By Lyle Adriano
David Mattax, Texas Commissioner of Insurance, has appointed nine people from across the state of Texas to serve on the Board of Directors of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). The change is in accordance with Senate Bill 900, which mandated that the board be composed of various individuals whose collective experience would help in administrating the organization. The new board’s appointments took effect October 1.
Legislation stipulates that the board must include three board members from coastal counties, three who live at least 100 miles from the coast, and three from the insurance industry who write and renew windstorm and hail insurance for customers along the Gulf Coast.
“This will be a very experienced and knowledgeable board working to carry out the Legislature’s directive and TWIA’s statutory role,” says Mattax.
The board’s members are:
- Blair Crossan – He comes from Addison. Regional vice president for Nationwide Insurance, has over 15 years of experience serving the Texas market. He has attained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Ohio Dominican University.
- Joshua Fields – He hails from Harligen. He serves as the vice president of Shepard Walton King Insurance Group. He possesses a certified insurance counselor designation with the National Alliance. Joshua graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s degree.
- Michel Gerik – He is from McGregor. He serves as the executive vice president for Texas Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company. Michel is a veteran of the property and casualty insurance industry, with over 35 years of experience. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington.
- R. Scott Kesner – He represents El Paso. Scott is the president of Century 21 The Edge, and chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors. He is a graduate of Sul Ross State University.
- Ronald Lawson – He is based in Allen. Currently, he is vice president of marketing for Republic Underwriters Insurance Company. He has over three decades of experience in the industry. Ronald is an Auburn University graduate.
- Georgia Nebelt – Representative from Port Aransas. Is the director of external affairs for the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute and a member of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce Tourist Bureau.
- Tony Schrader – He is of Round Rock. He was a deputy commissioner with the Iowa Department of Insurance and the Texas State Board of Insurance. Tony has a Bachelor’s degree from William Penn University and a law degree from the University of Iowa.
- Bryan Shofner – He is from Lubbock. Brian is the senior vice president MHBT. He is also an independent insurance broker, and the former president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas.
- Chandra Womack – She is from Dickinson. Chandra is the president of Aran & Franklin Engineering and is a licensed professional engineer who specializes in windstorm and structure design. She serves as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She is a graduate of Lamar University.
