is a member of the Finance Committee of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA. Rob has been a youth hockey coach in the Greater Bridgeport Junior Hockey Association since 1995. He lives in Fairfield with his wife and two children.
Joseph F. Peak, Senior Vice President
Joe began his insurance career as a commercial underwriter with Fireman's Fund in 1974. He subsequently joined the Hartford Insurance Group in 1978 and became the Casualty Underwriting Manager in the Hartford Regional Office.
Prior to joining RC Knox & Company in 1988, he was a vice president at an international brokerage firm involved with large commercial accounts. Currently, his duties involve sales, marketing and service of large commercial accounts.
Joe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Nichols College and is a Certified Insurance Consultant.
Kevin M. Spellacy, Vice President
Kevin began his surety and insurance career with The St. Paul in 1979. He worked in various positions in St. Paul's Bond department before joining The Hartford Insurance Group in 1984. While there, he assumed the position of assistant bond manager with responsibility for directing the office Fidelity and Surety operations for the entire New England area.
Kevin joined RC Knox & Company in 1989. In his present capacity of vice president in the Construction Industries Group, he is responsible for the sales and service of insurance, risk management and bonding needs of contractors, and other large and complex commercial accounts.
Kevin is on the Board of Directors of both the Associated General Contractors of Connecticut and the Connecticut Chapter of the American Subcontractors Association. He is also a founding member of the Business Relations Committee of the local AGC as well as a two-term member of the National AGC's Subcontractor Relations Committee. Kevin is a member of Connecticut AGC's Executive Board and is the national representative for the Connecticut Chapter Suppliers/Service Providers Council for AGC of America.
Kevin graduated from Holy Cross College in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He has attained his Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) designation and his Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.
Julie G. Spencer, Assistant Vice President
Julie started her insurance career in a high school work study program at Travelers Insurance Company. After graduation, she went to work full time for Travelers before joining Allen, Russell & Allen in 1974.
Julie joined RC Knox & Company in 1988 as a commercial account representative. She was promoted to a commercial sales position in 1989, and to an Assistant Vice President in the Commercial Insurance Division in 1996. Her current duties focus on the sales and servicing of medium sized commercial insurance clients.
Julie does volunteer work with the Leukemia Society, Protectors of Animals, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and serves on the board of Positive Momentum, Inc., a nonprofit company. She is also a member of the Hartford Association of Insurance Women (HAIW).
Thomas P. Stoto, Senior Vice President
Tom began his insurance career in 1977 and joined RC Knox & Company 1985 where he holds his current position of Senior Vice President. Prior to joining RC Knox, he held various underwriting positions with The Hartford Insurance Company of North America and Alexander and Alexander. He is currently responsible for the placement and client service of insurance, risk management, and bonding needs of medium to large commercial clients. Throughout his career, he has coordinated the placement of just about any kind of insurance or bonding.
Tom's industry activities include participating in the Construction Institute, Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, Construction Financial Management Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Connecticut Construction Industries Association, Mechanical Contractors Association, Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut, and National Association of Surety Bond Producers.
Alfred J. Tanguay, Vice President
Fred began his insurance career in 1978 with Travelers. He worked in various underwriting capacities prior to joining Francis M. Jackson Associates, Inc. in 1985. While there, he was a Vice President and CFO of a multi-line person insurance agency which concentrates in insurance and risk management for public sector and architectural and engineering firms.
Fred joined RC Knox & Company in 1997 as a Vice President. Fred has been the primary daily working contact on the State of Connecticut account for 18 years. He works on behalf of the State Insurance & Risk Management Board dedicating his time and resources to effectively developing, implementing and managing the State?s insurance and risk management program. Fred has developed an excellent working relationship with all levels of State Government (commissioners, middle management and civil servants). His knowledge of insurance/risk management and how it applies to the unique public sector environment is unparalleled within the State of Connecticut and is an asset to RC Knox.
Fred is an active participant in RIMS, PRIMA and STRIMA, and has chaired several committees and moderated and lectured at numerous educational seminars.
Fred holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bryant College and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Hartford. He is one course shy of, and working towards, obtaining both the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and the Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designations.
Kendra Valente, Sales Associate
Kendra began her insurance career with The Hartford Insurance Group in 1995 as a large account underwriter in the commercial insurance division. Her role included the risk analysis of large commercial accounts and the monitoring of loss control, claims, and day-to-day service for these clients. In her present capacity of Account Executive, she is responsible for the placement and client service of insurance and risk management needs of medium to large commercial clients.
