Previous News Worthy
Items
CRAIGWOOD
YOUTH SERVICES FAMILIES WISHES COME TRUE
The following article to appear in
the London Free Press.
LONDON, ON – As 2004 draws to
a close, so ends a year of celebration for Craigwood
Youth Services and the 50 years it has provided services
to youth and families in London and area.
“With the holiday season upon
us, offers for assistance to needy families comes from
two prominent local London businesses” cites Wendy
Sanderson, Development Co-ordinator for Craigwood. “We
couldn’t be more pleased to receive calls like
this during what can be a very difficult and stressful
time of the year for some”.
With the help of such companies as
Totten Insurance and Labatt Breweries, several London
families will get the help required to make Christmas
a reality. This is the second year that Totten Insurance
has contacted Craigwood to request help in identifying
families who need help. Totten Insurance is so committed
to helping that they actually go out as a staff group
and purchase items off a family’s “wish
list”. Labatt made an equally generous offer to
support a large family via donations collected at their
annual “Friends of Labatt” Open House being
held at the Labatt Amber Lounge. “Christmas is
a wonderful and festive time of year, it embodies the
spirit of generosity, and is a time for giving and a
time for sharing with family, friends and neighbours.
Labatt is committed to giving back to the community
that supports its Hometown Brewery and is proud to contribute
to the efforts of Craigwood Youth Services.” Says
Frank Robert, District Sales Manager.
Once these gifts have been donated,
it is the dedicated employees that get involved by delivering
the food and presents. “Sometimes it means dropping
off gifts on Christmas Eve afternoon”, says Michelle
Edwards, Program Supervisor, “but it all becomes
worth it when you see the faces of the parent answering
the door and accepting the bags of gifts, it genuinely
has moved me to see their overwhelming appreciation”.
For more information on Craigwood Youth
Services, it’s many programs and services please
visit their website at www.craigwood.on.ca
Employment
Opportunities at TOTTEN INSURANCE GROUP/A.G.R.M.
Immediate openings for two Intermediate
Commercial Automobile Underwriters. One position is
in Toronto (Scarborough area) and the other is in London,
Ontario. Successful applicants will have a minimum of
5 years underwriting experience in commercial auto.
Good computer skills are a requirement and knowledge
of the RTM system would be an asset. These positions
offer a competitive compensation package. E-mail resumes
to carolgawrylash@tottengroup.com
or fax to 905.696.9600 - attention Carol Gawrylash.
Paul
Cortese Joins AGRM Commercial Auto Division of Totten
Group
Vern VanDusen, Vice President of August
Group Risk Managers, a division of Totten Insurance
Group, is pleased to announce that Paul Cortese has
joined the group as Senior Auto Underwriter. Paul will
work out of the London office of Totten Group, a departure
from the main AGRM location in Toronto.
Paul is an experienced and well recognized
member of the insurance fraternity in southern Ontario,
having been with Zurich as Commercial Auto Manager for
many years, and most recently with wholesaler South
Western Group. He is no stranger to the commercial auto
accounts in this part of Ontario specifically, and has
gained experience as an intermediary dealing across
Canada over the past few years.
AGRM is an underwriting specialty
office writing commercial accounts on behalf of Aviva
Canada for a restricted group of brokers under the August
Group banner. While this will be Paul's primary function
he will also work with Totten Group to develop new markets
and products in the commercial auto field.
This adds even more strength to our
Auto team advised Vern, and we welcome Paul to AGRM
specifically and Totten Group overall.
Barb
Dinan CIP, CAIB Takes Over Special Risk
Due to the increase in volume of our
Special Risk business, following our general over-all
growth, Barb Dinan will be assuming responsibilities
for all aspects of this business of Totten Insurance
Group. Special Risk business includes our binding contract
business written with Lloyd's, Ecclesiastical, Kingsway,
Scottish & York and Echelon, as well as the Logging
business we do, both liability and property.
These responsibilities will be included
as part of Barb's activities as a Vice President of
the Group, and as such her title will not change at
this time. Due to our growth, and the addition of new
markets, we have experienced difficulties with a consistent
approach to this class by all our companies. One of
Barb's prime objectives will be to meet with the markets,
and devise a simpler, more effective method to place
business with our markets, while offering the best service
possible to our brokers.
Barb will work with Laura as regards
our Lloyd's contracts; Rick as regards overall underwriting
for the Group; Mike in respect to marketing the newly
refined product to our brokers and with myself in the
implementation of the project. With her years of experience
in this class, and with our markets and brokers, I know
Barb will move us to a new level of service and product
satisfaction to all our stakeholders.
Christine
Horuc-Lake Quailfies for CIP Designation
Christine Horuc-Lake passed her final
exams to qualify for her CIP designation. Christine
is our senior personal lines underwriter and her ever
increasing knowledge of our industry will serve our
brokers and markets well, now and in the future.
She will be receiving her award at
the commencement exercises for the Insurance Instititute
in February 2005 in Toronto. It takes hard work and
dedication over a long period of time to achieve this
designation and we all congratulate Christine on her
achievement. Totten Group acknowledged Christine's dedication
with a financial award on the announcement of her successful
completion of her CIP.
Barb
Dinan, CIP, CAIB joins Totten Group
Barb brings over 25 years experience
as an insurance intermediary to her new position as
Vice President of Totten Group. Having worked previously
for a national wholesaler in various senior positions,
Barb has developed a knowledge of special risk and niche
property / casualty accounts. Most recently she has
owned her own technology consulting company providing
service to the insurance industry.
Barb will be responsible for Special
Risk binding contract business developed within Totten
Group, including Forestry & Logging accounts as
well as Residential Builders Risks. Her experience and
background in specialty property & casualty business,
including unique niche products written across Canada,
will enable Totten Group to expand our facilities to
our brokers in these areas.
Totten
Insurance Group acquires August Group Risk Management
Ltd. effective January 1, 2004
H. Ross Totten, FCIP, CCIB. President
& CEO of Totten Insurance Group is pleased to announce
the acquisition of August Group Risk Management Ltd.,
an Underwriting office located in Toronto Ontario. AGRM
underwrites commercial property & casualty and auto
business with Aviva Canada on behalf of a network of
Ontario brokers.
The network, formed to share information
between professional, commercial oriented brokers representing
the entire province of Ontario, formed AGRM in 1995.
This underwriting office was an expansion of the concept
of having a company underwriter in a broker’s
premises, by having a team of company-trained underwriters
provide this service to a number of offices.
Totten Group welcomes Vern VanDusen,
Vice President and Manager; Linda Flowers FIIC, Underwriting
Manager and all the very capable staff of AGRM to Team
Totten. Vern has been promoted to the position of Vice
President responsible for operations at AGRM, and he
and Linda join the Management Committee of Totten Group
at this time.
AGRM will continue to operate out of
their current location and carry on their activities
as a division of Totten Group. Writings for the Group
are anticipated to be $30mm for the current year.
Totten Insurance Group is a specialty
insurance wholesaler that develops niche products and
provides innovative solutions for out-of-the-ordinary
lines of business. If it is difficult, we can deal with
it. As an intermediary, we serve only licensed insurance
brokers and agents, coast to coast.
Carol
Gawrylash Joins Steering Committee of PLUS
PLUS, Professional Liability Underwriting
Society in Canada has a new member on it's Canadian
Steering Committee. Carol Gawrylash, VP Operations is
also the Manager of Professional Liability for Totten
Insurance Group, and joins the Committee effective January
2004. A 25 year veteran in the Professional Liability
field Carol, was for many years a senior underwriter
in this class for a large domestic insurance company.
In addition Carol has had several years
underwriting for, and managing, a department of a national
Intermediary. Joining Totten Group at it's inception
in January 2003, she continues in writing all classes
of medical malpractice, miscellaneous E&O, Technology
E&O and Directors & Officers liability.
Totten Group congratulates Carol on
this recognition by her peers, and is proud of her contributions
to PLUS in Canada.
Royal
& SunAlliance Contracts with Totten Insurance Group
A contract limited to the marketing
of mid-market preferred class type business and the
specialized products offered under "specialty solutions"
has been agreed to between Totten Insurance Group and
Royal & SunAlliance. This contract is for Ontario only,
giving access to this long established market to independent
brokers for this class of business.
Click here
for a complete list of preferred classes, excluded classes
and more specific acceptance criteria.
Totten
Group Supports I.B.A.O. and Tourism Ontario
At the recently held 83rd Annual Insurance
Brokers of Ontario convention, Ginger Pollard of Dillon
Pudwell McNeill, The Insurance Group, from Harrow, Ontario
was the happy winner of a very unique travel package.
Ginger and Brian (we trust) will be taking time out
of their busy schedule to visit the following tourist
areas of Ontario and to enjoy this great prize.
- Casino Rama, Orillia, Ontario – one night
accommodation, dinner and breakfast for two and tickets
to the entertainment centre featuring big name acts
every week.
- Hockley Valley Resort – two night package
in this “paradise in the Hills” including
accommodation, dining, European Spa package and unlimited
use of their indoor recreational facilities.
- Toronto, Ontario – accommodation at The Grand
Hotel & Suites, dining, “Mama Mia”
tickets plus hockey game on the Saturday night.
Honey
Design wins Bronze Medal for
Totten Insurance Group Paperwork
Honey Design, Marketing and Communications recently
received the Bronze Medal in competition from Neenah
Paper, a division of Kimberly-Clark Corporation. The
award was based on the quality of the work exhibited
and included the corporate marketing brochures, letterhead
and business cards of Totten Group.
This is the second award won by Honey Design in the
development of the Totten Group brand, the original
being an Award of Merit for brand identity. We congratulate
Honey Design in the attainment of these awards and thank
them for their ongoing support of our new company.
Support from professional firms such as Honey Design
continue to contribute to the success of Totten Group,
now and into the future.
LAURA MOSES, CAIB, CIP
- VICE PRESIDENT
Laura brings over 25 years of experience in commercial
insurance to her new position at Totten Group. She has
an extensive background in large or specialty Property
& Casualty insurance accounts, as well as working
in the inland marine segment of our industry for many
years. A strong supporter of education in our business
she has achieved two of the industry's degrees and continues
to pursue ongoing personal education.
Her experience has been gained during her tenure with
a major international insurance company, and in dealing
with Lloyd's of London and a variety of international
markets over the years. For the past several years Laura
has held senior management positions with a national
intermediary and most recently an MGA for Aviva Canada.
CHRISTINE
HORUC-LAKE - UNDERWRITER
Christine has 15 years experience in the insurance industry,
with an extensive background in Personal Lines, including
Property, Umbrella, Watercraft and Farm accounts. Having
worked for both insurance companies and retail brokers,
she brings a balanced perspective to the underwriting
of this business for The Totten Group. She will be responsible
for the underwriting of all personal lines business,
excluding Builder's Risk accounts, and the development
of new facilities in this area.
TOTTEN
GROUP E-FACTS
Every month over 3,800 brokers across Canada receive
Totten Group’s Efacts bulletin delivered right
to their own “front doorstep.” This electronic
newsletter is delivered, via email, to the computers
of both personal lines and commercial brokers; marketers;
technical assistants; and yes even brokerage principals.
A one page, abreviated update of products and services
available from Totten Group arrives once or twice a
month to highlight new coverages, remind you of existing
products, and offer suggestions meant to solve your
problems. Further details of the service or product,
including applications in most cases, are available
on other areas of our website.
To receive this timely information, including helpful
reminders, enrol today on our home page by clicking
on “Subscribe to our Free Newsletter.” You
will be on our electronic mailing list and receive all
future bulletins. Past copies are available under “Hot
Products” on our home page.
Subscribe today, and have everyone in your office
involved in writing or placing accounts subscribe as
well. Information important in writing or retaining
accounts is therefore available to everyone directly,
and in a timely manner.
TOTTEN GROUP AND BRUCE KNOX
SPONSOR TWO DOGS
Totten Insurance Group held their annual Golf Invitational
July 10 2003 at Ingersoll Golf and Country Club. Continuing
the tradition the charity supported was GuideDogs of
Canada and the day raised funds for the purchase of
one dog.
Bruce Knox of Knox Insurance Brokers Ltd., North Bay,
aced the 15th, 160 yrd hole. The hole involved a $10,000
hole-in-one contest sponsored by Tyser/Canadian Intermediaries
Ltd. $5,000 of the prize money went to the purchase
of another dog in Bruce's name. Thus we were able to
sponsor two dogs from this annual event.
TOTTEN'S WHOLESALE GROUP MOVES
INTO WESTERN CANADA
CI-- Ross Totten's insurance intermediary is expanding
into Western Canada with plans to offer solutions to
brokers with tough to place business.
Totten Insurance Group is in the process of formalizing
a license to write across the country. Totten, president
of the Insurance Institute of Ontario, says he's going
to focus on moving into the western Canada market, and
is looking to expanding into Atlantic Canada in the
coming months.
"Things have been happening faster that we imagined,"
he says. "It's just kind of exploded."
His group has received about 900 submissions for accounts
since February, and has been able to work on about 70
per cent of them he says. Of the 30 per cent, many brokers
are looking for a better price, and that’s not what
Totten Group is about. He says his group is set up to
place difficult accounts, not compete in pricing.
Totten has also launched a number of new products including
executive homeowners targeting homes worth $400,000
and up, high value seasonal homes, executive builders
risk, and cover for stand alone rentals. Outside of
Ontario, the wholesaler offers cover for special risks
property, E&O, inland marine and cargo, kidnap and ransom,
medical malpractice and tech risks. He says that the
reason behind his group's success is their binding authority
is continually increasing and insurers are willing to
support his group.
|
