October 09, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Distinguished Programs (“Distinguished”), a national insurance program manager, announced an expanded partnership with Berkley Program Specialists (“BPS”), a leading provider in the industry, to underwrite its Community Associations Crime and D&O products. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, Distinguished will begin to consolidate their Crime, D&O, and Package coverages under one carrier.

“Together, our combined expertise ensures brokers can offer tailored, top-tier solutions backed by two industry leaders.”

“This expanded partnership with Berkley highlights our commitment to remaining at the forefront of community associations insurance,” said Barbara Bartson, President of Distinguished’s Community Associations program. “By consolidating our D&O, Crime, and Package coverages with one carrier, we’re making it easier for brokers to do business with us, while maintaining the high standards of service, expertise, and innovation that define our program.”

“Distinguished has been an outstanding partner, and this expanded collaboration enables us to better serve brokers in the community association sector,” said Greg Douglas, President of Berkley Program Specialists. “Together, our combined expertise ensures brokers can offer tailored, top-tier solutions backed by two industry leaders.”

For more information on eligibility and available Community Association insurance coverages, visit the Distinguished website.

*Coverage available in select states.

About Berkley Program Specialists

Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company, is a leading insurance operation dedicated exclusively to program business. Berkley Program Specialists provides program administrators with underwriting authority backed by admitted and non-admitted A.M. Best A+ rated insurance paper, as well as program management expertise and, when required, reinsurance support. For more information, please visit www.berkley-ps.com.

Certain products and services are provided by one or more insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all products and services are available in every jurisdiction. The precise coverage afforded by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies as issued. Certain coverages may be provided through surplus lines insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation through licensed surplus lines brokers. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.

About Distinguished Programs

Distinguished Programs is a leading national insurance program manager providing specialized insurance programs to brokers and agents, with specific expertise in Environmental & Construction Professional, Fine Art and Collectibles, Inland Marine, Surety, Executive Lines, Real Estate, Community Associations, Hotels, and Restaurants. Providing outstanding high-limit umbrella programs and primary insurance, Distinguished Programs is the clear choice in its areas of specialty for superior coverage, competitive pricing, and attentive service. Through thoughtful innovation, stemming back to 1995, Distinguished Programs fosters growth and opportunities for its brokers, carriers, and employees. Learn more at www.distinguished.com.

Contacts

Media:
Ritchie Vener
(212) 297 3190
[email protected]

Original article posted

NAPERVILLE, Ill.– (BUSINESS WIRE)–Berkley Equine & Cattle (BEC), a division of Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company®, is pleased to announce executive leadership appointments that became effective January 1, 2024.

John Egan, Vice President, has been named BEC Manager. Sheila Gott, Senior Vice President, has become SVP, BEC Chairperson, and will assist John’s transition into his new role and retire later in 2024.

John, who joined BEC last summer as Chief Underwriting Officer, has an extensive background in the equine marketplace with over 20+ years of property and casualty insurance experience, specializing in equine/bloodstock mortality insurance. As part of this transition, the BEC staff will report to John effective January 1st.

Sheila has done a fabulous job profitably growing BEC and building a great team. Sheila joined BEC in January 2020 and has spent the last four years enhancing all aspects of the business’s market presence. BEC is now one of the top three carriers in the equine and cattle market and continues to be one of Berkley Program Specialist’s most profitable businesses.

For further information about BEC’s products and services, please contact John at [email protected] or visit www.berkleyequine.com.

About Berkley Equine & Cattle: Berkley Equine & Cattle, a division of Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company, is a leading insurance operation dedicated to the equine and cattle industries and program business. Berkley Equine & Cattle provides equine and cattle agents and program administrators with underwriting authority backed by admitted and non-admitted A.M. Best A+ rated insurance paper, as well as program management expertise and when required, reinsurance support. For more information, please visit Berkley Program Specialists at www.berkley-ps.com or Berkley Equine & Cattle at www.berkleyequine.com.

NAPERVILLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Berkley Equine & Cattle, a division of Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company, announced today its recent hire of Mr. John Egan, who will join the Berkley Equine & Cattle (BEC) executive leadership team as Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer effective July 31, 2023.

As BEC Chief Underwriting Officer, Mr. Egan will be responsible for overseeing underwriting policies. He will be based in Lexington, KY, reporting to Sheila Gott, Senior Vice President & BEC Manager.

Berkley Equine & Cattle continues to make investments in its underwriting, claims and operations teams and technology. BEC will be implementing improved agency and insured portals in the balance of 2023, to continue offering great products and services with a best-in-class experience for our agency partners and insureds.

Reflecting on the hiring of Mr. Egan, Sheila Gott said, “We are excited about John joining the BEC team. John’s personal style, technical underwriting skills, agency relationships, and equine industry experience will be great additions to an already outstanding team!”

Mr. Egan has an extensive background in the equine marketplace with over 20+ years of property & casualty insurance experience, specializing in equine/bloodstock mortality insurance. He holds a property & casualty agent license, an Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS) certification, as well as having worked in the insurance industry in both London, England, and in the US.

About Berkley Equine & Cattle: Berkley Equine & Cattle, a Berkley Company, a division of Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company, is a leading insurance operation dedicated to the equine and cattle industries and program business. Berkley Equine & Cattle provides equine and cattle agents and program administrators with underwriting authority backed by admitted and non-admitted A.M. Best A+ rated insurance paper, as well as program management expertise and, when required, reinsurance support. For more information, please visit Berkley Program Specialists at www.berkley-ps.com or Berkley Equine & Cattle at www.berkleyequine.com.

Contacts

Sheila Gott, SVP
[email protected]
+1-859-300-8019

April 18, 2023 03:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

NAPERVILLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company, today announces a new underwriting partnership with Distinguished Programs (“Distinguished”), a national insurance program manager, to provide Package coverage for community associations.* Coverage will be available on June 1, 2023.

“Our shared focus on innovation and customer service means we can create new opportunities for our brokers to deliver the high-quality solutions they’ve come to expect from us.”Tweet this

Through the partnership, Distinguished Programs will continue to exceed the expectations of their brokers in terms of superior quality, reasonable price and high standards.

Greg Douglas, President of Berkley Program Specialists, said, “Barbara Bartson and her team at Distinguished are true professionals, and we’re very excited about working with them. Together, we’re confident we can deliver top-quality coverage options that meet the unique needs of the community association industry.”

“Our collaboration with Berkley Program Specialists underscores our commitment to being a leader in the community association insurance industry,” said Barbara Bartson, Managing Vice President of Community Associations at Distinguished, of the partnership. “Our shared focus on innovation and customer service means we can create new opportunities for our brokers to deliver the high-quality solutions they’ve come to expect from us.”

*Coverage currently available in 22 select states.

About Berkley Program Specialists

Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company, is a leading insurance operation dedicated exclusively to program business. Berkley Program Specialists provides admitted and non-admitted A.M. Best A+ rated insurance paper, as well as program management expertise and, when required, reinsurance support. For more information, please visit www.berkley-ps.com.

About Distinguished Programs

Distinguished Programs is a leading national insurance program manager providing specialized insurance programs to brokers and agents, with specific expertise in Environmental, Fine Art and Collectibles, Real Estate, Community Associations, Hotels, and Restaurants. Property and liability products are distributed through a national network of agents and brokers. Through thoughtful innovation, stemming back to 1987, Distinguished Programs fosters growth and opportunities for its brokers, carriers, and employees.

Contacts

Berkley Program Specialists
Mr. Michael Greville, 630-210-0381
[email protected]

Distinguished Programs
Ms. Barbara Bartson, 330-460-5970
[email protected]

February 14, 2023 10:51 AM Eastern Standard Time

NAPERVILLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Berkley Program Specialists today announced a partnership with Talage, a Submission Management Platform for commercial insurance, to offer an innovative new product line providing workplace violence coverage. This new coverage and service offering was introduced February 8, 2023 in select states with additional states to follow.

Berkley Program Specialists has chosen to collaborate with Talage, the tech solution innovator, who built Wheelhouse, a first-of-its-kind submission management platform that facilitates digital distribution, operational efficiency, growth, and digital transformation by streamlining and simplifying the submission process. Additionally, Dais, another tech solution innovator, built the API-enabled technology that will allow agents to easily offer and bind this coverage for their commercial clients.

NAPERVILLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Berkley Program Specialists today announced a partnership with Semsee to offer an innovative new workplace violence coverage and service offering. Semsee is an online platform that has the ability to provide agents with bindable quotes faster and more efficiently. This new workplace violence coverage and service offering will be introduced February 8, 2023 in select states with additional states to soon follow……..

Partners with Dais to Build Innovative Platform for Unique Agent Experience

Stamford, CT — October 26, 2021 – Berkley Re Solutions and Berkley Program Specialists have combined their unique program design and distribution capabilities to bring a new insurance program for Workplace Violence to the marketplace.  Dais, a technology company dedicated to simplifying the process of creating new digital products for carriers and reinsurers, was chosen to build the capabilities for launch via a select group of innovative independent agents.

Workplace Violence is an unfortunate reality.  Both large and small business are too often faced with these events and Berkley companies have long been trusted to help businesses in their greatest times of need.  Bringing this combined insurance and services solution quickly to market continues that commitment to deliver solutions to ever-changing risks.

Berkley Re Solutions developed this new program with the guidance and input of multiple clients.  Currently available as a reinsured turn-key solution, it is now able to be distributed to select agents via Berkley Program Specialists.

Greg Douglas, president of both Berkley organizations, commented, “With Dais’ simple quote to issue platform, agents enjoy an excellent user experience and take advantage of rich API (application programming interface) functionality through the product lifecycle.  The ease of use is excellent where binding a policy takes very few steps and billing and policy documents are just a few clicks away.  Agents want this program for their insureds and because of Dais’ expert digital guidance, we were able to deliver.”

Jason Kolb, Dais CEO said, “Berkley Re Solutions’ and Berkley Program Specialists’ commitment to product innovation is clear and with specialty crisis management partners, they are bringing together a necessary ecosystem to solve this important product gap in the marketplace.  We have built a repeatable process for product innovation and partners like Berkley are uniquely qualified to take advantage of our distinct capabilities.”

This program is offered in the following eight states with additional states planned for the future: AR, IL, IA, MN, MO, ND, SD, WI.

The Workplace Violence program includes up to 10 different coverages including crisis management, business income, mental health counseling, public relations expense, security services and more.  With a broad coverage cause of loss, Berkley also includes an off-premises extension that follows insureds where they go while conducting their business.  And while indemnification is important, the crisis management services are critical to the overall solution and are included automatically.

ABOUT BERKLEY RE SOLUTIONS

Our mission is to make our carrier partners more valuable to their agents and insureds by delivering casualty treaty and innovative reinsured turn-key solutions.  We provide custom turn-key solutions – complete insured offerings allowing our insurance carrier partners to provide critical coverages quickly, efficiently, and with a flexible quota share approach.

ABOUT BERKLEY PROGRAM SPECIALISTS

Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company, is a leading insurance operation dedicated exclusively to program business.  Berkley Program Specialists provides program administrators with underwriting authority backed by admitted and non-admitted A.M. Best A+ rated insurance paper, as well as program management expertise and, when required, reinsurance support.  For more information, please visit www.berkley-ps.com.

ABOUT DAIS

Dais makes it easy to create, sell, and deliver insurance products.  Carriers use Dais to quickly bring new and existing products to market through digital distribution channels.  Agents use Dais to market, sell, and close business online through digital marketing, embedded insurance, and producer-enablement tools. For more information please visit https://dais.com

Certain coverages and (re)insurance products and services may be provided by one or more insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all such products and services are available in every jurisdiction, and the precise coverage afforded by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies as issued. Certain coverages may be provided through surplus lines insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation through licensed surplus lines brokers. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds. Berkley Re Solutions and Berkley Program Specialists are member companies of W. R. Berkley Corporation, whose insurance company subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company.

Contacts

Berkley Re Solutions & Berkley Program Specialists
Christopher Ellis, 314-518-4314
[email protected]

Dais
Aaron Larson, 515-339-3555

[email protected]

NAPERVILLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)—Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company and a leader in program business, and Condominium Insurance Specialists of America (CISA) today announced they are partnering to provide innovative insurance protection to Condominiums and Associations.

Condominium Insurance Specialists of America, founded in the early 1970’s, was the first to pilot an insurance program uniquely tailored to the growing market of community association living.  CISA continues to offer uncompromising value for their clients through commitment, advocacy, stability and excellence.

Through the partnership, CISA will continue to exceed the expectations of their clients’ in terms of superior quality, reasonable price and high standards.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Condominium Insurance Specialists of America, the premier condominium writer in the state of Illinois.  By offering exceptional service and record processing times in the industry, we look forward to providing added value to CISA customers,” said Greg Douglas, President of Berkley Program Specialists. “The partnership holds special promise and given the strength of both companies, is poised for success.”

Of the partnership, Mark McLallen, President of Condominium Insurance Specialists of America, said, “CISA is honored to be joining the Berkley Program Specialists group of partners. Beyond the strength that Berkley paper provides, BPS possesses the underwriting expertise, flexibility, claims efficiency, stewardship and commitment to excellence that distinguishes it in today’s program business marketplace. We are very excited to be working with the entire BPS team and believe it will be a keystone to the success of our program.”

About Berkley Program Specialists

Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company, is a leading insurance operation dedicated exclusively to program business. Berkley Program Specialists provides program administrators with underwriting authority backed by admitted and non-admitted A.M. Best A+ rated insurance paper, as well as program management expertise and, when required, reinsurance support. For more information, please visit www.berkley-ps.com.

Certain products and services are provided by one or more insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all products and services are available in every jurisdiction. The precise coverage afforded by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies as issued. Certain coverages may be provided through surplus lines insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation through licensed surplus lines brokers. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.

About Condominium Insurance Specialists of America

Condominium Insurance Specialists of America, (CISA), has been a leader in the Community Association insurance marketplace since its founding in 1972. CISA is dedicated to the continual development of industry-leading coverages, as well as its commitment to excellent customer service, education, and advocacy for our clients and carrier partners. For further information, please visit us at www.cisainsurance.com.

Contacts

Berkley Program Specialists
Mr. Michael Greville, 630-210-0381
[email protected]

Condominium Insurance Specialists of America
Mr. Mark I. McLallen, 847-870-7000
[email protected]

NAPERVILLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company and a leader in program business, is pleased to announce it has entered into a strategic partnership with Sonoran National Insurance Group to provide rental counter insurance products to rental car operators.

“We are very excited to work with Sonoran National. The Berkley-Sonoran National strategic partnership is a powerful combination and we are looking forward to supporting Sonoran National and their amazing customers with the product creativity and financial stability we provide to all of our program partners.”Tweet this

Headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, Sonoran National has, for more than fifteen years, specialized in this market segment. They recognize the important role that offering the consumer additional insurance coverage plays in serving their customer and enhancing the rental car operators’ profitability. Sonoran National understands the specific needs of rental car operators and also offers rental fleet liability, physical damage, dealers and garage policies.

Sonoran National’s exclusive Rental Counter Products program includes Supplemental Liability Insurance, Renter’s Liability Protection, and Personal Accident/Effects products. Its program can support independent operators, corporate and licensee master programs and offers customized, employee product training to improve product sales. Sonoran National is licensed in all 50 states, serving customers in every part of the country.

About the new endeavor, Greg Douglas, President of Berkley Program Specialists, said, “We are very excited to work with Sonoran National. The Berkley-Sonoran National strategic partnership is a powerful combination and we are looking forward to supporting Sonoran National and their amazing customers with the product creativity and financial stability we provide to all of our program partners.”

In response, Teresa Quale, Executive Director at Sonoran National remarked, “We are pleased to join with Berkley Program Specialists to provide the rental car community access to a strong A.M. Best rated A+ (Superior), Financial Size Category (FSC) XV carrier and expanded state offerings. The Berkley Program Specialists team will give us additional provider resources that can only enhance our Rental Counter Products program.”

About Berkley Program Specialists

Berkley Program Specialists, a Berkley Company, is a leading insurance operation dedicated exclusively to program business. Berkley Program Specialists provides program administrators with underwriting authority backed by admitted and non-admitted A.M. Best A+ rated insurance paper, as well as program management expertise and, when required, reinsurance support. For more information, please visit www.berkley-ps.com.

Certain products and services are provided by one or more insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all products and services are available in every jurisdiction. The precise coverage afforded by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies as issued. Certain coverages may be provided through surplus lines insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation through licensed surplus lines brokers. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.

About Sonoran National Insurance Group

Sonoran National Insurance Group is a unique combination of both a specialized Program Administrator and an independent insurance agency. As a Program Administrator, Sonoran National currently provides underwriting, policy issuance and administrative support for two admitted programs – Rental Counter Products and Chiropractic Professional Liability. As an independent agency, Sonoran National provides an entire range of customized business and personal insurance coverage solutions to a varied base of clients. Sonoran National is licensed in all 50 states. For more information, please visit www.sonorannational.com.

Contacts

Berkley Program Specialists
Mr. Michael Greville, 630-210-0381
[email protected]

Sonoran National Insurance Group
Ms. Teresa Quale, 480-538-7173
[email protected]