Leadership

Rich is a successful business leader, entrepreneur and the founder of NIP Group. Under his leadership, NIP Group has grown into one of the leading specialty insurance program administrators in the nation. NIP Group is driven by purpose with unique underwriting capabilities that deliver innovative solutions and exceptional service for its customers. Rich’s experience in the insurance industry spans more than 30 years. He is always at the forefront of innovation, taking a fresh look at how insurance products, distribution methods, technology and service models can be modernized to create differentiation and address unmet customer needs. He is the source of NIP Group’s entrepreneurial spirit, innovative and risk-taking culture and its pursuit of technical and service excellence. He also serves on the board of several growth companies and is an advocate for entrepreneurship having invested, encouraged and mentored over 100 successful entrepreneurs.

Dave is a highly regarded specialty insurance program executive who has led NIP Group’s long-term success and market share growth. Dave’s experience in the specialty programs industry spans more than 20 years. He has led the development of new insurance products for over 25 industry programs, forged strategic partnerships with many insurers and reinsurers and has given NIP Group an edge over its competition in pricing and risk selection with its early adoption and all-embracing use of targeted data analytics. Under Dave’s leadership, NIP Group was one of the first recipients of the Best Practices Designation from the Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA). Dave is known throughout the specialty insurance industry for his exceptional character and willingness to help others. He also serves on the board of TMPAA and was the former President. Dave spent his undergraduate years at the University of Delaware.

Steve is a highly experienced finance professional with more than 20 years of experience from the financial services industry and focused on dynamic action-oriented results. He has a proven track record of adding value by automating and building our robust budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analytic functions, and implementing best practices in enterprise-wide data management and warehousing operations. As a key member of the NIP Group executive team, he leads the organization’s financial planning efforts, leveraging the abundant amount of data gathered to build intricate business models that directly result in intelligent business decisions. Steve holds a BA in English from Clark University, a JD from New York Law School, and a MS in Finance from the University of Colorado.

Wade joined NIP in May of 2022 to oversee all claims operations within the Specialty Programs, Joint Insurance Funds, and Conventus organizations. He brings 20+ years of multi-line claims experience. He spent the first 13 years of his career with AIG as AVP of Claims managing commercial trucking, auto physical damage, auto liability, general liability, and Workers’ Comp claims. The last 6 years was spent as the Director of Claims at Lowe’s Home Improvement managing domestic and Canadian claims operations, where he was responsible for overseeing 45,000 annual claims and $800M in accrual managed by internal general liability claims department, internal nurse case management team, internal reporting and analytics team, and external TPA oversight. Wade has a B.A. in Risk Management & Insurance from the University of Georgia.

Conrad is a highly accomplished insurance executive with a demonstrated track record of success who leads NIP Group’s claims, legal and regulatory affairs capabilities. Conrad’s experience in the insurance industry spans more than 30 years. He’s successfully built high performing teams delivering superior claims handling to make life a little easier for customers while exceeding their expectations. Conrad is known for his ability to deliver business-savvy counsel in the management of major claims and legal issues that emerge from new and more complex risks and business operations. Conrad graduated from Seton Hall University with a BA cum laude in Political Science and holds a Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from New York Law School.

David is a results-oriented technology leader with the rare combination of technology, insurance and process engineering expertise. David leads NIP Group’s technology, shared infrastructure and process engineering capabilities.  David’s technology experience spans more than 20 years completing large scale technology transformations and process improvement. David is known for his ability to work collaboratively with insurance business leaders to leverage technology to drive results while strengthening core systems. David has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin.

Tom is a dynamic and versatile insurance program leader with the rare combination of specialty insurance and technology expertise. Tom leads NIP Group’s specialty programs division and has driven the development and growth of many differentiated insurance programs to address the unmet needs of customers and brokers.  He has directed the large-scale transformation of the division’s underwriting platform with an all-embracing use of targeted data analytics to take on the right mix of risks and gain an edge over the market in pricing, risk selection, execution quality and speed. Tom is known for being full of energy and igniting passion to get the job done. Tom graduated from Monmouth University and is very active with his alma mater.

Jonathan is a highly experienced insurance executive with expertise building and managing innovative and complex insurance structures to provide businesses and public entities the opportunity to control their insurance costs through the creation and oversight of member-owned insurance companies and risk-pools. Jonathan leads NIP Group’s structured programs division that supports every aspect of these risk bearing entities from underwriting, safety and claims to operations, risk and investment management. He has driven the division’s recent growth by helping customers gain control over their insurance costs, secure customized coverage, create safer work environments and bring savings to their bottom lines. Jonathan is known for his member-first approach and ability to adapt to new and more complex risks and market conditions. He graduated from North Central University with a BA and received his MBA in Risk Management from Capella University.  He also holds the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation from the Insurance Institute of America.

Scott is an accomplished insurance executive with more than 35 years of insurance industry experience.  He leads NIP Group’s underwriting efforts, overseeing operations, strategy, portfolio management and guidelines for our diverse programs. He is directly responsible for establishing policies, procedures and underwriting guidelines that shape the way that NIP Group conducts business. Scott graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in Business.

With over 20 years of extensive experience in safety engineering, claims, risk control and risk management, Anthony oversees the risk and safety services provided to all member insureds at NIP Group. He takes a holistic approach to maximize the impact of services provided, reducing the frequency and severity of claims, while promoting a “zero tolerance for loss” philosophy. Anthony received his BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers College of Engineering, maintains his Property/Casualty and Health/Life insurance producer licenses, and holds the ARM and CSP professional designations.

Dean has led NIP Group’s Wholesale Brokerage division since 2004 when it was first formed. He is a market leader known for his superior brokerage skills and passion for excellence, significantly contributing to NIP Group’s growth and evolution. Dean holds a P&C, Life, Accident & Health Brokers License, as well as various states Excess Line Brokerage Licenses. He is degreed in the Advisory of Insurance and holds an Associate Degree in Commercial Underwriting and an Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance, all from the Insurance Institute of America. He also holds a RWCS Designation from the National Registry of workers compensation specialists.

Amy J. Berezein has over 35 years of reinsurance and insurance industry underwriting experience, specializing in Professional Liability. Ms. Berezein joined Conventus in 2012 as Vice President of Underwriting and has now advanced her leadership role to President of Conventus. As President, she is leading strategic initiatives, operational efficiencies and the collaboration of Underwriting, Claims, Practice Resources and Business Development, while continuing to drive membership satisfaction. She previously held underwriting positions as Senior Vice President at Platinum Underwriters, Inc., leading their Professional Liability book, St. Paul Re, including a year’s secondment in St. Paul Re’s London office, also as a Facultative and Home Office Underwriter at Transatlantic Reinsurance and most recently with AmTrust where she handled all aspects of reinsurance for a diversified global insurer. Amy holds a B.A. Cum Laude from Monmouth University and studied abroad for a semester in Sevilla, Spain. She holds a New Jersey Producer’s License and is a member of PLUS and APIW.

Colin is a veteran leader of building and championing differentiated brands and highly engaged marketing and strategy teams. Over the past decade, Colin has developed and delivered marketing strategies that drove business growth and marketing performance for leading B2B and B2C brands across startup and mature industries including insurance, financial services, real estate, and hospitality. Colin now leads NIP’s Marketing team responsible for building the brand and fueling growth across Programs, Public Entity and Healthcare divisions. He is a player-coach leader that leverages structured problem solving, critical thinking, and collaborative communication to drive results and build trusted relationships. Colin graduated from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business with both a bachelor’s degree and MBA in Marketing.

Brandon is a dynamic and results-driven HR leader, having successfully managed all aspects of human resources in both the manufacturing and Insurance industries. With a strong belief in the power of performance through leadership and effective teaming, Brandon has a proven track record of driving organizational success through the development and implementation of strategic HR initiatives.  Brandon’s ability to partner with business leaders to align HR strategies with overall business goals has been key to his success in driving improvements in employee engagement, retention, and productivity.  Brandon graduated from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources designation.