The Insurance coverage Enterprise Corridor of Fame

International President

Years within the {industry}: 42

Nominator’s view: “As he prepares to retire on the finish of 2025, we have fun a profession that exemplifies the very spirit of the IBA Corridor of Fame. Larry Thomas isn’t just a pacesetter – he’s a legend. His contributions have formed the {industry}, impressed numerous professionals, and can proceed to affect the way forward for insurance coverage for years to come back.”

In 1999, Thomas made a pivotal transfer by taking the helm of a small, underperforming acquisition referred to as Prism. With attribute foresight and willpower, he rebranded it as Contractor Connection, which beneath his management has change into considered one of Crawford & Firm’s most profitable and revered enterprise models.

His management has enabled the Contractor Connection community to course of $2.5 billion in challenge prices and over 350,000 assignments yearly.

“We created proprietary platforms and built-in different third-party know-how,” he says. “We drove the restoration {industry} to adapt and embrace this know-how to raised join with the insurance coverage {industry}.”

 

“My lasting legacy within the {industry} would be the transformative affect that I’ve had on what’s now often called contractor managed restore”

Larry ThomasPlatform Options, Crawford & Firm

Beneath his steering, the idea of ‘contractor direct restore’ advanced into what it’s broadly identified now as ‘contractor managed restore’. This remodeled how insurance coverage carriers and restoration professionals collaborate.

Thomas explains, “We digitized the restore course of that enables us to trace the timelines and permit communication instruments direct from the contractor to the property proprietor.”

His visionary management has earned him deep respect throughout each the insurance coverage and restoration industries, the place he’s seen as a trailblazer.

With Contractor Connection established as a benchmark within the {industry}, broadly emulated and admired Thomas’ legacy grew much more as he moved to steer Platform Options, an industry-leading phase identified for innovation, shopper satisfaction, and operational excellence.

This continued means to construct high-performing groups and foster a tradition of integrity and repair has had an enduring affect not solely on Crawford & Firm however on the broader insurance coverage ecosystem.

Conclusion: Thomas’ management spans a various vary of enterprise segments and geographies, together with loss adjusting, disaster, aviation, class motion, and Asia-Pacific operations. His client-centric strategy has constantly delivered progressive options, incomes the belief of {industry} leaders and forging long-term partnerships.

Chief Underwriting Officer 

Years within the {industry}: 36 

Nominator’s view: “His management has resulted within the profitable launch of recent divisions, the event of cutting-edge danger administration protocols, and the implementation of superior analytics and AI in underwriting. Jude DiBattista can be a devoted mentor and function mannequin, identified for constructing high-performing groups and fostering the subsequent era of insurance coverage professionals.”

DiBattista has made a popularity for main and being a supply of inspiration throughout the insurance coverage sector by prioritizing the development and integrity of the {industry} as a complete.

In his present function, he oversees a $2.8-billion portfolio, and ensures innovation by superior know-how, AI-driven underwriting, and course of optimization.

He has additionally held senior government roles at main organizations, together with GuideOne Insurance coverage (head of casualty underwriting, danger engineering & operations), Nationwide Mutual Insurance coverage Firm (chief casualty underwriting officer, E&S/specialty), QBE North America (SVP, head of E&S nationwide property & casualty), Aspen Insurance coverage (SVP, nationwide casualty & environmental), and Allied World Assurance Firm (VP, basic casualty).

All through his profession, he has launched and remodeled enterprise models, driving double-digit worthwhile development, and implementing progressive underwriting methods and applied sciences.

 

“My evolution as a pacesetter includes not simply setting a imaginative and prescient, but additionally selling an setting with numerous views that I actually worth in my crew”

Jude DiBattistaStarr Insurance coverage

At Nationwide E&S/specialty, he led the transformation of a $450-million division by implementing a vertical construction centered on specialization and technology-driven underwriting. This not solely improved inside processes but additionally set a benchmark for {industry} greatest practices.

Then, whereas at QBE North America, DiBattista launched a $350-million extra & surplus division, creating complete enterprise plans, underwriting pointers, and pricing fashions that positioned the unit for long-term success.

Notably, he pioneered Aspen and Nationwide’s first AI-driven underwriting platform, lowering quote turnaround time by 40 % and bettering danger choice accuracy, which resulted in a 15-percent enhance in profitability throughout the first yr.

At all times working with an progressive mindset, DiBattista remembers when knowledge insights remodeled the insurance coverage {industry} a little bit over a decade in the past.

“The rise of knowledge and analytics has essentially altered how we underwrite, course of claims, and have interaction with our clients,” he explains. “To remain forward, I’ve at all times championed digital transformation initiatives. I actively encourage using knowledge to offer that ahead view to reply extra shortly to regulatory and market shifts, establish points inside portfolios, making certain compliance and sustaining flexibility and pace to market.”

When creating new enterprise, DiBattista prioritizes placing collectively a high quality crew and the best controls round underwriting, making the operational effectivity seamless whereas delivering and listening to clients and brokers.

“I wish to construct a portfolio that’s niched and balanced, however broad sufficient that I can learn markets with sure KPI knowledge to go out and in per market cycle,” he says. “That began about 10 years in the past for me, and it’s one thing I carry by each enterprise unit that I handle.”

Conclusion: By constantly putting the {industry}’s pursuits on the forefront, whether or not by creating risk-based options, enhancing underwriting requirements, or advocating for technological development, DiBattista has not solely pushed organizational success however has additionally elevated the broader insurance coverage sector.

CEO, North America and International Areas 

Years within the {industry}: 37

Nominator’s view: “Lori’s affect is unmistakable. At {industry} occasions, attendees line up for the chance to talk together with her straight. She dedicates time to shoppers of all sizes, demonstrating her perception that each relationship issues, and that listening is foundational to management. Lori’s affect extends by mentorship. Her ‘mentoring tree’ consists of dozens of present and former Aon leaders who credit score her with shaping their careers.”

In her present function as CEO of North America and international areas, Goltermann leads the strategic administration and supply of the agency’s danger capital and human capital options, serving to shoppers navigate volatility and make higher choices about their folks and danger methods. She is accountable for embedding Aon’s shopper management mannequin throughout the agency and delivering built-in options that strengthen shopper relationships and relevance.

Her profession started at Vacationers earlier than she moved to Aon in 1993, holding a spread of positions, together with account government, personal fairness and M&A follow chief, and finally operating the St. Louis workplace, earlier than being appointed as US well being and advantages follow chief.

This was adopted by a sequence of management roles together with CEO, US industrial danger & well being options, and chief shopper officer & CEO, international enterprise shoppers.

 

“Whenever you see how one can affect anyone else’s life, there’s nothing extra rewarding. It’s a really humbling expertise”

Lori GoltermannAon

One among Goltermann’s most enduring contributions to Aon and the broader {industry} started throughout her tenure as chief of US well being & advantages. Tasked with deepening shopper relationships, she acknowledged the necessity for a extra unified, constant strategy to shopper service. Her imaginative and prescient was to ship a high-quality, high-value expertise at each shopper touchpoint. This led to the creation of Aon’s shopper management mannequin, a transformative framework that redefined how Aon engages with shoppers.

What started as a business-specific resolution advanced into the muse of Aon’s international go-to-market technique. It now underpins the agency’s 3×3 development strategy: delivering built-in options throughout danger and human capital, deepening relationships by constant shopper management, and elevating service and analytics by way of Aon Enterprise Companies.

The shopper management mannequin is constructed on 5 core guarantees – partnership, experience, innovation, excellence, and outcomes – and a structured methodology that goals to find, develop, evaluate, and ship. Each new client-facing colleague is educated on this mannequin, making certain a constant and elevated shopper expertise throughout Aon’s international community.

For Goltermann, the fundamentals of shopper companies have remained the identical since she began, although the market situations have change into exponentially extra advanced.

“We speak so much concerning the megatrends at Aon, whether or not it’s commerce and tariffs and geopolitical danger or know-how and the huge transformation that each firm goes by with synthetic intelligence and generative AI,” she explains. “However after I began within the {industry}, the idea of attempting to know your buyer’s technique and methods to underwrite their enterprise and put collectively a proposal to assist them switch danger – that also holds true at this time.”

As well as, Goltermann is thought for her accessibility, authenticity, and dedication to creating future leaders, particularly girls and underrepresented expertise. Her ‘mentoring tree’ consists of dozens of present and former Aon leaders. This probably stems from Goltermann’s personal expertise of senior crew members’ steering.

“I’ve had so many mentors which have helped me get to the place I’m. I by no means might have achieved this a lot with out earlier mentorship.”

Past Aon, Goltermann serves on a number of boards and group organizations, together with the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Particular Olympics, and Aon’s apprenticeship program, which creates profession pathways for numerous candidates.

She can be a member of The Chicago Community, a coalition of the town’s most influential girls leaders. By Aon’s function as a founding member of the Community’s Fairness Pledge, Goltermann is a visual advocate for gender fairness in management, with a dedication to reaching gender parity in government roles by 2030. Her instance continues to encourage the subsequent era of entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders to steer with objective, empathy, and affect.

Conclusion: Goltermann’s means to translate imaginative and prescient into scalable, enterprise-wide innovation exemplifies her management and lasting affect on each Aon and the {industry} extra broadly.

Government Managing Director of Government Legal responsibility 

Years within the {industry}: 39

Nominator’s view: “Together with deep experience in each the underwriting and brokerage facet, Lattmann leverages his intensive market information and understanding of advanced exposures to assist shoppers navigate administrators and officers legal responsibility, skilled legal responsibility, employment practices legal responsibility, fiduciary legal responsibility, crime and associated traces.”

The chief legal responsibility follow at Beecher Carlson beneath Lattmann’s steering, as considered one of its founders, has grown considerably pushed by a client-first philosophy and a tradition of collaboration and excellence.

Lattmann is an innovator in government legal responsibility insurance coverage; he spearheaded the event of the primary predictive D&O analytics software at a brokerage, initially referred to as MARA, now often called D&O In-Web site. This software remodeled how shoppers assess danger by leveraging historic loss knowledge and tailoring insights to every shopper’s particular danger profile, which helps drive danger switch choices.

“Individuals weren’t utilizing the time period ‘knowledge analytics’ again within the day,” he notes. “However with the ability to sift by a danger profile and establish hazard areas allowed me to know the danger profile higher and discover the most effective insurance coverage firm to jot down that danger.”

Discovering predictive dangers was the final word purpose of Lattman’s efforts.

“Over time, there was sufficient securities litigation in opposition to administrators’ officers of boards to establish why one firm obtained sued and one other one didn’t. So, we invested closely early on to mainly purchase as a lot knowledge as we might each across the danger profile after which the claims knowledge.”

Beneath Lattmann’s management, this analytics-driven tradition expanded into EPL-InSite and Cyber-InSite, offering shoppers with forward-looking, data-informed methods throughout a number of traces of protection. These instruments have change into key differentiators for the agency, providing shoppers a stage of perception and program customization beforehand unavailable.

 

“I need to ensure that I’ve a footprint on the enterprise the place I’ve given all the pieces I might to make different folks profitable”

Jeffrey LattmannBrown & Brown

Lattmann additionally helped launch CyberSelect, a tailor-made cyber insurance coverage kind, and led the creation of affinity applications that permit regional Brown & Brown workplaces to entry D&O and cyber protection, broadening entry to stylish options throughout the group. His means to anticipate shopper wants and translate them into scalable, progressive options has positioned him as a visionary within the {industry}. Lattmann’s work continues to redefine how brokers ship worth in a quickly evolving danger setting.

Previous to becoming a member of Beecher Carlson, Lattmann spent 15 years at Marsh, the place he led a crew centered on advanced danger placements for Fortune 1000 corporations. Earlier in his profession, he served as a regional supervisor at Nationwide Union Hearth Insurance coverage Firm (AIG), gaining foundational underwriting expertise.

Since 2012, Lattmann has additionally been the president of the Skilled Legal responsibility Underwriting Society (PLUS) and a member of its Board of Trustees since 2006. As well as, he serves on the AIG New York Advisory Board and beforehand held a place on the ACE (now Chubb) Bermuda Advisory Board.

He’s additionally eager to pay it ahead and share his time to assist others.

“I spend time on the board of a minority enterprise improvement institute to assist girls minority and disabled veterans get their companies off the bottom. I like to present again and provides to everybody else,” he says.

Conclusion: Lattmann’s profession is marked not solely by technical excellence and innovation but additionally by a deep dedication to mentorship, inclusion, and the {industry}’s long-term success.

🛡️ Resilience and breaking boundaries

• Many Corridor of Fame honorees started their careers in eras or environments the place girls and minorities have been underrepresented in management. They confronted and overcame biases, usually being the primary or solely of their roles.
  
   

• Becky Patel, for instance, challenged gender and cultural stereotypes, advocating for work-life steadiness and inclusivity, and turning adversity right into a platform for change.

🌱 Mentorship and expertise improvement

• Almost all of the professionals highlighted have a powerful dedication to mentorship. 
  
   

• Brenda Austenfeld centered on shaping future leaders.
  
   

• Howard Siegel established or led formal mentorship applications, making certain information switch and help for rising expertise.
  
   

• Jeff Lattmann labored with the Minority Enterprise Growth Institute and PLUS Ladies’s Management Community, demonstrating a dedication to supporting underrepresented teams.

🌍 Advocacy for variety, fairness, and inclusion (DEI)

• Many of those leaders are champions of DEI, not simply in phrases however in motion.
  
   

• Lori Goltermann advocated for gender parity.
  
   

• Charles Brophy deliberately included girls in management discussions and M&A conferences.

💡 Innovation and visionary management

• A number of honorees are acknowledged for pioneering new enterprise fashions, applied sciences, or practices.
  
   

• Jude DiBattista launched new enterprise models and centered on digital ecosystems and innovation.
  
   

• These leaders aren’t simply sustaining the established order; they’re actively shaping the {industry}’s future.

🤝 Service past the office

🧭 Values-driven and genuine management

• Attributes resembling integrity, empathy, authenticity, and objective are repeatedly cited.

🌟 Legacy of inspiration and empowerment

• These professionals are acknowledged not just for their achievements however for the enduring affect they’ve on others. They function function fashions by main by instance, sharing their journeys, and empowering others to succeed.

“Integrity and belief are the muse of success within the insurance coverage {industry},” provides Worters. “Resilience, adaptability, and curiosity are essential as dangers and circumstances evolve. Analytical expertise are necessary, however so are empathy and collaboration; balancing technical experience with the human facet of our work defines true success.”

Studying from crises

The Corridor of Fame honorees have been current throughout a number of the most consequential occasions of the previous 4 a long time. Whereas these occasions introduced main challenges to insurance coverage leaders, Worters explains that the most effective within the enterprise have overcome crises with resilience and new options.

“Every disaster offers insights into danger publicity, claims administration, underwriting practices, and buyer communication,” she says. 

“As an illustration, the teachings from 9/11 led to improvements in terrorism protection and reinsurance constructions, whereas the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in enterprise interruption insurance policies and distant workforce dangers. Local weather change is prompting insurers to rethink disaster modeling, pricing, and sustainability methods.”

Remaining calm and dependable throughout occasions of disaster served Goltermann significantly effectively by the tumultuous pandemic.

“Each time these moments occur, it’s an opportunity for our leaders to be inspirational, assured, and possibly not present as a lot vulnerability in how you are feeling,” she says. “It builds a bond along with your crew when you will get by robust occasions like that.”

Throughout turbulent markets, Lattmann has redistributed his personal wage raises and bonuses to reward his teammates in lean years.

“I wanted to ensure the crew stayed intact, nevertheless it needed to be the best crew with the best leaders,” he explains.

Adapting to technological adjustments

IBA’s Corridor of Famers have gone from utilizing manuals for underwriting to leveraging AI to do the identical job within the house of practically 4 a long time.

When Thomas started his profession as a claims adjuster, he would carry a pocket filled with quarters to report again to his workplace by a pay cellphone. Having seen the affect of know-how, Thomas has maintained a curious perspective.

“Those who resisted have been left behind, however people who embraced it and wished to find out about know-how made a distinction,” he says. “The crew and I have been progressive, taking a look at applied sciences of the longer term, not simply utilizing the know-how that’s obtainable in at this time’s market.”

Leaving a legacy

This choose group of {industry} veterans can be paving the best way for the subsequent era.

Goltermann’s personal challenges of balancing profession targets with private obligations motivates her to cross on recommendation.

“Ladies usually should navigate the trail of a excessive profession efficiency and trajectory with attempting to determine methods to even be a spouse and a mother or a daughter to an growing old father or mother,” she explains.

“Plenty of occasions, I don’t know that I’ve the reply to the right equation of work-life steadiness, however even simply sharing how I’ve navigated these completely different phases of my life and serving to rising stars work by that query is one thing I get a number of enjoyment out of.”

Corridor of Famer DiBattista notes the diminishing expertise hole between management and basic underwriters, a phenomenon he says stems from elevated teaching and expertise improvement.

“We’ve began to shut that hole over the previous few years. That’s achieved with easy issues like lunch and learns, and speaking about topics like rising points and traits. It’s essential to have the ability to carry younger expertise up.”

Holding quite a few management positions throughout his profession, DiBattista shifted his mindset to allow a extra collaborative strategy.

“My management model has actually advanced in a optimistic means. It was traditionally extra of a directive model of management, however now it’s extra collaborative and empowering,” he says. “Over time, I’ve realized the worth of belief. Belief, however confirm. My evolution as a pacesetter actually includes not simply setting a imaginative and prescient but additionally selling an setting with numerous views that I worth in my crew. And I believe that actually motivates the crew to need to do higher, be taught, and reply.”

Taking over department administration at 24, Lattmann understood the significance of management by training. Now with a long time of expertise, he factors to an open-door coverage that facilitates innovation and excellence.

“I inform all of them, ‘If I’m wanting left and I must be wanting proper, it’s your accountability to wake me up and problem me,’” he explains.

Having competed in faculty athletics and coached highschool soccer, Thomas finds many parallels between the management expertise wanted.

“Everybody’s obtained a sport plan, however that’s why there’s halftime. You make changes and revise your sport plan to what’s essential, however the purpose by no means adjustments.”

Conclusion

The Corridor of Fame 2025’s achievements, prowess, and experience have earned them this prestigious honor. Not solely have they raised the bar throughout the {industry}, however they’re additionally examples to different colleagues on account of their:

• Position modeling: Sharing private tales of overcoming adversity, balancing work and life, and breaking new floor, these leaders present that success is feasible.
  
   

• Mentorship: Each formal and casual mentoring offers steering, help, and alternatives for others to be taught and develop.
  
   

• Advocacy: Dedication to DEI and creating inclusive environments encourage youthful professionals to pursue management roles and advocate for others.
  
   

• Innovation: Willingness to embrace change and drive innovation encourages youthful professionals to assume creatively and be proactive in shaping the {industry}.
  
   

• Neighborhood engagement: The honorees show the significance of giving again and constructing networks past the office.
  
   

• Values: They emphasize integrity, empathy, and repair, setting a normal for moral and impactful management.
  
   

• Becky Patel
  
  Advisor and Former CEO, Amwins Join
  
  Amwins
• Charles Brophy
  
  Regional President, East President and CEO, HUB New England
  
  HUB Worldwide
• Claudia Mandato
  
  Government Vice President, Operations Government
  
  Lockton
• Jude DiBattista
  
  Chief Underwriting Officer
  
  Starr Insurance coverage