Who's Who
The 2025 Who’s Who in Insurance
The key players operating in New York’s complex markets.
From left to right: Amanda Turcotte, Thasunda Brown Duckett and William J. Lindsay III Amalgamated Life Insurance Company; TIAA; Jeff Klein, Closer to Infinity
Insurance may at first glance seem like a dull topic, only to capture our attention when premiums need to be paid or when the fine print about coverage options must be carefully reviewed. But in the broader scheme of things, insurance is a remarkable product that has helped modern society manage risk – and greatly improve the quality of life. Predicting the likelihood of various outcomes – the death of a breadwinner, a catastrophic flood, a car wreck – and putting a price on these risks isn’t just a good business model, it’s an effective way to keep countless people out of poverty.
How these markets are structured and operate is complicated, and subject to countless legislative and regulatory debates. City & State’s Who’s Who in Insurance highlights the key players in the industry, which is largely regulated at the state level. It puts a spotlight on public officials, trade association leaders and executives at companies offering health insurance, property and casualty insurance, life insurance and other types of coverage in New York’s robust market.
Anderson, Cassandra
At the start of the year, Cassandra Anderson succeeded Ellen Melchionni as president of the New York Insurance Association, which represents the property and casualty insurance industry. The venerable trade association hasn’t missed a beat under Anderson, who has held other key roles at NYIA over the past decade and a half. She has continued to push for state legislation cracking down on insurance fraud. Anderson has also served as president of the NYIA’s affiliated New York Insurance Scholarship Foundation and sits on the board of the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud.
Arbeit, Ilana
Ilana Arbeit specializes in developing tailored employee benefit plans for clients of all sizes at Hilb Group. She joined The Charles J. Newman Co. LLC in Peekskill as a partner in 2019, and the firm became part of Hilb Group in 2021. Arbeit is a past president of the board of the New York State Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals. The Hilb Group, which was founded in 2009, has scores of offices, mostly on the East Coast, and focuses on providing comprehensive services via local brokers.
Atkins, Tim
Tim Atkins represents New York life insurance companies, advocating on their behalf with state lawmakers, the Hochul administration and the state Department of Financial Services. Atkins, who has spent more than five years as the managing director for legislative affairs and counsel at the Life Insurance Council of New York, has led lobbying efforts to modernize the state’s insurance laws, authorize life insurance companies to offer wellness programs and expand annuity offerings. The attorney previously had staff roles at the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and the state Senate.
Bailey, Jamaal
State Sen. Jamaal Bailey became a key player in New York’s insurance markets this year when he was named Insurance Committee chair, a post that opened up with the retirement of former state Sen. Neil Breslin. Bailey advanced legislation through his committee that would create an online, real-time insurance verification system for motor vehicle insurance if signed by the governor, and he teamed up with former NBA player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on legislation to increase coverage for stuttering treatment. He’s also pushing for greater transparency surrounding insurance claims. The policy wonk is a major political player, too, as the Bronx Democratic Party boss.
Blumencranz, Jake
Assembly Member Jake Blumencranz isn’t immersed in the ins and outs of insurance just as a legislator – he’s also actively working within the industry. The second-term Republican lawmaker is a member of the Assembly Insurance Committee – and he also evaluates emerging risks and supports insurance technology, fintech and health tech ventures as an employee at NFP, an affiliate of the global financial services company Aon, one of the largest insurance brokers in the world. The Long Islander previously worked for the Nassau County District Court and studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Bodner, Benjamin
Benjamin Bodner is a key player operating at the intersection of insurance and government regulation in New York, with expertise on gaining approvals for life insurance and annuity products, navigating market conduct examinations and investigations, and shaping legislative outcomes in Albany. Bodner, who previously worked in the insurance industry, has spent a decade and a half at Hinman Straub serving insurance companies and other corporate clients. He currently represents more than 20 commercial insurance companies in their dealings with the state Department of Financial Services.
Bozzo, Marshal
Marshal Bozzo is a key staffer at the Life Insurance Council of New York, teaming up with LICONY President and CEO Laura Evangelista and Managing Director Tim Atkins, the organization’s legislative point person, to carry out its mission of advocating for life insurance companies. Bozzo spearheads the council’s work with the state Department of Financial Services on regulatory and compliance matters. The attorney and former DFS staffer also maintains contact with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the American Council of Life Insurers.
Burns, Laurissa
In 2022, Laurissa Burns was promoted to a key role as chief administrative officer of MJHS Health Plans, which is part of the nonprofit MJHS Health System that has deep roots in Brooklyn and provides home care, hospice and palliative care and other related services in the greater New York region. The role involves overseeing the health care system’s Elderplan offerings, which are Medicare Advantage plans for its members. Burns, who joined Elderplan in 2001, has a track record of improving operations through technology, automation and workflow changes.
Cadin, Marc
Marc Cadin is the CEO of Finseca, a Washington, D.C.-based, 11,000-member organization whose name is derived from the tagline “financial security for all.” Under Cadin’s leadership, Finseca has united industry organizations, expanding its reach and impact – including in states like New York. He previously led a predecessor organization, the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting, and completed its merger with the General Agents and Managers Association International and helped integrate other related organizations. Cadin began his career in education and politics before entering financial services.
Dal Col, Richard
Last year, seasoned insurance executive Richard Dal Col took the reins at MVP Health Care, a regional, nonprofit health plan based in Schenectady. Dal Col has a track record of adopting and implementing value-based care and driving quality improvements and cost containment. He previously was enterprise chief medical officer at EmblemHealth, which has more than 3 million members, and held a similar role at Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan. MVP Health Care has over 700,000 members across New York and Vermont.
Denler, Max
Max Denler brings nearly two decades of experience in group retirement plans, with a background in recordkeeping, administration and client relations. As an adviser with Alliant Retirement Consulting – a subsidiary of Alliant Insurance Services – he supports businesses and nonprofits with a wide variety of retirement benefits and plans. Denler has been a featured industry speaker on retirement plan compliance, and his firm has received recognition for excellence in retirement services from the National Association of Plan Advisors and Manage HR.
DeSanto, Craig
New York Life Insurance Co. has enjoyed a long life of its own, from its founding in 1845 to its current status as the nation’s largest mutual fund insurer. The Fortune 100 company is led by Craig DeSanto, who was named CEO in 2022 and board chair in 2023. The insurance executive has been at the company since he started out as an actuarial summer intern in 1997. Over the years, he has overseen various parts of the business, including retail life insurance, institutional life insurance and the investment adviser Eagle Strategies.
Duckett, Thasunda Brown
When Thasunda Brown Duckett succeeded Roger Ferguson Jr. as the leader of the retirement and investment management firm TIAA in 2021, it marked the first time a Fortune 500 company has had two consecutive Black CEOs. Duckett previously was CEO of Chase consumer banking at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where she also served as the executive sponsor of the banking giant’s Advancing Black Pathways Fellowship Program. New York-based TIAA has close to 5 million customers.
Dungan, Mark
Mark Dungan manages USI Insurance Services’ nonprofit employee benefits practice in New York, drawing inspiration from his parents’ commitment to nonprofit work. At USI Insurance Services – which stands for understand, service and innovate – Dungan partners with mission-driven organizations to improve employee health and well-being. A frequent speaker at nonprofit sector conferences, Dungan was event director for Nonprofit New York’s Nonprofit Optimization Conference and has participated in conferences hosted by New York Nonprofit Media, a City & State publication. USI, which is based in Valhalla, New York, has over 200 offices nationwide.
Evangelista, Laura
In December 2024, Laura Evangelista was promoted to be president and CEO of the Life Insurance Council of New York, which advocates for 74 companies that provide life, disability income, long-term care insurance and annuity benefits in New York. Evangelista had previously served as the group’s managing director of regulatory affairs, was co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Insurance Regulatory and Transactions Practice and was executive deputy superintendent of insurance at the state Department of Financial Services. Her predecessor at the council, Richard Loconte, joined Allstate’s government and industry relations team.
Fetterolf, Paul
Paul Fetterolf is a seasoned insurance executive at Gallagher, which is one of the largest insurance brokerage firms in the world. Fetterolf, who’s based in New Jersey, has spent over two decades at Gallagher, whose global headquarters is based outside of Chicago. He brings expertise in the area of health care coverage, and works with clients in finance, technology and nonprofits – including New York clients like Grand St. Settlement. Gallagher was named a 2019 Employee Benefits Power Broker by Risk & Insurance, an industry publication.
Fogarty, Ryan
Ryan Fogarty brings over two decades of experience to Molina Healthcare, which delivers managed health care services under Medicare and Medicaid and via state insurance marketplaces. Fogarty joined California-based Molina Healthcare in 2021, and earlier this year was promoted to plan president for the 5.1 million-member company’s New York division. He previously had a stint at Centene Corp. and prior to that spent a decade and a half at Wellcare Health Plans. Last fall, the company opened its Molina Healthcare Community Resource Center in Syracuse.
Fontaine, Dillon
Dillon Fontaine has spent nearly 14 years at Marshall+Sterling, working his way up from account executive to senior sales executive to vice president and senior sales executive during his tenure at the national independent insurance agency. He has helped expand the company’s commercial insurance division and deals with clients in construction, hospitality, nonprofits and other sectors. The company was founded in 1864 in Poughkeepsie, and now has a major presence in New York, with 18 offices across the state, while also operating in California, Florida, Texas and Virginia.
Goldstein, Ira
Ira Goldstein has spent the past decade and a half running The Black Car Fund, which provides full workers’ compensation insurance – as well as nonwork accident disability insurance, personal accident insurance and an array of health-related benefits – to over 100,000 for-hire drivers in New York. A legal and transportation policy expert, Goldstein has modernized protections for gig economy workers, making New York a national model for portable benefits. He previously served as chief of staff at the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission.
Harewood, Junior
Junior Harewood already had a quarter century of experience at UnitedHealthcare when he was promoted to be the insurance giant’s top executive in New York in 2022. Harewood is an expert in commercial benefits and, as a native Long Islander, has plenty of business connections in New York. Its parent company, UnitedHealth Group, is the largest health insurer in the nation, while the company has more than 3.5 million members in the New York market. Harewood recently announced a renewed contract with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Hobson, Scott
Scott Hobson has extensive experience in shaping insurance policy in New York. A year ago he became assistant vice president of government relations at CNA Insurance, a major U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance company, where he leads advocacy efforts across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. Hobson recently helped pass legislation in New York modernizing the state’s automobile insurance verification system. He previously directed government affairs at Big I New York, an association for independent insurance agents. He also had stints at the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York and the American Cancer Society.
Holahan, Danielle
After the federal Affordable Care Act paved the way for state health care exchanges, New York became one of the first states to set up a state-level, regulated marketplace and implemented a straightforward “single point of entry” model. Danielle Holahan was there from the beginning, helping to launch NY State of Health in 2013 and moving up to become its executive director in 2021. As of last fall, NY State of Health's enrollment was nearly 6.7 million people. Holahan is also part of the executive leadership team at the state Department of Health.
Hunter, Pamela
Assembly Member Pamela Hunter doesn’t chair the Insurance Committee, but she’s on the forefront of legislation affecting the insurance industry. The Syracuse lawmaker is president of the National Council of Insurance Legislators, which is made up of state lawmakers serving on insurance and financial institutions committees and drafts model legislation. In 2023, Hunter championed the industry-backed Insurance Consumer Relief Act, which aims to streamline auto insurance inspections. She’s also the sponsor of a bill that would bar auto insurers from using an individual’s credit history as a basis to refuse coverage. This year, she began presiding over Assembly proceedings as speaker pro tempore.
Iselin, Harold
Harold Iselin is an Albany veteran who manages Greenberg Traurig’s office in the state capital, co-chairs the firm’s Government Law and Policy Practice and is an expert on insurance and health care policy. He has guided clients through managed care and insurance transactions. He has also represented such clients as the New York Health Plan Association and has appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court in New York State Conference of Blue Cross & Blue Shield Plans v. Travelers Insurance Co.
Kang, Erin
Last year, Erin Kang was promoted to a new position as chief underwriter for the mutual practice at Gen Re, the global reinsurance subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate. Kang first came to Gen Re in 2019 after stints at AIG in New York and Chubb in New Jersey, and she works out of the company’s global headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. The company provides reinsurance in the life, health and property and casualty insurance sectors.
Khalaf, Michel
MetLife is a global company, and President and CEO Michel Khalaf brings a global perspective to his leadership of the company. MetLife is one of the largest life insurance companies in the United States, and the Fortune 500 company also operates in more than 40 markets worldwide. Khalaf was named president and CEO of MetLife in 2019, after overseeing its work in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. He previously oversaw various international markets at Alico, which was acquired by MetLife in 2010. MetLife is a member of the Partnership for New York City.
Klisura, Dean
Dean Klisura is a veteran executive at Marsh McLennan, the world’s largest insurance broker, and he runs one of its subsidiaries, Guy Carpenter, which focuses on global risk and reinsurance. Klisura, who’s a vice chair of Marsh McLennan, is based in New York City and oversees Guy Carpenter’s business around the world. He has also been a supporter of Blue Marble, an organization that develops innovative insurance protection for small farmers and vulnerable individuals, and The Institutes Knowledge Group, which offers training on risk management and insurance.
Lindsay III, William J.
William J. Lindsay III this year launched Tri Pack Insurance Services, a Tarrytown-based insurance brokerage. Lindsay brings a quarter century of industry expertise to his firm, including underwriting, risk management and insurance placement. His career includes stints at American Phoenix, Hilb Rogal & Hobbs and EPIC Insurance Brokers. The brokerage provides tailored, data-driven insurance solutions in the transportation, real estate, hospitality and film production sectors. Lindsay was previously a representative in the Suffolk County Legislature, following in the footsteps of his father, who was the legislative body’s longest-serving presiding officer.
Linzer, Eric
Since 2018, Eric Linzer has led the New York Health Plan Association, an Albany-based advocacy organization that represents health plans across New York – from national industry giants like UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Cigna to major New York-based insurers such as Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Healthfirst and MVP Health Care. Linzer has been sounding the alarm on Republicans’ recently passed federal budget bill for its cuts to federal safety net funding that is expected to increase the number of uninsured New Yorkers and potentially harm the state’s health care system.
Lounsbury, Lisa
Shortly after Lisa Lounsbury was named as the permanent president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York in 2017, it was rebranded as Big I New York. Lounsbury, who has been with the organization since 1999, represents independent insurance agents at over 1,450 agencies in New York. She also co-founded and serves as board president for Catalyit, which helps insurance agents implement technology, and serves on the Northeast Board of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Diversity Council and the Le Moyne College McNeil Academy Advisory Board.
MacMillan, Thomas
Thomas MacMillan, who was promoted to the position of chief operating officer at EmblemHealth in 2023, brings nearly a quarter century of experience in health care transformation and operations. He has led one of the industry’s broadest modernization efforts, retiring legacy systems and redesigning customer service with advanced technology amid a consolidation of four legacy insurance and provider organizations. His operational upgrades have also resulted in more than $50 million in cost savings. EmblemHealth, which provides insurance plans as well as primary and specialty care, has 3 million members in the tristate area.
Maltaghati, Philip
Philip Maltaghati is CEO of United Public Adjusters & Appraisers Inc., a large loss property insurance claim settlement firm based on Long Island. A licensed public adjuster, Maltaghati helps clients navigate complex residential and commercial property damage claim resolutions after events like fires or major water damage, and he has helped secure over $1 billion in settlements over the years. He also has appeared on ABC 7’s “On Your Side” to explain insurance recovery and homeowners’ rights. He serves on the board of the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club.
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McElrath, Sharman
Sharman McElrath is the founder of Williamson Financial Group, a financial services and consulting firm specializing in employee benefits and personalized financial planning for businesses large and small. With over a decade of industry experience, she guides small businesses, contractors and W-2 workers through national PPO networks, group insurance and other coverage solutions. McElrath’s mission-driven work champions financial wellness and health equity, particularly for underserved communities. Her firm is a certified minority- and women-owned business enterprise in New York City.
McLendon, Eric
Eric McLendon is the founder of Clear National Title, a Black-owned national title insurance firm specializing in major commercial real estate transactions. Under his leadership, the company has provided title services for nearly $20 billion in deals, including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s Kensico Reservoir, the new Terminal One at JFK Airport and a major New York City Housing Authority redevelopment. McLendon is inspired by the legacy of his grandfather, Dr. Frederick Earl McLendon, a physician who built a pioneering Black hospital in Atlanta.
Morris, Stanley
Stanley Morris is the founder and chair of Rampart Insurance Services, which he launched in 1965 in Manhattan with just 10 staffers and developed over the decades into a respected industry leader with 200 employees across the company, now based in Uniondale. Known for mentoring generations of professionals, Morris has emphasized the importance of understanding the “why” behind every decision. He also championed community involvement and has been a longtime supporter of the UJA-Federation of New York.
Munoz, Kyle
Kyle Munoz is the chief sales officer at Munoz Insurance Services, a minority- and women-owned business enterprise that has been serving the tristate area since its founding in 1978. Munoz, a second-generation leader of the Westchester County-based company, brings an innovative approach and a client-first mindset. He specializes in providing customized commercial, home and auto insurance solutions for nonprofits, real estate, construction and social services organizations, with clients including SEBCO Development, Aquinas Housing Corp. and Bajraktari Realty Management Corp.
Murphy, Michael J.
Insurance is largely regulated at the state level, and in New York, some of the biggest industry players rely on Greenberg Traurig’s Michael J. Murphy to represent them before the state Legislature and the state Department of Financial Services. Murphy has represented such clients as Chubb, Liberty Mutual and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He started out as an assistant counsel for the state Senate majority with a focus on insurance matters, and he also was assistant vice president for what’s now the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
Navin, Mark
The Business Council of New York State isn’t just a leading business advocacy organization shaping legislative outcomes in Albany – it also provides services to its members, including insurance coverage. Mark Navin, a longtime executive at the Business Council, oversees its growing Insurance Fund, which covers around two-thirds of the organization’s members and represents more than 100,000 private sector employees in the state and their dependents. Navin started out in 2002 as a sales representative at the Business Council and returned in 2010 as sales director before taking on his current role.
O’Grady, Brian
A year ago, Brian O’Grady was named president and CEO of Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, a nonprofit health plan serving nearly 400,000 members in upstate New York. With nearly 40 years of health care experience, O’Grady brings deep industry knowledge and strong leadership to the role. O’Grady, who succeeded longtime leader John Bennett, was president of health plan markets at CDPHP and, prior to that, an executive at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Over the past year, he has guided CDPHP through a period of significant transformation, reinforcing its commitment to compassionate, community-based care.
Padula, Michael
In October 2024, Starwind Specialty Insurance Services launched an environmental unit and brought on Michael Padula to helm the new initiative. Padula, who previously oversaw the environmental insurance portfolio at Aspen Insurance Group, is tasked with developing a suite of products dealing with environmental risks at Starwind, a New York City-based program management operation that’s part of the major wholesale specialty insurance distributor CRC Group. Padula brings deep expertise in environmental liabilities and mitigation strategies and an embrace of innovative technologies to his role.
Pope, Mckenzie
Mckenzie Pope marries her firsthand experiences in insurance and child care to help child care providers navigate the intricacies of insurance. Pope organized and moderated a webinar on liability insurance featuring insurance agents hosted by the state Office of Children and Family Services for over 17,000 licensed and registered child care providers around New York. Pope is former child care provider, a co-owner of Brick House Insurance Agency and a staffer at the Albany-based Early Care & Learning Council, which is the coordinating organization for the New York State Child Care Resource Center network.
Pulido, Albert
Albert Pulido is a top adviser to the governor on financial and insurance matters, overseeing state agencies focused on regulation. He advances the administration’s policies, including efforts to create fairer financial systems and the responsible use of emerging technologies. On the insurance front, he has navigated insurance coverage for for-hire vehicle drivers, helped ensure coverage for mental health and tackled the rising cost of insurance due to climate change and other factors. He previously served as New York City’s director of citywide operations in the de Blasio administration.
Reed, James
James Reed brings decades of insurance experience to his position leading Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and its Rochester-based, nonprofit parent company, The Lifetime Healthcare Cos. Reed had been at Excellus BCBS, an upstate health insurer, for a quarter century before he was named president and CEO in 2021, succeeding Christopher Booth. Lifetime Healthcare Cos. is a $6 billion operation that serves over 1.5 million people through Excellus BCBS and its other affiliates: Univera Healthcare, Lifetime Benefit Solutions and MedAmerica Insurance Co. Reed serves on the boards of CenterState CEO and the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
Richmond, Bryan
Bryan Richmond combats workers’ compensation fraud in New York through his work leading the workers’ compensation fraud inspector general team in the state Inspector General’s Office. Richmond has led tens of thousands of investigations while holding individuals accountable for abusing the system. In one case, he helped expose a medical biller who was ultimately convicted for defrauding the New York State Insurance Fund of over $1.1 million. The office also provides investigatory oversight of the state’s paid family leave program.
Rodriguez, Clarissa
Clarissa Rodriguez leads the state Workers’ Compensation Board, which administers workers’ compensation, disability benefits and the state’s paid family leave program. Rodriguez, who joined the board in 2016 and was elevated to chair the following year, has helped implement paid family leave in New York after passage of a landmark law the same year she came aboard. In December, she applauded Gov. Kathy Hochul for signing a measure that allows workers' compensation claims for mental injury resulting from extraordinary work-related stress, despite industry concerns.
Schwartz, Talya
Dr. Talya Schwartz has led MetroPlusHealth since 2019, guiding the organization through transformative growth, including a 35% increase in membership and top-tier ratings from state and federal agencies. Under her leadership, MetroPlusHealth has modernized its technology, brought behavioral health services in-house and expanded virtual care for over 700,000 members. Schwartz is the former chief medical officer of MetroPlusHealth, which provides low-cost coverage to some 700,000 New Yorkers as the health insurance plan of NYC Health + Hospitals.
Schwarz, Bessie
Stronger storms are upending the insurance industry – but Bessie Schwarz has developed an entrepreneurial approach to adapt to the threat of climate change. Schwarz helped found and runs Floodbase, an artificial intelligence-driven platform insuring previously uncovered flood risk. Schwarz, who got her start fixing disaster aid lists in El Salvador and New York, has pioneered real-time flood monitoring using AI, helping vulnerable communities access fast, data-driven financial support after disasters. She has partnered with leading reinsurance companies, assisted the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the 2024 hurricane season and has worked with the governments of more than 30 countries.
Serio, Gregory
Few New Yorkers can match Gregory Serio’s experience as a policy leader in the state’s insurance industry. He led the state Insurance Department (prior to its merger with the Banking Department to create the state Department of Financial Services) and was counsel to the state Senate Insurance Committee. Now at Park Strategies, Serio advises insurers and policyholders and frequently testifies as an expert witness. He lectures at the University at Albany and Albany Law School and has participated in national forums hosted by the National Council of Insurance Legislators and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Shatraw, Scott
Scott Shatraw is the veteran leader of Utica First Insurance Co., a firm that was founded in 1903 in Oneida County with a focus on property insurance and now is a major regional company, providing an array of coverage across New York and in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The company, now based in nearby Oriskany, has been led by Shatraw since 2018. This year, the New York Insurance Association recognized Shatraw with its annual Chair’s Distinguished Service Award.
Shorenstein, Stuart
Stuart Shorenstein is a leading lobbyist in New York’s insurance sector, bringing decades of experience and trusted relationships with city and state lawmakers. He has been an adviser of Ace American Insurance Co., whose parent company was rebranded as Chubb after a 2016 acquisition and is one of the top property and casualty insurers in the country. Shorenstein is also a co-founder of the New York practice at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, a bipartisan, multijurisdictional lobbying and communications firm affiliated with the law firm Cozen O’Connor.
Turcotte, Amanda
Amanda Turcotte leads actuarial functions and drives innovation in risk management and insurance offerings at Amalgamated Life Insurance Co., a national insurance firm headquartered in White Plains. Turcotte brings over two decades of experience in product development, pricing and reinsurance. She previously held leadership roles at AXA Equitable and helped launch two insurance technology startups. She has spoken at events, including the InsurTech Insights conference in New York. Amalgamated Life Insurance Co. was founded in 1943 by labor organizer Sidney Hillman, who also founded Amalgamated Bank.
Vasisht, Gaurav
Gaurav Vasisht has led the New York State Insurance Fund since 2021. During his tenure, the workers’ compensation insurer, which covers 2 million workers and 200,000 employers, has published research on long COVID, launched a groundbreaking hospital climate incentive program and enhanced digital services for injured workers. Vasisht was previously an adviser to former Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker, counsel to three New York governors, and a former official in the state Department of Financial Services and under the state attorney general.
Virgil, Lidia
Lidia Virgil is a Dominican-born doctor and business leader serving as chief operating officer of Somos Community Care. A champion of underserved communities, she has led transformative health care initiatives across the U.S., setting up urgent care centers, launching care transition programs and spearheading the system’s Independence at Home project. She also worked with colleagues to develop the state’s only physician-led performing provider system, building on her training in medical economics and auditing.
Weprin, David
When Assembly Member David Weprin became chair of the Insurance Committee in 2023, he brought a wealth of experience in state financial regulation. The lawmaker served earlier in his career as deputy superintendent of banks and as secretary of the Banking Board for New York State in the Mario Cuomo administration and also worked in the financial sector. This year, Weprin introduced legislation with state Sen. Jamaal Bailey intended to make the insurance claims process more transparent. He’s also sponsoring legislation that would make staged construction site accidents a class E felony.
Wright, Daniel
Daniel Wright is a managing consultant at Alera Group, an Illinois-based, independent financial services firm that provides property and casualty insurance, employee benefits and other offerings nationwide. An expert in life, accident and health insurance and in delivering employee benefits, Wright in 2024 was promoted to lead the company’s small group segment in the tristate area. Wright also serves as current president of the New York state chapter of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals, where he advocates legislation supporting market-based health care and universal coverage.
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Zettergren, Michelle
Michelle Zettergren is the chief sales and marketing officer at Brighton Health Plan Solutions, a New York-based health plan design and management company founded in 2016. Zettergren brings more than 25 years of experience in dealing with Medicare, Medicaid and ancillary products, and she has a record of driving innovations that make health care more personalized and accessible for self-insured groups. She also serves on the board of United Way of Long Island and was honored with a 2024 Stevie Award for Senior Sales Executive of the Year.
Correction: An earlier version of this post said that Lisa Lounsbury rebranded Big I New York. In fact, it was the organization's board that did.
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