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.
Kim Hormann
President
Kim is a Senior Investigator at Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Western New England College in 1996, she joined Plymouth Rock as a claim representative before transferring to SIU. She is a Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator. Kim is currently the Executive Director of the Northeast Chapter of IAATI.
Maria Watkins
Vice President
Maria has been with Mapfre USA for 8 & ½ years and joined their SIU team about two years ago. She majored in Criminal Justice at Dean College which sparked her interest in the SIU industry. She has been a member of NEAIFI since 2018 and she is looking forward to her continued involvement with NEAIFI.
Jason Dunn
Secretary
Jason is currently a member of the Sentry Insurance Special Investigations Unit, where he investigates all lines of business, with a concentration in Workers Compensation. He handles numerous states and travels frequently to the Mid – Atlantic region where he assists additional Claim Service Centers within Sentry. Since graduating from Salve Regina University with a BA in Administration of Justice in 1996, he has been working in the insurance industry. After spending several successful years in the private sector as an investigator and building a reputation, he joined Travelers Insurance. Jason rapidly grasped the ideology of handling claims from a desk, was promoted to an Outside Commercial General Liability Investigator, transitioned to the Special Investigations Unit, and eventually landed in the National Auto Recovery Center, as a specialist. An opportunity arose for a return to the private sector and work within a Fraud, Waste and Abuse Unit. This position was crucial in maintaining the integrity of Medicare and Medicaid programs, and assisted his growth and understanding of state and federal regulations. Over the years, he has continued with attendance and involvement with local law enforcement, IASIU, IFB, NEAIFI & NICB meetings, as well as, continuing his education within the industry and its emerging trends. In 2018, Jason became a Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator (CIFI), and recently became Secretary of NEAIFI.
Brian O'Connor
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
Eric Stephens
GEICO
Eric has worked for GEICO since 2012. He started as an Auto Damage Adjuster working all of Rhode Island as well as Worcester. During that time, he also served on the CAT team working every major disaster from Hurricane Sandy forward. He transitioned to SIU in 2017 working extensively with forensic vendors regarding EMS billing fraud, Event Data Recorder cases, physical transfer, as well as continuing his work with the Catastrophe team. Eric became GEICO’s regional SIU trainer for the North East in 2019, responsible for New Hire Training as well as ongoing continuing education for both SIU and the Claims/AD Departments. Outside of work, Eric has been a volunteer Firefighter/EMT since 2008 and is also a licensed pilot. He lives in Ashby, MA with his wife Rochelle, dogs Tucker and Rupert, and Jasper the cat.
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.
Kelly Ouellette
Quincy Mutual Insurance
Kelly has worked in the SIU department at Quincy Mutual Fire for 4 years, with the last 1.5 years having been in SIU. Prior to that, she was with Liberty Mutual for 20 years. While at Liberty Mutual, Kelly handled all lines of insurance claims with her hand in many of the SIU claims as well. Kelly is looking forward to her continued membership with NEAIFI and on the 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.
Brett Ford
Hanover Insurance
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.
Jeffrey L'heureux
Law Enforcement Liaison
Rhode Island State Police
Sergeant / Section Commander for the Rhode Island State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. ACTAR accredited.
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.
Melissa Johnson
Hanover Insurance
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.