Brian St. Jacques
Senior Major Loss Director – Energy and Engineered Risk, AIG
Brian St. Jacques is currently Senior Major Loss Director for AIG’s Energy and Engineered Risk claims group. He is based in Houston, joined AIG in 2006. Brian has over 20 years of diversified expertise in the Marine and Energy segments, and honorably served in the United States Navy.
Gerry Fahrenthold
Energy Underwriter & Branch Manager, SCOR Reinsurance Company
Relevant Experience/Specialization
Gerry manages the Houston office of SCOR Reinsurance Company and underwrites power and onshore energy property risks. He has more than 25 years’ experience in underwriting and underwriting management. Prior to joining SCOR in 2011, Gerry worked for AEGIS in Jersey City, NJ and for Zurich Insurance Company, both in London and in Houston. Before joining the insurance industry, Gerry worked as a Geologist for Gulf Oil Company in Houston, Texas.
Education and Credentials
Gerry has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Geology from the University of Houston and an MBA in International Business from Kean University.
Roe Vaughn
Senior EGA, Vice President – Major & Complex Loss, Sedgwick
I have over 53 years of practical experience in the investigation, evaluation and assessment of insurance claims. I have also performed Value Appraisals on buildings and equipment for insurance purposes.
I have been a part of several catastrophe operations in the United States, including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. I have also worked in catastrophe operations in Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Belize, Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Japan & Guam.
I have worked extensively in the Caribbean and Central America, and have current multiple entry Visas for several of these countries.
For the past 30 years I have specialized in the investigation and adjustment of energy related losses, to include Property and Boiler & Machinery. I have experience in base load generating plants, peaking facilities, and merchant plants. This experience also includes measuring Extra Expense, Expediting Expense, and Business Interruption for both Gross Earnings and Loss of Profits policy forms.
I am also involved in the handling of gas and petroleum related claims. This experience includes refining, gas plants, terminals and pipelines, underground storage facilities (solution mining), and distribution. This also includes Time Element coverages.
Justen Byrne
Vice President, AEGIS Insurance Services, Inc.
Relevant Experience/Specialization
Justen has over 20 years’ experience in Energy Property Engineering and Underwriting. He has worked for several commercial insurance carriers and is now with AEGIS Insurance Services, based in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the past 3 years. His role as Vice President of Underwriting involves maintaining a portfolio of diverse energy related accounts, special projects involving expanded product development, Property and Catastrophic Treaty renewals, internal and external audit facilitation and junior underwriter development.
Education and Credentials
Justen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from N.J.I.T. He is a licensed Property Casualty Broker in multiple States inclusive of Surplus Lines. He is a Lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve and Battalion Commander for a Multifunction Medical Battalion in Ogden, UT with over 29 years continuous service having first enlisted in 1988.
Mark Voronin
Executive General Adjuster, Charles Taylor Adjusting
Mark Voronin returned to an Executive General Adjuster roll as an independent adjuster with Charles Taylor Adjusters in 2018. His near thirty-year international insurance experience includes over fifteen years with multinational insurers Zurich American, Ironshore (Bermuda) and Allianz Global Corporate Specialty, following a decade as an independent adjuster. His field career has involved primarily large and complex engineering and commercial property losses, as well as roles in developing and training staff. He has served to educate insurance audiences at the PLRB and LEA.
Steve Gregoire
Vice President – Principal, Meaden & Moore
Mr. Gregoire has specialized over the last decade in providing investigative and forensic accounting services to the insurance industry related to the review of claims involving financial damages including business interruption losses, extra expense claims and property damage claims. In addition, he has assisted in various litigation support assignments including consultant to attorneys in damage claim analysis, preparation for depositions and information requests for discovery.
His experience includes work performed throughout the world involving petro-chemical and refining, conventional and renewable power generation, heavy industrial manufacturing, agricultural industries, steel manufacturers, private universities, food and product manufacturers, hospitality, small and large retail businesses and various service industries.
Dick Urquhart
Partner, Zelle LLP
Richard (Dick) Urquhart is a seasoned litigator specializing in catastrophe coverage, builder’s risk coverage, business interruption and subrogation. Prior to practicing law, Dick worked as an engineer in the energy industry, and he has been a licensed professional engineer for over 35 years. This background offers his clients a unique perspective on their complex major losses. When refineries, chemical plants, power plants, pipelines or industrial facilities experience an explosion, fire or other major disaster, one of the first calls insurers often make is to Dick.
Dick represents domestic and international clients and routinely provides advice to international insurance markets. He is a frequent lecturer for insurance clients in the U.S. and Europe. Dick is a Senior Partner in the Zelle Dallas office. He holds law licenses in Texas, Oklahoma, New York, Washington, and Colorado state courts, and is admitted to many federal courts throughout the U.S. Above all, Dick is a trial lawyer who successfully litigates and arbitrates high dollar disputes for his clients.
Charles Klehr
Head of Energy, Charles Taylor Adjusting
Charles Klehr recently joined Charles Taylor Adjusting as the Managing Director of the US Energy group. For over 30 years, Chuck has handled complex and technical energy claims involving power generation, oil & gas, specialty chemical, steel, paper, and glass mills, mining & construction, and renewable energy sources including wind farms and hydroelectric plants, in the U.S. and internationally. He has held senior leadership and management roles with several insurance carriers, including serving as SVP of Energy & Construction with Aspen Insurance, Global Head of Energy Claims with Zurich, SVP, Global Head of Energy Claims for Liberty International Underwriters, Director of Power Generation – Underwriting with Zurich, and Manager, EGA Energy Team with CIGNA. He also has vast experience handling builders’ risk and EAR claims. Chuck holds an engineering degree from Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy (B.S.M.E.), and received his M.B.A. from Drexel University.
Louis Daniel Magnan Jr.
Forensic Accountant, Magnan Graizzaro and Associates CPAs, LLC
Louis has over six years of experience in providing forensic accounting and investigative litigation services since joining MG&A, working on both property and marine claims related to the review and analysis of commercial financial damages for contingent business interruption, time element (BI/Extra Expense), inventory and property damage losses. His experience, now in a Senior Manager role, includes work performed for both domestic and international engagements related to renewable power generation (i.e. wind/hydro), petro-chemical, marine services, manufacturing (industrial, cement, steel, food, beverage and other product), large and small retail and hospitality businesses, service and shipping industries. He also provides support for various litigation services for attorneys, law firms and other parties related to damage claims assessments, alternative dispute resolutions and accounting-related interrogatories, while also playing key roles in the support of expert witnesses in preparing document requests for discovery purposes and presenting findings subsequent to analyzing business records.
Prior to joining MG&A, he worked for four years as a financial reporting associate in the Global Real Assets division of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Therein, he was responsible for the review and approval of actual and budgeted financial reporting of retail, office and industrial assets for various investment funds, performed due diligence for property acquisitions / dispositions and directed the department’s quarterly reporting submission to a third-party research firm. Louis previously worked for two years at Deloitte & Touche, LLP where he started his career as an audit professional in the financial services sector, being part of a large audit team during the S-1 filing (IPO) for a large, international private equity firm.
Education
Villanova University, Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Dr. James Conca
Senior Scientist, UFA Ventures, Inc.
Geochemist and Energy scientist, speaker and author Dr. James Conca is Senior Scientist for UFA Ventures, Inc. in the Tri-Cities, Washington, a Trustee of the Herbert M. Parker Foundation, an Adjunct Professor at Washington State University in the School of the Environment, an Affiliate Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a Science Contributor to Forbes on energy and nuclear issues. Conca obtained a Ph.D. in Geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1985, a Masters in Planetary Science in 1981, and a Bachelors in Geology and Biochemistry from Brown University in 1979.
John Roberts
Vice President of Energy Claims, AIG in the Americas
John Roberts is a Vice President of Energy claims for AIG in the Americas.
John started his career as a chartered structural/civil engineer and became a chartered loss adjuster after specializing in structural failures in the UK for the insurance industry.
After 6 years as the president of an international loss adjusting practice in Argentina, John has spent the last 14 years in Houston, Texas working for AIG.
Richard Ladroga
Director of Energy, DeSimone Consulting Engineers
Mr. Ladroga is an Electrical Power Systems and Power Transformer expert and has authored numerous papers and presentations.
With over 28 years of professional experience as an electrical power systems engineer, Mr. Ladroga has earned extensive experience in analysis, design, testing risk assessment, and forensic investigations of a large variety of projects involving electrical power systems.
He provides expert witness and consulting services for the Legal and Insurance Industries, along with the Electric Power Industry, Oil & Gas, Smelting & Foundries and Chemical Industries.
Mr. Ladroga earned his B.S.E.E. (Distinction) with a concentration in Power Systems from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is licensed in numerous states and has worked on projects throughout the United States and over 50 countries worldwide. He is the creator of numerous electrical power systems training programs and has taught students from all over the world.
Mr. Ladroga has designed electrical substations to 500 KV. He has also performed electrical system design for power generation facilities, including nuclear, fossil fuels, and hydro; for large scale microwave telecommunications systems; large scale wastewater treatment systems; aluminum and steel ore smelting facilities; petrochemical drillings sites and refineries; pulp and paper manufacturing; mining; industrial; communications; healthcare; universities; and high-rise buildings.
David Bertagnolli
Principal Engineer, ISO-New England (Retired)
David Bertagnolli was a principal engineer with ISO-New England, the Independent System Operator for the New England bulk electric power system. He supported the System Operations department in all matters relating to the reliable operation of the transmission system including transmission and generation maintenance, addressing the special needs of the nuclear power plants, integration of new generation and new technologies, development of transmission operating procedures, coordination of interconnections with neighboring Control Areas. He was also the subject matter expert for New England’s three HVDC interconnections.
Mr. Bertagnolli joined the New England Power Exchange (NEPEX), predecessor of ISO-New England, in 1985. Prior to joining NEPEX, he was a project engineer with the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, a planning engineer with the American Electric Power Company, and a laborer in an Illinois coal mine. He retired from ISO New England in 2016 with nearly 40 years of experience in the industry.
Mr. Bertagnolli received his Bachelors degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois and a Masters degree from Columbia University in New York. He is registered as a Professional Engineer in the State of Connecticut and a senior member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
William Webster
Senior Partner, Robins Kaplan LLP
Bill Webster is a Senior Partner and a leader in Robins Kaplan LLP’s Insurance and Catastrophic Loss Litigation Group. Mr. Webster’s practice focuses on commercial property and energy and engineered risks, including coverage analysis and subrogation, dispute resolution, strategic advice, and trial and arbitration work arising from all types of perils and involving a multitude of risks under all risks, named perils, and builders’ risk policies. He has litigated in state and federal court throughout the United States as lead counsel on multi-million dollar, complex disputes. Mr. Webster’s experience includes energy and infrastructure industry claims involving power generation facilities, wind and solar facilities, oil and gas refining, processing, and transport, including pipelines, supply chain interruption and time element issues, underground mines, and construction defects.
Aidan McCormack
Commercial Litigator, DLA Piper LLP
Aidan M. McCormack is a commercial litigator with a particular concentration on insurance and reinsurance issues. Aidan serves as regional and national counsel for a wide range of companies. His practice includes litigation, appellate work, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. Aidan has acted as international and national lead counsel for many clients and has handled numerous high-exposure matters. He represents clients in disputes throughout North America, South America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Asia and Bermuda. The wide variety of disputes he has handled includes matters involving fraud, specialty underwriting products, director’s and officer’s exposures, catastrophic first-party losses, technology claims, toxic and mass tort liabilities, and entertainment books.
Myles Parker
Equity Partner, Carroll Warren & Parker PLLC
Mr. Parker is an Equity Partner in Carroll Warren & Parker PLLC. He is admitted in Texas and Mississippi, and practices from offices in Houston, Texas and Jackson, Mississippi. His career spans more than 27 years, where he has served as lead counsel in numerous complex insurance coverage matters. He regularly represents quota share markets in major loss situations, guiding domestic and international insurers/reinsurers through the legal aspects of claims handling and coverage assessment.
Mr. Parker is a Fellow of the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel, and of the Litigation Counsel of America. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and is recognized as a Leader in the Field by Chambers and Partners USA. He is a Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and is a Mid-South Super Lawyer. His professional accomplishments have been recognized by various other legal organizations, including his selection by Best Lawyers as one of the Best Lawyers in America, and by America’s Top 100 Attorneys for its Lifetime Achievement award.
Mr. Parker is admitted in the U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Courts of Appeal – Fifth, Sixth & Eighth Circuits; U.S. District Courts – Texas, Mississippi & Puerto Rico; and State Courts – Texas & Mississippi.
For additional information please visit www.cwplaw.com
Liz Peterson
Director, The Collaborative Network DeSimone Engineers
At DeSimone, Ms. Peterson facilitates the development, management, and growth of post-loss services, providing oversight for the group’s day-to-day operations. Additionally, she leads the Collaborative Network product line. From time to time, as specialists with a career spent in a specific field or with a particular type of equipment will be of value, Ms. Peterson has great familiarity with sourcing engineers to meet the unique needs of specialty losses.
Ms. Peterson most recently served as a Managing Director of Douglas G. Peterson & Associates (DGPA) from 2014 to 2016. In that capacity, she oversaw several key initiatives including orchestrating a significant financial return for the company; enacting transformational change, turning to open book management and creating a collaborative and participatory environment. In addition, she also led a firm-wide review of budgets designed to enhance financial performance; negotiated Professional Service Agreements; provided a platform focused on business development opportunities; as well as leading industry-wide events such as the NY PowerCon.
Prior to her role as a Managing Director, Liz began her career at DGPA in 2008 by establishing and leading her firm’s New York City office. While there, Liz recruited and developed the professional staff, expanded both the local engineering capability and capacity, enhanced corporate relationships, and positioned the firm to support client needs during Superstorm Sandy.
Throughout her tenure, Ms. Peterson has managed engineering efforts on first and third party complex insurance claims ranging from $20K to over $110 million in exposure values, involving a wide variety of engineering disciplines. She has managed over 500 middle market files as well as provided direction and strategic advice to clients on a number of high-profile losses including Kinder Morgan’s New York Metro Tank Yard facilities, Duke Energy’s wind farms, and the Coney Island amusement park, among others.
Ms. Peterson is an accredited LEED AP BD+C and Green Globes professional. She received her B.A. from New York University and is an active member of the Loss Executives Association, the Property Loss Research Bureau’s Tech Savvy Committee, the Honorable Order of the Blue Goose International, and founded the Blue Goose Youth Group.
Jill Dalton
Managing Director, Aon Risk Solutions
Jill Dalton is the leader of the firm’s Property Claims Preparation, Advocacy and Valuation Group. This group is responsible for delivering services which include property claims advocacy, complex claims preparation, rapid response following catastrophic losses, valuations which includes business interruption & asset valuations, crime & fidelity, and cyber evaluation risk quantification.
Jill is a member of the Aon Global Risk Consulting Risk Control and Claims Leadership Committee. And special areas of expertise include business interruption valuations, property insurance coverage and analysis, supply chain quantification, terrorism insurance and the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.
Paul Carnovale
Vice President/Executive General Adjuster, Chubb’s Complex & Multinational Property Claims Division
Paul Carnovale is a Vice President/Executive General Adjuster with Chubb’s Complex & Multinational Property Claims division. Prior to joining Chubb, Paul spent 16 years at Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Service Inc. (AEGIS). While at AEGIS as their Executive General Adjuster, Paul was responsible for managing first party property claims specializing in gas and electric. Before joining AEGIS, Paul got his energy training from Starr Technical Risks Agency Inc. and American International Underwriters (AIU) where Paul managed a variety of claims globally including chemical, petro chemical, refining, mining, utility and manufacturing. Paul is a graduate of Kean University in Union NJ. Paul has also been a firefighter for over 25 years and continues to volunteer as a firefighter in his hometown of Raritan Township NJ.