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

Scott T. Berlin is the President of Mason Structural Steel, LLC. He has served as a director of the Company since 2001. Mr. Berlin has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and an investment banker focused on the corporate finance and mergers/acquisitions practice.

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

Mark E. Pape is Chairman of H2Options, Inc. and U.S. Rain Group, Inc., firms involved in water conservation projects. He has served as a director of the Company since 2016. Mr. Pape is a certified public accountant with more than 40 years of experience in accounting, auditing and financial management.

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.

Sunthary (Sunny) Murphy

Vice President, Personal Lines

Sunny Murphy joined Hallmark in 2023, and currently serves as Vice President Personal Lines Product Management, Sales, and Marketing. Prior to Hallmark, she had 16 years of experience in personal insurance with significant focus on the nonstandard personal auto market in various roles including product management leadership, financial reporting, and actuarial pricing reserving and product development.

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, IT Services

Debra Fontenot joined Hallmark in April of 2013, and currently serves as VP IT Services, leading the Information Technology organization.  She has 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, across 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.