West Bend Mutual Insurance Promotes Dunn, Ertmer, Jacques, Schwalen and Tighe

West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. in West Bend, Wisconsin, has promoted five company executives.

Heather Dunn is now senior vice president, as well as chief financial officer, a position she’s held since 2017. Dunn joined West Bend in 2008 as controller and was promoted to assistant vice president – corporate accounting in 2010, and vice president and controller in 2014 before being named vice president – chief financial officer. She serves on the board of the United Performing Arts Fund, the Museum of Wisconsin Art, and the Insurance Accounting & Systems Association, and has volunteered with Junior Achievement.

David Ertmer has been promoted to senior vice president – claims and is responsible for all claims operations at West Bend, including the company’s specialty lines and mono-line workers’ compensation divisions. Ertmer joined West Bend in 2009 as director of workers’ compensation claims and was promoted to vice president – claims in 2011. He serves the community in various leadership roles on nonprofit boards, including past president of the West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce and vice president of Family Promise of Washington County.

Rob Jacques has been promoted to senior vice president – commercial lines, overseeing all commercial underwriting operations at West Bend, including the company’s specialty lines and mono-line workers’ compensation divisions. Jacques joined West Bend in 2000 as a regional sales manager. He became a regional underwriting manager in 2003, assistant vice president – commercial lines in 2005, and vice president – commercial lines in 2007. He currently serves on the board of the West Bend Public Schools Foundation.

Jim Schwalen has been named senior vice president – personal lines and marketing, continuing in his duties of overseeing the personal lines underwriting division and marketing division, as well as the company’s service center. He’s also responsible for the company’s growth strategy. He joined West Bend in 1997 as assistant vice president – personal lines. He was promoted to vice president -personal lines in 2004, and in 2008, was named vice president personal lines and marketing, a role that included oversight of the company’s service center. Schwalen is past president of the Underwriting Executive Council and currently serves on various local nonprofit boards, including The Threshold Inc. and the Washington County Fair Park.

Kelly Tighe is now senior vice president – sales and will continue to lead the company’s sales efforts, including oversight of the company’s distribution system. He’s also responsible for the company’s expansion plans. He joined West Bend in 1999 as state sales manager and was named director of sales in 2001, assistant vice president of sales in 2007, and vice president of sales in 2009. Tighe is a past president of United Way of Washington County, the West Bend Public Schools Foundation, and the Volunteer Center of Washington County. He currently serves on the boards of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County, and the West Bend Public Schools Foundation.

Source: West Bend Mutual Insurance

Topics Workers' Compensation Washington