Our Team
Our leadership team is comprised of industry experts who average more than 23 years of experience. They are committed to providing industry-leading service and solutions to our clients.
Dan Spragg
President
As President of Berkley Select, Dan Spragg joined the company in 2019 with a broad background in commercial insurance that spans over 33 years. He joined as president after working for nearly 12 years at an insurance consulting firm, where he was a founding partner. Dan is an attorney and active within the American Bar Association. He is also on the board of directors for Gamma Iota Sigma (a collegiate business fraternity focused on the insurance industry) and is acting Secretary. Dan has focused on our team’s culture and core values and is thrilled that Berkley Select was awarded a 2023 Best Places to Work by Business Insurance. Dan has a JD in Insurance Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology and a BA in Economics from Drury University.
Jeff Yao
Chief Claims Officer & Executive Vice President
As Chief Claims Officer, Jeff oversees Berkley Select’s claims operation. He has overall responsibility for the technical, operational and financial management of the claims department. Prior to joining Berkley Select in 2020, Jeff worked for another carrier for 22 years in various management roles with national responsibility. He also practiced law in Pittsburgh, PA with a concentration on corporate litigation. Jeff has experience in a wide variety of claims involving corporate governance, professional liability, federal securities, trade secret, employment, employee benefits (ERISA), and class actions before a variety of private resolution forums and state and federal courts. He is a subject matter expert in the areas of lawyer malpractice and often participates in speaking engagements at various industry events. Jeff was recently appointed as Berkley Select’s Chief Innovation Leader in addition to his claims role. Jeff has a JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and a BA in Political Science from Washington & Jefferson College.
Joan Comfort
Chief Financial Officer
Joan Comfort joined Berkley Select in November 2023. Prior to joining Berkley Select, Joan was a Financial Officer at another carrier. She commenced her career in public accounting consulting in financial services in the audit and tax practice groups. Joan is a certified public accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Accounting (BBA) from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN.
Steve Lacke
Chief Actuary
Steve Lacke joined Berkley Select in 2023 as Chief Actuary. Steve spent the prior 30+ years building a career as an actuary with various insurance, accounting and consulting companies. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS), a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA) and earned an MBA from the Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota. In the community, Steve is a Board Member – True Friends Foundation, a volunteer at “Friends of the Hudson Library” and a parent volunteer in the Hudson area school district.
Al Roberts
Senior Vice President, Underwriting, Professional Liability
Al Roberts joined Berkley Select in 2021 as Vice President of Underwriting, Professional Liability and has an impressive 25 year background in the insurance industry. His experience spans working at an MGA and multiple carriers specializing in professional liability. After a brief stint in private practice at a law firm in Chicago, Al was driven back to underwriting lawyers professional liability. Al has served on the Professional Liability Underwriting Society’s (PLUS) Midwest Steering Committee and has been a guest speaker as well as a moderator at several industry events over the years. He is a strong networker leading a best-in-class team of LPL underwriters. Al has a JD from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and a BS from Northern Illinois University.
Chris Zanchelli
Senior Vice President, Underwriting, Management Liability
Chris Zanchelli joined Berkley Select as a public D&O underwriter in 2009 from the wholesale broker side of the business. Prior to his time as a broker, he underwrote private company and non-profit D&O for a large carrier. Chris found his home on the Management Liability (ML) team in 2014 and has led a best-in-class team with our private and nonprofit D&O, EPL, and Fiduciary product lines and is always up-to-date as a subject matter expert on current risks and trends in the EPL and D&O market. In 2022 Chris graduated from the W. R. Berkley Corporation Leadership Oculus development program that focused on building innovation across the organization. Chris has a Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Iowa.
Carlos Montanez
Vice President, Affinity Underwriting
Carlos Montanez joined Berkley Select in 2021 as Vice President, Affinity Underwriting. With over 19 years of insurance experience, Carlos was an assistant vice president for another large insurance carrier before joining us. He has a wealth of knowledge in underwriting including specialty programs, healthcare, and writing special risks. Carlos is an innovative leader, proposing new programs for the Affinity E&O market. Carlos attended Columbia College in Chicago.
Adam Pietras
Regional Sales Manager
Adam Pietras is Berkley Select's Regional Sales Manager, responsible for leading sales and distribution strategy as part of the executive leadership team. He oversees initiatives focused on driving profitable new business growth and strengthening renewal retention.
A seasoned insurance professional with more than 30 years of experience in the professional lines marketplace, Adam worked with our organization when it was formerly operated as Monitor Liability Managers, where he served as a Senior Management Liability Underwriter and Senior Producer Development Manager. Following leadership roles with several carriers, including Underwriting Manager, Program Manager, and Vice President, he rejoined Berkley Select in 2025. Adam has a proven track record of building and scaling high-performing distribution platforms and expanding relationships within the wholesale brokerage community.
Adam holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Eastern Illinois University and serves on the PLUS Midwest Chapter's Organization Steering Committee.
Cynthia Carter
Vice President, Claims
Cynthia Carter is Vice President of Claims at Berkley Select for Lawyers Professional Liability where she leads a dedicated team of specialists in LPL. Cynthia brings a wealth of experience in managing complex professional liability exposures for law firms of all sizes. Her expertise also encompasses employment practices liability, directors and officers liability, medical malpractice, and a broad array of miscellaneous professional liability lines. Recognized for her strategic vision and proven ability to drive results, Cynthia is committed to upholding the highest standards of customer service excellence for clients and partners.
Before joining Berkley Select in 2016, Cynthia practiced law with a focus on healthcare and medical professional liability, where she evaluated coverage and managed high-severity risks for both international and domestic insurers and reinsurers. Cynthia is licensed to practice law in Illinois and is based in Chicago. She earned her Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Jim Baffa
Vice President, Claims
Jim Baffa is Vice President of Claims at Berkley Select for Management Liability where he leads a team of managers and experienced adjusters handling employment practices liability, directors and officers, and nonprofit. Jim has over twenty years’ experience in insurance law and claims and joined Berkley Select in 2022. Jim previously spent over a decade in private practice as a coverage attorney addressing claims involving professional liability, financial lines, long-tail liability, and numerous other lines. Jim is well-versed in the litigation process and has nationwide experience dealing with high exposure claims and multi-party negotiations, as well as complex appellate issues.
Jim has published several papers involving insurance law and claims, and previously chaired a Chicago Bar Association insurance law committee. Jim is an avid speaker and subject matter expert who has presented at ABA and PLUS events. He earned his law degree from DePaul University College of Law, magna cum laude.
Nick Piechocinski
Vice President, Human Resources
Nick Piechocinski is the Vice President Human Resources within W.R, Berkley supporting the following Berkley companies: Berkley Select, Berkley Program Specialists, Berkley Re Solutions and Vela Insurance Services. A human resources professional with Berkley since 2013, Nick has a strong background in talent and organizational development, executive coaching, and employee engagement. Nick is a key driver in fostering growth and building high-performing teams across the organization. Nick holds a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and possesses several designations, including ASLI, AINS, AIS and SHRM- CP.
Guy Blair
Vice President,
Information Technology
Guy Blair serves as Vice President of Information Technology at Berkley Select and has been with Berkley Select since 2007. He brings over 27 years of experience in large-scale IT initiatives, 18 years of which is in the insurance industry developing innovative insurance processes and applications. In his current role, Guy works with a high-aptitude team on projects including digital transformation, advanced analytics, and intelligent automation, leveraging modern, agile architectures to strengthen Berkley Select’s speed, skill, strength and overall customer experience. Guy holds a BSc in Computer Science from Staffordshire University and MSc from University of Sussex.
Lisa Rowland
Assistant Vice President, Marketing & Distribution
Lisa Rowland joined Berkley Select as Assistant Vice President, Marketing & Distribution, in early 2021. With a 20 year background in insurance, Lisa began her career as a commercial lines underwriter with a national carrier before moving into sales and marketing roles shortly thereafter. Since joining Berkley Select in 2021, the company’s marketing efforts have excelled dramatically. Lisa’s strong understanding of our product lines and continued relationship building with our producers has made her a trusted mentor and subject matter expert amongst many in the industry. She is an active member in the Insurance Marketing and Communications Association (IMCA). Lisa is a graduate of DePaul University where she attained her MBA in Marketing. She completed her Bachelor’s in Finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
