FEATURES
COVER STORY: ELITE WOMEN 2017 KAMY VACCA Senior vice president and sales consultant Alliant Insurance Services
Kamy Vacca is a proven expert in executive risk liability exposures and insurance products. As a team leader and steward of a large and diverse book of business, Vacca’s core responsibilities include developing innovative and customized executive risk programs and creating internal systems to bolster service delivery. Based in Alliant’s New York office, Vacca has nearly three decades of insurance experience, which she uses to mentor up-and-coming professionals throughout the organization. A highly engaged member of her community, Vacca is active in her local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, providing volunteer administrative support and hands-on member services.
LINDA VANALLEN Vice president
EDEN RHODEN Broker and office manager Biba Insurance Services
Since joining Biba Insurance Services, a boutique trucking agency located in California’s Central Valley, Eden Rhoden has been pivotal to the success of the agency. Believing that customer service and up-to-date product knowledge are the foundation for a solid brokerclient relationship, Rhoden prides herself on her ability to nurture and maintain those relationships. Keeping her finger on the pulse of the evolving – and at times volatile – California transportation market, Rhoden is able to provide first-class service to her clients. Last year, Rhoden partnered with the owner of Biba to establish a new agency to focus on non-trucking business opportunities.
Acentria Insurance
As vice president of Floridabased Acentria Insurance, Linda VanAllen brings almost four decades of industry expertise to the agency, where she leads the Inverness, Florida, office. After owning her own agency for 25 years, VanAllen partnered with Acentria to further expand her business and offer more products and services to her clients. VanAllen takes pride in fostering relationships built on trust and encourages her staff to be active in their community. Leading by example, VanAllen serves on numerous charitable and community boards, including United Way of Citrus County, the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Clubs and the Citrus County Education Foundation. VanAllen also founded and organized a sanctioned kid’s triathlon. Now in its fifth year, the event has raised thousands of dollars, supported hundreds of kids and involved hundreds of community volunteers.
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MELISSA APPENZELLER Vice president and chief actuary EMC Insurance Group
In her role as vice president and chief actuary of EMC Insurance Companies, Melissa Appenzeller oversees the corporate office actuarial department in Des Moines, Iowa, a position she has held since November 2016. During her 25 years with EMC, Appenzeller has served in various positions, including actuarial assistant, actuarial associate, assistant actuary, associate actuary and principal actuary for pricing. Outside of EMC, Appenzeller is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.