WHO WE ARE
PERse (Power.Energy.Risk; securing the environment) is a Managing General Underwriter specializing in property and casualty insurance products for energy and power production facilities with a specialized focus on renewable energy.
We provide a superior level of service to clients through our breadth of product offerings, underwriting capabilities, technical services, and administration. The PERse team is dedicated to forming exceptional long-term relationships and maintaining an impressive track record in the renewable energy industry.
PERse underwriters ensure the insurance program for each project is in compliance with all contracts and fully meets the needs of all project participants.
PERse can be accessed through retail and wholesale brokers in the renewable space as well as those with traditional energy or property/casualty backgrounds. We work directly with our brokers and their clients (project developers, owners, utilities, equipment manufacturers, lenders, and their insurance advisors) to meet the challenges of the complex exposures faced by relatively new and rapidly-evolving technologies.
PERse offers a wealth of experience in the ever-evolving Renewable Energy space. We have maintained long-standing partnerships with the early innovators of wind development and newcomers alike. With our cutting-edge approach, PERse efficiently services our clients’ insurance needs from small-scale solar installations to multi-billion dollar wind farms.
MEET OUR TEAM
KATIE DAVIES CEO, North America
Katie Davies has over 18 years of experience underwriting US property insurance on an E&S, admitted, and program basis. Prior to joining Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers and PERse, Katie spent nine years as president of AmWINS Special Risk Underwriters. Before her role at AmWINS, Katie worked for Chubb (formerly ACE Limited), first as a US property underwriter at the AGM 2488 syndicate in Lloyd’s of London and then as the Midwest regional property manager of ACE’s Global Property unit in Chicago. Katie also worked as a broker at Marsh in their New York and London offices, and began her insurance career with an internship with Aon in London.
Jeffrey Smith President & Chief Underwriting Officer
Jeffrey Smith has over 17 years’ experience in the insurance industry in a variety of underwriting, management, and sales positions. Prior to joining PERse, Jeffrey was Vice President and Underwriting Officer for one of the largest underwriting managers of renewable projects worldwide. His primary responsibility was underwriting and managing a profitable North American book of business which, at the time, was in excess of $50 million written premium. He also served as Assistant Vice President at the first US insurance agency specializing in wind energy products.
Kristin Daur Executive Vice President, Director – Underwriting
In her 11 years of insuring renewable energy projects, Kristin has cultivated relationships to fuel the success of her partners and clients in the burgeoning renewable energy space. Kristin began her career at one of the largest underwriting managers of renewable energy projects worldwide and has since continued her career with PERse. Kristin is an active member of AWEA and WOWE (Women of Wind Energy) and a faithful advocate for accelerating the growth of women in the insurance industry.
Kristina Williams Director, Claims
Kristina Williams has over 20 years of related insurance and claims management experience. In her most recent role, she served as North American Clams Manager for another renewable energy focused insurance provider. Prior to that, she served as a Commercial Lines Claims Adjuster for Southland Claims Service, Inc., and as a Property and Casualty Claims Adjuster for both USAA Insurance Company and Progressive Insurance Company.
Jeff Richards Senior Underwriter
Jeff has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. The first half of his career was spent as an engineering consultant moving up to a National Manager of Property Loss Control for a large insurance company. For a new challenge, he worked as a property broker, and then the last 12 years as an underwriter for two large renewable energy insurance companies. Jeff’s engineering background and previous experience in the utility sectors has led him on his current path of providing renewable energy insurance and service to large utility companies.
Kaitlin Baldwin Senior Underwriter
For her first 7 years in the insurance industry, Kaitlin focused solely on professional liability and casualty business in the upstream and downstream parts of the energy sector, working on both claims and underwriting. In the last 2 years, Kaitlin began the underwriting of both property and casualty specific to renewable energy insurance while joining one of the larger underwriting managers of renewable energy projects. Now continuing on with her career at PERse, Kaitlin is responsible for the property and casualty underwriting of both wind and solar business.
Kent Gallego Senior Underwriter
Kent specializes in an array of renewable energy products both domestic and abroad with a concentration in wind, solar, and hydropower. He focuses on engaging new markets and modeling CAT risks for PERse.
Emelie Klehr Senior Underwriter
Emelie specializes in underwriting both property and casualty insurance for onshore wind, solar and hydroelectric risks in North America. She joined PERse in 2015 after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and International Business at Pennsylvania State University. Recently, Emelie received her MBA with a specialization in Risk Management and Insurance after deciding to further her education at St. John’s University.
Mandy Saunders Underwriter
Mandy has been in the insurance industry for the past 20 years and servicing bio, onshore wind and solar accounts specifically for the past 6 years with one of the largest underwriting managers of renewable energy projects. She works closely with brokers on new and renewal opportunities, writing both property and casualty insurance in the United States and Canada.
Andrew Truong Underwriter
Andrew began his insurance career working on both the Business Development and Underwriting team at one of the largest underwriting managers specializing in renewable energy. Andrew’s strong relationships with both retail and wholesale brokers across North America have allowed him to underwrite a handful of utility scale solar, wind, and battery energy storage projects across their operational life.
Jack George Associate Underwriter
Jack is an Underwriting Assistant with PERse, focusing on a variety of renewable energy products. Prior to beginning his career with PERse, Jack graduated from Elon University with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Management.
MaryAnn Sciascia Underwriter
MaryAnn is an Underwriting Assistant for PERse, supporting their NY office. She has 14 years of insurance/reinsurance experience. Prior to joining PERse, she worked as a Technical Assistant for TransRe’s Property Treaty and Facultative Department. Prior to TransRe, she worked as an Underwriting/Contract Analyst for XL Re supporting various departments such as A&H, Casualty and Property Treaty/Fac. Before entering the Reinsurance field, she worked for Hiscox USA, where she worked as an Underwriting Assistant for their Kidnap & Ransom, Construction, Inland Marine, and Misc E&O lines of business.
Gary Fleming Risk Engineering Practice Leader
Gary joined PERse in March of 2019 to expand and develop the team’s risk engineering consulting capabilities. He has over 35 years of experience as a property and machinery breakdown risk control engineer with recent focus on renewable power including hydroelectric, onshore wind, solar, geothermal, battery energy storage, bio-energy and offshore wind. Prior to joining PERse, Gary was part of the Renewables Expert Team at a leading insurer and helped develop many of their loss prevention guidelines and underwriting tools. He is a registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina and is certified by the Global Wind Organization (GWO) with his OnShore Basic Safety Training (BST). Gary is also a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate and was formerly licensed by the National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspectors Commission.
Moussa Sy Associate Underwriter
Moussa Sy has a Master’s degree in chemical engineering, emphasis in Renewable Energy Systems from Syracuse University, originally hailing from Bamako, Mali. Moussa is a technical services risk engineering representative focusing on renewable energy. He received his Bachelor’s in Environmental Science-Renewable Energy at San Jose State University. During his undergraduate studies, he interned with the City of San Jose Public Works Energy Department, working on utility data for over 400 city facilities. In addition, at San Jose State University, he worked as a research assistant on solar energy irrigation for agriculture in developing countries. While attending Syracuse University, his passion for the environmental space continued while conducting research in a renewable energy lab; working closely with PhD students on developing cathodes such as calcium chromium and calcium manganese oxide.
Brie Witt Senior Account Manager
Brie manages client transactions for all renewables and casualty risks for PERse. Prior to joining PERse, Brie was an Account Manager for one of the largest underwriting managers of renewable projects worldwide. Brie has her Property and Casualty Insurance License.
Jonathan Simes Head of Claims, London
Jonathan Simes has 10 years’ experience in the Lloyd’s of London insurance industry in a variety of Claims positions. Prior to joining PERse, Jonathan was a Claims Executive at RKH Specialty handling various accounts specializing in the Renewable Energy sector.
Michelle Lee Claims Examiner
Michelle brings over 15 years of claims handling experience to the table. Her robust background includes previous claims positions at Westchester (a Chubb company), Ironshore, and Liberty Mutual, where she has primarily focused on the energy, construction, and property lines of business.
Callum Jones Claims Associate
Callum has significant experience as both a claims technician and reinsurance technician, previously working for Davies Group, The Channel Syndicate and SCOR. As a valued member of our claims team, Callum’s responsibilities include claim processing and providing claim support to our valued clients.
CONNECTION TO RYAN SPECIALTY
PERse is part of the Ryan Specialty family. Ryan Specialty is a service provider of specialty products and solutions for insurance brokers, agents and carriers. Ryan Specialty provides distribution, underwriting, product development, administration and risk management services by acting as a managing underwriter and a wholesale broker. Ryan Specialty’s mission is to provide industry-leading innovative specialty insurance solutions for insurance brokers, agents and carriers. ryansg.com (NYSE: Ryan)
Ryan Specialty was founded in 2010 by Patrick G. Ryan, the widely respected insurance veteran, founder and former Chairman and CEO of Aon Corporation. Mr. Ryan saw the need in the marketplace for a specialty organization dedicated exclusively to creating sophisticated insurance solutions for risks that demand innovation, proven leadership, outstanding industry expertise and quality services on behalf of brokers, agents and carriers.
Within Ryan Specialty, PERse falls within the Underwriting Managers specialty. Underwriting Managers delivers an independent and entrepreneurial approach to the specialty lines space by providing a unique platform for operational, legal, actuarial and technical support. Underwriting Managers’ exceptional resources and back office support allows underwriters to focus on the risk itself, delivering a superior level of service to brokers, agents and carriers.