HighRock

Who We Are

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Westminster American Insurance Company was chartered in Maryland in 1869 as the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Carroll County (also known as “Carroll County Mutual,” or “CCM”). The founding purpose was to protect the financial interests of home and farm owners in rural Carroll County, Maryland. For more than a century, CCM enjoyed modest success as a mutual carrier.

In 2005, after acquiring the recently demutualized CCM from state-supervised rehabilitation, new ownership and management renamed the company Westminster American Insurance Company (“WAIC”). All underwriting efforts were refocused on commercial real estate in the Mid-Atlantic region.

WAIC was acquired by NI Holdings/Nodak Insurance Group in January 2020, to further diversify NI Holding’s portfolio of products and geographic footprint. With over $64 million in direct written premium, WAIC is a leading insurer of commercial real estate in the Mid-Atlantic, offering business owner’s (BOP), commercial package, and commercial umbrella policies. 

Key Leadership

  • John J. Scott, Jr.

    Esq., CIC, GRI | President

    John Scott, Jr. began his insurance career with Associated Insurance Management, Inc. (“AIM”) after his freshman year at the George Washington University. Following his graduation from college, Mr. Scott earned a law degree from the Western New England University School of Law in 1997. He practiced as a civil defense litigator for a few years before returning to AIM as their corporate counsel in 2001. In June, 2005, Mr. Scott accepted the position of Vice President and General Counsel of WAIC. Mr. Scott was promoted to President on January 1, 2015 and in July of that year was named to the Daily Record’s (Maryland) 2015 list of Maryland’s Most Admired CEOs. Mr. Scott currently serves on several corporate boards, including Direct Auto Insurance Company, Primero Insurance Company, Westminster American Insurance Company and Chesapeake Employers Insurance Company.

    John Scott Jr.

  • Michael Pfarr

    Chief Financial Officer

    Michael Pfarr joined WAIC in February 2008 as Controller and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in January 2012. He also served as a Board Member from 2016 to 2021. Prior to joining WAIC, Mr. Pfarr was the Controller at Connect Your Care, Inc., a health administration company. Mr. Pfarr earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Towson State University. He also serves as the Chairman of the Accounting/Audit Committee for the Maryland Joint Insurance Administration and the D.C. Property Insurance Facility.

    Mike

  • Dave Whelan

    Vice President of Underwriting

    Dave Whelan graduated in 1987 with a BS in Mathematics from Worcester State College. He has been in commercial lines underwriting for 31 years, spending eleven years as a Middle Market Underwriter with The Hartford, and nine years as Commercial Lines Underwriting Lead with National Grange Mutual (part of Main Street America). Mr. Whelan began his career as the MA Branch Manager & VP with GNY Insurance Companies in 2009, specializing in habitational, condo/coops, hospitality, and commercial real estate properties. In 2017 he assumed the VP & Branch Manager role working with GNY’s CT & Upstate NY underwriting territories. In September of 2020, Mr. Whelan joined Westminster American as VP of Underwriting, and now directs the company’s underwriting strategy and staff.

    Dave - casual

  • Kelly Myers

    Vice President of Marketing and Operations

    Kelly Myers graduated from Stevenson University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Visual Communication Design. In 2007, following the launch of a successful graphic design business, Ms. Myers joined WAIC as a business development specialist with a focus on office management. In August 2018, Ms. Myers was named Vice President of Operations where she oversees WAIC’s cross-functional staff and continues to guide the Company’s marketing strategies.

    Kelly Myers

  • Brian Culp

    Vice President of Claims

    Brian Culp joined WAIC in 2019 as Vice President of Claims. In this role, he is responsible for providing overall direction to the company’s claims operations. He began his insurance career in 1995 and previously served as Vice President of Claims of Farmers and Mechanics Insurance Companies. Mr. Culp is a Past President of the West Virginia Association of Insurance Companies.

    Brian Casual

Career Opportunities

If you’re looking for a great place to work, you’ve found it! Both the Daily Record and Baltimore Magazine have designated Westminster American Insurance Company one of the best places to work in the Baltimore area.

Open Positions

Production Underwriter - Allentown, PA 

Production Underwriter - Trenton, NJ

Underwriting Associate

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