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Executive Team
Herbert Rothman
Dianne Ewing
Eric Rothman
Sales Team
Alon Ben-Nun
Robert Bryar
Faranak Dorafshar
Marc Federman
Charlene Hill
Greg Jones
Bill Kulchin
Robin L Martin
Richard McLeod
Bruce Maxwell
Steve Nourse
Greg A Rom
Derek Ross
Valerie Seymour
Fred Weston
Jeff Kleid
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Executive Team |
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CEO
Herbert Rothman began his career with C.M. Meiers in 1963 as a sales associate. More than 30 years later, he was named President, and currently holds the position of CEO and Chairman. He continues to be very active in the daily operations of the agency, leveraging his experience in many areas of coverage, including risk management, product liability, third party administrator and appraisals for clients.
Herbert is an attorney at law, as well as a licensed real estate broker.
He has worked with clients such as Expedite, Transport, Inc., J & D Express, House of Fabrics, Wibur Curtis and Barnes Wholesale. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a BS in Business and a Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University.
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President
After attending Cal Poly University in Pomona, CA, Dianne started her insurance career in 1980 at Jack Sonntag Insurance Agency (subsequently acquired by Adams & Porter and then Frenkel & Co.). Throughout her tenure in the insurance industry she has worked for several respected agencies in Los Angeles, most recently 12 years at Stone, Harris & Stone/Brown & Brown in Encino where she was the Vice President of Sales & Marketing as well as a producer. Dianne joined C.M. Meiers in August, 2009, where her marketing and management skills will be a compliment to our Executive Management team.
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Principal and Vice President
Eric Rothman joined C.M. Meiers in 1996 and currently works with all different lines of insurance as a firm Principal. He was instrumental in expanding the agency’s presence in Texas, and currently specializes in property market, including commercial and habitational properties.
A graduate of San Diego State University, Eric began his insurance career in the rating department of San Diego, California-based Golden Eagle Insurance Company. He is a graduate of the CGU Commercial Lines Producer Development Program in 2000. Eric is also a member of the Board of Directors of the IBA San Fernando Valley.
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Sales Team |
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Vice President and Producer
With more than 18 years of sales experience in the food and wireless industries, Alon Ben-Nun believes in treating his clients the way he would like to be treated. As a result, he focuses on delivering great service at a fair price. He is committed to assisting business with all their insurance needs based on his own experience as a former small business owner.
“Knowing that I am offering my client a product that can help business grow and make life easier and more secure is my number one priority,” says Ben-Nun.
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Robert Bryar brings more than 30 years of experience to C.M. Meiers, and is keenly aware of the value a broker must provide to his clients. As President, he focuses on building strong client relationships and creating a work environment that delivers exceptional customer service.
Prior to joining the firm, Bryar served as President and CEO of Speare and Co., a large regional broker specializing in commercial and entertainment insurance. Acordia/Wells Fargo Insurance Services acquired Speare and Co. in 2004, and Bryar was named Managing Director. He also serves as an expert witness on the subject of property and association coverage and has served on more than a dozen insurance company advisor councils.
“I always look at what is best for the client,” says Bryar.
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Vice President
Faranak Dorafshar has served clients in the insurance industry for more than 35 years. Her areas of expertise include estate planning, long-term care and disability.
Prior to joining C.M. Meiers, she was a top producer with New York Life Insurance Company. During her 10-year tenure at the agency, Faranak earned a place at the company’s Million Dollar Roundtable every year in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments. She also spent 25 years with Capitol Insurance Agency where she became fluent with a wide range of insurance issues and opportunities as they relate to individuals.
Aside from her work with individuals, Faranak has made a difference in the commercial arena working with organizations large and small in commercial real estate and large manufacturing.
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Vice President
Marc Federman’s insurance career spans more than 40 years, during which time he has worked on a wide range of insurance needs. He joined C.M. Meiers in 2006.
For the last 25 years Federman has specialized in providing exceptional service to entertainment clients, specifically in the film and music industries. His expertise in film insurance needs and procedures has been featured in a number of books on film production.
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Senior Vice President
Charlene Hill has worked in the insurance industry since 1981. Her background includes serving the needs of high net worth, entertainment and business management clients.
Over the course of her career, Charlene has held positions with Max Behm & Associates, Inc., USI Insurance Services and the global brokerage firm AON/Albert G. Ruben. In 2003, she joined the entertainment division of C.M. Meiers where she now manages its personal entertainment department.
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Managing Director, Film and Television Division
Greg began his career in 1977 as an underwriter for AIG in New York. He accepted a position at Chubb Custom Market in 1982 as manager of their personal lines department. A year later, Greg segued to the Entertainment Division of CCM, where he began to underwrite insurance for feature films and television production. Greg obtained his New York State Brokers’ License in 1984.
In 1986, Greg accepted a position with Albert G. Ruben in Beverly Hills, California. While at AGR, he worked with several major entertainment companies, including Warner Bros. and Viacom.
Greg accepted a position in 1990 as Senior Vice President at Near North Insurance Brokerage to run their fledgling Entertainment Division. By 1994, Near North was the second largest provider of Entertainment Insurance in the U.S.
In 1995, Greg went to USI Entertainment Insurance to duplicate what he had achieved at Near North. By 1999, USI Entertainment was the third largest provider of entertainment insurance in the U.S. Among the many companies Greg represented during his tenure at USI were David E. Kelley Productions, Nu Image/Millennium Films, and Discovery Communications.
In 2001, Greg decided to expand his horizons by spending two years working with the prestigious money management firm, Alliance/Bernstein. While there, Greg obtained his Series 7, 33, and 66 licenses.
Greg holds a B.A. in English Literature from Lehman College, an Associate Degree in Risk Management (ARM) from The Insurance Institute of America, and has lectured at numerous institutions on production insurance, including The American Film Institute, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
Over the course of his career, Greg has provided insurance for over a thousand feature films, hundreds of television shows, and thousands of commercials. He currently practices his trade at C.M. Meiers Entertainment, where he not only serves as Managing Director of the Film and Television Division, but has also attained “Top Producer” status.
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Senior Vice President
Bill Kulchin is an insurance broker with over 25 years experience. Bill
has a solid background in creating and managing insurance programs
for manufacturers, real estate owners, food processors and retail
businesses, helping these clients achieve and maintain competitive and
cost effective insurance solutions. His approach is to give his clients
comprehensive tools to assess their risk and identify the best
insurance strategies.
Bill began his insurance career as an assistant property underwriter in
1984 with a large managing general agency. After gaining experience
on both company and agency sides of the insurance business, he
joined C.M. Meiers in 1992. Bill and his team soon developed a
specialty serving major clothing manufacturers. Today, the apparel
insurance program provides coverage for more than 125 apparel
companies including importers and distributors with foreign operations.
He also provides service in workers compensation, safety program
coordination, employee medical benefits and products liability risks.
Bill Kulchin earns recognition as a TOP PRODUCER, and is a valued
resource to the CMM team.
A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Bill holds both a
Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in
Risk Management (ARM) designation. He holds licenses in both
property and casualty and life and health benefits.
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Senior Vice President
Robin began his career as a Field Underwriter of Commercial Insurance with Aetna Property & Casualty after graduating from California State University Northridge with a B.S. in Political Science and a Business minor. There he served as Freshman Class President and a member of the Student Senate.
Robin has been a licensed Agent and Broker for over 30 years. His expertise is in the areas of: Commercial Property, Workers’ Compensation, Hospitality, Manufacturing/Processing, and Environmental Insurance. He is also a licensed Life and Medical Insurance agent.
His client relationships and service emphasize the “Principles of Risk Management” as a framework of minimizing exposures to loss, and reducing claims / premium costs. He has taught “Principles of Insurance and Risk Management” to students in Professional Financial Advisor Programs. Robin serves his many long term customers as a “trusted advisor and member of their management team”.
Robin is active outdoors as a Docent at Malibu Creek State Park and a member of the, “Santa Monica Mountains Park’s, Mountain Bike Unit” as a backcountry volunteer in rescue and safety to park visitors. He is a licensed Private Pilot and member of the City of Los Angeles Emergency Air response Unit. He also serves on his church’s Board of Directors.
On a personal note Robin has been married for 35+ years to his wife Debbie, a licensed Physical Therapist. They have two grown children, Trevor and Cayley who live in California as well. Robin and Debbie live in rural Calabasas with their two dogs.
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Senior Vice President
Richard “Mac” McLeod is Senior Vice President at C.M.Meiers Co. Inc. He began his insurance career with The CHUBB Group as an underwriter and has been part of the independent agency system since 1984. During this time he has developed expertise in Property, Casualty and Workers’ Compensation Insurance for non-profits, schools, homebuilders, manufacturers and retail organizations. He acts as a resource in the areas of Risk Transfer, Risk Management, Loss control and Claims Management.
Mac’s involvement with non-profit organizations has grown over the years through service on his church’s school board. There he assisted in the accreditation process, budget development, and school standards and personnel selection. He has led sessions at the National Hospitality House and National Association of School Business Officers conferences. He currently is a member of the Board of Directors of Project ECHO, a non-profit organization promoting the development of entrepreneurial and business skills at high school campuses. His professional expertise along with his involvement with various non-profit organizations has developed his ability to advise across numerous platforms.
On a personal note, Mac has been married to his wife, Donna, for many years and has two grown sons, Adam and Kevin.
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Vice President
Bruce Maxwell launched his career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1981. Six years later, he transitioned into the independent insurance agency system, building a strong base of property/casualty and employee benefits clients.
Today, Maxwell is a vice president with C.M. Meiers, serving its property/casualty and employee benefits clients and participating in the management of the agency. He specializes in clients whose insurance needs involve risk analysis of worldwide exposures. He has worked directly with brokers in the placement of specific coverage designed to handle the exposures of importers, exporters and manufacturers that compete in the global marketplace. He maintains accounts across the U.S., and travels extensively both domestically and abroad.
Maxwell earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Haas School of Business Administration at U.C. Berkeley, and he earned his Masters in Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at USC. He has served on the IBA West Board of Directors and is a past president of IBA of the San Fernando Valley.
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Vice President
Steve Nourse has been in the insurance business for more than 40 years. He began his career as an underwriter for the Home Insurance Company of New York. He would later launch his own agency, which grew to $9 million in premiums. In 1990, Acordia purchased that agency.
Over the years, Steve has worked with two national insurance brokerage firms specializing in transportation, large commercial properties and restaurants. He joined C.M. Meiers in 2006, and has continued to grow his book to an excess of $500,000 in annual revenue. He has the exclusive endorsement of the California Association of Mortgage Brokers and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.
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Vice President – Insurance Broker
Greg Rom started in the Insurance Industry in 1974. He started with the C.M. Meier’s Company in 2003. He was a partner with the “Rom & Company” Insurance Agency in Beverly Hills California.
At Rom and Company Insurance he handled major national accounts in the Entertainment Business for MCA – Universal , Warner Brothers and CBS.
He now specializes in all types of Business Insurance, Restaurant Insurance, Property and Liability, Workers Compensation, Contractors and National Programs.
Greg attended Valley College and then completed his education at the University of California – Northridge. He also has also completed study programs on Risk Management, Employee Benefits and Workers Compensation Insurance.
His program development background includes Internet Auction Stores and Home and Garden Shows” Master Liability and Exhibitors Insurance
Greg is committed to providing excellent service and is available for his clients 24 Hours a day – 7 Days a week.
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Vice President
Derek Ross has been involved with the insurance industry since he was in high school. Now over twenty years later he has developed into a risk management specialist. Derek has always been fascinated by learning about other businesses and finding solutions to help them with their problems. These businesses tend to be restaurants, property owners, contractors, retail stores, law firms and medical facilities. His success in the industry truly took off after joining forces with C.M. Meiers Company in April of 2000.
Using common sense techniques along with focused training seminars, Derek has been successful in controlling and reducing the workers’ compensation experience modification (EXMOD) for many of his clients. These mechanisms include Disaster Prevention Training, Annual Claim Reviews and Specialized Loss Control Programs.
In 2008, constituents elected Derek as a member of the Municipal Advisory Council in his local community of Oak Park, California.
On a personal note, Derek has been married for seven years to his wife Lauren, a licensed Cosmetologist. Outside of work they enjoy nothing more than spending time with their two daughters, Molli (2) and Elli (1).
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Senior Vice President and Executive Director
After receiving her B.A. from U.C.L.A., Valerie began her insurance career and in 1982, she founded her own agency, V.A.S Insurance Brokers, Inc. In 1988, Valerie sold the firm to Oxford Insurance Management which later became Hooper, Hayes & Associates, Inc. and eventually, Hub International retaining a position as Vice President.
In 2003, Valerie joined CMM and currently holds the title of Senior Vice-President. In 2007, she also assumed responsibility as founding Executive Director of CMM Green, CMM’s new division devoted to insuring “green” businesses.
Valerie has attained TOP PRODUCER status and is a valued member of CMM.
Valerie’s focus includes risk analysis, program design, insurance placement and program implementation to a varied domestic and global clientele. Her clients include manufacturing, large property owners, professional offices, hospitality industry, retail and wholesale business, technology and the social service, non-profit arena. Valerie has worked to educate others as a guest speaker on a variety of insurance related issues.
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Vice President
Prior to joining C.M. Meiers, Fred Weston spent 15 years in the financial services industry. He has extensive experience in mortgage lending, estate planning and investments as well as insurance. He is a former staff member of Mellon Advisors in Beverly Hills.
Weston is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University and holds a Certified Financial Planning designation. He has served on the Board of Directors for Heart of Los Angeles and is active in the Bel Air Presbyterian Church.
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Producer
Jeff Kleid, a 20-year veteran of the service business, is recognized for pioneering innovative insurance programs and products. His vast knowledge of the industry and creative approach allow him to offer clients the broadest protection at the most affordable price.
Since joining C.M. Meiers in 1994, the small business advocate has excelled as a producer, growing the company from a regional agency to one with national capabilities. Much of Jeff’s expertise is a result of his experience as a grass- roots lobbyist and advocate. He has also been active in the Insurance Agents of America, an organization dedicated to fulfilling the insurance needs of individuals in business, and is a past president of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association of the San Fernando Valley. His specialties include life and health insurance, green businesses, real estate, film and television, high net worth individuals and manufacturers.
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