North Bay Business Journal

Employers will increasingly resort to self-funded plans for group health insurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act, according to a new survey of insurance executives by one of the world’s largest re-insurers.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors appointed Susan Klassen transportation and public works director. …

Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane was elected to the board of directors for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Foundation. …

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. named Jay Dipasupil vice president of programs and Dan Reed vice president of professional liability. …

Western Health Advantage formally filed plans with the state to be a part of Covered California, the state’s online health exchange that will go live in 2014 as part of the federal health care reform bill, the Affordable Care Act. …

On the federal level, the Obama Administration last week issued a host of new rules and details on how insurers can structure benefits and premiums beginning in 2014. …

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company announced the appointment of Travis Bethune to the position of vice president, distribution management and services leader. …

Summit State Bank hired Peggy Wyman as its new branch manager in Rohnert Park. …

Sanovas Inc.appointed Stephen C. Schimpff, M.D., a former University of Maryland Medical Center CEO, as chairman of its scientific advisory board. …

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company appointed Leslie Rippley to the position of commercial insurance zone executive for the West. …

Allen Gummer is stepping down, when his term ends in August, after serving on the Redwood Empire Food Bank’s board of directors for six years. …

Grace Chen has been named director of marketing at the raceway in Sonoma. …

Joseph Phelps Vineyards appointed Will Phelps as sales representative. …

Londer Vineyards in Anderson Valley announced Eric Stern as its new consulting winemaker. …

PlumpJack Winery hired Aaron Miller to the position of head winemaker. …

Christopher Hansen has been promoted to general manager of Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage. …

In an effort to gauge how the region’s major employers are dealing with continued economic uncertainty, the North Bay Business Journal reached out to major companies with a series of employment-related questions, in addition to identifying the top human resources professional at each organization.

The results, from tech to health care, to hospitality to manufacturing, show that many of the major players are faring better, some even thriving, but challenges nonetheless remain.

News about Noel McArdell of Bank of America, Jeff Clark of Bank of the West, Matthew Bartlett of Bank of Marin, Barbara Morrison, Donna Favata-Bosh of Fireman’s Fund, John Bortells of Clover Stornetta, Tony Biagi of The Hourglass Wine Co.

NOVATO — Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company announced it would further expand its North American entertainment division by partnering with Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, an Allianz affiliate company in Canada.

Click here for photo gallery Health Care The Northern California Center for Well-Being has hired Annette Zucconi as its new operations manager as part of its leadership team. Ms. Zucconi has dedicated over 20 years to non-profit community education work and brings a breadth of curriculum development, contract and program management experience to the Center [...]

ProSight Specialty Insurance has scaled back plans to further expand its presence in Santa Rosa but will still maintain a presence in the area, a spokesman for the company said.

NOVATO — Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company named Kevin Walker as its new chief financial officer and newest member of its board of directors.

Editor’s note: This is the Business Journal’s first Spotlight on Facilities Managers in the North Bay. According to the International Facility Management Association, professionals in this job usually are responsible for compliance with laws and regulations on real estate, efficient operations of buildings to limit waste in natural and human resources, safety for employees and environmental sustainability.

“People, place, process, technology,” is the association’s catchphrase for such a position. The following are facility managers identified from among the largest public and private North Bay employers.

Lori Dickerson Fouché has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Novato-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co.

NOVATO — Lori Dickerson Fouché has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Novato-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. She succeeds Michael LaRocco, who left the company to “pursue other professional opportunities.”

NOVATO — Three and a half years after acquiring Marin County’s largest office property for $313.8 million in cash and debt and announcing plans for a massive mixed-use redevelopment of the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. headquarters in Novato, the owners plan to sell it.