Responsibilities
Nicholas Pizzuto is responsible for enhancing operational efficiency and simplifying the sales process by evaluating and implementing sales automation tools. He proactively identifies barriers in the sales process and finds ways to reduce them. He assists the sales leader in making data-driven decisions.
Background
Prior to his current role, Pizzuto was a Senior Production Specialist. He was responsible for supporting the production of new business within our Commercial Lines Division. This included reviewing and analyzing policies, assisting in the creation, development, and presentation of the Conner Strong Consultative Review, analyzing loss information provided to create Loss Summaries, Large Loss Schedules, and Deductible Analysis for marketing and loss forecasting, and providing support in the marketing of new business opportunities.
Education
Rutgers University – Bachelor of Science in Business Management
Professional Designations
Property and Casualty License – New Jersey
Responsibilities
Jackie Becker focuses on new business development and relationship management in the middle market private sector. She works with clients to design sustainable employee benefit programs that create value for both the employers and employees. With a focus on simplifying complex challenges, Jackie strives to be a trusted partner by delivering clear, thoughtful, and effective solutions.
Background
Jackie brings nearly a decade of healthcare and insurance experience to her role at Conner Strong & Buckelew. Previously, she served as a Producer at Hamilton Insurance Agency, specializing in senior housing, long-term care, and skilled nursing, where she managed new business development efforts.
Before her tenure at Hamilton, Jackie spent several years at Penn Medicine, where she held both patient-facing and operational roles. She successfully managed teams of more than 40 employees, overseeing payroll, employee and patient relations, billing and coding, compliance with the Department of Labor and The Joint Commission, open enrollment, and benefits consulting.
Jackie’s diverse background provides her with a unique perspective as a broker. She possesses a deep understanding of how products and services impact organizations at every level, from leadership to individual end users.
Community Involvement
Community Volunteer with Friends for Good, Philadelphia
Member of Downtown Camden Young Professionals
Responsibilities
Shalin Dave is responsible for driving new business development and managing strategic relationships across mid-market and enterprise employers. Shalin specializes in optimizing fully insured, level-funded, and self-funded employee benefit programs. He works closely with employers to design innovative, cost-contained benefits strategies that align with workforce goals while maximizing long-term value for both employees and the business.
Background
Shalin brings a broad background in employee benefits, client services, and human capital strategy. At Conner Strong & Buckelew, he helps employers unlock value through forward-thinking benefits consulting and data-driven plan design. Before joining Conner Strong & Buckelew, he served in client-facing roles at Univest and PrimePay, where he collaborated with HR leaders and executive stakeholders to streamline operations, enhance benefit offerings, and implement technology-forward solutions.
Education
Temple University, Fox School of Business – Bachelor of Business Administration in Innovation Management and Design Thinking
Responsibilities
Steve Edelstein specializes in designing comprehensive risk management programs for commercial clients, with a specialized focus on commercial real estate and construction within the National Accounts Department. He provides strategic guidance to help clients mitigate exposure and optimize coverage.
Background
Prior to his employment at Conner Strong & Buckelew, Steve spent several years with commercial insurance brokerages focusing on commercial real estate and construction across all lines of coverage.
Education
University at Buffalo – Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Minor in Sociology
Professional Designations
Certified Workers Compensation Counselor (CWCC)
Real Estate Certified Insurance Professional (RCIP)
Responsibilities
John Kanarr is responsible for new business development and relationship management. John has expertise in both fully insured and self-funded programs. He works with clients to provide detailed recommendations for sustainable employee benefit programs that are valued by both employer and employee.
Background
John has over 9 years of employee benefits experience. Prior to Conner Strong & Buckelew, John was an Employee Benefits Consultant at ISM Insurance overseeing new sales for the Northeastern and Southeastern United States. Prior to ISM, he worked as a Multinational Sales Associate at Arthur J. Gallagher. John gained experience in account retention with large, self-funded clients at Independence Administrators and has also worked as a Corporate Sales Associate at GeoBlue, a large multinational insurance carrier.
Education
Pennsylvania State University – Bachelor of Arts
Professional Designations
Registered Employee Benefits Consultant
Responsibilities
Michele Fields assists clients with all aspects of the claim process, including receiving, analyzing and submitting claims to the insurers. Her duties also involve consulting with clients on coverage analysis, providing guidance and direction, assisting in negotiations with insurers and monitoring open claims. Fields works closely with each client on their claims to ensure that the insurance carriers provide prompt, fair claim handling. She also assists clients with internal claim management. Fields advocates on behalf of each client to ensure that claim resolutions are in their best interest.
Background
Prior to joining Conner Strong & Buckelew, Fields served as a Claim Director in the Multinational Claim Unit of ACE Insurance Group, one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurance companies with operations in 54 countries. In this role, Fields handled complex claims for seven years under the international insurance program for large multinational companies. As part of this work, Fields collaborated with international adjusting companies, colleagues in ACE’s foreign offices, and local defense counsel to ensure appropriate claims handling of non-litigated and litigated matters. She also completed complex coverage analysis that involved the application of U.S. law to the master policy while understanding the potential effect of local laws and procedures of various countries on policy interpretation and claim handling.
Education
Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts – B.A. Degree
Boston University School of Law – Law Degree, admitted to practice in NJ
RESPONSIBILITIES
Colleen Vallen is the Forensic Services Practice Leader for J.A. Montgomery Consulting. She provides forensic accounting expertise to clients including pre-loss consulting and post-loss claims services. In the post-loss claims process, her duties include project communication, guidance and planning, documentation management and analysis, financial analyses and modeling, responding to request for information and assistance in settlement discussions. She works closely with our Claims Department to assist clients with internal claims management allowing our clients to focus on their business, not their claim and to ensure claim resolutions are in our clients’ best interest.
BACKGROUND
Colleen has over 25 years of forensic accounting experience and is an expert in her field. Prior to joining J.A. Montgomery Consulting, she worked for a top 25 public accounting firm and served for a period as the practice leader for forensic services. She is highly experienced in the analysis and review of financial information. Other duties included planning and management of engagements, financial investigation and analyses, expert report preparation, assistance with discovery and expert testimony. She has successfully assisted clients in bringing claims to resolution including catastrophic property claims and complex losses such as cyber and crime claims.
EDUCATION
Colleen served as Adjunct Professor at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law.
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2026 Risk & Insurance Power Broker Winner
