Press Releases

Five Risk Strategies’ Experts Named 2018 Power Brokers by Risk & Insurance

Jeff Kaplan, Mary Pontillo, Kristina Marcigliano, Emily Weiss and Berj Basralian recognized for excellence in fine arts, entertainment and private client risk management

BOSTON, March 13, 2018 -- Risk Strategies, a leading national specialty insurance brokerage and risk management and consulting firm, today announced it has been recognized for excellence in its fine arts, entertainment and private client insurance and risk management practices by Risk & Insurance.

Award winners include Jeff Kaplan in the private client category, Berj Basralian in the entertainment category, and Mary Pontillo, Kristina Marcigliano and Emily Weiss in the fine arts category.

“This recognition is a testament to how passionate our employees are about their work and how dedicated they are to putting their clients first,” said Risk Strategies’ CEO and founder Mike Christian. “Power Broker award winners are known as leaders in the industry, and I am immensely proud of Jeff, Mary, Kristina, Emily and Berj for representing Risk Strategies and our DeWitt Stern division on this prestigious list. We pride ourselves on exceptional talent and innovative, strategic work and will continue to strive to deliver that to clients.”

Kaplan, vice president and northeast family office practice leader, was named a 2018 Power Broker in the private client category and praised by clients for his emotional intelligence and ability to keep cool in all situations.

“He’s got a rare ability to interact with clients, but he is also an insurance nerd, so he knows the technical details,” explained one of Kaplan’s clients, Jason Raymond of Gore Creek Asset Management LLC.

Pontillo, senior vice president and national fine arts practice leader with Risk Strategies’ DeWitt Stern division, was named a Power Broker for the seventh time in the fine arts category and recognized for the value she places on educating herself and her clients.

When discussing Pontillo’s process, Christa Blatchford, CEO of the Joan Mitchell Foundation, described her approach to risk management as something that “… makes the insurance conversation front-end instead of after the fact.”

Marcigliano and Weiss, senior account executives with Risk Strategies’ DeWitt Stern division, were also named 2018 Power Brokers in the fine arts category and recognized for their outstanding and innovative policy creation and customer service. Basralian, an account executive with Risk Strategies’ DeWitt Stern Entertainment division, was recognized in the entertainment category and for his innovations in drone coverage.

The Risk & Insurance® Power Broker® Awards are an annual selection of the most effective and influential commercial insurance brokers. The Power Broker® designation is based on nominations provided by brokers and risk managers, and is judged based on the quality of the application and on references by risk managers in each industry sector. Hundreds of risk managers and risk executives are interviewed in the process of identifying and soliciting, evaluating and judging the nominees. Brokers are judged primarily on their creativity in solving risk-related problems during the previous year, their demonstrated industry knowledge and their high level of client service.

To learn more about Risk Strategies, please visit www.riskstrategies.com

About Risk Strategies

Risk Strategies is the 9th largest privately held US brokerage firm offering comprehensive risk management advice, insurance and reinsurance placement for property & casualty, employee benefits, private client services, as well as consulting services and financial & wealth solutions. With more than 30 specialty practices, Risk Strategies serves commercial companies, nonprofits, public entities, and individuals, and has access to all major insurance markets. Risk Strategies has over 100 offices including Boston, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Grand Cayman, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. RiskStrategies.com.