NEWS ARTICLE
April 3, 2023
Western National Announces Officer Promotions of Ehrich, Horak, Jenson, and Midgley
(Minneapolis, Minn.) Western National Insurance Group today announced that it has promoted four employees – Dan Ehrich, Sam Horak, Julia Jenson, and Anna Midgley – to new roles on its officer team, effective immediately.
Dan Ehrich, now Assistant Vice President – Corporate Controller, joined Western National in 2014 as Assistant Controller, having previously worked in public accounting for Baker Tilly and having progressed into management roles at United Health Group. During his tenure at Western National, Dan has become the key resource regarding operational matters in finance, and he has led several merger-and-acquisition financial process integrations and divestitures in addition to championing multiple process improvements. Dan is a graduate of Mankato State University.
Sam Horak, now Vice President – Business Intelligence, joined Western National in 2015, as Personal Lines Data Analyst. Since establishing the Data & Analytics Team in 2017 and expanding it in 2021, Sam has successfully led the team to provide a wide range of data and analytics solutions to departments across the Western National Insurance Group of companies. Through his efforts and the work of his team, the efficiency of several essential processes related to pricing and underwriting has significantly increased. Sam holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of North Dakota, as well as a CPCU designation.
Julia Jenson, now Assistant Vice President – Communications, joined Western National in 2019 following 13 years in communications and marketing leadership roles at Catholic Charities Twin Cities and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. During her time at Western National, she has helped shape and implement the Group’s communications strategy while making lasting impacts in key areas such as communication quality, team engagement, brand awareness, and reputation management. Jenson holds degrees from Concordia College - Moorhead (B.A.) and Hamline University (M.F.A.) as well as the Associate in Insurance designation from The Institutes.
Anna Midgley, now Assistant Vice President – Claims, joined Western National (via affiliate Michigan Millers) in January 2019 as a Property Claims Manager. She began her insurance career at Farm Family in 2003, moving to Preferred Mutual Insurance Company in upstate New York in 2016. Anna was promoted to Director of Property Claims in November of 2020, where she oversees property claims for both Western National and Michigan Millers. In addition to her supervisory role, she is the architect of our Catastrophe plan which allows us to respond to large claim events. Anna is a graduate of Siena College. She earned her CPCU in 2011 and her M.B.A. at College of St. Rose in 2017.
“Dan, Sam, Julia, and Anna are outstanding leaders who focus on serving our customers in everything they do,” said Rick Long, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western National Insurance Group. “We are pleased to recognize their contributions with these promotions. I look forward to seeing them continue to utilize their talents and expertise to further grow our business and enhance our customer experience, both internally and externally.”
Western National Insurance, headquartered in Edina, Minn., is a super-regional group of property-and-casualty insurance companies. The Group writes business through five active insurance companies—Western National Mutual Insurance Company, Western National Assurance Company, Pioneer Specialty Insurance Company, Umialik Insurance Company, and American Freedom Insurance Company — and is affiliated with Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Company. Together, the affiliated Group writes over $900 million in personal and commercial direct premium in 19 states across the Northern, Midwestern, and Western U.S. as well as in Alaska; and surety bonds in 38 states. All of the companies’ products are sold exclusively through professional Independent Insurance Agents.
For further information, please contact:
Steve Norman, CPCU, M.A., AIT
Senior Vice President - Communications & Customer Experience
(952) 921-5680 or (800) 862-6070 (Ext. 7680)
steven.norman@wnins.com
