Meet Our Team
The Garden State Professional Insurance Agency Team
Success born of experience! Nearly everyone on the Garden State team offers over 20 years of professional liability insurance experience affording them the knowledge needed to work with even the most complex risks. And because we are truly professionals serving professionals, you can count on always receiving prompt, courteous attention.

Kim Bellerose
Senior Account Executive

Alison Kirk
Senior Account Executive

Kerri Mazzariello
Account Administrator

Donna Otten
Underwriting Assistant

Julie Petrulla
Senior Account Executive

Nora Saviano
Business Manager

Susan Searby
Senior Account Executive

Richard Taintor
Business Consultant

Dana Vallee
Senior Account Executive

Adina Ziegler
Senior Account Executive

Sean C. James
Vice President

Kim Bellerose
Senior Account Executive
Specialization: Legal Malpractice Insurance
Professional Experience: Kim offers clients over ten years experience in the insurance industry. During these ten years, she has been employed by EVR Insurance with an exclusive focus on Lawyers Professional Liability Insurance. In April of 2019, EVR was acquired by Garden State’s parent company and Kim is now a valued member of the Garden State Professional Insurance Agency team. She is licensed in NY, NJ, and PA.
Professional Experience: Kim offers clients over ten years experience in the insurance industry. During these ten years, she has been employed by EVR Insurance with an exclusive focus on Lawyers Professional Liability Insurance. In April of 2019, EVR was acquired by Garden State’s parent company and Kim is now a valued member of the Garden State Professional Insurance Agency team. She is licensed in NY, NJ, and PA.
Phone
848-482-7666

Alison Kirk
Senior Account Executive
Specialization: Legal Malpractice Insurance, Title Agents Fidelity and Surety Bonds
Professional Experience: Alison has 32 years of experience in professional liability underwriting and claims. She specializes in legal malpractice insurance, with additional expertise in Fidelity and Surety Bonds. Prior to joining Garden State Professional Insurance Agency, Alison was a professional liability underwriter with Target Insurance Services for ten years. Her experience also includes seven years with Garden State Indemnity Company’s professional liability claims department. She is a licensed insurance broker in NY, NJ, FL, PA, CT, SC, and VA.
Professional Experience: Alison has 32 years of experience in professional liability underwriting and claims. She specializes in legal malpractice insurance, with additional expertise in Fidelity and Surety Bonds. Prior to joining Garden State Professional Insurance Agency, Alison was a professional liability underwriter with Target Insurance Services for ten years. Her experience also includes seven years with Garden State Indemnity Company’s professional liability claims department. She is a licensed insurance broker in NY, NJ, FL, PA, CT, SC, and VA.
Phone
732-640-5855

Kerri Mazzariello
Account Administrator
Professional Experience: Kerri has 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. Kerri assists the Account Managers with incoming new and renewal business. Kerri is also the liaison between our clients, brokers and the Account Managers. Prior to joining Garden State Professional Insurance Agency / Flag Insurance Services, Kerri worked for XL Insurance and Reliance National Insurance Co in the Ocean Marine Underwriting Division.
Phone
732-640-5865

Donna Otten
Underwriting Assistant
Professional Experience: Donna has over 18 years’ experience providing support and assistance to underwriting staff, performing administrative duties regarding new and renewal accounts with our team at Garden State Professional Insurance Agency and Flag Insurance Services.
Phone
732-640-5867

Julie Petrulla
Senior Account Executive
Specialization: Legal Malpractice Insurance
Professional Experience: Julie offers 30 years experience as a Commercial Lines Insurance Account Manager. Prior to joining Garden State Professional Insurance Agency, she was employed by Alliant Insurance Services, Bollinger, and Arthur J. Gallagher. Julie has been a licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Broker since 1992. She holds a CISR (Commercial Insurance Service Representative) designation, as well as a CRIS designation (Construction Risk Insurance Specialist). Julie is licensed in NJ and FL.
Professional Experience: Julie offers 30 years experience as a Commercial Lines Insurance Account Manager. Prior to joining Garden State Professional Insurance Agency, she was employed by Alliant Insurance Services, Bollinger, and Arthur J. Gallagher. Julie has been a licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Broker since 1992. She holds a CISR (Commercial Insurance Service Representative) designation, as well as a CRIS designation (Construction Risk Insurance Specialist). Julie is licensed in NJ and FL.
Phone
732-640-5862

Nora Saviano
Business Manager
Professional Experience: Nora has 19 years experience at Garden State Professional Insurance Agency and Flag Insurance Services in handling the day to day office operations.
Phone
732-640-5864

Susan Searby
Senior Account Executive
Specialization: Legal Malpractice Insurance, Title Agents Fidelity and Surety Bonds
Professional Experience: Susan has 40 years of professional liability insurance experience. specializing in legal malpractice insurance. Prior to joining Garden State in 1999, Susan worked as an underwriter for Garden State Indemnity from 1988 to 1999. She is a licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Broker in NY, NJ, FL, and PA.
Professional Experience: Susan has 40 years of professional liability insurance experience. specializing in legal malpractice insurance. Prior to joining Garden State in 1999, Susan worked as an underwriter for Garden State Indemnity from 1988 to 1999. She is a licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Broker in NY, NJ, FL, and PA.
Phone
732-640-5259

Richard Taintor
Business Consultant
Professional Experience: Dick had 15 years insurance management experience in 1989 when he joined Garden State as president. He stepped down as president and has stayed on as computer and operations consultant. His current efforts help to assure our team has the proper tools to provide the service that you, our clients, have come to expect.

Dana Vallee
Senior Account Executive
Specialization: Commercial Lines Insurance
Professional Experience: Dana offers 23 years experience as a Commercial Lines Insurance Account Manager. Prior to joining Garden State Professional Insurance Agency, she worked as a Commercial Marketing Manager and Account Executive marketing and managing various types of commercial accounts.Dana has been a licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Broker since 2002. She is a licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Broker in NY, NJ, and FL.
Professional Experience: Dana offers 23 years experience as a Commercial Lines Insurance Account Manager. Prior to joining Garden State Professional Insurance Agency, she worked as a Commercial Marketing Manager and Account Executive marketing and managing various types of commercial accounts.Dana has been a licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Broker since 2002. She is a licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Broker in NY, NJ, and FL.
Phone
732-984-6389

Adina Ziegler
Senior Account Executive
Specialization: Legal Malpractice Insurance, Accountants Malpractice Insurance, Title Agents E & O Insurance, Cyber Liability Insurance
Professional Experience: Adina has 30 years professional liability underwriting experience. Beginning her career underwriting Lawyers Professional Liability at Home Insurance Company, she has had positions underwriting legal and accountants malpractice programs. Most recently she managed the retail professional liability department at Couch Braunsdorf Insurance Group for 13 years, where she handled all lines of professional and was their resident expert. Adina earned her Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) designation in 1996. She is a licensed Property and Casualty broker in NJ, FL, NY, PA, CA, CT, DC, MA, MD, VA and MI.
Professional Experience: Adina has 30 years professional liability underwriting experience. Beginning her career underwriting Lawyers Professional Liability at Home Insurance Company, she has had positions underwriting legal and accountants malpractice programs. Most recently she managed the retail professional liability department at Couch Braunsdorf Insurance Group for 13 years, where she handled all lines of professional and was their resident expert. Adina earned her Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) designation in 1996. She is a licensed Property and Casualty broker in NJ, FL, NY, PA, CA, CT, DC, MA, MD, VA and MI.
Phone
732-984-6388

Sean C. James
Vice President
Sean James has 27 years of professional liability insurance experience. During that time, he has worked as an agent, a broker, and as a director of operations. As Vice President with C&R Insurance, he developed the lawyers professionally liability program.
Phone
732-462-8929