Wheaton, Ill., July 25, 2007—Several new staff members have been hired by the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS), an advisory organization that develops policy forms and rating information used by more than 600 property/casualty insurers.

Among the most recent additions to AAIS staff is Anthony Leist, CPCU, AAIS's new assistant vice president of commercial lines.

Leist comes to AAIS from American Modern Insurance Group, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he initiated or revised personal, commercial, and inland marine programs during his eight years there. Before that, Leist spent 25 years with The Midwestern Indemnity Company, now part of Liberty Mutual, where he rose progressively through positions in claims, underwriting, product development, compliance, and training.

Leist will be joined in coming weeks by two new managers in the AAIS insurance lines department.

In late July, Randy Coutrč becomes AAIS's new manager of personal lines research and development. He comes to AAIS with 31 years' experience in personal lines underwriting, training, and product management with ENCOMPASS Insurance, Chicago. Prior to that, Coutrč spent 2˝ years in personal lines underwriting and sales in the Aurora, Ill. office of Farmers Insurance Group.

In mid-August, Sherry Taylor, CPCU, AFIS, will be AAIS's newest manager of farm and agricultural programs. Taylor has held numerous underwriting and management positions in agricultural insurance with five organizations: SECURA Insurance, Appleton, Wis., Meadowbrook Insurance, Overland Park Kan., One Beacon Insurance, Lenexa, Kan., Great American Insurance, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Pennsylvania Farmers Association Insurance Services, Camp Hill, Pa.

AAIS also has two new product specialists in its insurance lines department:

·        Haoying Ewing, CPCU, ARe, who held several positions in underwriting, risk management, and financial analysis for CNA Financial and Allstate Insurance after receiving her MBA from DePaul University in 1998.

·        Thomas Waugh, CPCU, ARM, who has extensive technical and management expertise in underwriting and product development from his years with Allstate, Zurich Insurance, and Apollo Casualty Co., Des Plaines, Ill. At Zurich, Waugh rose to become vice president of technical support for Zurich International.

In addition, AAIS has new staff specialists on its team that develops inland marine and output programs.

Todd Hester, J.D., is AAIS's new director of inland marine. Hester earned his law degree from the Chicago-Kent School of Law while operating a small business, and has worked four years in insurance product analysis, development, and compliance for Zurich Insurance and ENCOMPASS Insurance.

Pam Nykaza, AAIS's newest inland marine product development specialist, comes to AAIS after nearly six years in product line management, compliance, and other capacities with Allstate. Prior to that, she spent nearly 15 years as a casualty claims adjuster and manager with American Family Insurance.

AAIS recently filled positions in other departments, as well.

Kirk Hansen is AAIS's new director of education in the marketing department. Hansen has held several positions in insurance and risk management, most notably as claims manager for Waste Management, Inc., Oak Brook, Ill., and as director of claims for the former Alliance of American Insurers.

Debra Legan joined AAIS as an actuarial rate analyst after spending 14 years with CNA, most recently as a senior actuarial consultant. Legan is a summa cum laude graduate in mathematics of Benedictine University, Lisle, Ill.

Also, Janice Nieman, CPCU, AAIS's former manager of commercial liability, was promoted to director of technical product support working with software vendors to facilitate the automation of AAIS programs. Nieman has been with AAIS since 1988; she holds a bachelor's degree in actuarial science from the University of Illinois-Urbana and an MBA from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb.

 "We're very excited about the depth and breadth of staff expertise we've been able to add," says Paul Baiocchi, AAIS president. "As new issues emerge and insurance product development becomes ever more complex, AAIS is determined to have the talent and skills needed to provide our customers the level of service they have come to expect."

For information on job opportunities at AAIS, go to www.AAISonline.com and click on the "Job Opportunities" icon.