2021 EDITORIALADVISORY BOARD
Leaders of the Pack
MEET THE DIGNITARIES WHO WILL HELP ILLUMINATE P&C INSURANCE-INDUSTRYSUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES IN THE YEAR TO COME.
Here at NU Property & Casualty magazine, our team of business journalists relies on insurance-industry thought leaders to help us keep readers apprised of
pressing business trends and emerging risks. It follows that
this year’s Editorial Advisory Board is made up of a cross
section of insurance luminaries who can lend a variety of
experiences and skills to our storytelling so that readers can
continue to grow their business and enhance their
professional prowess. Keep an eye on these pages in the
coming months for wisdom, insight and perspective from
this esteemed group of P&C insurance pacesetters.
— Executive Editor Elana Ashanti Jefferson
Kitty Ambers
Chief Executive
Officer
Avyst
Kitty is a third-generation insurance agent. Shehas worn manyhats includingthat of CEO atthe Network ofVertafore Users.
She also servedas executivedirector of theAmerican Insurance Marketingand Sales (AIMS)
Society. She hasbeen a facilitator for severalinsurance-industry professionaldevelopmentprograms (CIC,CISR, CPIA)in the areas ofagency management, marketingand sales skilldevelopment.
Barbara BufkinSenior AdvisorAm WINS Access
Barbara’s fourdecades in theinsurance industry have spannedleadership rolesencompassingoperational andstrategic responsibilities, including businessorigination andproduct development, underwriting, claims,risk manage-ment/corporategovernance andreinsurance, whilefostering a cultureof innovation,mentorship, anddiverse talent.Barbara’s focusrecently has beenon the intersection of distribution, underwritingand technology.
Ted Besesparis
Senior Vice
President,
Communications
PIA
Ted is responsible for the PIA’snational communications initiatives includingpress relationson behalf ofPIA’s legislativeand regulatoryactivities. He iseditor-in-chief ofthe association’slead communications vehicle, theweekly e-news-letter PIA NationalNewsline, andis publisher andeditor-in-chief ofPIA Connection,the association’smonthly magazine. Prior tojoining PIA,Besesparis was aradio talk host.
Ken Branch
President
KB Consulting
Ken helpsbusinessesdesign andinstall customizedprocesses to accelerate growth.
Over the last 25years, Ken hashad managementand property andloss responsibilityfor businessesthat operatenationwide. Kenhas hired, appointed, trainedand/or evaluatedmore than 300sales leaders and
2,000 producers.Ken is the immediate past chair ofNational AfricanAmerican Insurance Association.
Ken also ownstwo insuranceagencies.
Laurie Champion
Managing
Director &
Client Services
Executive
Marsh & McLennan
Laurie is an expert in enterpriseand corporaterisk managementand the intersection of risk andstrategy. Previously, she headedrisk managementfor the Ford Motor Company aswell as Coca-Cola Enterprises.She has broadleadershipexperience thatincludes headingup ERM consulting teams in theU.S. and the U.K.
Laurna Castillo
Vice President
Western Region
CSAA
Laurna leadsCSAA’s team ofproduct managers for the western states. Shestarted her careerat CSAA and hasrisen throughits ranks. Aftergraduating fromUC Berkeley in2009, she joinedthe company asan actuarialanalyst.Subsequent rolesof increasedresponsibilityincluded actuarialsupervisor andstate productmanager/executive. She isalso an Associateof the CasualtyActuarial Society.
