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Canita Gunter Peterson, CPA, CFST's Profile

Canita Gunter Peterson, CPA, CFST

Shareholder, Tax Services

Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs


Canita has over 25 years of experience in providing consulting, tax, and accounting services.  She serves a wide variety of businesses and individual clients with respect to federal, state, and multi-state taxation.  In addition, she has been involved in mergers and acquisitions, litigation support services, IRS examinations, and representation and examinations related to various state tax issues.

She holds the Certified Florida Sales and Use Tax (CFST) designation and has provided sales tax consulting services related to compliance and reporting solutions for many different industries.

Mrs. Peterson received bachelor degrees in both accounting and finance from Florida State University. She then went on to receive her Master’s of Accountancy with an emphasis in taxation from Florida State University.


Christopher Howell, CPA, CIA, CRMA, CGMA's Profile

Christopher Howell, CPA, CIA, CRMA, CGMA

Shareholder, Assurance Services, Tampa Market Leader

Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs


Chris is a shareholder and the co-leader of the firm’s insurance industry group practice. He has provided assurance, accounting, reporting, and consulting services to insurance companies and related entities since 2000. Mr. Howell is a member of the AICPA/NAIC Task Force Panel of Experts, which helps resolve accounting and reporting issues for insurance entities.  The Panel also helps review revisions to AICPA Accounting and Auditing Guides. 

Mr. Howell has conducted risk assessments in various areas, including data privacy, vendor management, and underwriting and has spoken on Enterprise Risk Management (ERM).  He was previously Vice President and Controller for a start-up multi-line insurance group where he designed and implemented all accounting and financial reporting mechanisms to facilitate decision-making and comply with financial and regulatory reporting requirements.

In addition to his licensure as a CPA, Chris has earned the designation of Certified Internal Auditor and Certification in Risk Management Assurance from the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Chartered Global Management Accountant designation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  Chris has passed the first of three examinations towards an Associate in Risk Management from the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters.

Mr. Howell received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University and a master of accountancy from the University of West Florida.


Bill Ferguson, CPA's Profile

Bill Ferguson, CPA

Shareholder, Assurance Services

Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs


Bill has spent his career in public accounting and has over 40 years of experience serving a variety of clients with a significant concentration in serving insurance companies and other insurance-related enterprises.  He serves as one of the leaders of the Insurance Services Group.  His role in the Insurance Services Group is to coordinate services provided, ensure engagement objectives are accomplished within established timeframes, and serve as a technical resource.

He has specific experience with insurance clients that includes audits of GAAP and statutory financial statements, SOC examinations, agreed upon procedure engagements relating to CAT bonds and other insurance financial instruments, and providing consulting services relating to mergers and acquisitions, resolving financial regulatory reporting issues, internal controls, business plan assistance, reinsurance accounting, operational reviews, cost allocation systems, structuring MGA and other third-party service contracts, and resolution of financial reporting issues. 

In addition, Bill served as a member of the AICPA’s Task Force for the rewrite of the accounting and auditing guide for property and casualty insurance companies.


Jack Nicholson, Ph.D., MBA, CLU, CPCU's Profile

Jack Nicholson, Ph.D., MBA, CLU, CPCU

Director, Florida Catastrophic Storm Risk Management Center

Research Professor I in Risk Management & Insurance, Real Estate, and Legal Studies, Florida State University


Dr. Jack Nicholson is the Director of the Florida Catastrophic Storm Risk Management Center. He has the position of Research Faculty I in the Department of Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate, and legal Studies at Florida State University.  

Dr. Nicholson served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) for the State Board of Administration of Florida from 1994 to 2016. In addition, Dr. Nicholson served on the Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology (Commission) and served as its chair for the first two years.  At the State Board of Administration, Dr. Nicholson had the additional responsibility of overseeing the Insurance Capital Build-up Incentive Program. Prior to coming to the State Board of Administration in September of 1994, Dr. Nicholson worked for the Florida Department of Insurance for eight years. 

 Jack Nicholson received his Ph.D. in Risk Management and Insurance from the University of Georgia in 1980 where he also earned his undergraduate degree in Business with a major in insurance. He received an M.B.A. from the University of North Dakota while serving as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.  Dr. Nicholson also has the professional designations of C.L.U. (Chartered Life Underwriter) and C.P.C.U. (Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter). He has taught in the area of Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Georgia, the University of Iowa, and Florida State University.


Arthur R. Randolph, II FCAS, MAAA, CPCU, ARM, ARe's Profile

Arthur R. Randolph, II FCAS, MAAA, CPCU, ARM, ARe

Principal & Consulting Actuary Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, Inc.


Arthur Randolph is a Principal and Consulting Actuary with Pinnacle Actuarial Resources managing the firm’s Atlanta, Georgia office. He has been in the insurance industry since 1998 and has been consulting since 2001. Mr. Randolph’s consulting career has focused on commercial and personal property, commercial multiple peril, workers’ compensation, medical professional liability, general liability, and commercial and personal automobile exposures.

Mr. Randolph provides actuarial consulting services to property and casualty (re)insurers, self-insured entities, risk retention groups, and captive insurers. In particular, he serves as the Appointed Actuary for numerous property insurance companies domiciled in Florida and in other weather catastrophe-prone states. Mr. Randolph’s core services include reserving, ratemaking, and risk transfer testing.

Mr. Randolph is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries and holds additional insurance designations. He is actively involved with the Florida Chamber of Commerce.


David Altmaier's Profile

David Altmaier

Insurance Commissioner

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation


David Altmaier was appointed as the Florida Insurance Commissioner in April 2016 by the Financial Services Commission. He leads the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) and has oversight of one of the largest insurance markets in the world. Under Altmaier’s leadership, the OIR has worked to cultivate a market in Florida in which insurance products are reliable, available, and affordable.

Altmaier began his public service at the OIR in 2008, serving in a number of roles including Chief Analyst of the Property and Casualty Financial Oversight unit and Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty Insurance.

In 2019, Altmaier was voted Vice President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and was voted NAIC President-Elect for 2020. In his role as President-Elect, Altmaier serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee, Internal Administration Subcommittee, and the Government Relations Leadership Council. Commissioner Altmaier was also appointed by Governor DeSantis to serve as a member Florida’s Blockchain Task Force.

Prior to joining the OIR, Altmaier worked as a Florida licensed 2-20 and 2-14 insurance agent and as a high school math teacher. Altmaier graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.


Matt Walker, CPA's Profile

Matt Walker, CPA

Senior Manager, Assurance Services

Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs


Since 2012, Matt has been providing assurance and accounting services.  The range of services provided includes audits, reviews, compilations, agreed-upon procedures, and other services.  Matt serves as an engagement Senior Manager, which includes assuming the responsibility of planning, completing, and supervising a number of ongoing engagements.  These engagements have included clients in the insurance, not-for-profit, and commercial industries. He also has experience in compiling quarterly and annual financial statements under a statutory accounting basis.

Matt is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Florida Institute of CPAs, United Way Suncoast Young Leaders Society, and Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay through the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Matt is a past Loaned Executive for the United Way Suncoast. Matt received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida State University.


Mike Rosciam, CPA.CITP, CISA's Profile

Mike Rosciam, CPA.CITP, CISA

IT & Assurance Services Director

Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs


Since 1999, Mike has been providing public accounting services including IT consulting, audit, and accounting services with THF.  He has experience in insurance, not-for-profits, and governmental industries.

Mike possess both accounting and IT knowledge with a background that includes information technology auditing and a broad set of skills that have facilitated his understanding of organizational complexities. He has extensive experience identifying risk, designing and testing information system controls for audits of financial reporting, as well as auditing various aspects of information technology. He is responsible for planning and supervising engagements covering all facets of auditing, IT security and auditing, data analytics, risk management, SOC reporting, and financial audit support. This understanding has enabled him to contribute significantly to bridging the gap between business and technology in companies. In addition, he has extensive experience in computer assisted audit techniques (CAAT/IDEA) and Microsoft Access to provide assistance in database management in the accounting and audit areas.

Mike is a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and a member of the Information Systems Audit & Control Association.

In addition, Mike has five years of experience with a national corporation.  During that time, he performed analysis of monthly financial statements.


Dr. Jerry Parrish's Profile

Dr. Jerry Parrish

Chief Economist & Director of Research Florida Chamber Foundation


Dr. Jerry Parrish is the Chief Economist and the Director of Research for the Florida Chamber Foundation.  In that role, he is responsible for conducting in-depth analyses on the Florida economy and on solutions to help secure Florida’s future.

Dr. Parrish previously was the Chief Economist and Director of the Center for Competitive Florida at Florida TaxWatch. Prior to that position, he served as the Associate Director of the Center for Economic Forecasting & Analysis (CEFA) at Florida State University and has many years of experience in the private sector in management roles at international manufacturing companies.

Dr. Parrish is currently an Adjunct Instructor in the Masters in Applied Economics Program at Florida State University.  He earned a B.S. in Agricultural Business and Economics from Auburn University, an M.B.A. from Bellarmine University, an M.S. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Ph.D. in Economics from Auburn University. He regularly publishes research reports and articles on the Florida economy and Florida’s competitiveness.


John Schaefer, CFA's Profile

John Schaefer, CFA

Principal, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer AAM


John Schaefer, CFA, is AAM’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board as well as a Principal, with 34 years of investment experience.  Mr. Schaefer oversees all functions within the firm and manages a number of P&C and Life insurance company portfolios for AAM clients.

Mr. Schaefer joined AAM after working as Managing Director of the Insurance Asset Management unit of Zurich Scudder Investments (ZSI), where he was responsible for eight Portfolio Managers in the management of $82 billion of insurance assets. Additionally, he is a CFA Charterholder. He also earned a BBA from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Chicago.


Wes Strickland's Profile

Wes Strickland

Outside Counsel

Florida Property & Casualty Association/Colodny Fass


Wes Strickland serves as outside counsel to the Florida Property & Casualty Association. Mr. Strickland is a shareholder with the Colodny Fass law firm, where he heads the Insurance Regulatory and Corporate Transactions Practice in the firm’s Tallahassee office. He has been ranked by Chambers & Partners as one of Florida's top insurance lawyers.

With over two decades of experience handling insurance regulatory law and complex corporate transactions, he provides counsel to both domestic and international insurers and reinsurers, among others. He represents property and casualty insurers, as well as life and health entities, self-insurance funds, and various insurance-related entities in diverse regulatory matters.

Mr. Strickland has supervised multi-state compliance surveys and licensing matters for insurance companies, third party administrators, managing general agents, wholesale brokers, reinsurance intermediaries, insurance agencies, and manufacturers and sellers of service contracts and extended warranties. He routinely handles issues such as insurance holding company compliance, market conduct and financial examinations, company formation, multi-state expansion, corporate amendments, investment limitations, credit for reinsurance, and affiliate transactions. He has managed a wide variety of complex corporate and transactional matters for domestic and international insurers, holding companies and investors, including mergers and acquisitions, start-ups, stock offerings, restructurings, mutual holding company conversions, joint ventures, and reinsurance transactions.

Mr. Strickland also prepares and negotiates a wide variety of contracts and agreements, including managing general agent agreements, third party administrator agreements, insurance agency and broker agreements, cost allocation agreements, IT vendor agreements, and joint insurance marketing and affinity marketing agreements.

A member of The Florida Bar, Mr. Strickland is a graduate of Florida State University College of Law and Florida State University.


Ray Farmer's Profile

Ray Farmer

Director

South Carolina Department of Insurance


Ray Farmer has served as Director for the South Carolina Department of Insurance since former Governor Nikki Haley appointed him on November 13, 2012.  Mr. Farmer brings fifty years of experience in the insurance industry to his leadership role.

Mr. Farmer served as the Deputy Insurance Commissioner of the Enforcement Division for the Georgia Department of Insurance and more recently Vice President for the American Insurance Association.  Mr. Farmer is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and a member of the Tort and Insurance Practice section, as well as the Workers’ Compensation section.

In 2017, Mr. Farmer received The Order of the Palmetto from Governor Haley, the state's highest civilian honor awarded to citizens of South Carolina for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of national or statewide significance. In 2018, Mr. Farmer oversaw the passing of the Data Security Law – a law that is the first in the nation to require insurance companies to have a comprehensive and secure plan to protect consumer data.  Mr. Farmer also has the honor of being elected to serve as the President for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Mr. Farmer is a native of Atlanta and he and his wife, Gayle, have two children and five grandchildren.


Mike Causey's Profile

Mike Causey

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshall


Mike Causey is a businessman with more than 25 years in the insurance industry – as an agent, manager, supervisor, and agency owner.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as a military policeman and played trombone in the Army band.

The Commissioner graduated from High Point University with degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering.  He also continued his MBA studies at High Point University.

Mr. Causey is a native of Guilford County where he lives with his wife on the farm where he grew up.

His goal as Commissioner is to fight for more competition in the industry and to combat insurance fraud in an effort to drive rates lower for the North Carolina consumer.  He is also passionate about making the office more consumer friendly to help residents attain their insurance needs. He took office January 2017.


Stephen Andrews


Andrea Medley, CPA's Profile

Andrea Medley, CPA

Director, Tax Services

Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs


Since 2005, Andrea has been providing a range of tax, consulting, and compliance services to a variety of industries including insurance, financial institutions, wholesale distribution, and retail.  She has experience in multiple areas of taxation including federal and state compliance, ASC 740, ASC 740-10, accounting methods, and IRS examinations. Her responsibilities include federal and state income tax compliance, income tax provisions on a GAAP and Statutory basis of accounting, consulting/assessments related to valuation allowances and uncertain tax positions, tax controversy assistance related to federal and state jurisdictions, and tax planning strategies.

Andrea received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and her master of accounting in taxation from Florida State University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  She is a member of the board of the American Red Cross Tallahassee Chapter and is in the current Leadership Tallahassee class. 


March Fisher's Profile

March Fisher

Senior Director, Corporate Analytics

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation


March Fisher joined Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in August of 2005 and serves as Senior Director of Corporate Analytics. She oversees the Corporate Analytics group, which includes Data Science, Catastrophe Modeling, Geographic Information Systems, and Reporting/Analytics. March’s department supplies Citizens with a variety of analytical support. Data science provides forecasting and predictive modeling support. Catastrophe modeling is used to estimate Citizens’ exposure to hurricane risk, a critical element in ratemaking, reserve review, liquidity and claims paying analyses, risk transfer decisions, legislative inquiries, and projecting live hurricane losses. Geographic Information Systems harnesses geographical and demographic data for a variety of purposes, including hurricane response during and after a storm. Finally, the Reporting/Analytics team helps senior executives inform Citizens’ stakeholders, including the Florida Legislature and Cabinet, as they make critical decisions regarding Citizens' role.

March has over 20 years of Insurance and Actuarial experience.  Prior to joining Citizens, March worked for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for nine years in Property and Casualty Financial Solvency and Product Review.  March performed actuarial analyses on property and casualty insurance companies’ rate filings and loss and loss adjustment expense reserves.

March earned her B.S. degree in Actuarial Science from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Temple University.


Brandon Mott, CPA's Profile

Brandon Mott, CPA

Director, Assurance Services

Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs


Since 2007, Brandon has been providing assurance and consulting services to insurance companies and related entities. In addition, he has experience working with and auditing insurance, governmental, not-for-profit, commercial entities, and employee benefit plans.

Brandon routinely plans, supervises, and directs audits of insurance companies and their affiliates and parent companies. He has specific experience documenting the major transaction cycles for insurance companies, assessing control risk, designing and implementing control tests of the premiums, claims, reinsurance, and treasury transaction cycles. Brandon has provided a range of services which include financial statement audits, compliance audits, internal control studies, agreed-upon procedures, reviews, and compilations.


Catherine Stout, CPA's Profile

Catherine Stout, CPA

Senior Manager, Assurance Services

Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs


Since 2015, Catherine has been providing assurance services. The majority of her career is dedicated to the insurance industry. Her experience includes auditing insurance organizations in order to provide a range of services including financial statement audits, compliance audits, compilations, agreed-upon procedures, and other services. She also has experience in compiling quarterly and annual financial statements under a statutory accounting basis. Her responsibilities include engagement planning, performance of fieldwork, internal control testing, and assistance with report preparation. 

Additionally, Catherine has significant experience providing SOC (control testing) and agreed upon procedure engagements.

Catherine has her B.B.A. in accounting and her B.B.A. in finance from Valdosta State University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.