New England Association of Insurance Fraud Investigators
NEAIFI
DETECTION. INVESTIGATION. DETERRENCE
The New England Association of Insurance Fraud Investigators was founded on October 4, 1996. The organization is the result of a merger between the Massachusetts Association of Auto Theft and Arson Investigators and the Merrimack Valley Auto Theft Investigators Association.
NEAIFI is an organization that is committed to preventing insurance fraud through comprehensive investigations, utilization of shared information and professional development through education and training.
Brett Ford
Hanover
President
Brett started with The Hanover Insurance Group in 2008 and is currently a Sr. Special Investigator within the SIU where he has been since 2014. He is a graduate of Westfield State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. Brett has been a member of NEAIFI, NEIASIU, IASIU since 2014. He has received CIFI and FCLA designations since joining the SIU community.
Melissa “MJ” Johnson
Hanover
Vice President
Melissa currently serves as Special Investigator with the Hanover Insurance Group. She is a graduate of Westfield State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Political Science. Melissa continued her professional development by obtaining a Certificate in Professional Investigation from Boston University. She has over ten years of investigative experience. Melissa began her career as a Private Investigator primarily handling SIU cases for multiple carriers. Melissa joined Hanover Insurance as an Inside Property Adjuster and then transitioned to the SIU.
Kerri Sugrue
Pilgrim
Secretary
Kerri graduated from Northeastern University, College of Criminal Justice. Kerri has been in the insurance and investigation field for over 20 years. Kerri has worked as an insurance agent, adjuster, internal auditor and SIU Investigator. Kerri is a member of the Certified Fraud Examiners Association, Senior Claims Law Associate and Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator.
Brian O'Connor
Mapfre
Treasurer
Brian O’Connor, CPCU is a Field Investigator in the SIU unit at Mapfre Insurance. Brian is a graduate of Westfield State College and has earned the CPCU designation. He has been in the SIU at Mapfre since 2003, and has been employed in various claim capacities in the property & casualty industry since 1990.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David Lamoureux
National Insurance Crime Bureau
David joined the National Insurance Crime Bureau as a Special Agent in 2017. He is responsible for NICB investigative activities in Massachusetts. Prior to joining NICB David spent 25 years as a member of the Connecticut State Police, with the last 18 years as a Detective with the Eastern District Major Crime Squad. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven.
Mary McDermott
Insurance Fraud Bureau of MA
Mary McDermott is currently employed as an Investigator with the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. After receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Suffolk University, she began career in private investigation moving into the insurance industry as an SIU investigator for 17 years. Since 2014 she has been with the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts with a focus on Provider Fraud investigations.
Alicia Sheridan
GEICO
Alicia has worked for GEICO since 1999. She started in the claims department handling all lines of insurance claims and also held positions in supervision and claims training. In 2014, she transferred from the Virginia Beach office to the Massachusetts team as an Auto Damage appraiser. She transitioned to SIU in 2019. During her claims career, she received the SCLA designation. Outside of work, she is an aspiring writer, with a BA in English/Writing from UMASS Dartmouth and an MA in Creative Writing from SNHU. She is also an active volunteer in her community holding Executive Board positions with the Holly Club of Wrentham and GFWC MA. She lives in Plainville, MA with her husband Matt, son Dylan, and Aruban Cunucu Mila.
Dave Wilson
Travelers
David is the Lead Investigator for the New England region of Travelers Investigative Services. He has been with Travelers since 2015 and investigates questionable claims involving all lines of business. Prior to joining Travelers, he was a Patrolman with the Leominster Police Department. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell and is a Marine veteran.
Jack Jovan
Pilgrim
Jack is currently employed as a Senior Investigator at Pilgrim Insurance and has been working as a SIU Investigator for 20 years. He had 30 plus years of experience in Law Enforcement, retiring as a Chief of Police. He is a graduate of Assumption University with a degree in Psychology. Jack has previously served on the Board of Directors of NEAIFI and NEIASIU.
Glenn Renaghan
Progressive
Glenn has been employed with the SIU at Progressive Insurance since 2010. Currently serving as a Major Case Specialist for the New England territory. Prior to joining Progressive he held various roles in both Claims and SIU at Hanover Insurance for six years and Commerce Insurance for four years. Glenn graduated from Westfield State University with a BA in Political Science and has attained AIC, FCLA, CIFI designations. He has a Professional Paralegal Certificate from Northeastern University and was the 2017 recipient of the NICB Investigator of the year award for Massachusetts.
David Brink, Esq.
Legal Counsel
David Brink is the founding shareholder of Smith & Brink, P.C. and serves as its National Litigation Manager. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner. He leads the firm’s Federal RICO, Healthcare Fraud and Insurance SIU Practice Groups. Mr. Brink’s trial practice in the State and Federal Courts encompasses a broad spectrum of insurance law cases, including: Federal RICO recovery lawsuits, arsons for profit, and fraudulent property losses. Mr. Brink has been representing insurers in SIU fraud matters for 32 years. Through the years his law firm has been counsel of record in thousands of cases involving fraud issues, including dozens of reported appellate decisions. Over the past three decades, Mr. Brink has lectured at over 30 insurance industry national seminars, including the National Insurance Crime Bureau Academy, the National Insurance Fraud Management Conference and the International Association of Insurance Fraud Investigators Conference. Mr. Brink is from Princeton, New Jersey. He is a graduate of Grove City College, (1982) (Magna Cum Laude, Presidential Scholar), and Western New England University Law School (1985). He is admitted to practice before the Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maryland bars, as well as the Federal Court for the Districts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
David Stadolnik
Legal Counsel
Attorney Stadolnik has extensive experience investigating and litigating fraudulent insurance claims cases, including medical provider fraud, homeowner’s and commercial claims, theft losses, staged accidents, fire losses and rental claims. His practice, which encompasses Insurance Defense and Special Investigation, includes all phases of investigation, discovery, motion practice, alternate dispute resolution, and litigation on behalf of insurance carriers and their insureds in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Andrew Famiglietti
Amica
Andrew started his career with Amica Mutual Insurance in 2011 after graduating from Bryant University with a degree in Politics & Law. He began his career as a multiline adjuster and transitioned into Amica’s SIU Department in 2017, where he currently works as a Sr. SIU Supervisor. During his time at Amica, Andrew has obtained his AIC and CFE designations.
Valerie Blinn
Amica
Valerie Blinn for the past 14 years has been with AMICA Mutual Insurance and is part of their Special Investigations Unit as a Senior SIU Supervisor. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, & Sociology from Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA. After college, she played professional golf, and also running a family business as an Independent Insurance Adjuster. Valerie brings over 15 years of Insurance experience and has handled insurance claims country wide holding multiple adjuster licenses. Since 2014, she has been expanding her Fraud experience throughout New England and in 2019 expanded her Fraud focus countrywide. In addition to her Fraud fighting skills, she owns a private wellness practice where she helps people combat the stress of life and feel their best using bio-energetic technologies and other naturopathic solutions.
Jeffrey P L'heureux
Rhode Island State Police Liaison
Jeff is currently employed as a Captain with the Rhode Island State Police and has been a member of their Collision Reconstruction Unit for over 20 years. He has investigated over 1,800 traffic crashes and reconstructed over 300 serious and fatal motor vehicle collisions and is ACTAR certified. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University and has been a member of NEAIFI since 2015.