Vela Insurance Services, LLC

Our Mission

Vela Insurance Services, LLC takes pride in partnering with approved specialist wholesale brokers to create relationships designed to provide sound solutions for complicated risks.

Company Description

Vela Insurance Services, which began operations in 1996 as an underwriting manager, writes excess and surplus lines casualty business with a primary focus on construction, manufacturing and professional services coverages. With underwriting offices in Chicago, IL, Solvang, CA, Radnor, PA and San Diego, CA, Vela writes a variety of classes nationwide exclusively through its network of appointed excess and surplus lines brokers.

Vela is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation, recognized as a solid and reputable name in the property casualty business. We utilize W. R. Berkley Corporation member company Gemini Insurance Company, which is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., as our issuing carrier. Our claims office which is located in Omaha, Nebraska provides effective and efficient claims handling.

How Vela Insurance Services is Different

Vela’s professional staff is committed to meeting your customers’ needs by providing superior products and services utilizing an innovative underwriting approach. We pride ourselves in surplus lines expertise and promise to:

• Listen
• Be responsive
• Convert opportunities into successes

About W. R. Berkley Corporation

W. R. Berkley Corporation, founded in 1967, is one of the nation's premier commercial lines property casualty insurance providers. Each of the operating units in the Berkley group participates in a niche market requiring specialized knowledge about a territory or product. Our competitive advantage lies in our long-term strategy of decentralized operations, allowing each of our units to identify and respond quickly and effectively to changing market conditions and local customer needs. This decentralized structure provides financial accountability and incentives to local management and enables us to attract and retain the highest caliber professionals. We have the expertise and resources to utilize our strengths in the present environment, and the flexibility to anticipate, innovate and respond to whatever opportunities and challenges the future may hold.

Contact Information

We encourage you to call us to discuss specific accounts. Please contact us at:

Vela Insurance Services, LLC
Chicago Branch Office
200 West Madison
Suite 2700
Chicago, IL 60606
Tel: (312) 553-4413
Fax: (312) 553-4431

Michael P. Sullivan
Senior Vice President – Underwriting
Chicago Branch Manager
William L. Braden
Vice President – Underwriting
Patricia Maruszak
Vice President – Underwriting
Joan Kamholz
Assistant Vice President – Underwriting
Adrienne Tong
Underwriter
Paula Cates
Underwriter
Carly Kuzma
Assistant Underwriter

Vela Insurance Services, LLC
Solvang Branch Office
2029 Village Lane
Suite B
Solvang, CA 93463
Tel: (805) 693-0839
Fax: (805) 693-0859

Ted H. Perry
Vice President – Underwriting
Solvang Branch Manager
Ritamari Martin
Vice President – Underwriting
Christina Anderson
Assistant Vice President – Underwriting
Ellen Van Deusen
Underwriter
Darcy Day
Underwriter
Elisa Correll
Underwriter

Vela Insurance Services, LLC
Radnor Branch Office
259 N. Radnor Chester Road
Suite 240
Radnor, PA 19087
Tel: (610) 688-4275
Fax: (610) 461-3139

David P. Lucey
Vice President – Prof. Liability
Radnor Branch Manager

Curt Chalmers
Underwriter

Vela Insurance Services, LLC
San Diego Branch Office
1455 Frazee Rd.
Suite 1000
San Diego, CA 92108
Tel: (619) 241-3725
Fax: (866) 560-9102

Mary M. Wiseley
Assistant Vice President
Underwriting

Vela Insurance Services, LLC
Omaha Claims Office
11516 Nicholas Street
Suite 301
Omaha, NE 68154
Tel: (402) 492-8352
Toll Free: (866) 915-7478
Fax: (402) 492-3283

Melissa Filip – Claims Manager

Vela Insurance Services, LLC
San Fransisco Branch Office
595 Market Street
San Fransisco, CA 94105
Tel: (415) 710-6345

Susan R. Burkhart
Assistant Vice President - Underwriting