Bios
Meet the Berkley Equine & Cattle team, industry experts dedicated to livestock care, equine health, and responsive customer service.
John Egan
Vice President and Manager
John first worked for an insurance company whilst at university in England obtaining a business degree. Upon graduation, in 1997, he worked in London, England, for a property and casualty broker that specialized in commercial property risks.
In the Spring of 2000, John temporarily left insurance to work for a thoroughbred racehorse trainer in England, deciding to change his career path to one that involved his love of horse racing. An opportunity then presented itself to work for Watership Down/Kiltinan Castle Stud which based John in Tipperary, Ireland, to work with thoroughbred mares and foals. In June 2002, John had the opportunity to gain US experience and work at Lane’s End Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he remained for 2 years until accepting an opportunity to be an equine mortality independent insurance agent. After working three-and-a-half years on the agency side, John accepted a role in equine and livestock mortality insurance underwriting with XL Insurance Company at the beginning of 2008. John would go on to roles of Underwriting Manager at Markel and Liberty Mutual before accepting the role of Vice President and Manager of Berkley Equine & Cattle in the summer of 2023.
Rita Kane
Vice President of Equine Underwriting
Rita Kane serves as Vice President of Equine Underwriting at Berkley, where she leverages over 25 years of experience in both agency and underwriting roles to deliver specialized insurance solutions for the equine industry. Since joining Berkley in 2020, she has drawn on her unique blend of field expertise and academic training, holding an Associate of Science in Veterinary Technology—to address the nuanced risks faced by equine professionals and businesses.
Her career spans senior underwriting roles at Catlin and AXA XL and over a decade working with a leading Thoroughbred agency in Kentucky, where she gained invaluable insight into mortality, liability, farm property, and care, custody & control policies. She has developed a uniquely comprehensive understanding of equine risk. Rita’s journey began as a polo groom and veterinary technician, later traveling across the U.S. and Canada supporting top players in the sport. Her time in Lexington during an internship sparked a lasting connection to Kentucky’s equine culture, ultimately leading her back to the Bluegrass State to work with a large animal veterinarian and build lasting relationships in the Thoroughbred world.
Rita resides on one of Central Kentucky’s most historic farms with her husband, who serves as general manager. Together, they have raised two daughters who grew up competing on the hunter/jumper circuit as well as NCAA Division I teams. Rita enjoys riding quarter horses, spending time with her cattle dogs, and embracing the lifestyle that first inspired her love of horses.
Roxanne Rosseter
Assistant Vice President
Roxanne brings over a decade of underwriting expertise to the team, backed by a Bachelor’s degree in Health Studies from Monmouth University. With a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of risk, she’s known for her thoughtful approach and unwavering professionalism.
Outside the office, Roxanne’s world revolves around horses. An avid rider for nearly thirty years, she’s competed on the AA circuit for fifteen of them and spent ten years as a groom for top Grand Prix riders. Her journey in the equestrian world includes going pro and riding for several elite trainers, as well as working as a veterinary assistant specializing in chiropractic and acupuncture care. These days, she’s focused on developing her six year-old warmblood, who’s gearing up for the jumper ring.
Whether she’s reviewing policies or perfecting a jump course, Roxanne brings passion, precision, and a whole lot of heart to everything she does.
Megan Cushing
Underwriter
With a lifelong passion for horses, Megan brings deep-rooted experience and insight to her role as Equine Underwriter. Her extensive background in the Thoroughbred industry, combined with hands-on experience as a horse owner and in veterinary medicine, provides a well-rounded and informed approach to risk assessment in the equine market.
Since beginning her insurance career in 2020, she has developed expertise across multiple lines of business including Fine Art, Equine & Cattle, and Commercial Property.
Megan received her undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky where she studied Equine Science & Management and Agricultural Economics. Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband, horses, and dogs. She is especially passionate about promoting the versatility of the off-the-track Thoroughbred and is an advocate for the breed both on and off the racetrack.
Hannah Maynard
Underwriter
Hannah’s love of horses began at a young age, helping with her parents’ racehorses. Her passion for horses inspired her to study both Equine Science and Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky.
She then went on to work as a veterinary technician for a respected equine practice, before transitioning into the insurance industry. Hannah began her insurance career as a property and casualty adjuster, specializing in equine claims. Today, she brings 3.5 years of experience with BEC to her underwriting expertise.
One of her proudest accomplishments is successfully retraining Thoroughbred racehorses into sport horses, including her two personal horses, which have gone on to compete in the Retired Racehorse Project.
Veronika Alinskas
Associate Underwriter
Veronika began her career in the insurance industry in 2022 at Berkley Equine & Cattle as an Underwriting Assistant and has since advanced into her current role as an Associate Underwriter.
She is a graduate of Morrisville State College, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Equine Science and Management. Her studies focused on equine rehabilitation and therapy, as well as breaking and training quarter horses. After college, her time at a sport horse rehabilitation center deepened her appreciation for supporting horses through injury recovery and conditioning.
Veronika grew up riding hunter jumpers but discovered a love for western riding in high school. Today, she actively rides and shows reining horses. Outside of the arena, she enjoys running with her dog and staying active outdoors.
Philip Bradley
Claims Director
Philip Bradley has over 25 years of experience in equine, cattle and livestock claims handling. Mr. Bradley graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BBA. Since joining Berkley Equine & Cattle in 2018, Mr. Bradley has been instrumental in bringing the Equine & Cattle claims handling in-house and providing great customer service to our clients.
Lisa R Cox
Senior Claims Specialists
I was introduced to the Equine Insurance Industry in 2001 and was immediately intrigued, prompting me to pursue my adjuster's license soon after. My journey with Berkley Equine began in 2006 as a Third-Party Administrator. When services were brought in-house in 2018, I transitioned under the Berkley Equine umbrella where I could continue to concentrate on providing top quality customer service.
Nikki Appleton
Senior Claims Specialist
Nikki Appleton joined Berkley Program Specialists in July, 2021 serving as a Claims Examiner on the Berkley Equine & Cattle team. Nikki is a graduate of Morehead State University, majoring in Environmental Science. She began her professional career in 1995 with National Equine Adjusting, Inc. as a Licensed Equine Claims Adjuster. Throughout her career, Nikki has held various positions and leadership roles. Prior to joining Berkley, Nikki worked for a reputable Central Kentucky agency as a Licensed Agent and Customer Service Associate for Equine Mortality Insurance. She also has extensive hands-on horse experience from over 25 years of showing and for providing long-term care of retired horses.
Laurie Martin
Claims Specialist
Laurie Martin has over 23 years experience in the equine claims industry with over 19 years experience working with Berkley Equine & Cattle. Ms. Martin started her career in equine and livestock claims handling in 2002 with Dixon-Ballard Adjusters. In 2006, Laurie joined Frank B. Aubrey, II Equine Adjusting, the Third-Party Administrator for Berkley Equine & Cattle Claims. In 2019, Berkley Equine & Cattle made the decision to develop their own in-house claims department at which time Ms. Martin joined their claims handling team. Ms. Martin continues to focus on providing exceptional customer service and efficient claims handling for our clients.
Candice Thompson
AVP, Business Services
Candice Thompson joined Berkley Program Specialists in 2010 as a member of their equine and cattle program. Today, she leads business operations for Berkley Equine & Cattle, based in Alpharetta, Georgia.
A proud graduate of Auburn University, Candice began her insurance career as a Liability Claims Adjuster in Birmingham, Alabama. After relocating to the Atlanta metropolitan area, she expanded her expertise by serving as a Special Investigator and Licensed Producer, gaining valuable experience across multiple facets of the insurance industry.
Tracy Porter
Manager, Business Services
Tracy Porter joined Berkley Re Solutions in 2014 as a Technical Administrator supporting the Facultative Underwriting team. In 2020, she brought her skills and experience to Berkley Equine & Cattle, where her knack for problem-solving and eye for detail help keep things running smoothly. As Business Services Manager, Tracy enjoys working alongside the team to streamline processes and provide top-notch support to both agents and clients.
Shannon Murphy
Senior Underwriting Coordinator
Shannon brings over 22 years of dedicated service and industry expertise to Berkley Equine & Cattle. Since 2003, he has played a vital role in supporting the company’s underwriting operations, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and exceptional client service. With a deep understanding of the equine and cattle sectors, Shannon is known for his reliability, attention to detail, and collaborative approach. His long-standing commitment reflects not only his professional excellence but also his passion for supporting the Equine and Cattle communities through trusted insurance solutions.
Tayyanna Moore-Fennell
Underwriting Coordinator
Tayyanna Moore-Fennell has been an Underwriting Coordinator at Berkley since 2022. Before stepping into this role, Tayyanna spent three years in mortgage underwriting, which gave her a solid foundation in reviewing financials and managing detailed processes. At Berkley Equine & Cattle she helps keep things running smoothly behind the scenes by supporting the underwriting team and making sure everything stays on track
Tania Reyes
Operations Associate
My name is Tania Reyes, and I've been part of the insurance industry since 2006. I joined Berkley in May 2012, beginning my journey as a Processor for the Redwood program, where I handled new business, renewals, endorsements, and more.
Later, I transitioned into the role of Underwriter Coordinator for the Farm program. Following the termination of that program, I was promoted to Operations Associate. In this role, I support the daily operations of the Equine program, including processing transactions, applying payments, sending notices, and assisting with various administrative tasks.
Careers
Discover a rewarding career with a team that truly lives its passion. At Berkley Equine & Cattle, we foster a transparent, results-oriented, and highly collaborative environment where creativity thrives. We offer a constructive work environment, great benefits, and significant growth potential within a team that values every individual.