People to Know - Tejas American General Agency

Bart Koch CIC, AAI Ext 206 Accounting / Human Resources / Marketing / Worker's Comp Direct Line 512-531-1712 In 1997 Bart and four colleagues formed TAGA with a strong desire to deliver superior customer service to Independent Insurance Agents in Texas while making an underwriting profit for their Carriers. TAGA has experienced rapid growth due largely to the TAGA team that Bart and his colleagues have assembled. Taking an active role in the company, he leads the Workers Comp, Accounting, Human Resources, and Marketing Teams helping them to achieve the TAGA Difference. Prior to forming TAGA, he was Vice President of Operations and Partner with another MGA in the Austin area. Previously, Bart worked for both an insurance agency and a major insurance company in various Sales and Underwriting capacities after graduating from Louisiana State University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and Administration. Current Industry Affiliations include the Texas Surplus Lines Association ( TSLA ), the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Organizations ( NAPSLO ),the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas ( IIAT) and many local chapters, and the Federation of Insurance Women of Texas ( FIWT ) and many local chapters. Celebrating 25 years of marriage, he and his wife, Cindi, have 3 sons. They enjoy watching them play football, traveling, boating, and an occasional game of golf. E-mail: Bart Koch

Ben Kroft Ext. 223 Submissions/Claims/Communications Ben is the Communications Coordinator at TAGA. Ben takes care of incoming and outgoing faxes, as well as ordering supplies, machine maintenance, and assisting agents with claims. He has lived in Austin for 5 years and loves the city. When he is not at work he enjoys spending time with his lovely wife. . E-mail: Ben Kropf



Celeste Gonzales Ext.216 Workers Compensation Associate Underwriter Direct Line 512-531-1713 Celeste has been a member of the TAGA team since September 2001. Over the years she has moved from a Technician for Auto and Farm & Ranch to an Underwriting Assistant for Workers' Comp and in 2005 became an Associate Underwriter for TAGA's Comp Department. She is determined to give quality service to all her customers. Outside of work you can find Celeste enjoying motherhood and spending time with her loving husband Daniel. E-mail: Celeste Gonzales

Charity Dickehut Ext.218 Transportation Underwriter Direct Line 512-531-1714 Charity joined the TAGA team as a transportation assistant in May 2000. She is currently an underwriter for the Transportation Department quoting new and renewal business. She is dedicated to servicing her agents and is in the process of obtaining her CISR designation. Charity has 10 years of experience and began her career as a typist before graduating to an assistant and then to an underwriter. Charity has two children. Charity likes to spend time with her family playing baseball in the backyard or at the baseball field. E-mail: Charity Dickehut

Cindy Yurkovich Ext 202 Administration Direct Line 512-531-1715 April 1997, proved to be an important step for Cindy and four of her insurance associates. Together they joined to form Tejas American General Agency. Cynthia uses her 28 years of insurance experience in her role as Administrative Manager. In 1991, Cindy was the Administrative Supervisor for a large managing general agency. As Administrative Supervisor, Cindy was responsible for the workflow and quality control of the Commercial Lines Department. This included direct supervision of twenty (20) employees. In addition to these responsibilities, Cindy worked with software vendors in the maintenance of the agencies rating and policy issuance programs. Prior to working in an administrative capacity, Cindy served as an underwriter from 1988 to 1991. During these three years, she underwrote all lines of commercial insurance. She began her insurance career at Crum and Forster in 1978 and continued with the company until 1988. After leaving Crum and Forster, Cindy joined American Indemnity as a multi-line underwriter for a brief period of time. She left American Indemnity to join the Surplus Lines agency business. Cindy is a member of AAIP and FIWT. In the past she has served as the Education/Scholarship Chair, Membership Chair and 2nd Vice President at the local association. She holds a CISR and CIC designation E-mail: Cindy Yurkovich


Patty Oshel Ext.229 Transportation Assistant Direct Line 512-531-1720 Patty processes applications, binders and filings for the transportation department. She has over 9 years of experience working in the insurance industry. Patty is involved with the Linus Connection, an organization that makes blankets for children in crisis situations. She is happily married and has a daughter named Tia. Her passions include music, reading and drawing. E-mail: Patty Oshel

Richard Salley Ext 211 Premium Finance / Claims Direct Line 512-531-1722 Richard combined his experience with four insurance associates to form Tejas American. Until recently he was a Commercial Lines Underwriter. Now Richard is currently managing the TAGA Premium Finance Company. He is also responsible for handling claims at TAGA. Richard worked with a managing general agency starting in 1992 as Personal Lines Manager. During his two-year venture, he set the stage and put the agency on the map as one of the premier farm and ranch insurance writers in the state of Texas. In March 1994, Richard was promoted to Underwriting Manager for all lines. Under his leadership, Austin Surplus Lines continued to grow and experience its greatest year ever in 1996. Richard held this position until March of 1997. Richard's responsibilities included underwriting results and production commitments for all lines. He worked closely with the Administrative Manager and individual department managers under his direction to provide extraordinary service for customers while producing a profit for his companies and the agency. Prior to the agency field, Richard spent seven years in the oil and gas industry in the position of Insurance and Contracts Manager. He held this position for five years at Bearden Drilling Company and for two years at Burns Drilling Company. Preceding his work in the oil industry, Richard spent six years with Crum and Forster Insurance Company. While at C & F, he held positions that included marketing responsibilities and supervision of one of the largest farm and ranch insurance departments in the state of Texas. Richard received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas Tech University. Since college, he has completed course work in Insurance Principles, CPCU and holds his CIC designation. Richard is married to Julie and has 2 daughters, Casey and Randi. E-mail: Richard Salley


Stephanie Hilscher Ext 225 Accounts Payable & Receiveable/Finance Dept. Direct Line 512-531-1724 Stephanie joined the Accounting Department in June 2000. She attended Austin Community College and is pursuing an Associates Degree in Accounting. Stephanie has 2 boys who love to play baseball and lives at the ball park! E-mail: Stephanie Hilscher

Vivian Escalante Ext 230 Transportation/Commercial Umbrella Underwriter Direct Line 877-224-3463 Vivian became part of the TAGA team in July of 2001. She recently began underwriting commercial umbrella and also underwrites commericial auto, garage and cargo in the Transportation Department. She is responsible for quoting new and renewal business. Vivian worked for two MGA's prior to joining TAGA. In 1995 she made the transition from processing clerk to underwriter assistant. There she learned the skills to become the underwriter she is today. Outside of work Vivian keeps busy with her three children- Emilie, Joseph and Olivia. E-mail: Vivian Escalante

Adrienne Lindsey Ext.210 Agri Products/Personal Umbrella Underwriter Direct Line 877-224-3454 Adrienne joined TAGA as the receptionist in 1997. She moved on to work as a policy technician and underwriting assistant before becoming a Farm & Ranch Underwriter. Her duties include reviewing applications for proper and thorough underwriting information and providing excellent customer service for her agents. She holds a CISR designation. In her free time she enjoy going to the lake with her husband and son. Email: Adrienne Lindsey

Amy Burch Ext 222 Agri Products/Personal Umbrella Underwriter Direct Line 512-531-1709 Amy came to TAGA as a temporary replacement for the receptionist position in March 2000. In a whirlwind of 3 months she was promoted from receptionist, to policy technician, and then to Farm & Ranch Assistant and has been an Underwriter with TAGA now for 3 years. Outside of TAGA Amy enjoys spending time with husband Jason and son Tyler. E-mail: Amy Burch

Kelly Vandever Ext.235 Agri Products / Personal Umbrella Underwriter Direct Line 866-214-4496 Kelly began her career with TAGA in October 2002 as a temp and was hired on permanently in April 2003 as a Farm & Ranch policy technician. She was promoted to Underwriting Assistant and is now an Associate Underwirter for the Farm & Ranch department. E-mail: Kelly Vandever

Anita Herzog Ext 209 Agri Products/Pollution/Professional Underwriter Direct Line 877-224-3457 Anita began her insurance career in 1978 with State Farm Insurance Company in their Regional Office. During Anita's four-year tenure, she gained a solid technical background and experience working in a company environment. Anita joined the Retail Agency force in 1981. While spending 10 years in the agency field, she marketed and serviced both Personal and Commercial Lines Accounts. In 1991, Anita went to work for a prominent managing general agency where she became the Personal Lines Supervisor and expanded the Personal Lines department into a full line of Agriculture Products as well as other Personal Lines Products. The Product Lines include Farm & Ranch Owners, Farm Fire, Commercial Farm Auto, Commercial General Liability, Animal Mortality, Personal and Commercial Umbrella, as well as Inland Marine for more than five Carriers. In April 1997, Anita joined a group of insurance associates by forming Tejas American General Agency (TAGA). Anita has a vast knowledge on various products as she is responsible for rate development, setting up underwriting guidelines with carriers and making State Filings on their behalf. In April, 1997, Anita joined with her four partners to form Tejas American General Agency (TAGA). She manages the Specialty department which includes Agribusiness, Pollution program and Professional Liability. Anita is a member of AAIP, FIWT, and PLUS, she holds a CIC designation and is currently working toward her Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist. E-mail: Anita Herzog




Debbie Stacks Ext.215 Professional/Pollution Underwriter Direct Line 866-214-4333 Debbie hopped aboard in December 1999 as an underwriting assistant for the Commercial Lines Department. She previously worked for another MGA and has over 9 years of experience and has earned her CISR Designation. In 2003 she made the transition to be Professional Liability and Pollution Underwriter. She is happily married to Don and has one son and grandson. E-mail: Debbie Stacks



Hank Beck Ext.205 Workers Compensation Underwriter Direct Line 877-224-3461 Hank became an underwriter in our Workers Compensation Department in August 2000. He is responsible for quoting new and renewal business. He has over 20 years of experience in the field of insurance. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his daughter. E-mail: Hank Beck

Sharon Wood Ext: 207 Commercial Lines Direct Line 877-224-3466 Sharon joined TAGA as a transportation underwriter in November 2007. She is responsible for underwriting commercial auto, garage and cargo. She has over 20 years experience in the surplus lines industry. Sharon has one daughter, Cara, and one son, Shawn. Now that they have moved on, she has 2 dogs, Biscuit & Rebel. Away from TAGA she enjoys sewing, fishing & gardening. E-mail: Sharon Wood

Lisa Reynolds Ext.212 Commercial Lines Underwriter Direct Line 877-224-3465 Lisa joined TAGA in 1997 as one of its first members. She served as a transportation underwriter until 2000 when she made the transition to the Commercial Lines Department. Lisa has been involved with insurance since 1990 and holds her CISR designation. She has one son and enjoys camping and being involved with Cub Scouts and 4-H. E-mail: Lisa Reynolds

Patty Rardin Ext.227 Workers Compensation Associtate Underwriter Direct Line 512-531-1721 Patty began her career with TAGA in July 2000 and has been a member of the Workers Compensation ever since. She has recently been promoted to Associate Underwriter. Patty is married and has a young son named Devin. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors and shopping. E-mail: Patty Rardin


Amanda Garzonie Ext 236 Accounting & Cancellations Direct Line 512-531-1729 Amanda came aboard in early 2003. She works in the accounting department and processes all of the cancellations and reinstatements at TAGA. Amanda is native of Austin Texas and loves animals. She's completed one year at Austin Community College and would love to take classes to be a dog trainer. E-mail: Amanda Garzonie
Alisha Poe Ext.237 Professional & Pollution Assistant Direct Line 512-531-1730 Alisha began her career with TAGA in December 2002 as a temp and was hired on permanently in April 2003 as our transportation technician. Her responsibilites include issuing policies and endorsements. Alisha is originally from Dallas but moved to Austin in 2000. In her leisure time she enjoys spending time with her family and boating on the lake.
E-mail: Alisha Poe

P.R. Maldonado Ext. 241 Agri Products Assistant Direct Line 512-531-1731 P.R. Has been with TAGA since August 2003. He is a Underwriters Assistant in the Farm & Ranch Dept and is currently working on his CISR designation. His responsibilities include issuing policies and endorsements. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and hunting/fishing.
Email P.R. Maldonado

Danny De Leon Ext. 243 IT Systems/Communications Direct Line 512-531-1733