About

“It’s a privilege to be part of the founding team for this venture. I am inspired daily by the people I lead and follow, the clients we serve and the agents we partner with.”

Kathy Tierney says the best things happening in our business right now will come from looking at what we do through a totally different lens, having a little bit of fun with it, and not being afraid to experiment and take inspiration from unlikely places.

She came to Berkley from a position as chief operating officer of Chubb’s personal insurance division. Her career has included leadership positions in specialty insurance, strategic development and surety.

Though she has won many awards for her accomplishments in the insurance industry, Kathy says she’s proudest of two things: her efforts to expand opportunities for women in insurance, and the fact that she can impress her two teenaged boys when she tells them about what Berkley One is doing.

She holds a B.A. from Williams College and an MBA in finance and economics from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

“I enjoy taking a creative approach to solving problems, applying technology, rethinking assumptions, challenging the status quo. It makes every day an adventure.”   

Susan Vella’s job is to walk in the client’s shoes in every meeting, in every discussion, on every topic – and to be the person who reminds everyone else to do so. That means delivering an exceptional service experience to members and agents that is easy, transparent, efficient and flexible.

After three decades managing underwriting, client service and agent-facing teams for Chubb in two countries, she says for her it all comes down to one very simple belief: that listening to clients and treating them fairly is the key to great service. She keeps challenging herself and others to look at processes from the outside, to see them as the client sees them.

Susan’s greatest passion is her family – her husband and three children. They enjoy exploring the world and trying new things. This year, it’s stand-up paddleboarding. She has a degree in Economics from Yale University.

“To be valuable, you have to find solutions, and we’re doing that. It’s exciting to create an insurance organization that finds new ways of doing things, making things easier for agents and consumers.”

Kevin Hogan says his guiding philosophy is to understand frustrations with the status quo and apply modern solutions to long-standing problems. To do that successfully, he empowers a team approach to sourcing views and opinions from different backgrounds, experiences and insights, and applies what is learned to design better processes, products and services.

As COO, Kevin Hogan has his eyes on that kind of victory by integrating various strategies from underwriting, product development, risk management, and analytics across the Berkley One organization.

Before joining Berkley One, he spent 24 years at Chubb in various leadership roles including underwriting, sales and distribution, and field management.

He holds an accounting degree from Assumption College and, to stay sharp, has participated in continuing education classes in finance, sales management, organizational leadership and general management. Outside of insurance, Kevin’s passions are spending time with his wife and three sons, supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and following college football.

“Always act now as tomorrow is never guaranteed. That applies to everything in life — professional and personal.”

Ray Hendrickson joins Berkley One as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, responsible for all accounting, planning, forecasting, and financial activities. Ray has worked in the P&C industry for 30 years in a wide variety of finance, accounting, strategic planning, budgeting, and finance technology roles.

At a previous company, Ray led a major global finance transformation systems project in modernizing the organization’s financial systems. This led to improved transparency, consistency, and controls over the company’s financial data, while enhancing support to the business and driving profitable growth. A graduate of Rider University, Ray holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

Outside of work, Ray believes in consistent movement, citing that if you make one thing better every day that by the end of the year, those efforts will greatly add up. He strives to always learn something new, make things better, and help solve problems.

“I live by the words of the greatest coach ever, John Wooden, who said, ‘What is right is more important than who is right.’”

Joe Smith finds great meaning in leading a high-performing claims team that represents the heart of the Berkley One brand. As Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer, he’s dedicated to building differentiated service experiences marked by technical skill, compassion, and operational ease. His focus is on ensuring dependable, exceptional service at every touchpoint. Joe brings three decades of industry expertise, having managed the most complex and severe commercial and personal lines claims. His experience spans carriers, brokers, and consulting, equipping him with a well-rounded approach to the industry.

A proud University of Pennsylvania graduate, Joe understands that the work his team does each day is the living embodiment of the brand’s promise. He’s energized by the challenges that come with change, always driven by curiosity and a passion for problem-solving. He’s also guided by client insights, like the value of providing a service “worth paying more for,” which is a standard he works hard to exceed.

Outside of work, Joe finds joy in his family and community. He also enjoys an adventure that stretches the body and soul, from new physical experiences to a deep commitment to being part of something greater than himself. For Joe, Berkley One is a place where great culture meets strong collaboration. He’s excited to be part of the company’s growth journey, and to keep raising the bar.

“Being part of a startup makes you more creative in every area of the company. We’re always looking for ways to pull our vision through.”

Vadim Mezhebovsky leads a team of actuarial analysts on pricing strategies, product development and reserving.

Over his 20-year career in the property and casualty insurance industry, he has held several senior roles, most recently as vice president and actuary at MAPFRE Insurance. His background includes product management, mergers and acquisitions, reinsurance, pricing, reserving, ERM, management consulting, and research and development.

Travel is Vadim’s personal passion. He holds degrees in math and economics from Brandeis University.

“Those who genuinely listen to feedback become the trusted partners. Engaging customers early in the IT solution process and taking input creates a collaborative environment where all participants win.”

Mike McKernan believes that to create great technology solutions, we have to challenge the way things have been done before. He thinks that one of the most important aspects of IT is listening—to clients, agents and colleagues, to understand early on where we need to shake things up and create something new.

In nearly two decades in the industry, Mike has helped insurance teams transform their digital platforms, implement award-winning systems and expand the ways they reach clients and agents. At Berkley One, he applies his passion for technology and transformation to build systems and services that help make working with Berkley One better every day.

Mike is an avid baseball player and hiker. He believes watching his children grow into their future selves is truly a wonder—and loves being a part of it all, from coaching soccer to watching piano and dance lessons.

Mike is a trained Scrum Master, SAFe Agilist and Release Train Engineer. He holds a B.S. in Information Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with concentrations in user-centered design and computer system engineering.

“I live by the slogan ‘failure is not an option,’ so I make the most out of every situation. I’m grounded in a deep passion to help others and believe in paying it forward each day.”

Adrienne Woodberry believes that being part of a company that values both innovation and its people is incredibly fulfilling. For that reason, she is excited about her role at Berkley One as Vice President of Center Operations. Adrienne brings over two decades of successful experience, having worked with some of the most reputable high net-worth carriers in the industry.

Adrienne began her career as a property adjuster trainee and has held roles of increased responsibility including Quality Manager, Vice President Regional Property Manager, Vice President Branch Manager, Senior Vice President Head of Service Center and Operations and Senior Vice President North America Property Claims. Adrienne is leveraging her past experiences to position her current company as a leader in the industry with a strong focus on innovation, customer service, and operational excellence. She also dedicates her time to mentoring early-career professionals in the industry, helping to guide and empower the next generation of leaders.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Adrienne is known for her vibrant personality and love for having fun. Whether it’s exploring new activities or spending quality time with friends and family, she brings a sense of joy to everything she does. A devoted wife and mother, she also takes great pride in caring for her 88-year-old mother, balancing her career with her family responsibilities. This strong sense of commitment, both in her personal life and her work, is a hallmark of her character.

“Part of creating a new kind of insurance organization means being straightforward and clear with both clients and agents. This way, we get everyone on the same page and satisfaction goes up.”

Elaine Reyes has been an attorney in the world of insurance for 32 years. At heart, though, she’s an English major, trusting in the power of words to communicate fully and transparently about every detail of all our insurance coverages and services. Our product is a promise set forth in words, so it’s very important to her that those words make it clear what that promise includes and doesn’t include.

Elaine is proud to say she has a track record of using compliance process improvements to help companies reduce regulatory inquiries and improve their relationships with clients.

In her personal life, her greatest passion is her family – providing for her children and striving to be a good role model for them.

Elaine has a B.A. in English and Political Science from Montclair State University and a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.

“Everything we do starts with and is grounded in our great people. I believe getting the people right leads to getting all the other stuff right.”

Ellen Wallace joined Berkley One the better part of a year before it opened its doors to focus on building a new kind of team for a new kind of insurance company. She spent that time helping to fill key positions to fully staff the launch of the new company.

After 30 years in property and casualty insurance – 11 of them in HR – Ellen couldn’t pass up the chance to help start a new organization that is taking a fresh, innovative and exciting approach to insurance. She’s passionate about building great teams and a great place to work. Ellen wants every employee to feel proud, engaged and energized by their role at Berkley One.

Outside of work, she enjoys travel, cooking, reading, paddleboarding and spending time with her two sons.

Ellen has a B.A. in French with a minor in Spanish from Framingham State University.

“For me, helping agents move forward is about innovative approaches and leading a team of people dedicated to growing the business together.”

Frances Brodeur listens. She listens to agents to learn what they need, what they’re concerned about and how Berkley One can help them to not only win a great account together, but also grow their businesses. Constantly reimagining the underwriting and sales process has become one of our differentiators in the marketplace.

To understand Frances, just connect the dots between her 10 years at Chubb, her position as executive director of philanthropy for a multi-state non-profit, and her volunteer work as guardian ad litem for foster youth. It’s about advocacy. It’s about resourcefulness. It’s about a powerful drive to make things better. That’s why she came to Berkley One.

Frances has a degree in actuarial science from Ohio State University.

“I always want to know more. I’m not content with what is at the surface. I am interested in deep dives and understanding how things work together. The curiosity keeps me moving forward.”

Sarah Mashek believes that actions mean more than words, and it’s how you deliver on promises that matters most. In her role as Vice President of Distribution, Sarah does just that. While leading the Distribution Team as they engage with independent agencies across the country, Sarah also focuses on creating and implementing strategy, agent communications, and driving new business to Berkley One.  She uses over 18 years of experience in high-net-worth personal lines, both as an underwriting leader and a distribution leader, when traveling to work with agents of all varieties.

A graduate of Drake University with a Bachelor of Science in International Business (with a concentration in Insurance), Sarah has the privilege of being an original member of Berkley One. Over time she has worn several hats and managed multiple territories. She particularly enjoys building relationships internally and externally to help both Berkley One and independent agencies achieve their collective goals. In a previous position, she was awarded Chartered Private Risk and Insurance Advisor (CPRIA), Runner Up Salesperson of the Year (2014).

In her leisure time, Sarah enjoys reading and traveling— both voraciously and often at the same time! She has a personal goal to leave the country once a year to experience a new adventure. Sarah also aspires to read at least one book per week, which often happens while in the air.

“Service is everything in claims. Demystifying the process for clients, keeping them informed around every corner and lending an empathetic ear is what we do daily.”

With close to two decades of liability and casualty claims experience, Bryan’s entire career has been dedicated to personal lines claims. He knows the importance of excellent customer service because any claim, no matter how large or small, can be a traumatic event for our clients.

Bryan is no stranger to handling complex coverage claims, working with defense counsel on litigated matters, and settling cases directly with plaintiff attorneys. Prior to joining Berkley One, he worked as a Casualty Claim Litigation Specialist with Nationwide and Harleysville Insurance Companies.

He enjoys spending time with his wife and two young boys, coaching, home improvement projects and anything outdoors. Bryan has a Marketing degree from York College of Pennsylvania.

“I’ve been looking at physical damage to autos for 28 years, but at Berkley One, every day is different. We’re always looking for ways to create a good experience out of the experience of having a claim.”

As the auto physical damage and recreational marine subject matter expert at Berkley One, Robert Young knows what he’s looking at when he looks at the results of an accident.

He also knows how important it is to have someone looking out for you when you have to make a claim. His orientation is about finding ways to help the client. When it comes to auto and watercraft claims, he looks for ways to make the process go more smoothly.

If he’s not at work, Robert likes to play golf. He hopes to someday play at Saint Andrews and Pebble Beach.

Robert is an I-CAR Platinum member, holds an ASE-B6 certification and has received several customer service awards throughout his career.