Kathy Schroeder                                                         

President / CEO
Kathy Schroeder, a founder of Sierra Specialty, has a strong background in underwriting,

brokering, management and spans close to twenty five years. Throughout her career,

Mrs. Schroeder has emerged as a highly respected competitor, customer, broker and

leader.  Having managed large books of business as a broker, underwriter and program

manager, she has an excellent understanding of what is needed to assist and manage

key producers and underwriters.

Kathy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.

 Mark Schroeder                                                           

Executive Director
A founder of Sierra Specialty, Mark Schroeder has an expansive background of over

twenty five years in underwriting and program management. He has in-depth experience

at many levels in the insurance industry including company underwriting, program

development and management, surplus lines underwriting and brokerage as well as

reinsurance placements and establishment of captives. His experience includes a wide

range of business classes and coverages.

 

Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.

Carrie Tienken, CPCU, ASLI, AU                               

Vice President, Underwriting
Carrie Tienken is a corporate officer and member of Sierra Specialty's executive team

as a founding producer. Mrs. Tienken possesses an in-depth, diversified knowledge of

underwriting commercial insurance utilizing various carrier binding contracts.

Mrs. Tienken experience ranges from rating and underwriting at standard insurance

companies and Managing General Agencies to managing underwriting departments

which includes senior underwriters, underwriter assistants and clerical. Carrie has long

standing relationships with the carriers and is most familiar with the expectations and requirements they impose.

Mrs. Tienken holds CPCU, ASLI, AU designations and a Bachelor of Science Degree.

Cathy Temple, AIS, AINS, CPIW, DAE

 

Underwriter

Cathy has over 20 years of experience. Most recently Cathy has taken over underwriting

responsibilities and continues to expand her own book of business. Over the past 6 years

Cathy has nurtured and developed strong, long standing relationships with a large number

of retail agents throughout the western states. Her many years experience in underwriting

and servicing Property and Casualty business is vital to Sierra Specialty.

 

Ms. Temple possess excellent communication skills. She won the CA Speakoff competition

for the Insurance Women Organization. She has completed many INS classes,

CIC classes and company underwriting workshops.

Esmeralda Mendez                                                         

Underwriter

Esmeralda has over 10 years experience in underwriting, both new and renewal accounts,

as well as policy maintenance and servicing. She has the valued skills of account evaluation

and attention to detail. Customer service is her number one priority, recognizing that her

customers are both the Companies, and the Retail Producers she serves. Esmeralda’s ability

to speak fluently in both Spanish and English adds a unique contribution to our office.

 

Mrs. Mendez holds a BA degree in Communication/Marketing from UCSB

Teri Prieto                                                                      

Senior Associate Underwriter

Teri’s 25 plus years in the business adds excellent depth to Sierra Specialty’s underwriting department. Her experience at both insurance carrier and wholesale broker underwriting departments brings incite and knowledge to both our customers and our carriers. She services a large book with many agents throughout California.

Pam Fleming                                                               

 

Senior Associate Underwriter
Pam has over 25 years experience within underwriting departments of insurance com

panies and MGA's. She's spent most of her carrier serving the retail agents in California,

Hawaii and other western states. Over the past 13 years she has assisted in underwriting,

rating and policy servicing for over 1000 policies annually and works with nearly 200

retail agents. Pam's strengths of administration, organization, efficiency and effective

communication skills makes for a smooth underwriting team.

Lizette Felde  AINS, AIS, AAI, AAM, AIT, CIC, CPIW, DAE      

                              

Vice President - Transportation

Lizette possesses an in-depth, diversified knowledge of all lines of trucking and commercial auto insurance – from “tow trucks to semi trucks” as a result of more than two decades of underwriting experience in the insurance industry. Lizette was awarded "Professional Underwriter of the Year Award 2011-2012 by the North Carolina Association of insurance Professionals

 

Her well-rounded background includes General Agency Management, Producer, Commercial Underwriting, organized Driver Safety Programs and Insurance Seminars. Her underwriting expertise ranges from local to long haul, light duty to heavy haul, double drop to tanker. She has had over 18 years of experience in the ownership and management of a trucking company with her family; with first hand knowledge of filings, DOT, permits and maintenance.

Virginia Souza                                                              

 

 

Underwriter - Transportation

Virginia has over 15 years of insurance experience. Her latest accomplishment was to be

promoted to underwriter and is now handling her own book of business for multiple

carriers. She now specializes in commercial auto, garage and related transportation

business. Virginia’s experience with working with retail agents and handling detailed

rating and underwriting tasks is a valuable asset to Sierra Specialty.