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Over 50 years of exceptional service in the insurance industry.
Looking forward into the future and finding even better and more inventive ways to service our customers will always be our goal; however our innate ability to do that comes from over half a century as an industry leader, growing ever stronger with each passing day. Our history is what shapes our future.
Over 50 years ago, a handful of people hacked away on typewriters and yapped on corded phones in a multi-story brick office building on the west side of Cleveland. This small group of forward thinking traditionalists, including Thomas B. McGowan, pioneered the development and beginnings of many of the fantastic products we carry now, and set the bar for the level of service, ingenuity and integrity that are still practiced today.
Focusing on emerging trends in software, data management and security advances, The McGowan Companies had no choice but to do away with the typewriters and corded desk phones, but that’s about all that was given up from the company’s humble roots. The McGowan Companies has managed to perfect the marriage of dynamic technological capabilities with non-automated, genuine, honest, personal service.
It’s not hard to see how we have become the industry leader for specialized insurance programs. Boasting the full in-house authority to underwrite, rate, quote, bind and issue policies on behalf of National “A” Rated Carriers, processed with state-of-the-art technology, combined with the distinctive service only achievable by over 50 years of cultivation and growth, it’s clear that The McGowan Companies have perfected the recipe for servicing your specialized insurance needs.
DIRECTORY OF CONTACTS
President & Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (440) 333-6300 x3609
Thomas B. McGowan, IV is President and Chief Executive Officer of The McGowan Companies. Like his father and grandfather before him, Thom has led the company with innovation, dedication and service. Among the milestones that have occurred under Thom’s direction are the 2001 design/build of The McGowan Companies corporate headquarters: the 2005 formation of Statehouse Casualty Managers; the 2008 acquisition The Windward Group, LLC; the 2009 formation of McGowan, Donnelly & Oberheu, LLC; and the 2011 re-branding of The McGowan Companies core insurance operations. In addition to the firm’s expansion, Thom has overseen the creation of our, state-of-the art, proprietary, Agency Distribution Network and Agency Management System. During his tenure, the firm has achieved record growth and profitability.
Thom graduated from St. Ignatius High School, a Jesuit Preparatory School in Cleveland, OH, followed by a 4 year study at Fairfield University where he earned his B.A. in History. He matriculated to Saint Louis University’s dual-degree program and earned his Juris Doctorate and Masters in Business Administration. Thom is involved with many community outreach programs and Nonprofit Organizations including the West Haven Foundation for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, where he serves as a Trustee, and the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center.
Chief Operating Officer
Phone: (440) 333-6300 x3607
Laura began her career at McGowan & Company in 1998 as an Underwriting Assistant. She was promoted to National Program Manager – Community Associations in 2000. In 2005, she was promoted to Corporate Vice President – Operations for The McGowan Companies. In 2014, she was promoted to Chief Operating Officer for The McGowan Companies. She graduated from The College of the Holy Cross with a Bachelor’s Degree in English in 1997.
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (440) 333-6300 x3605
mcjuliano@mcgowancompanies.com
Mary began her career as an auditor with the accounting firm of Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young). She joined The McGowan Companies as Chief Financial Officer in 1999. Prior to that, she provided outside CPA services to The McGowan Companies and other clients. Mary obtained her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin. She was awarded an Elijah Watt Sells Award with High Distinction from the AICPA as a result of outstanding scores achieved on the Uniform Certified Public Accounting Examination.
MEC – Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (732) 335-8470 x5103
Chris was previously the President of St. Paul Travelers Specialty Excess & Umbrella (SEU) division and oversaw all of the unsupported umbrella business in the company, both admitted and non-admitted. Prior to starting SEU, Chris was President of Chubb Atlantic, an off shore insurance company based in Bermuda while enjoying a nineteen (19) year career with Chubb.
President – McGowan Governmental Underwriters
Phone: (440) 333-6300 x3643
tphelan@mguins.com
Terry began his insurance career with Chubb & Son in Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, he has held various senior management positions within the industry in New York, New Jersey, and Texas.
In 1990, he formed Phelan Risk Management Services Company, a consulting firm specializing in troubleshooting product lines for insurance carriers throughout the United States. With the acquisition of a public entity consulting practice in 1994, the firm expanded its practice to include the design, implementation and management of insurance programs for public entities, eventually, becoming the largest public entity consulting firm of its type in Ohio.
This expansion led to a chance encounter with Messrs. Thomas B. McGowan, III and Thomas B. McGowan, IV and the subsequent development of an umbrella program for public entities. In 2002, Terry joined McGowan & Company as Vice President of Municipal Risk.
Terry is currently the President of McGowan Governmental Underwriters (MGU). MGU is a Program Manager and Specialized Lines Insurance Broker. Formed in 2013 with the partnering with Trident, a registered service mark of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., to bring you an exclusive Public Entity insurance program. This product will be initially available in Ohio and Pennsylvania. MGU will also offer our current Umbrella product for Public Entities Nationwide.
President – Excess Casualty
Phone: (440) 333-6300 x3619
Brian is the President – Excess Casualty for McGowan Program Administrators (MPA). He is responsible for the overall management, growth, and profit of MPA’s existing Umbrella Programs: Restaurant Owners; Real Estate & Hospitality; Community Associations; and, Luxury Hotel, Resort & Casino program. Prior to joining The McGowan Companies, Brian held various regional management positions at Travelers Insurance Company and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. Brian is a graduate of Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT.
Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing
Phone: (440) 333-6300 x5455
Prior to joiningThe McGowan Companies, Peter was the Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at MiddleOak. He served in a variety of capacities during his tenure at MiddleOak including, roles as the General Manager, Underwriting Manager, and leader of the organization’s brokerage unit. Peter’s insurance experience also includes roles in commercial underwriting at The Travelers, agency management at Great American as well as several years working as both a personal and commercial lines producer.
Peter earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut’s School of Business. In addition to securing the designations of CIC, CRM and API; Peter also has completed the Executive Leadership Development program at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Managing Director Community Association Products & Risk Management
Phone: (440) 333-6300 x2240
Joel W. Meskin, Esq., is the Managing Director Community Association Products & Risk Management at McGowan Program Administrators, one of The McGowan Companies. Prior to becoming Managing Director, he was Vice President of Community Association Insurance and Risk Management beginning in January, 2005. McGowan Program Administrators is a nationwide provider of Community Association and Community Association Manager Insurance Products and Risk Management services. From 2001 through 2004, he was Senior Vice President of Ian H. Graham Insurance, an Aon Company. He first became a licensed insurance professional in 1981. He is an attorney who spent 15 years as an attorney specializing in insurance coverage and related insurance and business litigation.
He obtained the designation of a Community Insurance & Risk Management Specialist (“CIRMS”) conferred by the Community Associations Institute and is a member of the CAI’s Insurance Networking committee. He was admitted as a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers (“CCAL”). Since being established in 1993, less than 150 attorneys nationwide have been admitted into the College. He is a founding Member of the Foundation for Community Association Research Think Tank. He is also currently on the National Community Association Institute Business Partners Council holding the Insurance Professional position for his third two year term 2017/18 and has been elected as the Chair Elect. As Chair Elect, he will begin a two year term as a member of the National Community Association Institute Board of Trustees. He has obtained the Community Association Institute Educated Business Partner Distinction. Mr. Meskin is currently a National Corporate member of all chapters of the Community Association Institute nationwide.
Meskin has been intimately involved with the community association industry for many years, insuring over 75,000 community associations nationwide, involved in producing insurance policy products and is engaged in risk management. He lectures to organizations and associations nationwide. Some of these groups include: the National Community Association Institute, The National Community Association Law Conference, The National CIRMS Master Insurance Program, local CAI chapters, the California Association of Community Managers, Property management Companies and community associations and their boards. These lectures include various community association insurance topics, directors and officers liability insurance, community association fraud, community association claims, community and property manager claims, association risk management and cyber liability/data breach. He also teaches Community Association Manager Continuing Education in Nevada, Florida and Colorado, and is and has been a Continuing Education Provider for insurance professionals in a number of states including Ohio, Connecticut, Texas, Florida, California, North Carolina and Illinois. Finally, he is also a provider of continuing legal education in Florida.
He is the author of the numerous articles and papers published in various periodicals including Rough Notes, New York Times, New England Condominium magazine, Condo Management Magazine, Florida Community Association magazine, Condo Media Magazine, Quorum, Community Association Living, The Communicator, Community Contacts, Common Interest, Facets, The New York, Massachusetts, Florida and New Jersey Cooperator journal, and numerous local CAI Chapter periodicals and newsletters.
He hosts two LinkedIn Discussion groups. The first is entitled “Community Association Directors & Officers Liability – Are You Properly Covered?” This discussion group currently has over 1,200 members. The newer discussion group is entitled “Community Association Management Company Liability – Protecting Your Risk.” This group currently has 300 members.
Meskin obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University School of Law where he was the Managing Editor of the Southwestern University Law Review. He is a licensed attorney in the State of California and admitted to various Federal District Courts in the State of California. He is also a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and PLUS (Professional Liability Underwriting Society). He is also a licensed insurance professional in the State of Ohio and recently obtained the Management Liability Insurance Specialist Designation from the International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (“MLIS”).
