Bridge Specialty Group

Each Friday we spotlight one of Bridge Specialty Group's wholesale agencies. This week we're highlighting Public Risk Underwriters of Texas who has been an industry leader in the management of Professional Liability exposures for non-profit, educational and public entities since 1994. Their experience and in-depth understanding of this class of business affords them the flexibility and authority to offer extensive terms to meet the needs of even the most unique situations. Over the years, their forms have continually evolved to provide among the broadest coverage available for both state and civil actions. Public Risk Underwriters of Texas is an MGU of first dollar, primary Public Officials, Educators Legal (both inclusive of EPLI) and Law Enforcement Legal Liability insurance. Learn more at https://hubs.la/Q03fZcyd0 #BridgeSpecialtyGroup #FridaySpotlight #PublicRiskUnderwritersOfTexas #BeTheBridge

How prepared is your business for environmental risks? Are you protected when you need it most? With growing exclusions and increasing lawsuits, it's time to get educated about Environmental insurance and reconsider your coverage. David Dybdahl, founder of American Risk Management Resources Network |ARMR.Network | ARMR Brokerage, a Bridge Specialty Group company, sat down with Chris Davis at Insurance Business America to discuss the importance of Environmental insurance. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g8Qfz_zA #BridgeSpecialtyGroup #BeTheBridge #BeCustomerFocused #EnvironmentalInsurance #RiskManagement

We had an incredible time at the Insurance Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) Georgia Chapter's 3rd Annual Fundraising Concert at the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta! As a proud continuing sponsor of IICF, Bridge Specialty Group is honored to support their mission of uniting the collective strength of the insurance industry in providing grants, volunteer service and leadership in the communities where we live and work. Our very own, Susan Froman was the emcee for this fun evening as IICF came together to give. The IICF Georgia Chapter has made a significant impact since its inception, awarding over $1.5 million in grants to local nonprofit partners across the Greater Atlanta region with their focus on addressing homelessness, supporting children at-risk and aiding veteran causes. All funds raised from this fantastic evening will directly support the IICF Georgia Community Grants Program. #BridgeSpecialtyGroup #BeTheBridge #CommunitySupport #InsuranceGivesBack #IICF

As we continue to honor Women's History Month, our series highlights Sandy Walls, Regional Operations Leader for the Southeast Region. Sandy is a native of Daytona, FL and graduated from the University of Central FL with a BSBA in Accounting/Tax. Sandy began her career at Brown & Brown Corporate Finance as a staff accountant in February 2000. In 2005, she transitioned to become a Business Partner for MacDuff, where she learned every aspect of the wholesale business, from operations to finance and compliance. In 2021, Sandy took on the role of Regional Operations Leader for the Southeast Region at Bridge Specialty Group. Throughout her career, Sandy has witnessed the growth of her peer group and the organization, seeing teammates advance from policy issuance techs to successful underwriters and rookie brokers to Regional Presidents. Sandy has also seen the organization grow from $33 million to $4.8 billion, with a strong emphasis on the value and recognition of all teammates' contributions. Sandy shared, “It's amazing to be part of an organization that encourages both professional and personal growth. The mentors and friends that I have encountered over the past 25 years continue to shape my day to day.” Sandy is excited and intrigued by the ongoing changes in business practices, particularly the impact of AI and automation, and the importance of capturing key metrics for continued growth. She enjoys collaborating with her peers on new ideas and approaches to the business. When asked about her personal life, Sandy shared she’s been married for 25 years, loves boating and league bowling and spending time with their Boxer, Bodhi. #BeTheBridge #WomensHistoryMonth #BSG #BridgeSpecialtyGroup

Exciting times at the WSIA (Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association) Extreme Risk Takers Symposium!   Daniel Sklar, Kyle Koch and Jake McCarrell from Bridge Specialty Group had the pleasure of participating in the WSIA Extreme Risk Takers Symposium in Chicago and meeting nearly 200 enthusiastic students interested in risk management, insurance and specifically the excess and surplus lines industry.   They shared insights about Bridge Specialty Group as an industry-leading wholesale broker and the opportunities we offer. And during the roundtable sessions, they spent quality time with smaller groups, answering questions and sharing their journeys into the industry and Bridge Specialty Group. It was so rewarding for them to provide advice on career and internship opportunities, and they had a great time interacting with the students and discussing the industry. A big thank you to Christine Timmerman at WSIA for making this event a success! Great job representing Bridge Specialty Group, Daniel Sklar, Kyle Koch and Jake McCarrell!   #WSIA #CareerFair #Insurance #BridgeSpecialtyGroup #BeTheBridge #Networking #CareerAdvice

As we continue to honor Women's History Month, our series highlights Meredith Berner, Broker & Regional Binding Leader. She graduated from University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a bachelor’s degree in economics and French and joined our team shortly after in 2017. She began her career as an assistant and quickly rose to each challenge she was met with. Meredith is now one of our top brokers and continues to shine both as a teammate and leader in the industry. Though she began her journey less than a decade ago, she has been on this path since she was young. When she was just 11, when she was asked at school what she wanted to be when she grew up, she knew exactly what path she wanted to take. Check out the image in the comments for that blast from the past! https://lnkd.in/gBUharAx Meredith has shown grit, determination and dedication since the beginning of her career with us, and we are so honored to showcase her in this series. She continues to lead her team by example, and when we asked them what it was like being on Team Berner, they had this to say: “She is one of the busiest people I’ve ever seen, and she still sets time aside each week to meet with everyone on our team and continue their development. She sets a perfect example for us through her unmatched work ethic and hunger to succeed. She inspires me to be the best broker I can be, and I work harder because of it. She cares about our company’s success more than anyone I’ve seen. She has amazing relationships with her agents, and they truly rely on her and she always comes through. I couldn’t ask for a better mentor.” “Meredith as a leader is fearless and determined. She sets goals and communicates them well to the team and is always available whether teaching or listening. She sets her team up for success by sharing her wealth of insurance knowledge. She sets herself apart by always showcasing hard work and words of wisdom that remind each of us that hard work, humility and grace are how we can BE the difference.” “Her personality and motivation truly are inspiring. It is very helpful to have a leader with the amount of knowledge Meredith holds and I am truly thankful I have been able to be a part of her team!” Meredith has certainly exemplified all her team has shared, and we’re proud feature her during Women’s History Month. #BeTheBridge #WomensHistoryMonth #BSG #BridgeSpecialtyGroup

Each Friday, we spotlight one of Bridge Specialty Group’s wholesale agencies. This week, we shine the spotlight on South and Western. Based in Addison, a northern Dallas suburb, the multi-line managing general agency offers specialty personal, farm and ranch, commercial transportation, and specialty commercial property and casualty lines—with binding authority for excess and surplus commercial property and casualty business.   Founded in 1974, S&W primarily serves Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. By developing strategic partnerships with nationally known A.M. Best “A-rated” companies, S&W provides a gateway to markets and operates under a guiding philosophy: doing business should never be complicated. This “ease of doing business” posture is evident in S&W’s user-friendly online quoting and rating system. S&W’s technology-forward, solutions-based and responsive company culture is built to provide a streamlined experience and to help teammates find the “wow” in every interaction.   Contact the team: Jamie Vickery Commercial Lines Team Leader (901) 684-4503 jamie-vickery@southandwestern.com   Sharon S. (Sharon Salazar) Personal Lines Team Leader (972) 855-2931 x2931 sharon-salazar@southandwestern.com   Diana Trachier Farm & Ranch Team Leader 972-855-2931 x2939 diana-trachier@southandwestern.com   Gene Horner Commercial Transportation Team Leader 901-684-4574 gene-horner3@southandwestern.com   To learn more about S&W, and to access the online rater, visit: https://hubs.la/Q02zHd5l0 #FridaySpotlight #BSG #OneLinkOnePassword #BeTheBridge #CombinedCapabilities

Our Women’s History Month series continues with a focus on Rachael Hudson, Vice President, Head of Data & Analytics for Bridge Specialty Group. In her role, she leads the development and execution of the company’s data strategy, and her team is responsible for delivering data-driven insights that propel the business forward. She works across 40+ domestic and international locations on data standardization and quality measures and regularly engages with carrier partners and industry leaders on data driven initiatives. Rachael has worked at Bridge Specialty Group for 14 years. She spent her first 8 years on a brokerage property team out of the BSIB-Atlanta office and 3 years in leadership operations roles. Her sales and operational background put her in a unique position to leverage data across multiple functions to maximize its value to the business. Her passion includes simplifying complex business problems, developing and leading talent, and delivering positive impact on all stakeholders. She has successfully led organizational change, built strong internal and external relationships, and executed successfully on the data roadmap. Rachael’s ability to bridge the gap between business language and data & analytics makes each day unique for her team. Her group includes data analysts, Power BI developers, a research scientist, expert CAT modelers and the customer data stewardship team responsible for data quality and compliance. When asked for a quote for our post, Rachael chose to shine a light on the women on her team— Lisa Dobson, Brittney Howard and Andrea Mcdonald —saying: "I’m honored to be recognized during Women’s History Month, but even more so to work alongside incredible women in this industry. Lisa, Brittney and Andrea are an integral part of the Bridge Specialty Group D&A team, and I’d love for them to share in this recognition. It’s a privilege to work with them every day." #BeTheBridge #WomensHistoryMonth #BSG #BridgeSpecialtyGroup

In this installment of our Women’s History Month series, we shine the light on Mary MacDonnell, MBA, AAI, AU, AINS, ARM, Chief Financial Officer, Bridge Specialty Group. Mary is a professional with exemplary leadership and strategic acumen. She has a solid educational background and hands-on experience in finance and operations management, consistently delivering outstanding results. Mary graduated from Monmouth University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting and Management. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern University, with a double major in Finance and International Management. As Chief Financial Officer for Bridge Specialty Group, Mary focuses on financial strategy, reporting, planning and risk management. She aligns financial objectives with company goals, driving profitability and sustainability. Previously, she served as Regional Finance & Operations Leader, overseeing accounting functions, acquisitions and new systems implementation. Mary's international experience as Finance Director at London’s Decus Insurance Brokers Limited highlights her adaptability and global mindset. She optimized financial processes and played a pivotal role in restructuring initiatives, resulting in significant cost savings and margin improvements. Mary is committed to community service, volunteering for causes such as the Queen Botanical Garden and the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure. She has received numerous awards, including a 2025 OnCon Icon Top 100 Finance & Accounting Professional, 2024 Business Insurance Women to Watch award, Finance Business Partner of the Year and Above and Beyond awards. When we asked Mary about her career to this point, she had this to say, "Through my journey, I have learned that the sky is not the limit—it's just the beginning. My career has taught me there are endless possibilities for women in a male dominated field, but it was my mother who taught me to break through every boundary that is put in front of you. She instilled in me the belief that a woman can be anything—strong, ambitious and unapologetically herself. With her guidance, I learned to embrace my potential and to never let anyone define my worth." Mary is definitely a trailblazer in finance and operations, with a passion for excellence, strategic vision and commitment to community service. Her track record of success and leadership serves as an inspiration to colleagues and aspiring professionals alike, embodying the values of integrity, innovation and impact. #BeTheBridge #WomensHistoryMonth #BSG #BridgeSpecialtyGroup

"Our Public Entity Practice Group is dedicated to providing specialized insurance solutions for public entities. We leverage our strong carrier relationships and extensive market knowledge to help clients navigate the complexities of the public entity insurance market. Our team's collaborative approach and innovative strategies help us meet the evolving needs of our clients, even in challenging market conditions." – Justin Galati, executive vice president and Public Entity practice group leader. We hope you enjoyed this month’s insights from our Public Entity practice group. Our offerings are diverse and extensive and help us provide solutions to address the varied needs of our clients. Here are some of the programs we offer: ·         K-12 Public, Private, Charter Schools, Colleges and Universities ·         Special Districts, Water, Sewer, Sanitary ·         Non-profit and Social Services ·         Municipalities ·         Law Enforcement Agencies ·         Housing/Transit/Airport/Water Authorities ·         Special Purpose Government Entities ·         Program/Pool/Trust Administrator ·         Educational Systems ·         Tribal / Sovereign Nations For more information, contact: Justin Galati at jgalati@apexinsurance.com or (856) 533-5968. #BSG #BeTheBridge #PublicEntityInsurance