Leadership
Board of Directors
Mark E. Schwarz
Executive Chairman
Director Since 2001
Mark E. Schwarz is the Executive Chairman of the Company and has served as a director since 2001. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from 2003 until 2006. Since 1993, Mr. Schwarz has indirectly controlled Newcastle Partners, L.P., a private investment firm which is the Company’s largest shareholder.
Scott T. Berlin
President, Mason Structural Steel, LLC
Director Since 2001
Doug Slape
Texas Department of Insurance (retired)
Director Since 2022
Recently retired from the Texas Department of Insurance, the state agency regulating the Texas insurance market, after a career spanning more than 33 years. Most recently, Mr. Slape served as the Chief Deputy Commissioner of TDI from 2018 to 2022. He was also Acting Commissioner of Insurance from 2020 to 2021. Previously, Mr. Slape had served as Deputy Commissioner of Financial Regulation (2015-2018), Chief Financial Analyst (2007-2015), and Assistant Chief Examiner for Information Systems Examinations (2001-2007). He began his career at TDI as a Financial Examiner from 1988 to 2001. He is a Certified Financial Examiner and a Certified Information Systems Auditor.
Mark E. Pape
Chairman, H2Options, Inc. & U.S. Rain Group, Inc.
Director Since 2016
Group Leadership
Chris Kenney, CPA
President & Chief Executive Officer
Chris Kenney was named Chief Executive Officer in 2023. With this appointment, he now serves concurrently in the roles of President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Chris joined Hallmark in 2004 leading our accounting division followed by Chief Accounting Officer in 2020, Chief Financial Officer in 2021 and President in 2022. Mr. Kenney has held various accounting roles and has more than 25 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry. He is a Certified Public Accounting with a license in Texas.
Mike Sadowski, FCAS, MAA
Senior Vice President, Chief Actuary
Mike Sadowski joined Hallmark in 2017 and currently serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Actuary. He has nearly 20 years of experience in various actuarial leadership roles. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Pavinee Hat
Chief Human Resources Officer
Pavinee Hat was named Chief Human Resources Officer for Hallmark Financial Services in 2022. Pavinee joined Hallmark in September 2018 and most recently served in the role of Vice President, Human Resources. Ms. Hat brings nearly 20 years of experience in various leadership roles in Human Resources within several industries including transportation, finance, insurance and government. She holds a master’s degree in human resources management.
Underwriting Leadership
Robert Collins
President, Commercial Lines & Aviation
Robert Collins was named President of Hallmark Commercial Insurance Solutions in 2016 and Hallmark Aerospace Insurance Managers in 2018. Prior to joining Hallmark, he served most recently as Chief Underwriting Officer for the West region for Hanover Insurance Group and held underwriting and sales executive roles with CNA Insurance Company, Argonaut Insurance Company, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, all specializing in Commercial P&C accounts.
Michael P. Binns
President, Personal Lines
Claims Leadership
Chris A. Miller, CPCU
Senior Vice President, Commercial Claims
Chris Miller joined Hallmark in 2022 and currently serves as Senior Vice President for Commercial Claims. He has 35 years of experience in personal and commercial claims, with emphasis on national claims leadership roles.
Erin McKinley
Vice President, Aviation & Personal Lines Claims
Erin McKinley joined Hallmark in 2021 as Vice President of Claims, supporting both Personal Lines and Aviation. She has 18 years of experience in claims for personal auto, commercial auto, and homeowners. She has an MBA and has held leadership roles since 2017.
IT & Operations Leadership
Andy Curti
Vice President, Operations
Andy joined Hallmark Financial in March of 2018 as the Vice President of Operations. He has over 15 years of insurance experience, spanning multiple facets of the insurance industry, including Medical Professional Underwriting, Operations, Marketing, Billing, Training and Compliance. He double majored in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Puget Sound.
Debra Fontenot
Vice President, Business Analysis & QA
Debra Fontenot joined Hallmark in April of 2013, and currently serves as Vice President of Business Analysis and Quality Assurance. She has nearly 25 years of experience in various IT leadership roles, managing projects, development support staff, business analysts and quality assurance analysts. She has over 30 years of experience in the Property and Casualty insurance industry, traversing a broad range of insurance products.
George Bryant
Vice President, Project Management
George Bryant joined Hallmark in January of 2006 and currently serves as the Vice President of Project Management & Application Development. He has 33 years of experience in the insurance industry, along with 29 years of experience in the Information Technology field.
Nathan Meyer
Vice President, Architecture & Infrastructure
Nathan Meyer joined Hallmark in 2007 and currently serves as Vice President of IT. He brings over 25 years of experience in Information Technology, with 16 years in supporting P&C insurance. He currently oversees infrastructure, cyber-security, data analytics, and software architecture. He holds a MIS degree from Northwest Missouri State University.
