Tom Rea Named Executive Vice President of Berkley Design Professional

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Monterey, Calif., July 17, 2025 – Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company, specializing in professional liability insurance products and services for architects and engineers, has announced Tom Rea as the new executive president.

With nearly 30 years of experience in professional liability underwriting and a strong background in portfolio management, Tom has a proven track record of successfully launching numerous new products and expanding business portfolios for Berkley Alliance Managers and other insurance providers.

“Tom’s extensive experience in professional liability underwriting, his exceptional leadership skills, and his creative approach to business will position Berkley Design Professional for growth in the A&E Professional Liability Insurance market,” said Stephen L. Porcelli, president of Berkley Alliance Managers. “We are truly fortunate to have Tom’s leadership, and we are confident he will best serve the interests of our brokers and policyholders.”

Tom joined Berkley Alliance Managers in 2020 to lead Berkley Service Professionals, the company’s miscellaneous professional liability business unit, and he will continue in this role as well. Before joining Berkley, he held various positions in professional liability, including senior vice president, product head, product and portfolio manager, and senior underwriter. He has experience working in both large and small insurance companies, as well as with Managing General Agents that specialize in both admitted and non-admitted professional liability insurance.

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Christopher N. Downs Named Senior Vice President, National Sales & Distribution Director of Berkley Alliance Managers

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Glastonbury, Conn., December 16, 2024 – Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley company, specializing in professional liability insurance for design professionals, construction professionals and miscellaneous service professionals, announced it has promoted Christopher Downs to senior vice president, national sales & distribution director.

In this role, Chis will be responsible for distribution strategies and broker management for Berkley Alliance Managers’ business units: Berkley Design Professional, Berkley Construction Professional and Berkley Service Professionals.

“We are excited to have Chris take on this expanded role leveraging his experience in broker relations, underwriting and professional liability insurance,” said Stephen L. Porcelli, president, Berkley Alliance Managers.

“Having a dedicated broker relationship manager for our producers across all Berkley Alliance Managers’ businesses will strengthen our broker relationships and enhance our commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience,” continued Porcelli.

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Berkley Design Professional’s BDP Risk® Learning Management System Wins Gold in 2024 Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards

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Monterey, Calif., October 28, 2024 – The BDP Risk® Learning Management System (LMS) from Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company, has won a Brandon Hall Group Excellence Award for Learning for the sixth consecutive year. This year’s Gold Award for “Best Custom Content” recognizes Berkley Design Professional for the launch of its successful Online Broker Academy, a training platform for both new and seasoned brokers.

This highly coveted honor, which recognizes self-paced, custom-designed online courses related to workplace learning, marks the seventh Brandon Hall Group Excellence Award for the BDP Risk® Learning Management System (LMS) and the first for the Online Broker Academy.

“Our new Online Broker Academy, offered through the BDP Risk® Learning Management System, provides an easily accessible training platform to educate brokers about Berkley Design Professional and the A&E industry. From educational materials about our products and services to tools to help onboard new A&E professional liability brokers, the Online Broker Academy has created an increase in agency staff engagement,” said Candelario Lopez, Learning Management Team Lead, Berkley Design Professional.

“Broker feedback tells us that they value these resources, and as a result, we are continually adding new content on the topics of underwriting, claims, risk management and BDP Risk® to meet their training needs,” continued Lopez.

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Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, Named in Business Insurance’s Annual Best Places to Work in Insurance

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Monterey, Calif., September 10, 2024 – Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley company, specializing in professional liability insurance for design professionals, announced it has been named in the annual Best Places to Work in Insurance program, which recognizes 100 employers for their outstanding performance in establishing workplaces where employees can thrive, enjoy their work and help their companies grow.

“We are honored to be recognized for our dedication to cultivating an exceptional work environment,” remarked Stephen L. Porcelli, president, Berkley Design Professional. “Every day, our employees embody our entrepreneurial values, giving them a voice and the power to drive meaningful change.”

Berkely Design Professional has been named a Best Places to Work for its commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. The company values the input of its employees at all levels, encouraging diverse ideas and opinions and emphasizing personal growth through various learning opportunities. The premium placed on teamwork, ethical conduct, and employee well-being creates an environment where employees feel empowered and valued.

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Berkley Design Professional’s BDP Risk® Learning Management System Wins Gold in 2023 Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards

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Monterey, Calif. (December 5, 2023) – The BDP Risk® Learning Management System (LMS) from Berkley Design Professional (BDP), a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company, has won a Brandon Hall Group Excellence Award for Learning for the fifth consecutive year. This year’s Gold Award for “Best Advance in Custom Content” recognizes Berkley Design Professional’s success in increasing user engagement with the addition of learning plans tailored to specific roles or topic areas.

This highly-coveted honor, which recognizes self-paced, custom-designed online courses related to workplace learning, marks the sixth Brandon Hall Group Excellence Award for the BDP Risk® Learning Management System (LMS) program.

“BDP Risk® is a state-of-the-art risk management program and LMS platform that provides policyholders with valuable educational resources to help them prevent professional liability claims, improve management practices, enhance business performance and qualify for premium rating credits,” said Diane P. Mika, senior vice president, risk management officer at Berkley Design Professional. “By adding curated learning plans based on policyholders’ interests, experience level and role, BDP Risk® enables them to complete a series of courses suited to their professional development and risk management needs.”

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Berkley Design Professional Now Participating in the Deltek Marketplace Partner Network

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New Relationship Helps Bring Tailored Insurance Protection to Design Professionals

Monterey, California (August 8, 2023) — Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company, is excited to announce it has joined the Deltek Marketplace. Now, it will be even easier for Deltek customers and prospects to learn about Berkley Design Professional’s specialized insurance products focused on the unique risk management needs of Architects and Engineers.

“This relationship enables Berkley Design Professional and Deltek to provide thought leadership in new, innovative ways that will help our mutual clients improve business practices, minimize risk and confidently build a better future,” says Larry Moonan, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Berkley Design Professional.

Berkley Design Professional’s coverage is specifically tailored to help protect firms from losses resulting from negligent acts, errors or omissions in the performance of professional services.

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Berkley Design Professional Celebrates 10th Anniversary

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Monterey, Calif. (April 10, 2023) – Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company is celebrating its 10th Anniversary of providing professional liability insurance for Architects and Engineers.

“This is an exciting milestone for our business. We thank our brokers and employees,” said Larry Moonan, executive vice president, chief operating officer at Berkley Design Professional. “Our success would not have been possible without their support and dedication.”

“As we look back on the past 10 years, we’re especially proud of our entrepreneurial company culture, innovative professional liability coverages, award-winning risk management services and excellent claim services that we’ve created,” said Moonan.

Since its inception, Berkley Design Professional has focused on innovative ways to serve the marketplace by expanding the products and services it offers. In addition, our in-house claims professionals provide responsive, high quality and personalized pre-claims assistance and claims management for our policyholders and brokers. Our robust learning management system, BDP Risk®, has received numerous Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards for learning and training. Berkley Design Professional is also CertifiedTM by Great Place To Work® with more than 95% of employees reporting they are proud to say they work for the business.

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Making the Go/No-Go Decision with Andy Mendelson | WTW A&E Podcast

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In Episode 14 of the WTW podcast, “Talk to me about A&E”, Dan Buelow, Managing Director, Architects & Engineers practice, sits down with our Chief Risk Management Officer, Andy Mendelson, FAIA. Andy discusses the critical “Go No-Go” considerations every design firm should include when assessing a new project opportunity including project team capabilities, financial impact, contracts and client selection.

Listen to the Podcast Now!

Berkley Design Professional’s BDP Risk® Learning Management System Wins Both Gold and Silver 2021 Brandon Hall Group Awards

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Monterey, Calif. (December 15, 2021) – The BDP Risk® Learning Management System (LMS) from Berkley Design Professional (BDP), a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company, has won the Brandon Hall Group Excellence Award for Learning for the third consecutive year. This year’s Silver Award within the “Best Advance in Custom Content” category reaffirmed Berkley Design Professional’s sustained results in helping design professionals improve their practices and mitigate professional liability claims.

In addition to this highly-coveted honor recognizing self-paced, custom-designed online courses related to workplace learning, the BDP Risk® LMS program also received the Brandon Hall Group 2021 Gold Award for “Best Advance in Creating an Extended Enterprise Learning Program.” The award acknowledges the organization’s successful efforts to attract and retain customers with specialized, impactful content.

“BDP Risk® is a state-of-the art risk management program and LMS platform that helps policyholders avoid professional liability claims, improve management practices, enhance business performance and qualify for premium rating credits,” said Diane P. Mika, vice president and director of risk management education at Berkley Design Professional. “As a result of these widely recognized and value-added benefits, usage of the LMS has helped us attract new clients, retain existing clients and decrease the frequency of claims.”

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Rhonda Navarrete Joins Berkley Design Professional as an Assistant Vice President, Senior Underwriter

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Monterey, Calif. (December 1, 2021) – Rhonda Navarrete joins Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company as an assistant vice president, senior underwriter. She is responsible for underwriting primary and excess business within the retail Architects & Engineers insurance community, building strong broker relationships and achieving profitable growth for Berkley Design Professional’s architects & engineers professional liability portfolio.

“Rhonda’s extensive experience with the design community, professional liability lines and our network of specialty insurance brokers will serve us well,” says Lawrence G. Moonan, executive vice president at Berkley Design Professional. “Rhonda is a seasoned veteran who understands our culture and the urgency we have around serving the needs of our brokers and policyholders. She will be a welcome addition to our talented underwriting team.”

Ms. Navarrete joins Berkley Design Professional with more than 20 years of experience underwriting Architects & Engineers Professional Liability Insurance. She is a licensed insurance agent in the state of California and holds the designations of Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designations. Ms. Navarrete is based in California.

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