ClearPath Mutual Promotes Robin Engleking and Hires Linda Ladegast

ClearPath Mutual Insurance Company, a monoline workers’ compensation insurance carrier, announced the promotion of Robin Engleking as the company’s claims manager, and the hiring of Linda Ladegast as claims supervisor.

Engleking joined the company while it was KESA, The Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Fund, as a senior claims representative in 1995. ClearPath Mutual began operations in 2018.

“Robin has knowledge of every aspect of workers’ compensation claims,” said Kevin Fallahay, ClearPath Mutual vice president of claims. “ClearPath Mutual is lucky to have Robin as a claims manager.”

In addition to Engleking’s expertise, Ladegast brings over twenty years of Kentucky workers’ compensation claims experience to her new role at ClearPath Mutual.  Most recently, she held the position of Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager at Kentucky Hospital Association in Louisville, KY.

From Ladegast’s leadership experience, she has gained extensive knowledge of Kentucky workers’ compensation law and administrative regulations.  She has an extremely strong background in the claims process and handling.

ClearPath Mutual plans to begin writing workers’ compensation coverage in Tennessee by the end of 2019.

Insgroup Hires Julie Rogers and Mason Barker

Julie Rogers, senior loss consultant, Insgroup

Mason Barker, employee benefits consultant, Insgroup

Independent risk and security advisers Insgroup have acquired two new hires: Julie Rogers and Mason Barker.

Rogers will serve as a senior loss consultant and Barker will serve as an employee benefits consultant.

Rogers has worked with Travelers, AIG and Trane. Her responsibilities will include fostering relationships with clients and introducing the company’s safety management system as a claim reporting tool.

Barker joins the Employee Benefits Practice at Insgroup. His responsibilities will include boosting the company’s proprietary Prosperity360 process to deliver unprecedented products that serve the health and wellness of clients around the world.

Insgroup is one of Texas’ largest privately held, independent property and casualty insurance brokerage firms.

Nickcola Wallace Joins HomeCare Connect as Complex Care Transition Manager

HomeCare Connect, a company that focuses on home care management for the workers’ compensation industry, has hired Michelle “Nickcola” Wallace, CAPS as a complex care transition manager.

Her responsibilities include ensuring that injured workers receive appropriate care and equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Wallace has held positions with complex care companies in group health and workers’ compensation, most recently as a home modification specialist, Catastrophic/Complex Care for Orchid Medical.  Prior to that she served in the United States Airforce.

“Nickcola’s strong organizational and interpersonal skills and complex care expertise make her ideal for overseeing home modification and DME programs,” said HomeCare Connect partner Vonesa Wenzel. “We are happy to have her on our team.”

Paul Saich Joins Relations Insurance Services as a National Sales Team Leader

Relations Insurance Services has announced the hiring of Paul Saich and appointed him to lead the national sales team. His focus will be on the development of growth strategies for the entire Relations sales team and ensuring they meet their revenue goals.

Saich will be based out of the company’s Walnut Creek, California office.

“We are thrilled that Paul has joined our team,” said Relation Insurance Services’ chief executive officer, Joe Tatum.

“We know his nearly 30 years of experience driving company growth, fostering strong culture, and empowering sales teams to better serve their clients through new innovative technologies and solutions will support our continued growth. Paul is a well-known and well-respected professional within the insurance industry, and we are excited to have him on board.”

Saich has received multiple “Top New Business Producer” awards, exemplifying his exceptional sales strategies.

Kathy Galia Named COO of Paradigm, Catastrophic Care Division  

Kathy Galia, chief operations officer, Paradigm

Kathy Galia has been named the chief operations officer of Paradigm, Catastrophic Care Division.

The role will go into effect on September 9. She will be taking over for Scott Goll, who is retiring after serving as chief operations officer for 25 years.

“Kathy is the rare individual we were looking for; her strategic business, operational and clinical knowledge of acute injuries in the workers’ compensation industry stems from experiences at a large insurer and in nurse case management,” said Kevin Turner, chief executive officer of Catastrophic Care Management.

Galia will work closely with Turner, as well as chief medical officer Michael Choo. She joins Paradigm from The Hartford Fire Insurance Company, where she led their Medical Solutions business.

With a background as a registered nurse and nurse case manager in the workers’ compensation industry, she is highly qualified to provide top-notch care for injured workers.

“Paradigm’s industry leading data set and unparalleled team of nurse case managers, clinicians and leading physicians, working in collaboration with claims administration and medical management partners to deliver the best possible outcomes for injured workers is the industry’s gold standard and the reason I’m excited to join the business,” stated Galia.

David Pedersen Joins Ladder Now As Executive Vice President Of Enterprise Growth & Strategy

Ladder Now, a service provider to the property and casualty insurance industry, has named David Pedersen executive vice president of enterprise growth and strategy.

Pedersen is an industry veteran across all aspects of property and casualty.

“David is a great fit within our existing culture of people-first, teamwork and customer service,” said Russ Carroll, chief executive officer of Ladder Now.

Prior to joining Ladder Now, Pedersen was leading several initiatives for CoreLogic, a provider of property-specific and hazard data in the U.S.

“I’m honored to join the Ladder Now team at such an exciting time,” said Pedersen.

Holmes Murphy Announces Hiring of Nate Hughes to its Minnesota Team

Nate Hughes, account executive, Holmes Murphy

In addition to it’s growing Minneapolis Property Casualty team, Holmes Murphy has added account executive Nate Hughes.

Hughes joins Holmes Murphy after it’s merger with Cobb Strecker Dunphy & Zimmermann. There, he served as a market leader in commercial and professional liability. Prior to Cobb Strecker and Dunphy, Hughes worked at Wells Fargo Insurance Services in sales leadership.

“We’re very happy to have Nate join our team,” said Jay Reavis, senior vice president and market leader for Holmes Murphy.

“His long history and breadth of expertise in the Minnesota market and industry as a whole makes him a welcome addition to Holmes Murphy. He is a great cultural fit, and the experience he brings aligns with the direction we are headed and our desire to uniquely serve our current and future clients.”

Hughes will lead a team of insurance, risk management, and organizational well-being professionals to deliver expertise to clients in areas of construction, healthcare, technology, private equity and more. &

Have an insurance industry promotion or hire you want to shout to the world? Send it to Risk & Insurance staff writer Emily Spennato at [email protected].