Governance & Committees
Governance and committee positions are open to full membership members. Interested in a position? Contact us for more information.
Governance
Executive Committee Officers
Chairman: Terry McClaskey, Vice President, Personal Lines, Westfield Insurance
Vice Chairman: Mark Russell, President/CEO, Ohio Mutual Insurance Company
Secretary/Treasurer: Thomas J. Obrokta, President/CEO, Encova Insurance Group
Directors
Susanna Berna, CPCU, ChFC, CLU, FLMI, Counsel, State Farm
Chuck Crist, Claims Business Leader, Progressive Insurance
Mark Howard, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, Nationwide Insurance
Thomas Hogan, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer/Secretary, The Cincinnati Insurance Company
Élise deLanglade-Spriggs, Senior Public Affairs Officer and Director of Strategic Policy Enablement, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
Cheryl Lebens, President of Personal Lines, Grange Mutual Insurance
Committees
Committee members contribute their time, experience and expertise for the good of Ohio’s insurance industry and guide key association initiatives.
Legislative Committee
Mission: To establish consensus positions among members on public policy matters that facilitate a comprehensive and financially sound property and casualty insurance environment in Ohio.
The OII Legislative Committee and its subcommittees monitor over 200 bills that are introduced in the Ohio General Assembly and numerous proposed administrative rules each year that impact the property and casualty insurance industry. Committees review and adopt positions on these bills and administrative rules and also sometimes recommend amendments.
Legal Subcommittee
Mission: To serve as subject matter legal experts in reviewing and drafting language on legislative issues, pending regulatory actions, and monitor responses to judicial decisions.
The OII Legal Subcommittee also reviews any OII member-company request for OII involvement in a pending court decision in the form of an amicus curiae brief. In considering a given request the subcommittee considers the impact of the decision on member companies and the industry, the court in which the case is pending, and the cost of participating.
Surety and Fidelity Subcommittee
Mission: To act as subject matter experts in reviewing and responding to legislative and regulatory issues relating to surety and fidelity.
Education & Workforce Development Committee
Mission: To partner with educators to strengthen public understanding of and confidence in Ohio’s property and casualty insurance industry and assist in creating a talent pool of potential employees.
The OII Education & Workforce Development Committee and its subcommittee aid the growth and development of Ohio insurance careers through outreach programs and statewide coalition efforts. The committee also provides insurance education resources and classroom materials to educators, leads Speakers Network volunteers and facilitates the annual Insurance Educator of the Year Award.
Insuring Ohio Futures Subcommittee
Mission: To foster the growth of a talent pipeline through college and university risk management and insurance (RMI) programs, dispel negative perceptions of the insurance industry, and promote career opportunities within the Ohio insurance industry.
The OII Insuring Ohio Futures Subcommittee manages insurancecareers.org, maintains relationships with Ohio colleges and universities with RMI programs, partners with Gamma Iota Sigma to gather student input, and facilitates student networking events and informational sessions.