“This dynamic and highly accomplished board brings a wealth of strategic vision and diverse expertise that will be instrumental in propelling our growth,” Chuck Caisley, chair of the MEM board said. “Their collective leadership will ensure we not only maintain, but solidify, our position as the region’s leading work comp provider.” 

MEM has added the following members to its board of directors: 

Hayley E. Hanson is Partner at Husch Blackwell and has more than 20 years of experience in education law. In addition to legal work, Hanson is a sought-after speaker who educates institutions on risk management and compliance. 

Gloria Carter-Hicks is President and CEO of Hicks-Carter-Hicks and has more than 25 years of experience in human resources and organizational development. Her current role involves consulting with executives on organizational development, change management, human resources, learning and development, and talent management.  

Slyvester (Sly) James, Jr. is Co-Founder of Wickham James and has a rich background that includes serving his country as a military police officer, a successful legal career and a transformative tenure as Mayor of Kansas City. He is known for tackling tough issues and is a champion for diversity. 

Roger S. Walleck is President and CEO of MEM and is responsible for the vision, direction, and strategic development of the company, as well as overall management and business implementation. Prior to MEM, Walleck spent more than a decade in leadership positions at the Meadowbrook Insurance Group, most recently as Chief Underwriting Officer and Executive Vice President. In this role, he set underwriting appetite, tolerance, and limits for carriers of the group. He also oversaw all underwriting activities and the development of predictive analytic models. Walleck held several positions with Liberty Mutual before joining Meadowbrook.  

The remaining board of directors include: 

Charles A. Caisley is Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Affairs, and Chief Customer Officer of Evergy, a vertically integrated investor-owned electric utility company serving Missouri and Kansas.

He leads the Customer Service, Energy Solutions and Public Affairs areas with responsibility for the company’s small-scale generation projects, energy products and services platform, energy efficiency and demand response portfolio, community and customer strategy and communications, marketing, economic development, governmental affairs, customer service, billing and public relations functions. Caisley has served on the MEM Board of Directors since 2011. 

James C. (Jim) Owen retired as President and CEO of Missouri Employers Mutual in 2023 after 13 years with the company. Owen joined MEM as a member of the Board of Directors in June 2010, later serving as the Chair of the Board and then Interim President and CEO from July to December of 2011. 

Prior to MEM, he was a partner in the law firm McCarthy, Leonard, & Kaemmerer and spent more than 30 years representing various national insurance companies in the areas of insurance coverage, reinsurance, insurance insolvency, state and local taxation litigation, public pension, commercial and business law, and class actions. He was also his firm’s lead personal injury litigator. He is on various insurance boards, not-for-profit boards and associations, including the Missouri Supreme Court’s Appellate Practice Committee. He remains a member of the Missouri Bar. 

W. Thomas Reeves retired December 30, 2022 as Executive Vice President and St. Louis Market Chairman of Busey Bank, a $12.5 billion community bank based in Champaign, Ill., following a 46-year career in banking and community development. Reeves also served as Executive Director and co-founder of Downtown Now!, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization created to finalize and implement the Downtown Development Action Plan for St. Louis. Reeves has served on the MEM Board of Directors since 2012. 

Herman A. Styles, Jr. is an Owner and Partner of Colton’s Restaurant and Grill in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, as well as six other successful restaurants in Missouri and Illinois. In this position he shares in the overseeing of operations, development of managers and marketing plans. He also serves on the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Board of Directors and is the current President of the Missouri Restaurant Association.   

Joe L. Moseley retired from Shelter Insurance Companies in August 2014 after 20 years of service, the most recent decade as Vice President of Public Affairs. Moseley’s honored career has also included time as Assistant Public Defender, Boone County Prosecuting Attorney and Missouri State Senator.

He has a strong history of community involvement and currently serves on the board of directors of Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, The Callaway Bank and The Roots N Blues Foundation. Moseley has received numerous honors and awards, including the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award and the Ann Dandurant Award from the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Moseley has served on the MEM Board of Directors since 2015. 

About MEM 

MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual and Previsor) is your Midwest regional workers compensation insurance partner. With 200,000 covered lives and decades of experience, we are committed to serving businesses of all sizes. Our personalized approach focuses on keeping your workplace safe, strong and productive. Learn more at mem-ins.com. 

The post MEM Names New Members to Expanded Board of Directors  appeared first on MEM.

The transaction reinsures a $350 million portfolio of workers’ compensation liabilities and covers accident years 2023 and prior. The transfer is part of MEM’s transition from a state workers’ compensation insurance fund to a private mutual insurance company. 

“We are proud to partner with a highly rated Missouri company on this transaction that only fortifies our financial position as we transition to a private mutual insurance company,” Roger Walleck, MEM President and CEO said.  

While the liability is transferred, all of the claims in the portfolio will be handled as they have always been: by MEM’s experienced claim staff. 

“Our claims care is important to us, and that’s why an in-house team of claims professionals will continue to manage the claims in this portfolio,” Walleck said. 

The completion of the deal followed regulatory approvals. 

“Safety National is pleased to partner with MEM by providing this loss portfolio transfer to meet their organizational needs,” said Duane Hercules, CEO at Safety National. “We will work diligently to make the transition as seamless as possible.” 

Contact

• MEM: Laura Gerding, 573-499-4360
• Safety National: Christie Tucci, 314-692-9548

About MEM 

MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual and Previsor) is your Midwest regional workers compensation insurance partner. With 200,000 covered lives and decades of experience, we are committed to serving businesses of all sizes. Our personalized approach focuses on keeping your workplace safe, strong and productive. Learn more at mem-ins.com. 

About Safety National 

Safety National is a leading specialty insurance and reinsurance provider. With a rich history spanning over 80 years, Safety National offers specialized expertise, flexible program and placement design, and unique claims proficiency. Safety National is a member of the Tokio Marine Group and is rated A++ (Superior), FSC XV by A.M. Best. Learn more at www.safetynational.com. 

The post MEM Moves Forward as Private Mutual Company with Loss Portfolio Transfer to Safety National  appeared first on MEM.

AM Best has also assigned Preliminary Credit Assessments (PCA) to Underwriting Entities that are expected to qualify to be members of MEM’s Group rating unit: Previsor Insurance Company (Previsor) (Centennial, CO), MEM Protect Insurance Company (MEM Protect), MEM Shield Insurance Company (MEM Shield) and MEM Secure Insurance Company (MEM Secure) with Financial Strength Assessments of A- pca (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Assessments of “a-” pca (Excellent). The outlooks assigned to these PCAs are stable.  

The largest credit rating agency in the world specializing in the insurance industry AM best is the leading provider of ratings, financial data and news. A rating by AM Best is based on a “comprehensive evaluation of an insurance company’s financial strength, operating performance and business profile.”  

“The AM Best assessments demonstrate our strength and expertise as a leading workers compensation provider,” Roger Walleck, MEM President and CEO said. “They are a reflection of our balance street strength which has been a hallmark of our business for decades now.”  

This marks the 20^th year for MEM’s rating by AM Best. MEM received its first financial strength rating A- (Excellent) in 2004 and has maintained this rating since then.  

AM Best cited MEM’s “very strong” balance sheet, adequate operating performance and appropriate enterprise risk management among the reasons for the A- rating profile.   

For the latest Best’s Credit Rating, access AM Best. 

For the full press release “AM Best Assigns Preliminary Credit Assessment to Previsor Insurance Co., MEM Protect Insurance Co., MEM Shield Insurance Co. and MEM Secure Insurance Co.” click here.  

About MEM  

MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual and Previsor) is your Midwest regional workers compensation insurance partner. With 200,000 covered lives and decades of experience, we are committed to serving businesses of all sizes. Our personalized approach focuses on keeping your workplace safe, strong and productive. Learn more at mem-ins.com.  

Our History  

MEM was created in 1995 to improve the workers compensation insurance market. We opened our doors with a $5 million loan from the state of Missouri. With our broad risk appetite and safety services, we brought stability to the market and repaid our $5 million startup loan with interest to the State of Missouri in 1999.    

Read more about our history here. 

To download a copy of this press release, please click here.

The post AM Best Affirms MEM’s Financial Strength with A- Rating and Preliminary Credit Ratings   appeared first on MEM.

This strategic move coincides with our transition from a public mutual insurance company to a private mutual insurance company, effective Jan. 1, 2025. This new brand signifies an even stronger focus on delivering industry-leading expertise and fostering economic growth throughout the Midwest.

Our commitment to exceptional service remains constant. This new brand signifies an even stronger focus on delivering industry-leading expertise and fostering economic growth throughout the Midwest. Improvements include:

• Simplified Service. Our policyholders will benefit from a single policy for all seven states, consolidated billing, streamlined audits, and centralized claims reporting.
• Competitive pricing. More price points across all seven states allow for greater pricing flexibility.
• Enhanced Resources. A brand-new website (mem-ins.com) launched on Sept. 9. This user-friendly platform offers a fresh look, improved search functionality, expanded free resources, and a dedicated agent resource center.

If you’d like to read a full press release, click here.

The post MEM Strengthens Midwest Presence with New Brand appeared first on MEM.

“My experience at MEM and Previsor has been a rewarding one, paved with incredible milestones along the way,” said Jackman. “From achieving our initial AM Best rating in 2004, to our work to our expansion of services in other states, we have many accomplishments to be proud of thanks to the dedication and talent of our employees. It has been an honor to serve in leadership here.” 

Jackman joined MEM in 1995 as General Claims Manager and became a member of the Executive Team as Vice President of Claims in 1997. Before becoming Previsor President and CEO in 2020, he served as Senior Vice President of Operational Services, having direct accountability for Customer Care, Safety and Risk Services, Claims and CompLegal. 

In his time at MEM, Jackman led the formation of a captive law firm, CompLegal, to represent MEM policyholders, along with a reorganization of a managed care program aimed at facilitating a safe and successful return to work for injured workers. 

Prior to MEM, Jackman worked for 14 years with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, serving in various positions in multiline claims management. He holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. 

About Previsor 

Previsor is a wholly owned and independently managed investment of Missouri Employers Mutual. Writing workers compensation insurance in six Midwest states, Previsor works with a network of independent agents to provide a cost-effective policy and value-added services for businesses with multi-state needs. Learn more at previsorinsurance.com. 

About MEM 

MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual and Previsor) is your Midwest regional workers compensation insurance partner. With 200,000 covered lives and decades of experience, we are committed to serving businesses of all sizes. Our personalized approach focuses on keeping your workplace safe, strong and productive. Learn more at mem-ins.com.  

Click here to download the full news release.

The post Tim Jackman to Retire as Previsor President and CEO in 2024 appeared first on MEM.

“MEM is taking a bold step towards the future by aligning our executive team to drive revenue growth and deliver an exceptional customer experience,” said Roger Walleck, MEM President and CEO. 

These current MEM executives took on expanded duties effective March 1:

Jennifer Barth

Jennifer Barth continues as Chief Legal and Claims Officer. Barth will now oversee a broader scope, ensuring MEM upholds the highest legal and claims processing standards while fostering a culture of continuous learning within the organization. Barth has more than 19 years of experience in the insurance industry. She joined MEM in 2005 and has a distinguished legal career, previously serving as Managing Attorney for the State of Missouri. Barth holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Missouri State University and her law degree from the University of Missouri Columbia School of Law. She completed the Executive Development Program at The Wharton School in 2021. She also received her Senior Professional in Human Resources designation through the Society for Human Resource Management and obtained a certificate in Insurance Regulation through The Institutes. 

Rene Tettleton Eslinger

Rene Tettleton Eslinger assumed the newly created role of Chief Revenue Officer. Eslinger spearheads MEM’s revenue generation strategies and operations, underwriting and sales functions. Leveraging her 11-year tenure at MEM, she will guide the planning and execution of long-term business development and agency relationships. Eslinger has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. Prior to joining MEM in 2013, she served as Field Sales Director for Fireman’s Fund Insurance in Georgia. Tettleton Eslinger earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University. She completed her certificate in General Insurance through the Insurance Institute of America, the Executive Scholars program in Leadership at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and is a Registered Workers’ Compensation Specialist. She also has earned her Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation. 

Kevin Miller 

Kevin Miller steps into the role of Chief Transformation Officer. Miller drives strategic capability, change and value delivery. He brings extensive experience in utilizing data and analytics to develop holistic strategies that further MEM’s strategic vision.  Miller has more than 28 years of experience in the insurance industry. Prior to joining MEM in 2015, he held numerous IT Leadership positions at CUNA Mutual including Vice President Application Development, Vice President of IT Strategy and Architecture and Chief Information Security Officer. Miller has a bachelor’s in Business and Computer Systems and a minor in Technical Communications from Milwaukee School of Engineering. 

Jennifer Peck

Jennifer Peck takes on the expanded role of Chief Strategy & Customer Experience Officer. Peck leads strategic decision-making and drives commitment to customer focus, integrating financial data, analytics and critical input from across and outside the company to set and achieve growth strategies. She provides vision and leadership for the functions of Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Customer Care, Premium Consultation and Safety and Risk Services. Peck has more than 23 years of experience in the insurance industry. She joined MEM in 2001 after serving five years as assistant director at the University of Missouri News Bureau. Peck earned a bachelor’s from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has completed continuing education in insurance, marketing, data-based decision making, and executive leadership. 

Andy Ribaudo

Andy Ribaudo remains as Chief Financial Officer. He leads finance, actuarial and facility services. His expertise will ensure continued financial stability as MEM pursues ambitious growth plans. Ribaudo has more than 31 years of experience in the insurance industry. Prior to MEM, he served as CFO at a Great American Insurance Company, a syndicate at Lloyd’s of London. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and actuarial science from the University of Connecticut and two graduate degrees from the University of Phoenix. Ribaudo holds several professional designations, including Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS), Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). 

About MEM 

MEM provides work comp insurance to companies of all sizes. Across Missouri, employers turn to MEM for our personalized approach and comprehensive safety programs. We protect employees, save lives and help organizations move forward with confidence. Learn more at www.mem-ins.com. 

The post MEM Strengthens Leadership Team for Growth and Customer Focus appeared first on MEM.