Our Rising C-Level: Jason Patchen is Cretcher Heartland’s New Chief Marketing Officer
We are pleased to announce a key addition to our leadership team. Jason Patchen has joined Cretcher Heartland as Chief Marketing Officer and a key member of our executive management team.
In his new role he will be responsible for building growth-driven marketing relationships and sophisticated marketing platforms, both internally with sales and service staff and externally with insurance carrier partners.
Jason brings 18 years of insurance industry experience to the role, including underwriting management roles for Chubb Insurance in Chicago, Indianapolis and Kansas City, and most recently as a region distribution manager for ACE, one of the world’s largest international multi-line property and casualty insurers.
“It’s an exciting opportunity, because Cretcher Heartland’s client-focused marketing approach sets the stage to develop innovative programs and dynamic new relationships,” Patchen said. Cretcher Heartland’s client-focused marketing approach sets the stage to develop innovative programs and dynamic new relationships.” “Our industry is undergoing rapid change right now, and along with that comes new opportunities to deliver optimal, cost-efficient and sound risk management.”
Steve Nicholson, Cretcher Heartland CEO, added, “We are thrilled to have Jason on our team. He has an outstanding record of achievement along with energy, drive and a passion for creating client value and delivering results.”
Watch our New Video for a Crash Course on Surety Bonds
More and more, successful contractors must be savvy about surety bonding. Bonds are usually required of general contractors on public projects at the federal, state or local level and increasingly, subcontractors are being asked to provide bonds.
This under-10-minute video with Erle Benton, Cretcher Heartland Bond Manager, and Ryan Rink from Live with Rink and Laura, will help you get up to speed quickly. Erle Benton holds the CPCU (Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriters) and AFSB (Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding) designations and has long been active with many surety and construction related associations both locally and nationally. He has held multiple leadership positions with the Surety Association of Kansas City and is a member of the NASBP Professional Development and Education Committee. And, he’s pretty entertaining, too!
Have more questions or need advice on surety bonding? Contact Erle Benton here.
Accident Fund Awards: Top Territory Agency, Most Growth
Jacque Lucas, Accident Fund Senior Business Development Consultant and Adam Gildemeister, Cretcher Heartland Account Executive
Cretcher Heartland has been named 2012 Top Agency of the Territory (including Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska) by Accident Fund Insurance Company of America. The award is based on a combination of ratings including new business growth, premium retention, and loss ratio.
Accident Fund also presented Cretcher Heartland with the “Most Growth” award for 2012. This recognition is awarded for leadership in total written premium growth for the year.
Cretcher Heartland has represented Accident Fund since 2004. The company is headquartered in Lansing, MI and is a leading provider of workers compensation insurance. (This isn’t the agency’s first award from Accident Fund – we were honored with Accident Fund’s President’s Club award in 2008.)
L to R; Adam Gildemeister, Cretcher Heartland; Jacque Lucas, Accident Fund; Jim Wilkinson, Cretcher Heartland SVP Marketing; Steve Nicholson, Cretcher Heartland CEO
“In many ways, we believe we share these awards with our clients,” said Adam Gildemeister, Cretcher Heartland Account Executive. “Our total focus here is on delivering exceptional service to our clients, and Accident Fund’s outstanding workers’ compensation products and expertise in loss prevention have helped us serve our clients better.”
Thanks, Accident Fund and congratulations to Cretcher Heartland associates, and clients!
Presenting our 2012 Service Award Honorees
A highlight of the annual Cretcher Heartland Holiday celebration are the year’s Service Awards, presented to associates who reach key tenure milestones with the company during the year. In 2012, thirteen of our associates were recognized for their steadfast service as they reached one of these important anniversaries.
Steve Nicholson, Cretcher Heartland CEO commented, “We’re proud that the average employee tenure at Cretcher Heartland far exceeds comparable U.S. companies in the private sector. It’s great to be able to recognize their continued commitment and loyalty to our clients and their fellow co-workers.”
Thank you and congratulations to these Cretcher Heartland associates!
5 years of Service
Left: Mary Pribyl, Right: Mike Ryan
(Not pictured: Kevin Alexander, Chris Ford)
10 years of Service
L to R: Kelly Miller, Steve Sopinski, Cyndi Ulett
Dennis Mosier
15 years of Service
L to R: Kelly Watson, Paul Black, Rex Sweetwood, Kevin Williams
20 years of Service
Evelyn McGaughey
Announcing Our 2012 Surety Partner of the Year Award: Berkley Surety
Cretcher Heartland Bond Manager Erle Benton presents the Surety Partner of the Year award to Bryan McAllister, Branch Manager (Left) and Todd Buechter, Regional Director (Center).
Cretcher Heartland is pleased to announce that Berkley Surety has been awarded our Surety Partner of the Year Award for 2012. Berkley representatives visited Cretcher Heartland’s Overland Park, Kansas offices on February 7th for a presentation of the award as well as productive discussions on ways to further build the partnership and maximize value to CH clients.
The Morristown, New Jersey-based company, part of the W.R. Berkley Corporation, has received the distinction for 2012 based on their high service levels, excellent responsiveness and strong commitment to building valuable, long-term relationships.
Erle Benton, Cretcher Heartland Bond Manager, said, “The relationships we have with all of our surety partners are very important to us. In 2012, Berkley Surety staff provided an exceptional level of service to our agency, even receiving responses when the Berkley underwriters were on vacation. Bryan McAllister and Todd Buechter really were responsive and also a real pleasure to work with.”
Steve Nicholson, Cretcher Heartland CEO added, “As we evaluate all of our quality surety partners on an annual basis, it is great to take a moment in time to acknowledge great partners like Berkley Surety for their attention to clients and their service to Cretcher Heartland’s team members. This award is both fun and rewarding for all parties involved.”
Cretcher Heartland’s Surety Partner of the Year award was established in 2007 and past winners include Old Republic Surety, Zurich N.A., CNA Surety/Western Surety, United Fire & Casualty Company, and Merchants Bonding Company.
Congratulations to Berkley Surety, and to everyone on their talented and highly-skilled service team!
L to R: Vin Forte, Berkley Senior Vice President; Andy Tuma, Berkley President; Bryan McAllister, Berkley Branch Manager; Todd Buechter, Berkley Regional Director; Erle Benton, CH Bond Manager; Steve Nicholson, CH CEO; Kari Boeckman, CH Account Executive; Jerod Topliff, CH Account Executive; John Beers, Berkley Vice President Field Operations.
A Because we're a KC 2012 Top Ten Small Business, you know you're working with a winner and getting the top-quality service partnership you need to succeed.
A custom-fit program for your business: Initial and ongoing needs analysis and risk assessments for your total business operations
A process that matches you with the markets best suited to support your business goals. (And we've got ready access to hundreds of top-quality carriers.)
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