Learn more about our SMEs

PERS has been the leader in public entity underwriting for 30 years. We support our customers as part of their communities. We specialize in customized, innovative solutions that provide financial stability, and we give customers total commitment, a strong brand, and reliable service.?

If you need assistance in any of the subject matter areas above, please contact our SMEs — they’ll be happy to help you.

Joseph Bonanno – Property

Joe joined PERS as a Senior Vice President and Underwriting Manager for Property. In his career, he has cultivated a wide range of relationships with clients and brokers while working on a diversified book of Property accounts.

Before joining MRSI, Joe worked for Berkshire Hathaway as a Vice President and Team Leader for the Southeast Region. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Montclair State University and the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU?) designation. Joe is based in New York, NY.

“As the subject matter expert for Property, I’ll be aware of current trends while preparing for the future of the marketplace,” Joe said. “My goal is to be a reliable, knowledgeable resource and provide stability for our clients and brokers.”

Robert Duffner – Education

Bob joined PERS in 2010 and has held underwriter roles on the Eastern Region, National Accounts, and Educational and Religious teams. He has underwritten larger pool risks within the PERS portfolio. Bob is based in Princeton, NJ.

“In my role as SME for Education, I’ll partner with broker specialists in the K-12 and higher education space by offering innovative thinking, high levels of service and underwriting expertise,” Bob said. “My goal is to be a resource for our broker partners in connecting their clients with the services or products they need.”?

Dawn Fertig – Religious Organizations

Dawn joined Munich Re in 2008 and has held a variety of positions, most recently Public Entity Underwriter on the Religious & Scholastic team.

Dawn has been an insurance professional since 1984, when she joined the claims department at Wausau. Since then, she has worked on both the insurance carrier and brokerage sides. Dawn has earned the Associate in Risk Management designation. She is based in Chicago, IL.

“I’ll play an integral role in the sales process and product development,” Dawn said. “Beyond studying trends, I’ll actively participate in events and social media groups that focus on religious topics to help me share best practices and build relationships in this niche class of business.”

Thanh Hoang – Municipalities

Thanh joined Munich Re in 2016 as a Public Entity Underwriter.??

Thanh started his insurance career at Liberty Mutual in 2002, where he worked in national market claims and middle market commercial underwriting. He received the CPCU designation in 2005 and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Pitzer College. He holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. Thanh is based in San Francisco, CA.

“In my work as SME for Municipalities, I’ll provide technical expertise and thought leadership on emerging trends affecting municipalities,” Thanh said. “I’ll ensure that we cross-leverage our umbrella of products, resources, and capabilities to provide innovative solutions.”

Joseph R. Peppelman – CPCU Transit

Joe was a founding member of the “Transit Team” within PERS. He is based in Chicago, IL, and has more than 30 years of underwriting experience.

?“I’ll help brokers develop client-centric insurance and reinsurance placements for public transit, paratransit, vanpools, and light rail operations,” said Joe. “As modes of transit continue to change and evolve in our society, my goal is to not only serve the needs of today, but also to research and prepare us for where transit will take us in the future.”??