Staff

Matthew P. Merlino, FCAS, MAAA

Matthew Merlino is a principal in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Merlino is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, and a Fellow of the Conference of Actuaries in Public Practice. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from Brown University.

Mr. Merlino has over twenty-eight years of experience as a casualty actuary (two years for Geico and twenty-six years as a consultant for several firms). His consulting experience includes:

• Loss and Loss Expense Reserve Analysis
• Product Pricing and Evaluation
• Financial Examination Assistance for State Insurance Departments
• Rate Filing Reviews for State Insurance Departments
• Regulatory Compliance Consulting for Insurance Companies
• Preparation of Pro forma financial statements for Insurance Companies and Self-Insurance Trusts
• Evaluation of Self-Insured Funding Levels
• Hospitals
• Physicians & Surgeons
• Government Entities
• Employer Groups
• Professional Testimony
• Arbitration Proceedings
• Administrative Hearings
• Insurance Department
• Civil Cases
• Federal Tax Court

Mr. Merlino has participated as a panelist at various rate making and reserving seminars and has spoken on loss and loss expense reserving to accounting and statistical groups.

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Paul M. Merlino, ACAS, MAAA, CFA

Paul Merlino is President of the Atlanta-based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A).Mr. Merlino is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society (ACAS) and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Mr. Merlino holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from Brown University. Mr. Merlino is also a financial analyst and has received the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Mr. Merlino has twenty-two years of experience in the actuarial field. Prior to joining Merlinos & Associates, Inc., he worked in the property & casualty actuarial department of the management consulting division for KPMG Peat Marwick, one of the largest public accounting firms. His experience in the actuarial field includes:

• Analyses of Loss and Loss Expense Reserves
• Development of Rate Structures and Rates for Various Lines of Business and Niche Programs on Behalf of Insurance Companies, Captives, Risk Retention Groups, Insurance Agencies, and Self-Insurance Trusts
• Extensive experience with liability exposures of long term care providers (nursing homes, assisted living, senior living, CCRCs)
• Financial Examination Assistance for State Insurance Departments
• Rate Filing Reviews for State Insurance Departments
• Planning and Development of Reinsurance/Excess Insurance Programs
• Valuation of Insurance Agencies
• Evaluation of Self-Insured Funding Levels
• Development of Acquisition Models
• Preparation of Feasibility Studies and Financial Projections for Insurance Companies, Captives, and Self-Insurance Trusts
• Assistance with Licensing Applications for Insurance Companies, Captives, Risk Retention Groups, and Self-Insurance Trusts
• Negotiations with Reinsurers on Behalf of Insurance Companies and Self-Insurance Trusts
• Insurance Company and Self-Insurance Trust Board Meeting Presentations on Various Reserve, Reinsurance and Funding Issues
• Development and Implementation of Actuarial Databases for Monitoring Reserves and Rates for Personal and Commercial Lines Products

Mr. Merlino has testified in various forums on rate, reserve, solvency, and tort reform issues on behalf of insurance company clients and regulatory authorities and has participated as a guest speaker at university actuarial clubs.

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David M. Shepherd, FCAS, MAAA

David Shepherd is a principal in the Atlanta-based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Shepherd's consulting experience consists of rate and reserve work for state insurance departments, reinsurers, insurers, law firms, agencies and self-insured entities and groups. The lines of business handled include auto, general liability, medical malpractice, reinsurance, workers compensation, property (including homeowners) and various other smaller lines of business. He has testified in various forums in support of his rate and reserve actuarial work.

Mr. Shepherd has assisted on over 100 financial examinations of P/C and HMO insurers for state insurance departments. These examinations have covered all sizes of insurance and reinsurance companies and self-insured groups, and have covered most every line of business. He also has extensive experience reviewing rate filing for state insurance departments and other interested parties.

Mr. Shepherd most recently held the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Underwriting Officer and Chief Actuary for a reinsurance Managing General Underwriter specializing in Workers Compensation and Accident & Health coverages. His responsibilities included overseeing profitability, being the referral underwriter, setting underwriting standards, reserving, ratemaking, facilitating start-up of their Bermuda reinsurance company, setting up internal systems, and procuring outside capital and retrocessional support.

Mr. Shepherd worked previously in the corporate actuarial department of a direct reinsurance company. His involvement was with the treaty, facultative, and alternative risk units and he was responsible for the reserving of the alternative risk, facultative and environmental/asbestos units.

Prior to working in the actuarial department, he was a casualty facultative underwriter in New York City for five years. In this position, he marketed and underwrote casualty facultative business ranging from Fortune 500 accounts to small minimum premium umbrella policies. Lines of business included workers compensation, general liability and auto liability.

Mr. Shepherd is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He graduated cum laude and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics/Business and Mathematics from Macalester College.

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Mark L. Brannon, FCAS, MAAA, CPCU

Mark Brannon is a principal in the Atlanta-based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries and a Member of the Society of Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriters. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Furman University.

Mr. Brannon has 19 years of casualty actuarial experience. Since joining M&A, Mr. Brannon has been involved in four primary areas:

• Rate and product development for various lines of business for direct insurers, including rate filing preparation and follow-up with state insurance department personnel. Property Insurance in Florida, as well as other coastal states, is his primary area of involvement.
• Providing actuarial services to our state insurance department clients. These services include providing actuarial assistance in financial examinations of insurance companies and actuarial review of property/casualty rate filings for a wide variety of lines of business. Expert testimony on behalf of state insurance department clients in Alabama and Massachusetts.
• Serving on the Professional Team of the Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology and the South Carolina Hurricane Expert Panel. This primarily involves reviewing the detail of submitted models to ensure compliance with established standards.
• Development of rating plans and rates for various lines of business and niche programs on behalf of captives and self-insured companies and municipalities.

Prior to joining M&A, Mr. Brannon worked eight years for State Farm Fire and Casualty Company in Bloomington, Illinois. Leading a group of actuaries and support staff, he was responsible for all ratemaking activity in nine southeastern states for several lines of business, in addition to other areas of involvement including the following:

• Company filings with state insurance departments (rate, form, and data requests)
• Incorporating the results of computer simulation models for both hurricane and earthquake perils into rate filings.
• Expert testimony given in rate hearings in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina
• Product development including policy forms, underwriting guides, & rating procedures
• Strategic planning regarding regulatory, political and industry developments
• Participated in actuarial committees for several residual market entities.

Prior to joining State Farm, Mr. Brannon worked as a property and casualty actuary for Cotton States Mutual Insurance Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Brannon has also participated in ratemaking seminars as a panelist discussing the use of computer simulation models in ratemaking. He has developed strong working relationships with many regulatory personnel at all levels, as well as with many professionals throughout the property and casualty insurance industry.

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Peter A. Scourtis, FCAS, MAAA

Peter Scourtis is a consultant in the Atlanta based actuarial firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Scourtis is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Mr. Scourtis has 15 years of casualty actuarial experience. While at M&A, Mr. Scourtis has been working in the following areas:

• Prepare rate filings for clients in Automobile and Homeowners lines and work with insurance departments for approval of filings.
• Prepare loss reserve opinions and actuarial reports for clients in personal and commercial lines.
• Review collateral protection and forced placed insurance rate filings.
• Develop comprehensive monthly monitoring of all insurance programs for client analyzing production and loss activity.
• Prepare comprehensive review of automobile programs for clients containing market review and analysis of program experience.
• Assist in financial examination work.
• Extensive use of Access database to develop useful information including loss reserve reports, market rate comparisons, and product management.

Prior to joining M&A, Mr. Scourtis was the head of the actuarial department at Fortune Insurance Company for 5 years. At Fortune, he used many computer applications to perform his responsibilities that included:

• Prepare all company filings with state insurance department (rate, form, and data requests) including Private Passenger Auto, Homeowners, Dwelling Fire, Commercial Property and Commercial Auto.
• Produce In-house IBNR Loss Projections and monitor loss reserves on monthly basis and assist Claims Department in review of trends, statistics and productivity.
• Prepare Monthly Management Reports to monitor company performance and productivity for all lines, specifically PP Auto.
• Monitor Florida Non-Standard Auto Market with extensive rate comparisons and competitor reviews on monthly basis.
• Catastrophe Management of property exposure level through monthly analysis of property exposures and Analysis of Reinsurance/FHCF Needs.

Mr. Scourtis graduated from the University of Georgia. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1992 with a major in Risk Management & Insurance and concentration in actuarial science.

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Rosemary Gabriel Wickham, FCAS, MAAA

Rosemary Gabriel Wickham is a consultant in the Atlanta based actuarial firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Ms. Wickham is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Ms. Wickham has 15 years of casualty actuarial experience. Her experience has been primarily as a consultant and includes the following:

• Assistance on the development of rates structures and rates for captives, risk retention group, insurance agencies and self-insurance trusts.
• Assistance on the evaluation of self-insured funding levels.
• Preparation of feasibility studies and financial projections for captives, self-insurance trusts, and insurance companies.
• Assistance on actuarial reports and statements of opinion for various insurance companies and self-insureds, including preparation and maintenance of spreadsheets and databases, monitoring of monthly or quarterly IBNR.
• Assistance on over 75 triennial and target financial examinations for various state insurance departments. Involvement includes overseeing the examination procedures, providing assistance to other consultants, and providing peer review. Examination issues include review of reserve indications, reconciliation of actuarial data to Schedule P, compliance with NAIC annual statement instructions, analysis and interpretation of reinsurance contracts, and review of company pooling and association agreements. Business reviewed includes all lines of property & casualty insurance and includes HMOs.
• Assistance on preparation of Schedule P for an insurance company’s Statutory Annual Statement. Involvement includes reconciliation of general ledger to company database and to the actuarial report, and assistance to the client’s independent auditors.
• Organized and created queries in a claim database and assisted on actuarial projections used in professional testimony related to a liquidated self-insurance fund. Ongoing assistance includes quarterly updates of claim activity in the Fund’s database and quarterly billing of the specific excess reinsurance.
• Assistance on competitive rate analyses, including private passenger automobile, homeowners, and business owners programs.
• Assistance on the review of rate filings for State Insurance Departments. Issues reviewed include compliance with State insurance regulations, review of actuarial support and actuarial judgment used in rate indications, and review of calculations.

Ms. Wickham graduated magna cum laude from Appalachian State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics and a concentration in Actuarial Sciences.

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Suejeudi (Sue) Buehler, FCAS, MAAA

Sue Buehler is a consultant in the Atlanta-based actuarial firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Ms. Buehler is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is pursuing her Fellowship Designation.

Ms. Buehler has 8 years of casualty actuarial experience and joined M&A in the spring of 2004. Since joining M&A, she has been involved in a variety of projects including:

• Assistance with a number of financial examinations of property and casualty insurance companies in various states, some of which have been performed in the TeamMate environment.
• Assistance with the review of rate filings for state insurance departments.
• Assistance with actuarial reports and statements of opinion for various insurance entities.
• Assistance with reserve analysis for various insurance entities.

Prior to joining M&A, Ms. Buehler was an Actuarial Analyst for United Service Auto Association (USAA) in San Antonio, Texas for 6 years. Her work at USAA included but was not limited to the following types of analyses:

• Design of competitive premium comparison software for preferred and standard auto. Her work on this board-level project with a budget exceeding one million dollars included:
• Creating detailed business requirements and testing strategies
• Researching competitors’ rating and underwriting practices
• Competitive analysis on age-of-home and protective device discounts for homeowners.
• Analysis of countrywide analysis of non-standard auto book of business.
• Evaluation of post-implementation benefits of new Consent-to-Rate structure and Facility/Bureau ceding strategies in North Carolina.
• Numerous personal auto state rate filings for preferred and standard business.
• Analysis and determination of unallocated loss adjustment expenses for personal auto and selected countrywide ULAE expense loads used in state rate reviews.

Ms. Buehler graduated summa cum laude in mathematics from the St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. She received a Ph. D. in mathematics in 1994 and an M.S. in statistics in 1998 from the University of Texas at Austin, Texas.

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Brett E. Miller, FCAS, MAAA

Brett Miller is a consultant in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Miller is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, and an Associate in Risk Management. Mr. Miller is also a Regulatory Member of the Society of Financial Examiners.

Mr. Miller has thirty years of experience as a casualty actuary, eight years for Continental Insurance Companies and twenty-two years as a consultant for several firms. His experience in the actuarial field includes:

• Loss and loss expense reserve analyses
• Development of rate structures and rates for various lines of business and niche programs
• Financial examination assistance for State and Provincial Insurance Departments
• Rate filing reviews for State Insurance Departments
• Evaluation of self-insured funding levels
• Preparation of feasibility studies, financial projections and pro-forma financial statements for insurance companies, captives, risk retention groups, and self-insurance trusts
• Regulatory compliance consulting for insurance companies
• Mergers and acquisitions due diligence assistance
• Development and design of a workers' compensation premium auditing tool for owner-controlled insurance programs
• Insurance and reinsurance company valuations
• Management information systems development and design
• Development of loss reserving systems and processes for an Israeli insurance conglomerate
• Planning and development of reinsurance/excess insurance programs

Mr. Miller was most recently with AgeeFisherBarrett, LLP, where he was Director of Actuarial Services. Mr. Miller was previously with the actuarial consulting groups of Miller Actuarial Consulting, Inc., Ernst & Young LLP, Coopers & Lybrand LLP, Arthur Andersen & Co., William M. Mercer, Inc., and KPMG Peat Marwick.

Mr. Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics/Pre-Med from SUNY - University of Buffalo. He has also served as a member of the Casualty Actuarial Society’s Examination Committee.

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Robert P. Daniel, ACAS, MAAA

Robert Daniel is a consultant in the Atlanta based actuarial firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Daniel is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society, and is pursuing his Fellowship Designation. He has 11 years of property/casualty actuarial consulting experience. Since joining M&A, Mr. Daniel has been involved in a variety of projects, including the following:

• Assisting with financial and target examinations (P/C as well as HMOs) addressing liabilities of a wide variety of insurance providers on behalf of state insurance regulatory entities (proficiency with TeamMate auditing software).
• Performing rate filing reviews on behalf of state insurance regulatory entities.
• Developing analyses work in support of Annual Statement schedules and Statements of Actuarial Opinion, quarterly and year-end loss and LAE reserves; rate indications and by-account rate changes and rating plan revisions for client insurance companies/alternative market facilities.
• Assisting with various aspects of litigation and expert testimony, including work establishing estimated liability in settlement.
• Assisting with rate indications and filings on behalf of client companies.
• Other projects include - estimating projected RBC requirements for client pro-forma financial statements, M&A data maintenance (rate filing reviews and examinations performed), involvement in assistance to NAIC committee drafting model law, assistance with work on behalf of state insolvency divisions, determination of liability in mergers and acquisitions, liability allocation studies, etc.
• Working with the majority of casualty lines including traditional high volume lines (AL, WC, etc) as well as special property, business multi-peril, inland marine, nursing home liability, extended reporting endorsements (DDR free-tail policy reserves), and reinsurance.

Prior to joining M&A, Mr. Daniel was a Consultant at William M. Mercer, Inc. for two years, and an Actuarial Analyst at Sedgwick, Inc. two years prior to that. This experience primarily consists of performing Loss and Loss Expense Reserve Analyses, utilizing numerous reserving methodologies, for self-insured entities such as Hospitals, Large Self-Insured Corporations, Government Entities, Captive Insurers and Insurance Pools. The lines of insurance he performed such analyses on include Workers Compensation, General Liability, Automobile Liability, Hospital Professional Liability, and Physicians & Surgeons Liability.

Mr. Daniel graduated summa cum laude from the University of Memphis in 1992. He received a Bachelor of Science with a major in Physics and a minor in Mathematical Sciences.

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Thomas W. Vasey, FCAS, MAAA

Tom Vasey is an actuarial consultant in the Atlanta-based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Vasey is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He provides consulting services in the following:

• Assistance on the review of rate filings for State Insurance Departments. Issues reviewed include compliance with State Insurance Regulations, review of actuarial support used in rate indications, and review of calculations using both loss and premium trending and pure premium rate making.
• Competitive rate analyses, primarily for the workers compensation and medical malpractice market.
• Reserve and funding studies for captive entities using historical loss data, experience modified cost, and pure premium methods.
• Work on actuarial reports and statements of opinion for various insurance companies and self-insured entities.
• Assistance on state insurance department triennial financial examinations for various state insurance departments. Involved in overseeing the examination procedures, and providing peer review.

Mr. Vasey attained his fellowship in 2008 with the completion of parts 8 and 9 from the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Mr. Vasey graduated summa cum laude from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 2000. He spent three years in the fiber optic component industry with Lucent Technologies/OFS.

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Derek P. Chapman, FCAS, MAAA

Derek Chapman is a consultant in the Atlanta based actuarial firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Chapman is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Mr. Chapman has three years of property and casualty actuarial experience. Since joining M&A, he has been involved in a variety of projects including:

• Ratemaking and rate filing preparation for personal and commercial lines insurers including incorporation of catastrophe model results and assumptions
• Analysis of insurance rating variables and competitive rate analysis
• Estimation of required Loss and Expense Reserves for personal and commercial lines insurers
• Assistance on Financial Examinations for state insurance departments
• Rate filing review for state insurance departments

Prior to entering the property and casualty field, he worked in software engineering for five years and pension consulting for one year. His work prior to joining M&A included:

• Actuarial valuation of defined benefit plan liabilities and calculation of pension plan benefits
• Design and implementation of multi-tiered software applications for the Pharmacy Benefits Management industry

Mr. Chapman graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1999.

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Ryan Purdy, ACAS, MAAA

Ryan Purdy is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta-based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Purdy joined M&A in September 2006. He is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is currently pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuary Society.

Mr. Purdy has three years of actuarial experience in property and casualty insurance. His primary areas of focus have been:

• Ratemaking for personal lines of business with primary focus on Florida property insurance.
• Assistance on Financial Examinations of property and casualty insurance companies
• Assistance on Reserve evaluations for personal lines insurance companies
• Analysis of catastrophe model results and assumptions
• Preparation of Competitive Rate Analyses
• Designing database processes to compile insurance data

Mr. Purdy has two remaining actuarial exams in his pursuit of his Fellowship designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS).

Mr. Purdy graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics in 2005.

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Kirk P. Braunius, ASA, MAAA

Kirk Braunius is an actuarial analyst with the Atlanta-based consulting firm Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Braunius joined M&A in August 2005.

Mr. Braunius has thirteen years of actuarial experience, including twelve as a pension consultant with Coopers & Lybrand and Kwasha Lipton and a year in property/casualty reinsurance with Prudential Reinsurance. His experience includes the following:

• Supervision of all aspects of defined benefit pension plan consulting, including actuarial valuations, government filings and benefit certifications.
• Actuarial analysis and pricing of prepaid guaranteed tuition programs for several states.
• Collection and analysis of property/casualty reinsurance data. Preparation of results of loss reserve studies for management

Mr. Braunius is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries. In addition, he has credit for parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Casualty Actuarial Society exams and is pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuary Society.

Mr. Braunius graduated summa cum laude from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. He is pursuing a Masters of Education in mathematics education at the University of Georgia.

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Gregory M. Fanoe

Greg Fanoe is an actuarial analyst with the Atlanta-based consulting firm Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Fanoe joined M&A in February 2005. He has completed the examination process for his Associate Designation and is pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuary Society. He provides services in the following:

• Assisting with triennial financial examinations addressing on behalf of state insurance regulatory entities. Assistance with overseeing exam procedures
• Assistance with review of rate filings for State Insurance Departments.
• Assistance on the development of rates structures and rates for captives and risk retention groups.
• Assistance with creating rate filings for a wide variety of personal lines of insurance. Assistance provided includes developing rate indications, researching state requirements for state filings, and development of various rating factors to obtain a desired rate-level effect.
• Use of the chain-ladder method, Bornhuetter Ferguson method, loss cost/frequency and severity analysis, and benchmark analysis to assess the required reserve estimates for standard insurance companies, captives, and risk retention groups.

Mr. Fanoe graduated magna cum laude from the University of Richmond in 2004. He received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science.

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Bao Ngoc H. Vu

Bao Vu is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A) and has been working with the firm since February 2001. Ms. Vu is pursuing her Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society and provides computer and technical support to lead consultants including the following:

• Assistance on state insurance department triennial and target financial examinations for various state insurance departments. Involved in overseeing the examination procedures, and providing peer review.
• Assistance on quarterly actuarial reports for some insurance companies, including preparation and maintenance of spreadsheets incorporating the following methods:
  • Chain Ladder Reserving Techniques
  • Bornhuetter-Ferguson Reserving Techniques
• Assistance on the review of rate filings for State Insurance Departments. Issues reviewed include compliance with State Insurance Regulations, review of actuarial support used in rate indications, and review of calculations using the following techniques:
  • Loss and Premium Trending
  • Frequency and Severity Analysis
  • Pure Premium Rate Making
• Assistance on competitive rate analyses, including private passenger automobile and homeowners programs.

Ms. Vu has passed part 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the actuarial exams in her pursuit of her Fellowship designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Ms. Vu graduated summa cum laude from Georgia State University. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics with a related field in Actuarial Science in 2002.

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Andrew J. Kiel

Andrew Kiel is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc.  (M&A).  Mr. Kiel joined M&A in August 2007, and is currently pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Mr. Kiel has two years of actuarial experience in property and casualty insurance.  His primary areas of focus have been:

• Preparation of rate filings for auto and home, and communications with respective Departments of Insurance.
• Competitive rate analysis for auto and home.
• Implementation and verification of rates for auto and home.

Mr. Kiel has passed parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Casualty Actuarial Society exams.

Mr. Kiel graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 2005.

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Michael Solomon

Michael Solomon is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Solomon joined in April 2007 and is currently pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuary Society.

Mr. Solomon provides computer and technical support to lead consultants. This support includes:

• Collating a database of the resources available to M&A employees.
• Collating a database of Clients, Projects and Service Providers
• Assisting research into Joint Underwriting Association ratemaking, especially in regard to the relative premiums of different types of doctors.

Mr. Solomon has passed parts 1 and 2 of the Casualty Actuarial Society examinations.

Mr. Solomon graduated summa cum laude, with First-Class Honors and holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (C.A.N.T.A.B.) degrees in Land Economy from The University of Cambridge, England.

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Alison Lalla

Alison Lalla is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Ms. Lalla joined M&A in February 2009, and is currently pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Ms. Lalla provides computer and technical support to lead consultants. This support includes:

• Preparation of competitive rate analyses;
• Verification of rates for auto and home;
• Aiding examinations of insurance companies for State Departments of Insurance; and
• Reviewing rate filings for State Departments of Insurance.

Ms. Lalla has passed parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Casualty Actuarial Society examinations.

Ms. Lalla graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics in 1995, and a Master’s degree in Statistics in 1998. She spent several years with ING and Towers Perrin prior to joining M&A.

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Meg Glenn

Meg Glenn is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Ms. Glenn joined M&A in February 2008, and is currently pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Ms. Glenn provides computer and technical support to lead consultants. This support includes:

• Preparation of competitive rate analyses;
• Verification of rates for auto and home;
• Aiding examinations of insurance companies for State Departments; and
• Reviewing rate filings for State Departments.

Ms. Glenn has passed parts 1 and 2 of the Casualty Actuarial Society examinations.

Ms. Glenn graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Management in 2006. She spent two years in the IT auditing industry with PricewaterhouseCoopers prior to joining M&A.
 

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Leighton Weese

Leighton Weese is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Weese joined M&A in June 2008, and is currently pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Mr. Weese provides computer and technical support to lead consultants. This support includes:

• Preparation of competitive rate analyses;
• Verification of rates for auto and home;
• Aiding examinations of insurance companies for State Departments; and
• Reviewing rate filings for State Departments.

Mr. Weese has passed parts 1 and 2 of the Casualty Actuarial Society examinations.

Mr. Weese graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science in 2008.
 

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Meghan W. Brown

Meghan Brown is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Ms. Brown joined M&A in October 2007, and is currently pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Ms. Brown provides computer and technical support to lead consultants. This support includes:

• Assisting in the preparation of rate analysis exhibits;
• Verification of rates for auto and home;
• Aiding examinations of insurance companies for State Departments; and
• Reviewing rate filings for State Departments.

Ms. Brown has passed part 1 of the Casualty Actuarial Society examinations.

Ms. Brown graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Decision Sciences in 2007.

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Leigh C. Gilbert

Leigh Gilbert is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Ms. Gilbert joined M&A in June 2008, and is currently pursuing a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Ms. Gilbert provides computer and technical support to lead consultants. This support includes:

• Preparation of competitive rate analyses;
• Assessments of rate adequacy for auto and home;
• Aiding examinations of insurance companies for State Departments of Insurance; and
• Reviewing rate filings for State Departments of Insurance.

Ms. Gilbert has passed parts 1 and 2 of the Casualty Actuarial Society examinations.

Ms. Gilbert graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Statistics and minor in Risk Management and Insurance in 2008.
 

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Rutledge M. Capers

Rutledge Capers is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. Capers provides computer and technical support to lead consultants. This support has included:

• Assistance on state insurance department triennial and target financial examinations. Involved in Reconciliation and Compliance issues.
• Assistance in the development of reserving models for many lines of business and incorporating the following methods and techniques:
  • Chain Ladder Reserving Techniques
  • Bornhuetter-Ferguson Reserving Techniques
  • Loss and Premium Trending
  • Frequency and Severity Analysis
  • Pure Premium Rate Making
  • Interpolation
• Development of Claims-Made and Tail Factors
• Development of computer programs to sort and analyze individual claim data for Pricing and Reserve studies.
• Preparation of Competitive Rate Analyses.
• Assistance with Regulatory Compliance Issues, which concerns Rate Filings.

Mr. Capers graduated from the University of Georgia in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Statistics.

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Manny Chaudhury

Manny Chaudhury is an actuarial analyst in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A).  Mr. Chaudhury joined M&A in May 2009, and is currently pursuing an Associate designation from the Society of Actuaries, and a Fellowship Designation from the Casualty Actuarial Society. 

Mr. Chaudhury provides analytical and technical support to lead consultants. This support includes:

•  Assistance on actuarial analysis of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves for insurance companies;
• Preparation of competitive rate analyses;
• Assessments of rate adequacy for home and auto;
• Assistance on P&C and HMO examinations of insurance companies for State Departments of Insurance;
• Reviewing rate filings for State Departments of Insurance; and
•  Using programming and database tools to improve efficiency and value of our actuarial analyses.

Mr. Chaudhury has over seven years of actuarial experience in the health actuarial field. Prior to that, he was a computer programmer. His work in the health actuarial field included but was not limited to the following types of analyses:

• Creating predictive models for disease severity management projections, DRG analysis, discount analysis, stop loss analysis, and cost projections for budgeting.
• Setting up, maintaining and updating comprehensive pricing models (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx) and HRA pricing models to predict utilization with different levels of medical management and benefit designs.
• Performing Medicare Part D Actuarial equivalency tests (MMA 2003).
• Performing analyses on competitive bids for new insurance carriers, administrators, and drug vendors.
• Designing and executing audits of discount processes and price deviations for medical and drug data of large government clients.
• Creating and using various reserve models to prepare monthly/quarterly/yearly reserves (IBNR) for medical, drug, dental, vision and Long Term Disability claims of various clients, and documenting and verifying the factors used in related computations.

As a computer programmer, Mr.Chaudhury has considerable experience with many database and programming tools including Access, Excel, Cognos Impromptu, Data Junction, Microsoft SQL, Java, SAS, JSP, XML, XSLT, Java Beans, HTML, Visual Basic 6.0, Paradox, Linux, Unix, DOS, C, C++, Visual C++, Pascal, Power Builder 5.0, Oracle v7.3.4(SQL, SQL*Plus, PL/SQL) and Developer 2000.

Mr. Chaudhury has credits for Part 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Casualty Actuarial Society examinations, and for Part 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Society of Actuaries examinations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Central Connecticut State University, and an MBA degree in Finance and Management Information System from Mercer University.

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Stephen White

Steve White is the COO at the Atlanta based actuarial consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Mr. White joined M&A in 2009 after consulting with the firm on business and strategic planning. He is responsible for all operational aspects of the business, the development and execution of the annual business plan, and the achievement of the 5-year corporate objectives.

Mr. White began his career with IBM in the Federal Systems Division and later entered the financial services industry focusing on information technology. He worked at both Wells Fargo and Wachovia Bank before becoming a consultant.

Mr. White was the Partner in Charge of Arthur Young’s Financial Services consulting practice in the east region, where he was responsible for all financial services consulting in 19 states. His experience covered a range of general management and business consulting skills including strategic planning, financial analysis, information systems, marketing, sales, process improvement, and product development. He has been a financial industry and payment system innovator in the area of EFT products, service and delivery.

Mr. White founded and sold both Global Concepts and Collective Dynamics, and was also a co-founder of Speer & Associates, all consulting firms in the payments arena. In his capacity as a consultant, Mr. White has worked with senior executives at many Fortune 500 companies.

Mr. White is a frequent speaker, author, and educator in a variety of industry areas. He has lead strategic planning sessions for major corporations and has developed seminars for executives in the areas of leadership and vision. He has taught at numerous schools, including serving on the faculty of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association School of Banking at Bucknell University. Mr. White is also on the Board of QuickVault, a consumer software company based in Atlanta.

In his career, Mr. White has:

• Performed a major study for The Bankers RoundTable entitled “The Future of the Payment System” which focused on the strategic concerns and opportunities for banks.
• Served as a consultant to establish many of the regional ATM networks. Over the years he has provided strategic consulting to many networks, including Visa and MasterCard.
• Worked with dozens of companies in the development of strategic plans. This includes developing a vision and creating a winning “go to market” strategy.
• Participated in several major acquisitions and post-acquisition consolidation projects.
• Counseled many C-level executives in the areas of strategic planning and organizational development.
• Worked with dozens of companies tracking the performance of critical initiatives.
• Worked with CIO’s to help develop technology strategies aligned with business strategies.
   

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Deborah L. Hamilton

Deborah (Deb) Hamilton is the business manager in the Atlanta based consulting firm of Merlinos & Associates, Inc. (M&A). Ms. Hamilton is responsible for:

• Preparing corporate financials to include accounts payable / receivable, monthly billing and collections, corporate tax package, and corporation records
• Human Resource activities including review of all resumes, health benefits coordinator, payroll, employee records, orientation and training
• SERFF Liaison to the Mississippi Insurance Department, Alabama Insurance Department, NAIC, and the staff
• Network Support to include installation and maintenance of all programs, nightly backups, workstation updates, and equipment purchases
• Providing computer / technical support to the consultants
• Proficiency in QuickBooks, TimeSlips, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Ms. Hamilton has been with M&A over 11 years. Prior to joining M&A, Ms. Hamilton was an international meeting planner with TAPPI (Technical Association to the Pulp and Paper Industry) in International Operations and Exhibits for fourteen years.

Ms. Hamilton has over twenty-five years experience business operations and has an Associates degree with special training in Business Operations and Management.

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