These are our chapter leaders for 2021. Contact them for additional information on various committees or activites. If you are interested in being a Director or Officer, contact Jessica Ommen at jommen@secura.net.
2021 President
Jessica Ommen
CPCU, JD
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-ommen-59b3b471/
Jessica is a litigation supervisor at SECURA Insurance. She started her career as an insurance defense attorney and has been in-house with SECURA since 2014. She received the 2016 President’s CPCU Scholarship and earned her designation in 2017. She is a member of the Chapter Communications Committee.
2021 Vice President
Peggy Howell
CPCU, AINS, API, and AIS
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-howell-73aa57173/
Peggy started her insurance career in claims for Zurich, later transitioning to Personal Lines Underwriting for California Casualty. After obtaining her CPCU and ARe in December 2018 she was eager to find a role in reinsurance. She and her husband relocated to Minnesota in the summer of 2019 where she currently works for Trean Reinsurance as an Account Executive.
2021 Treasurer
Jason Berger
CPCU
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vonberger
Jason is currently with Chubb Insurance in risk management for over 14 years with specialty in product and environmental liability. I take time with each client to help them understand how we view their various risk exposures and controls, whether they meet with industry best practices or how they can be best improved. Jason obtained his CPCU designation to understand and support his underwriting peers.
2021 Secretary
Cheri Olson
CPCU, AIS, AU, API, AM, AIT
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriolson/
Cheri is currently Operations Coordinator for Personal Lines. She has been employed at RAM Mutual Insurance Company since 1993. At RAM, she has worked in H.R., Underwriting and R & D. Prior to insurance, Cheri was front end operations manager for a large retail chain and a high school social studies teacher. Cheri resides in Esko, MN with her husband and three daughters. She also serves on the board of directors for Western Lake Superior Habitat for Humanity.
2021 Good Works Committee
Ruth Ahrens
CPCU, AIC
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-ahrens-84a69384/
Ruth is currently a Permanent Total and Dependency Benefits Specialist at SFM Mutual Insurance Companies where she has worked since 2001. Prior to that she worked at Wausau Insurance. Ruth obtained her BA in Business Administration at the University of St. Thomas in 1999. She obtained her CPCU designation in 2018. Ruth looks forward to serving on the MN CPCU board and the Website/Communications committee.
Director
Tom Knutson
CPCU, SCLA, AIC
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-knutson-9775b0127?
Tom is currently a workers compensation supervisor. He has been working at EMC Insurance since August 2010.
He started his career at Northland Insurance as a commercial auto liability adjuster. He graduated from St. John’s University and obtained his CPCU in 2016.
Director
Danielle Rakos
CPCU, CIC, AU, AIS, ARM, AINS, AAI, AIC
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-rakos-cpcu-cic-au-ais-arm-ains-7a9a0425
Danielle is a Senior Commercial Underwriter for EMC Insurance companies. She has been with EMC since 2011 and has held the CPCU designation since 2016.
Director - MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Dave Matlon
CPCU, CIC
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-matlon-612a9a13/
Dave has been in the Western National Agency Sales Department for the past 28 years. Prior to this role, he was a commercial lines production underwriter for American Family. Dave is a Winona State University graduate. He serves as the Treasurer for the Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association overseeing their pension plan.
Dave and his wife Lori have been married for 33 years. They have three children. Dave received his CPCU designation in 1995.
Immediate Past President
Matt Andresen
CPCU, AIM, API, AIC
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-andresen-cpcu-aim-api-aic-b08032a8/
Matt has worked for Country Financial since 2003. Since that time he has held various claims leadership roles. He is currently the Workers’ Compensation and PIP/MP Claims Manager. Matt has been a CPCU member since 2010.
Ex Officio Board Member - New Designee Committee
Dana Bolz
CPCU
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-bolz-cpcu-273a4a67
Dana is currently a Commercial Insurance Underwriting Manager. She has been at EMC Companies since July 2010.
Ex Officio Board Member - All Industry Day Committee
Allen R. Bosch
CPCU, ARM
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-r-bosch-a469b835
Allen started in insurance as an underwriter trainee at St Paul Companies. Before joining CNA in April, 2014, he worked 10 years as a Senior Underwriter at MMIC group, specializing in medical malpractice. He recently left OneBeacon Insurance Group as Assistant Vice President in the complex risk division to join J&R Agency. He holds a Management Degree from St Cloud State University.
Ex Officio Board Member
Cindy L. Jordan
CPCU, RPLU, ASLI, AIS, AU, CIC
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-jordan-1a897341/
Cindy has been in the Insurance Industry for over 20 years. She started out underwriting Lawyers, Accountants, Realtors and Tax Preparers Professional Liability. Cindy has been with RPS Minneapolis for over 13 years and specializes in all lines of Professional Liability, including E&O, D&O and EPL.She is active with the Chapter's Champions program.
Ex-Officio Board Member - Membership Committee
Jeff Ewins
CPCU, AINS, API
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-ewins-cpcu-ains-api-ab750222/
Jeff received his BA in Business & Economics from Eureka College, Eureka, IL in 1982. In 1984 he joined COUNTRY Financial, Bloomington, IL, as a property casualty underwriter. During Jeff’s 30 years with COUNTRY Financial he has held various property casualty underwriting positions across three regions.Jeff is Regional Manager, Commercial Underwriting and will soon retire.