When I think about the term “all-star,” I cannot help but to reminisce on my time as a youth recreational softball player. I remember how excited I was to be named a member of my city’s 12-year old All-Star team. Not to age myself, but it was a huge deal back in the mid-90s for a recreational player because travel/competitive ball really wasn’t something that families focused on back then, so the pool of contenders was much bigger than it is today.
Being named an All-Star meant I was a standout on the field, one who outperformed my peers who played the same position, one who was seen as a leader, and one who could help the team win against competitors. Now, it’s 2023, and I sure hope the 42 individuals who have been named to the inaugural Guidewire All-Star class realize they have received this recognition because they are a standout at their company, one who outperforms in their role, one who is seen as a leader in their field and as an end-user of Guidewire solutions, and one whose work has helped their company win by driving business results.
To be named a Guidewire All-Star, individuals were nominated by their peers, executives within their organization, or partnering companies. Nominators identified these individuals as outstanding or highly regarded performers as a Guidewire Software end user. From Guidewire’s perspective, Chief Customer Officer Christina Colby says, “These individuals are champions and heroes within our customers’ business. This program spotlights the talent in the market who are using Guidewire to drive business results.”
Guidewire received an overwhelming number of nominations. With hundreds of submissions, we had to narrow down the list – and it was a difficult task because there are so many Guidewire users who have made and will continue to make a difference.
Congratulations to the following individuals for this prestigious recognition:
Rahul Jain, Team Leader - IT, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance NZ
Shammah Delos Santos, Policy Team Leader, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance NZ
Yee Leong-Mok, Policy Product Owner, Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company
Yoshifumi Yamamoto, Director, Cyber Risk Modeling, At-Bay
Laure Guéhéry, Actuarial and Products Director, Beneva Insurance
Salathia Henry, Underwriting Operations Manager, Canal Insurance Company
Lizzie Kolkowski, AVP Innovation, Canal Insurance Company
Kaylee Kurth, Senior Claims Business Analyst, Church Mutual Insurance Group S.I.
Alyssa Simicsak, Sr. Business Operations Analyst, CURE Auto Insurance
Michael Simms, Vice President/Program Director, Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
Terry Keener, VP, Commercial Lines Underwriting, Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
Adam Stuchel, Product Management Director, EMC Insurance Companies
Daniel Byrne, Pricing Actuary, Gallagher Re
Satish Devella, VP, Core Systems Engineering, GM Financial
Easan Krishnapillai, Manager, Personal Property, Gore Mutual
Traci Guthrie, Underwriting Technical Specialist, Grinnell Mutual
Carol Michalek, Director - Personal Underwriting, Product Owner (PolicyCenter), Grinnell Mutual
Afsar Ali, Cyber Risk Intelligence, Guy Carpenter
John Wiechecki, Chief Reserving Actuary, Heritage Insurance
Debra Chong, Manager, Business Services, Island Insurance Companies
Steve Heeg, Vice President, Product & Risk Management, Kentucky Farm Bureau
Jouni Vilola, Product Manager, Local Tapiola
Glenda Bohman, Senior Project Manager for Analytics & Information Systems, Mountain West Farm Bureau
Claire Brain, Solution Designer, NFU Mutual
Luke Adams, Business Analyst II, Pekin Insurance
Jill Olevich, Personal Lines Underwriter, Underwriting, Preferred Risk
Sandra Pereira, Senior Business Analyst, PURE Insurance
Jesus Zaragoza, Lead Data Analyst, Qualitas Insurance Company
Takayuki Okuyama, Manager, Saison Automobile & Fire Insurance
Jon Grafton, Commercial Underwriter II, Society Insurance
Maria Sarullo, Senior Premium Audit Specialist, Society Insurance
Rob Bullock, Digital Business Lead, UX Designer, Society Insurance
Paulette Holland, Product Manager, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company
April Vancor, Product Manager, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company
Michael Leach, Product Owner, PolicyCenter, The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group
Mark O'Keeffe, Product Owner, Toka Tū Ake EQC
Tinglin Huang, Data Scientist, Tokio Marine
Lauren Wakeling, IT Senior Manager, Tokio Marine North America (TMNA)
Ulrikke Birkeland, Product Owner, Tryg
Annette Hanley, Personal Lines Underwriting Specialist, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group
Julie Keiger, Claims Automation Support Unit Leader, Westfield Insurance
Deepu Nair, Business Solutions Architect, Westfield Specialty
Mani Venkataraman, Product Manager, Westfield Specialty