Unveiling Guidewire’s Inaugural All-Star Class

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