Venture Underwriters, Inc. underwrites surplus lines risks, produced exclusively by wholesale brokers. With branch offices throughout the country, Venture offers both Primary and Excess Liability coverages nationwide.
OUR OFFICES
Atlanta Office Northridge Center 1 | 365 Northridge Road | Suite 250 | Atlanta, GA 30350
Napa Office 1040 Main St. | Suite 100 | Napa, CA 94559
Stamford Office 1 Landmark Sq | Suite 805 | Stamford, CT 06901
PRIVACY
Privacy Policy
President and Chief Underwriting Officer
mjohnson@ventureund.com 415-816-8368
Michael Johnson has more than 15 years of underwriting experience. Prior to his role with Venture, Michael held both underwriting and leadership roles for companies including AIG, Munich Reinsurance America, Inc, and Diamond State Group. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from California Polytechnic State University.
President
jkilmartin@ventureund.com 475-619-9998
Jeff Kilmartin has extensive experience within the commercial lines casualty space. Before joining Venture Underwriters Jeff spent more than 15 years with AIG, Chubb and Admiral with increasing responsibilities in underwriting excess casualty. Jeff also has a regulatory compliance and product development background and was instrumental in the development of an excess product at a major E&S carrier. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the State University of NY at Cortland.
Senior Vice President
ejones@ventureund.com 770-595-6282
Elmer Jones has more than 35 years of underwriting experience. He has worked for various companies during his career holding both underwriting and leadership roles. Previously Elmer held the position of Vice President in the E&S Underwriting Department for Swiss Re. He also worked for Crum & Forester, Zurich Financial Services of Atlanta and The Hartford and Aetna Life & Casualty of Pennsylvania.
trocca@ventureund.com 707-241-0124
Joined the insurance industry in 1990 and has held various underwriting and leadership roles for admitted and nonadmitted markets. Native Californian and graduate of the California State University, Chico.
rpardo@ventureund.com 415-999-8351
Ron has 28 years of casualty underwriting experience in various technical and leadership rolls encompassing underwriting, management and business development responsibilities for major national and global carriers. Prior to joining Venture Underwriters Ron has held varying positions of responsibilities with Markel, XL Group, Allied World and AIG. Ron holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an Option in Finance from California State University, Fresno.
Vice President Excess Casualty
pbrown@ventureund.com 404-528-1826
Patti Brown has more than 30 years of experience underwriting commercial insurance. Her experience includes underwriting umbrella/excess and primary casualty insurance as well as compliance. Prior to joining Venture Underwriters, Patti held positions with Axis Insurance, Riverstone Resources, LLC, American Safety Insurance Services, Inc., American International Group and Home Insurance Group. During her time at American Safety Insurance Services, Inc., Patti developed and was responsible for direct oversight of more than 20 programs. Patti has a Bachelor of Business Administartion from Georgia State University.
Vice President, Underwriter
hheimbruch@ventureund.com 714-273-2498
Holly has more than 15 years of experience underwriting on the West Coast, specializing in construction risks with a focus on wraps and project specifics. Previously Holly held the position of Assistant Vice President and Regional Manager for both HCC and Navigators Insurance. She also worked for Lexington Western Risk and St. Paul Construction and holds a degree from Pasadena City College in communications.
dkirby@ventureund.com 740-974-2705
Daniel Kirby has more than 10 years of experience underwriting casualty insurance across the country. Prior to joining Venture, Daniel worked as an Underwriting Manager for Tokio Marine and HCC Casualty Insurance Services, Inc. In this position, he helped to manage the Artisan Contractors Division, specializing in admitted contractors GL and excess, he also spent 10 years with Century Insurance Group. Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business administration from Franklin University.
tauman@ventureund.com 678-832-2120
Tony Auman has 30 years of experience underwriting standard and E&S products. Prior to Venture, Tony helped to launch the Atlanta JRIC branch, while there his underwriting was focused on contractors and product risks. Before JRIC, he wrote owners, landlords and tenants, products and contracting risks for Hermatige Insurance and was also an underwriter at Admiral Insurance for 10 years.
Vice President
mgaffner@ventureund.com 917-533-7146
Matt Gaffner has over 20 years of Commercial Underwriting experience working for various companies in both New York and Los Angeles. Most recently Matt was Assistant Vice President of Primary Casualty for Tokio Marine Specialty Insurance Services, Inc. in California. Prior to this Matt held positions of increasing responsibility at carriers such as XL Global Risk and American International Group (AIG). Matt holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Boston University School of Management.
cbarrow@ventureund.com 630-945-7075
Chris Barrow has 30 years of experience in the casualty insurance industry. He started his career as a claims adjustor at Crawford & Company before moving into underwriting at Western World Insurance Group. Chris has held various E&S underwriting roles with increasing management responsibilities at Crum & Forster Specialty and most recently at Vela Insurance Services where he served as Vice President and Chicago Branch Manager. He is experienced in underwriting construction, products, hospitality and premises based risks. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Wittenberg University as well as a Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designation from the International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI).
nnakawatase@ventureund.com 510-552-3769
20 years in the insurance industry working for several quality carriers as an underwriter in various casualty roles. She has lived in various parts of the country and enjoys California. She is a Graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.
dstrong@ventureund.com
Don Strong has more than 20 years of commercial underwriting experience. Prior to his role with Venture, Don has held underwriting and leadership roles for companies including Colony / Argo, Deans and Homer, Malmgren group and Claims consultant group. Don has experience in both admitted and non-admitted lines and specializes in construction risk and commercial P&C. Prior to his career in underwriting, Don worked in senior leadership for Claims Consultants Group and Malmgren Group specializing in large property loss and class action litigation. Don Holds an M.S in Cardiac Physiology / Rehabilitation from Utah State University and an MBA from University of Phoenix.
gshreve@ventureund.com
Gary Shreve has 30+ years of insurance experience in casualty and property underwriting, marketing, production, and management with both standard and surplus lines carriers, managing general underwriters, and reinsurance companies. Prior to joining Venture Underwriters, Gary held various positions of responsibility with multiple corporations, including Travelers, Employers Reinsurance Corporation, and Berkley Reinsurance. Gary holds a Bachelor of Science degree focused on Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.
ajohnson@ventureund.com 208-954-0210
Amy Johnson has specialized in the excess and surplus lines insurance industry for the past 15 years. Prior to her role with Venture, Amy held both underwriting and business development roles for companies including AmTrust E&S Insurance Services and Nautilus Insurance Company. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Boise State University.
bsenn@ventureund.com 480-284-1238
Assistant Vice President
cjosi@ventureund.com 415-638-4476
Joined the insurance industry in 2018 after several years working in logistics and operations. Positive insurance career trajectory progressing from Underwriting Assistant to AVP in a very short period of time. Graduate of University of Oregon.