Vice President
Nicholas Broughton
CPCU
Contact: nicholas.broughton@bitco.com
844-233-7299
Our newly elected President, Nicholas Broughton is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He is legal counsel for BITCO Insurance in Davenport. Nicholas has worked in insurance for five years and completed his CPCU designation in 2016. He served as 2018 President of the Jaycees of the Quad Cities and as Director on the Quad City CPCU Society Chapter board since 2017.
Treasurer
Christine Kruse
CPCU, ARM, AIM
309-732-0243
Christine Kruse serves as the Chapter's Treasurer. Chris pursued her CPCU designation as it was an expectation of her jobs. She received her designation in June 1986 before going on to attain the ARM and AIM designations. Chris has noted that having the CPCU designation has helped open doors for her that would not otherwise have been there for her before. She has also met a lot of great people locally through the CPCU Society.
Secretary
Gary Hofer
Contact: garyhofer@westfieldgrp.com
309-593-4489
Gary Hofer, Casualty Claim Specialist, Westfield Group, serves as the Chapter’s Secretary. He was conferred in Hawaii in 2007 and also holds his AIC designation. He credits his wife with encouraging and helping him to complete the courses. His fondest memory of the process is when his wife asked him about the results of the final test - his answer was “Aloha”. Gary notes that the CPCU program is challenging and is a significant commitment. He feels the credibility of the program creates a unique bond among its members and speaks on its own merit within the insurance industry.
Webmaster
Kristin Coers
CPCU, AIS, AINS
Contact: kristin.coers@sentry.com
563-459-5053
Kristin Coers had previously served for four years as the Chapter's Secretary but stepped back to Webmaster only duties in 2016. Kristin works at Sentry Insurance Company where she has held positions in underwriting, IT, and management. She earned her designation in 2007. She also holds the AIS and AINS designations and has served as a Facilitator for AINS classes for her employer. Kristin encourages anyone who works in the industry to reach for the CPCU designation as it projects credibility and provides a solid foundation of knowledge for insurance professionals.
Director
Debbie Theil
CPCU, AIM, AIS, AINS, CPIW
Contact: Debbie.theil@Bitco.com
Debbie Theil currently serves as Director for the Chapter and is Scholarship Committee Chairperson. She is employed at BITCO as a Program Underwriter. As an insurance professional, she saw the CPCU designation as a goal that should be achieved. Debbie received her CPCU in September 2007. One of her memories was taking a test in a snow blizzard where everyone was told to stay at home. The proctor showed so the test was on! Debbie has also earned the AIM, AIS, AINS and CPIW designations.
Director
Christian O'Brian
CPCU
Contact: christian.obrian@bitco.com
563-232-0261
First time Chapter Director, Christian O'Brian, is a seasoned professional with expertise in worker's compensation insurance. He works for BITCO as a Home Office Claims Administrator. Christian has an MBA through Ohio University. During his CPCU journey, he found the financing and accounting course (CPCU 540) the most enjoyable because working with numbers interests him. He enjoys all that the CPCU organization has to offer including the meetings and seminars.
Immediate Past-President
Rick Plunkett
CPCU, CIC, SCLA, AIM, AIC
Contact: rickp@ilcasco.com
309-732-0150
Rick Plunkett has over 35 years of multi-line claims experience spanning multiple states and including both personal and commercial lines as well as litigated claims. This experience includes several management positions and overseeing claims training and audit functions. He has written several articles and created training presentations covering a variety of topics.
Rick is active in the CPCU Society as a member of the Claims Interest Group and as Chapter President for the 2017 and 2018 terms. He is a graduate of Indiana State University with a BA, Social Science Education. He also holds the CIC, SCLA, AIM and AIC designations.