From left to right – Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Richard M Ritter, Senior Vice President Lisa C. Koelln, Treasurer David Weiner, Assistant Vice President Glenn Watkins, and Assistant Vice President Bill Harmer.
BRIDGETON, NJ: The Cumberland Insurance Group Board of Directors has announced the promotions of Richard M. Ritter, Lisa C. Koelln, David Weiner, Glenn Watkins, and Bill Harmer.
“We greatly appreciate the many contributions these talented individuals have made to The Cumberland Insurance Group,” said President and CEO Robert P. Brady. “Their hard work and innovative thinking have strengthened our market position, and increased the quality, effectiveness, and level of service for our business. We look forward to their continued leadership, dedication, and creativity, all of which are critical to our future success.”
Richard M. Ritter was promoted from Executive Vice President to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry and previously served for four years as President of The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Chester County. Mr. Ritter joined The Cumberland Insurance Group in 2000 following the merger between the two companies. He oversees operations in the Bridgeton, New Jersey; Coatesville, Pennsylvania; Prince Frederick, Maryland; and Mansfield, Ohio offices. Mr. Ritter also currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Delaware Insurance Guaranty Association, and as Vice President of the Coatesville Area School Board.
Lisa C. Koelln. has been promoted from Vice President to Senior Vice President. Ms. Koelln graduated from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math. She joined The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Chester County in 1998 as a Commercial Lines Underwriter. Prior to joining Chester, she spent time in the agency side of the business, and also worked for Travelers Insurance and Zurich Insurance. Ms. Koelln holds both a CIC and CISR insurance designation. She is responsible for overseeing and coordinating Personal and Commercial Lines Underwriting for the Company.
David Weiner has been promoted from Accounting Manager to Treasurer. Mr. Weiner graduated from St. John’s University Magna Cum Laude in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. John’s in 2003 with a Masters Degree in Finance. Prior to joining The Cumberland Insurance Group in 2008, Mr. Weiner had 12 years of hands-on experience in financial management in both public and private settings including Grant Thornton, LLP; Ace Capital Re Overseas, Inc; Georgeson Shareholder Communications; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; and Kimble Glass, Inc. As Treasurer, his duties include preparation of regulatory filings; annual budgeting and quarterly financial reports for the Board; and management of accounting, billing, and accounts receivable.
Glenn Watkins has been promoted from Marketing Representative to Assistant Vice President. He has been with The Cumberland Insurance Group for nine years, and currently serves as a liaison between the Company and its independent agency partners. Prior to joining the Company, he worked in the claims department at CGU Insurance. Mr. Watkins graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Finance, and earned his Agent’s property and casualty license in 1989. He is a Past President of the New Jersey 1752 Club, and is a recipient of the New Jersey Professional Insurance Agents Company Person of the Year Award in 2005, and the New Jersey Young Insurance Professionals John Laux Distinguished Service Award in 2007. He currently serves as Co-Chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents of New Jersey Make a Wish Committee, a Director for the Independent Insurance Agents of Camden Gloucester County, and as a Director on the Board of the New Jersey Young Insurance Professionals.
Bill Harmer has been promoted from New Jersey Personal Lines Manager to Assistant Vice President. Mr. Harmer joined the Company in 2003 as the Home Office Agency Representative, and in 2008 was named Personal Lines Manager. Prior to joining Cumberland, he spent 19 years in the agency side of the business servicing both Personal and Commercial Lines accounts. Mr. Harmer has an Associate Degree in both Drafting and Business Administration from Gloucester County College. He currently holds a CIC insurance designation and is pursuing his CPCU designation. He will continue to manage the New Jersey Personal Lines Department.
The Cumberland Insurance Group was established in 1844 and currently serves over 120,000 policyholders in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2008, the Company had Total Admitted Assets of $315,595,220 and a Policyholders’ Surplus of $140,166,468. For more information about The Cumberland Insurance Group or to find an independent agent near you, please visit www.cumberlandgroup.com.
For more information about this press release, please contact Lee Tofanelli at 856-691-3113.