Our Team
We bring the following Core Virtues to our relationships and associated insurance transactions: Wisdom, Responsibility, Preservation, Diligence, Humility, Patience & Philanthropy.
Joseph A. Valenza,
President
Joe is a Commercial Insurance Underwriting and Risk Management Executive with almost 30 years of experience. He has created, managed and led business units, to stability through his thoughtful and calculated decision-making. With his successful management roles at Deloitte Consulting, Kemper, AIG and most recently, Hudson Insurance Group, Joe brings a strategic focus to Virtue’s insurance operation by concentrating on Virtue’s three main objectives: Underwriting Excellence, Operational Excellence, and Streamlined Distribution. Joe’s long history as an industry veteran has established his intent to carry his client-minded philosophies to help grow underwriting operations with stability for all of his business partners. Joe holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Executive Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance from Rider University, NJ. Joe also holds three professional designations, CPCU, ARM, and AIM. Joe has strong industry ties to the WSIA, associated Automation Committees and the WSIA Emerging Issues Committee and has previously been endorsed by several industry associations. Joe has also been published several times in key industry trade publications.
Aleksandra Valenza,
Executive Vice President
As Executive Vice President, Aleksandra manages all non-underwriting operations for Virtue Risk Partners. Prior to Virtue Risk Partners, Aleksandra held a variety of roles including but not limited to international work experience with Deloitte as a tax professional in their Stamford office and as an advocate for the Rally Foundation to raise funds and contribute to making additional pediatric cancer medical research possible. Aleksandra also currently remains closely affiliated with all company philanthropic efforts. Aleksandra has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Marketing from Boston College.
Desiree Hernandez-Molina,
Director of Operations
Desiree is a graduate of Manhattanville College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Spanish. Desiree most recent work experience was at New York Life Insurance Company where she served as licensed Life and Health Insurance Agent in the Latino Market. In her current role, Desiree will remain a focused member of our renewal underwriting team. She will also manage our processes so that our underwriting teams have the tools and functionalities to efficiently process our transactions from account clearance to invoice delivery.
Tracey Signore,
Renewal Underwriter
Tracey brings professional demeanor, a track record of reliability, strong organizational, administrative, and top notch customer service skills. Tracey’s most recent work experience was at Avon where she supported the Clinical Testing Center and prior to that, she was employed by KPMG and CA, Inc. in an Executive Management support role. Tracey is organized, efficient and precise as she provides administrative support to the underwriting team and to our distribution partners, that helps us serve our mutual clients with the speed and accuracy required. She is also our clearance quarterback and will be following up on subjectivities needed for policy issuance and timely delivery of documents. Tracey is also starting to work with our renewal team to process your valuable renewal business.
Geoffrey Bernardo,
Environmental Underwriting and Distribution Director
Geoff is a CPCU designee and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied Finance with a focus in Risk and Insurance. Geoff most recently worked with James River Insurance as an Underwriter in their Environmental Division, where he worked closely with wholesale brokers throughout the western United States to place complex environmental accounts. Geoff will serve on our New Business team and will be key to helping our Agents win new business with creative yet responsible insurance solutions.
Joshua Rubin,
General Liability Underwriting and Distribution Director
Joshua is a CPCU designee, a Certified Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied Risk and Insurance and Finance. Josh has worked as an Underwriter of manufacturers and contractors for the past several years and will be focused on writing new business to build our Environmental and General Liability programs. Josh will also be responsible for helping our Agents responsibly win new business by using his underwriting experience and his knowledge of general liability underwriting and the wholesale distribution network.
Daniel R. Lavoie,
Chief Counsel / Director of Claims
Mr. Lavoie has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of risk management and insurance from sales and brokerage, to claims management, legal and compliance and is responsible all legal matters at Virtue Risk Partners including contracts, real estate, HR matters, corporate compliance, claims, policy wording and endorsements. Mr. Lavoie is also an expert in environmental law including regulatory compliance, Phase I, Phase II, and Remedial Action reports, due diligence and litigation, insurance coverage, and risk management. In addition, his experience includes handling RCRA & CERCLA matters as well as vapor intrusion, mold, and other indoor air quality issues. He has practiced law at a prominent international law firms including Steptoe & Johnson and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, and has also held senior-level corporate positions at major insurance and financial services companies including General Counsel of Navigators Group, SVP and Environmental Practice Leader at Marsh USA, Inc., and Principal and Chief Compliance Officer at Integro Insurance Brokers. Daniel is licensed to practice law in NY, NJ, and MA, as well as various U.S. District Courts around the country.
Janel Jones-Bond,
Renewal Underwriter
Janel is an accomplished and energetic licensed insurance professional with a solid history of achievement in the insurance industry. A motivated leader with strong organizational and prioritizing abilities. Areas of expertise include networking, cross-selling and customer minded operational execution. Janel has worked for Allstate, State Farm and other insurance sales, underwriting, office management and customer support roles. Janel was promoted to a Renewal Underwriter at Virtue Risk in March of 2020.
Ann Boman-Clark,
Casualty Marketing Specialist / Personal Umbrella Specialist
Ann has over 40 years of insurance experience with 24 years of them as a carrier underwriter. Her expertise has been in a specialty “niche” Personal Umbrella program that is distributed nationwide through wholesalers/MGA’s only. Her philosophy has always been to remain focused on underwriting, provide only the highest level of service to her clients and to have a team that truly understands the products and client relationships. Ann has built incredible loyalty with the wholesalers/MGA’s who have supported her over the years. For Virtue, Ann will be working closely with our Underwriting team strengthen current relationships and bring improperly serviced and controlled business to our group. Ann will also build a new Personal Umbrella line of business for Virtue and for our next carrier partner in this segment.
Bradley Carroll,
Underwriter
Bradley is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied Business Finance with a concentration of Risk and Insurance and has an extensive background in service oriented industries. Bradly has served on both the new business and renewal underwriting teams, working to provide quality underwriting and the best service to our Agents. Bradly now focuses primarily on underwriting new business and additionally focusing on Worker’s Compensation underwriting, data analytics and reporting.
William Ragland,
Associate Underwriter
William is a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied Finance with a concentration of Risk Management and Insurance. William started with Virtue Risk as an intern before being hired into a full time position in May 2021. William’s studies and interning experience have prepared him well for the insurance industry, where his responsibilities now include administering the claims intake process, data mining to support our underwriting and claims functions, and will soon include pre-underwriting renewals and new business.
Katrina Valenza,
Human Resources Coordinator
Katrina is a graduate of Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch College of Business & Technology where she studied Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources Management. Her studies and her work experiences as a legal and insurance Administrative Assistant have positioned her well to build and evolve the Virtue Risk Human Resources Department and bring our team even more tools to facilitate their personal and professional growth and development.
Ledya Yigzaw,
Associate Renewal Underwriter
Ledya is a graduate of VCU. She studied Business Management and Administration. Upon graduation, she worked as an Insurance Agent assisting military members and their families with Personal Insurance. She has also worked as a Commercial Account Manager Associate handling multiple Middle Market/Large accounts with coverages including Environmental, Cyber, and Professional Liability. Ledya holds licenses in Personal and Property & Casualty. She will assist the Virtue Renewal Team to ensure client satisfaction and provide superior service. Ledya is dedicated and driven and is also currently on track to become a CPCU designee.
Jaden Woodley,
Underwriting Assistant
Jaden is a recent graduate of Pace University where he studied Finance and Economics. Jaden started with Virtue Risk as an intern before being hired into a full-time position in June 2023. His studies and intern experience have prepared him well for the insurance industry, where his responsibilities now include submission clearance, subjectivity analysis, policy issuance and the timely delivery of other account documents. Jaden is poised nicely to continue to grow to be a very big part of Virtue Risk Partners.
