• Workers Compensation

• Self-Insurance

• Underwriting

• Risk Management

• Safety and Loss Control

• Claims Administration

• Finance and Accounting

• Human Resource Management

• Education and Training

• Marketing

• Member Services

This team has the experience members of a self-insured group need.

John Worthing
Owner

John's introduction to self-insurance came in 1977 while working for a large Ford dealer in Michigan. He successfully established and managed his employers' self-insurance business through Ford Life. John was first involved in Nevada self-insurance in 1987 when the Nevada Franchised Auto Dealers Association was looking for a self-insured product for their dealers. When the Nevada Motor Transport Association (NMTA) and the Franchised Auto Dealers Association wanted to establish groups for their workers' compensation coverage, John was contacted to help develop the groups. He then joined forces with Karen Sargeaunt to create Pro Group.

Karen Sargeaunt
Owner

Karen has 30 years of experience in the insurance industry and is credited with the successful start-up of over 80 self-insured groups. Karen has successfully moved over one billion dollars in premium to alternative markets. She met John Worthing several years ago, and together they created this dynamic and professional management group.

Robert Vogel
Vice President of Operations
Group Manager, NANSIG, BAWNSIG & NTNSIG

Robert serves as Pro Group's Manager of Operations. Robert is a licensed CPA in Nevada and Texas, and has 26 years of experience from a broad range of industry through public and private accounting. Since 1995, he has been managing the day-to-day operations of Pro Group in all aspects of claims oversight, safety, and financial considerations, as well as directing the group’s growth and development. Robert can be reached at Pro Group's Carson City office.

Larry Bradley, MBA
Director of Member Services
Group Manager NRNSIG

Larry has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, 16 of which are with self-insured groups. Larry's experience includes management of a $60 million self-insured group on the East coast. He has also served on national self-insured boards as a trustee. You can reach Larry at Pro Group's Las Vegas office

Eric Isakson, CPCU, MBA
Underwriting Manager

Eric specializes in underwriting services, loss control, risk analysis, and excess insurance placement. He has 21 years of technical insurance experience, the past 9 years being in self-insurance at Pro Group. Eric is based in our Las Vegas office.
 

Phyllis Priester
Underwriting Assistant

Phyllis has over 30 years of office and customer service experience and over 7 years at Pro Group. She brings to Pro Group a surplus of professional administrative skills. Phyllis assists with day-to-day underwriting services and issuing certifications. Phyllis is in the Carson City office and is available to help or answer questions anytime.

Michael Olson
Manager Risk Services
Account Executive

Mike joined the Pro Group team in July of 1999. He has 20 years of experience in the workers' comp arena and was most recently a National Account Executive with a large insurance carrier's healthcare management division. He was responsible for marketing the divisions services in the 11 western states. Mike is responsible for the management of Pro Group's sales and marketing efforts, focusing on the addition of new members to the existing groups administered by Pro Group. Mike can be reached at Pro Group's Carson City Office.

Danielle Overli
Marketing Assistant

Danielle joined the Pro Group team in February of 2001. She has over 15 years of administrative, customer service experience, and over 6 years in the Nevada Workers' Comp industry. As the position of Marketing Assistant, she currently assists the Account Executives in working with prospective group members. Danielle brings her organizational expertise to the entire marketing team and is always available to members and prospective members alike to answer questions. Danielle can be reached in the Carson City office.

Kathy Pinochi
Corporate Controller/Human Resource Manager

Kathy began her career with Pro Group in 2002 as a staff accountant following ten years as a skilled accountant in the service and manufacturing industries. Today, Kathy is the Corporate Controller for Pro Group, PGM Safety Services and Pro Group Captive Management Services. She is responsible for detailed financial services and manages the accounting functions for several company entities. In addition, Kathy is the Human Resource Manager overseeing the staff at both the Carson City and Las Vegas offices. If you are interested in a career with Pro Group, Kathy can be reached in Pro Group's Carson City office.

Michelle Ferrise
Account Executive

Michelle is an Account Executive with over 18 years of sales and management experience in the group insurance industry. Prior to Pro Group, Michelle was an Account Manager at a large HMO/PPO insurance company in Nevada . Michelle's knowledge and background of the Las Vegas business market as well as the broker/consultant community, allows her the ability to strategically market the benefits of a self-insured group administered through Pro Group. Michelle can be reached at Pro Group's Las Vegas office.

Tanya Olson
Executive Secretary

Tanya brings to Pro Group over 28 years of experience in the Executive Secretarial field with schooling focused on Business Office education. She is the Executive Secretary to the Vice President. Duties include the daily functions to take care of an Executive, as well as, the coordinating of Board Meetings and the taking of all Board Meeting Minutes. She assists the Vice President in his duties relating to both Pro Group and Pro Group Captive Management Services. Tanya can be reached in the Carson City office.

Julia Menicucci Marketing Assistant
Julia joined Pro Group in 2004 with over 15 years of experience in the customer service industry. With her upbeat personality and professionalism you will find that she has the ability to give individual attention to our members. Julia is a marketing assistant and can be reached in our Carson City office.

Alnisia Cruz Account Executive
Alnisia joined Pro Group contributing over 15 years of executive sales management experience within the hospitality, building, retail and publishing industries. Representing and managing accounts for the top 500 companies and executives has given Alnisia the expertise to be an effective account executive. Alnisia can be reached in our Las Vegas office.

Charlotte Koren Marketing Assistant
Charlotte came to Pro Group with two years of prior experience as a workers compensation claims processor and five years of experience in the insurance industry as a medical claims examiner. Charlotte's organizational skills and enthusiasm are a great addition to the Las Vegas office.

Jo Ashworth Staff Accountant
Jo joined Pro Group in 2005 as a Staff Accountant for the Self-Insured Groups. Jo has over 30 years of experience in different aspects of accounting, including Financials, General Ledger, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. She can be reached in the Carson City office.

Jim Kantin Accounting/Computer Administrator
Jim joined Pro Group in November 2004 bringing 5 years of experience in large and small business accounting. Currently, Jim's responsibilities are accounting and computer administration for Pro Group, PGM Safety Services and Pro Group Captive Management. Jim can be reached in the Carson City office.

Dean recently joined Pro Group and PGM Safety Services to work with the Northeast quadrant of Nevada. Dean holds an Associate in Arts Degree from Great Basin College and is currently working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Safety Engineering. Dean’s work background includes more than ten years in law enforcement and over thirty years in the private sector. He is knowledgeable in the application of OSHA, MSHA, and DOT regulatory compliance issues.

Craig Coziahr
Training and Rehibilitation Coordinator

Craig has 8 years of experience in the Nevada workers' compensation industry. He spent two years as the Claims Manager for Associated Risk Management and is currently the Training and Rehabilitation Coordinator for Pro Group, overseeing training and vocational rehabilitation issue at Associated Risk Management, Inc. Craig is a Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS) who brings with him an early return to work program and an aggressive claims management philosophy. Through the education of employers, physicians and injured workers, Craig has effectively reduced claim costs by returning injured workers back to physically appropriate positions with their pre-injury employers. Additionally, Craig is active in the Nevada Self-Insured Association (NSIA) and is currently serving as the Northern Chapter’s legislative subcommittee chairman. Craig can be reached in the Pro Group office in Carson City.

Kim Kay
Receptionist

Kim has over 20 years of experience in the secretarial and office management field. Kim joins the Pro Group team as Receptionist in the Carson City office.

Jennifer Nelson
Senior Member Account Specialist

Jennifer is the Senior Member Account Specialist for Pro Group. She joins our team with over ten years of bookkeeping experience and twelve years of customer service experience. Jennifer is responsible for accounts receivable, collections, and the trainer for self-insured group accounts receivable clerks. Jennifer is located in the Carson City office.

Maggie Case
Administrative Assistant/Accounting Clerk

Maggie joined Pro Group in October 2006 as an Administrative Assistant/Accounting Clerk. Maggie is working towards her AA degree at University of Phoenix and will graduate in mid January of 2008. Maggie is the Administrative Assistant to the Corporate Controller/Human Resource Manager and also assists with the accounting for Pro Group, PGM Safety Services, and Pro Group Captive Management Services. She is highly dedicated to her job and can be reached at the Carson City office.

Lori Hutchinson
Claims Specialist

Lori joined Pro Group in January 2007, working previously as a claims examiner for Associated Risk Management, Inc. Prior to moving to Nevada, Lori worked as a Claims Adjuster for the State of California. She holds both a Nevada State Workers Compensation License and California Claims Adjuster Certification.

As a Claims Specialist, Lori coordinates claims management between the Nevada Third Party Administrator and the Self Insured Groups as well as the California Captives and the California Third Party Administrator. Lori can be reached in the Pro Group office in Carson City.

Sheri Fratis
Administrative Assistant/Accounts Receivable Clerk

Sheri has over 25 years of office/customer service experience and joined Pro Group in November 2006. Sheri works in the accounting department for the self-insured groups where she is responsible for a variety of support tasks with accounts receivable. Sheri is located in the Carson City office.

Cole Baltutis
Office Administrator/Marketing Assistant

Cole brings to Pro Group 28 years of experience in insurance related industries, office administration, and computer networking. This knowledge along with her computer skills, management and insurance education complements the many aspects of her position. Cole is the assistant to the Director of Member Services and her duties also include administrative marketing, computer networking, and office administrative support in the day-to-day operation of Pro Group. Cole can be reached in Pro Group’s Las Vegas office.

Nancy Scherberth
Account Executive

Nancy has over 22 years of experience in both real estate and insurance industries. Just prior to joining Pro Group, Nancy was the Program Division Coordinator for the California Trucker’s Safety Association Workers’ Compensation Self Insured Group and she was also instrumental in the forming of core groups for three additional self-insured groups. Nancy will use her expertise in sales and marketing along with her knowledge of self-insurance to promote the self insured groups for Pro Group and she can be reached in the Las Vegas office.