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Resource Center | News
Business Insurance Magazine Selects Karen Farris as Member of “Women to Watch” List Release Date: 10/18/2006DALLAS TEXAS – Karen K. Farris President and Chief Executive Officer of Roach Howard Smith & Barton (RHSB) has been selected for “Women to Watch ” a special report in the October 9 2006 issue of Business Insurance magazine. The report highlights an elite group of women leaders who are leading change in commercial lines reinsurance risk management and employee benefits and related fields. These women are recognized for their outstanding accomplishments both within their organizations and within the insurance industry. Farris who has both a CPCU and an ARM designation is an expert risk manager with more than 30 years of experience developing comprehensive global insurance solutions for commercial clients. She joined Roach Howard Smith & Barton in 1982 was elected to the company’s board in 1989 and was named president in 1994 and CEO in 1996. She is also responsible for founding the firm’s technology practice. As CEO Farris – RHSB’s first female shareholder – successfully guided the firm through an internal perpetuation of 100% of the stock from the founders to the current group of shareholders. She is one of the few female CEOs in the insurance brokerage ranks. In 2002 Farris was elected to serve as the first female Chairman of Assurex Global the world’s largest privately held brokerage group with more than 20 000 professionals serving at 117 independently owned brokers on six continents. “I am delighted and honored to be among the female leaders named in this report ” said Farris. “My career has given me the opportunity to work with many of them. While we are making strides there is still considerable work ahead as women continue to face challenges in the insurance industry. I am encouraged and inspired by the number of bright and energetic women who are entering this field and will be the leaders of the future.” Farris was the first female member of the Park Cities Rotary Club joining in 1987 shortly after the club changed its bylaws to include female members. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of that group and has served in a variety of leadership positions. She has also served as President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Dallas (IIAD) as well as the Dallas Chapter of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters (CPCU). She is currently serving as a member of the Corporate Operations Committee for the American Heart Association and has chaired the Insurance Committee for this national organization. She is an active member of her community serving as a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer. ABOUT ROACH HOWARD SMITH & BARTON Roach Howard Smith & Barton (RHSB) is a leading independent insurance brokerage firm providing business insurance solutions to companies of all sizes and personal insurance to individuals and families. RHSB provides property and casualty insurance product placement risk management consulting services employee benefits product placement and consulting financial planning advisory services and human resources outsourcing services. RHSB has offices in Dallas and Fort Worth and is a partner firm of Assurex Global the world’s largest privately held insurance brokerage group with combined premiums exceeding $23 billion. < Back to News |
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