Staff & Associates
| Commercial Lines |
 Terry L. Barber, CICPresident Phone: 203-723-7447 Ext: 11 Email: terryb@chittendengroup.com Terry has been President of Chittenden Group since 1992, when he succeeded Fred Zonino as head of the agency.Mr. Barber began his insurance career in New York City as an underwriter for The Hartford. He then worked at Marsh & McLennan as an account executive for several years involved with major accounts such as Piper Aircraft, General Foods, Flintcote and SCM Corporation. He has had extensive exposure to loss sensitive rating palns, including, captives, large deductible plans, and retrospective rating.In 1979, Mr. Barber decided to return to his roots and began working at Chittenden Group as an agent. He quickly rose through the company ranks and in 1992, became president. To better serve its customer base, Mr. Barber divided the company into three divisions: Commercial Property & Casualty, Personal Property & Casualty and Life & Health.Active in the community, Mr. Barber serves on various boards. He is Vice Chairman and a director of Thomaston Savings Bank, Past President of the Naugatuck YMCA and Past President of Watertown Youth Hockey, were he also coached for 18 years. He is a board member of the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce, Naugatuck Economic Development Commission treasurer and served on the local Easter Seal’s board for several years. Mr. Barber is also served as President of the Highfield Club in Middlebury, CT.In 2001, Mr. Barber received the Naugatuck YMCA “Fred D. Zonino Volunteer of the Year” award. In 2005 he was awarded the prestigious “Lewis A. Dibble” award for contribution to the economic and social well being of Naugatuck. Mr. Barber was born and raised in the Naugatuck area. He attended Nasson College in Springvale, Maine where he majored in business administration, play hockey and was captain and most valuable player of the lacrosse team. He currently lives in Watertown, CT with his wife and three sons.
Pedro Pires is a graduate of University of Connecticut and has been with Chittenden Group since 2004. His insurance background started on the company side of the business. He started in the industry as a claims adjuster and appraiser in 1996 for a national insurance company. This was an important introductory role for him because claims handling and exposure control is what insurance is all about. This was a great way to learn how policy coverage reacts in different claims scenarios. After three years in the claims department Pedro was promoted to the underwriting department of the company. This proved to be another important building block in his career as this is how exposures are rated and loss predictions are forecasted and used to determine pricing for different risks. This position eventually led Pedro to the marketing and sales team. This function allowed another great learning experience for him. Product knowledge, policy language, and the relationship building skills needed in the industry came full circle in this role. It also led to meeting the great folks at the Chittenden Group and in 2004 Pedro became part of this great team. Having the company experience helps in facilitating the relationship between customer accounts and the company set guidelines. Since 2004 Pedro has been building a strong book of business in the manufacturing and construction industries. His experience has helped in developing a list of multi-million dollar accounts. Current customers include multi-state and multinational exposures. Pedro’s dedication to the insurance industry is also evident in his continued education programs. In 2004 he attained the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation and in 2010 he also attained the Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation, which nationally there are only about 1700 designees. Pedro currently lives in Naugatuck with his wife and two children. |
| Commercial Lines Customer Service |
 Kris Stella, CIC, COO Chief Operating Officer Phone: 203-723-7447 Ext: 15 Email: kris@chittendengroup.com Kris joined Chittenden in 1995. She became office manager in 2007 and attained the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 2008. In 2010, Kris was named Chief Operating Officer of Chittenden Group. Kris serves as the front line for commercial business. She coordinates with clients and the account executive to deliver customized service at the highest level. With over 10 years experience in the commercial lines area, Kris has worked with large contractors & manufacturers to assist them in managing their most difficult exposures. Her customer list includes international companies and national programs including captives. Her customers have included Accel International Holdings, Inc, Mark IV Construction, and Spongex Corporation.
Tammie joined Chittenden in May of 2009. She has 14 years of insurance background in sales and services. She is a licensed agent with personal and commercial experience. She enjoys scrapbooking, gardening, quadding, snowmobiling, coaching softball and outdoor activities. Tammie lives in Thomaston with her husband, Gary, and 3 children.
Sheri Cialfi joined the agency in 2009. Sheri has over 21 years working in the insurance industry. She is a licensed insurance agent and has obtained the Accredited Advisor in Insurance designation (AAI) as well as the Certified Professional Insurance Woman (CPIW) designation along with Certified Workers Compensation Specialist designation (CWCS). Her strength is working on mid to large Commercial Accounts, which include International and Foreign exposures. She has extensive knowledge working with clients that are in Captive programs, which include Light Sources Inc. and Summit Corporation of America. Sheri has been instrumental in working with large Commercial clients assisting in reducing their high Experience Modification Factor relating to Workers Compensation, resulting in a substantial cost savings the client and their business. |
| Financial Services-Life & Health-Employee Benefits |
 Joseph L. Ferry, Jr., LUTCF Senior Vice President Phone: 203-723-7447 Ext: 21 Email: joe@chittendengroup.com Joe has over 20 years experience in the employee benefits industry. He began his insurance career in 1988 with Aetna where he received extensive training in all facets of the industry including underwriting, claims & marketing. He worked as a career Life Insurance agent with MetLife from 1992-1995 before starting the Financial Service Department at Chittenden where he became a principal in 2003. He is well versed in Self Funded Plans, HRA’s HSA’s and Fully Insured plans. In addition to local businesses Joe has worked on National accounts with multi state locations such as ACIRCA ORGANIC FOODS, SUMMIT CORPORTION OF AMERICA & ACCEL INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS. Joe is also well versed in executive compensation packages which include deferred compensation plans and disability buy-out plans. He holds a LUTCF designation and is involved in many business & civic activities including past Secretary of the New Haven chapter of National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, Board member of United Way of Naugatuck & Beacon Falls, membership committee of The Country Club of Waterbury & The Waterbury Club, coach of Seymour Youth Soccer, Little League & Oxford Flag Football. Joe resides in Seymour with his wife & two children.
Elaine has been actively working in the insurance industry since 1993. Elaine started her insurance career as a Life Insurance Specialist with Prudential Insurance. After 3 years with Prudential she moved to the agency side working as a Property & Casualty Customer Service Representative before finding her passion working with Employee Benefits. Elaine secured employment with one of Connecticut’s largest insurance agencies where she began her career as a Benefits Account Executive. Elaine now has a client knowledge that ranges from small to large and even major accounts. She also works with many national accounts. As a Benefits Account Executive she has a major role in our Financial Services Department. Elaine assists our clients with her knowledge in the Employee Benefits area and is very dedicated to her more than 175 clients. Her licenses include Life, Health, Property and Casualty. She resides in Cheshire, CT with her husband and her youngest of 3 children. |
| Personal Lines |
 Pedro G Lopes, CIC Personal Lines Manager & IT Manager Phone: 203-723-7447 Ext: 40 Email: pglopes@chittendengroup.com Pedro joined the Chittenden in 2004. Prior to joining the agency he had worked with Hartford Insurance Group from 1996 to 2004. There he managed multiple teams in the Hartfords AARP Program, as well as the Hartfords Affinity program, with clients such as Sears, Ford Motor Credit and Capital One Bank. Pedro brings 14 years of insurance and technology experience to the Chittenden Group where he is the Personal Lines Manager and IT Manager for the agency. Pedro is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) as well as a licensed property/casualty and life/health agent. Pedro grew up in Naugatuck and graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT. He resides in Naugatuck with his wife Shannon and two sons, Mason & Ethan.
David Pires grew up in the mill town of Naugatuck, Connecticut. He attended and graduated with honors from the Naugatuck School System and went on to the University of Connecticut where he graduated in 2005 with a Bachelors Degree in Finance. Prior to joining The Chittenden Group in 2008, David worked in the corporate world in mortgage loan financing for three years where he managed one of the top offices of the northeast region for Countrywide Home Loans. David is licensed in Property & Casualty Insurance as well as Life & Health Insurance; he is also extremely active in community affairs including acting as a head coach for the Naugatuck Basketball Association and as a coach for the Union City Little League. Dave enjoys golf, motorcycling and investing in and remodeling multi-family dwellings.
Derek Scheer joined Chittenden Group in 2012. Derek Graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 2011, and has taken his place in the insurance industry. Derek has had a vested interest in the Insurance industry for many years. Derek works in our personal lines department and serves the community by protecting important assets for families all over Connecticut. Throughout Derek’s career, he has worked in management and is dedicated to help better the lives of the people he serves. Derek holds a Property/Casualty license for the state of Connecticut which he uses to continue to serve the community. Derek Resides in his home town of South Windsor, Connecticut and can be found playing sports in his spare time. |
| Personal Lines Customer Service |
 Gail Onofrio Customer Service Representative (CSR) Phone: 203-723-7447 Ext: 13 Email: gail@chittendengroup.com Gail joined the Chittenden Group in 2008. Her experience includes service at an independent agency in New Haven for over 25 years in their personal insurance department. During that time she specialized in servicing small groups and later high valued accounts. Gail has experience providing coverage for difficult to place exposures as well as your standard home and automobile. She holds a CT property/casualty license. She resides in Derby with her husband, Clem and daughter, Nicole.
Dawn has been with The Chittenden Group since January 2009. She works in the Personal Lines department. She has 20 years of insurance background in sales and service. She maintains licenses in the states of Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont for Property, Casualty, Life and Health. She resides in Thomaston with her three active teenage sons. |
| Claims Services |
 Collene DeAngelis Claims Manager Phone: 203-723-7447 Ext: 14 Email: collene@chittendengroup.com Collene DeAngelis joined the agency in 2009. Collene is the leading expert in claims for the Chittenden group. Her 20 years of experience as a claim rep, servicing multi-lines of insurance for NY, CT, PA, and MA, puts her on the front line regarding industry trends, procedures and mindset. She has been involved in every aspect of claims handling from factory fire claims resulting in total losses, down to personal auto glass claims. Her negotiation skills along with her sense of humor and passion for people made her the claim rep of choice when a major insurance company needed an employee to represent them in Arbitration hearings in the Long Island and NYC area. Her strong desire for excellent customer service has earned her much praise and recommendations from customers as well as other insurance professionals.Collene holds a Casualty Adjuster’s License as well as a Producer’s License in the State of CT.
Amy F. Cashin Amy F. Cashin began her career at Chittenden in 1987 as the Claims manager. She is a cum laude graduate of Duke University with a double degree in Psychology and French. Prior to starting her family, Amy worked with Metropolitan Property and Casualty, then with an agency in Meriden, CT. In her twenty two years with Chittenden, she has dealt with all facets of claims in both personal and commercial lines including property, auto, liability and workers compensation, which became her specialty. She is currently living in the Pittsburgh area and assists Chittenden Group with workers compensation experience modification analysis and projections for large commercial accounts. Amy is unique in her ability to dissect the experience modification worksheet along with loss runs, so our clients may maximize credits based on their loss experience. In many instances, Amy has been able to uncover mistakes in claim reserving and experience modification coding, which has translated into thousands of dollars of savings for our clients. |
| Client Reception |
 Tannie Berger ReceptionistPhone: 203-723-7447 Ext: 10 Email: tannie@chittendengroup.com Tannie is likely to be the first person you speak with when you call The Chittenden Group. She has been with the firm since 2001 and no one is more soothing and professional in time of crisis. Tannie is very involved in her church, enjoys traveling, cooking and entertaining. She resides in Waterbury with her husband. |
| Associates |
 Peter AllvinHuman Resources Consultant Peter K. Allvin has over thirty-years of hands-on Human Resources and Employment Agency experience. He can provide leadership in meeting the HR challenges so critical to achieving the goals you have established for your business. Employee and Labor Relations; Payroll Processing both on or off-site; Affirmative Action and EEO Compliance; Customized Employee Benefit Statements; Fringe Benefit Selection and Administration; 401K-Profit Sharing-Pension Plan Administration; Job Evaluation; Wage and Salary Administration; Communications such as Policies; Employee Handbooks; Human Resources Software Products and Installation; Medical and Workers Compensation Claims Processing; Recruiting at all levels.
Mike DeVivo has over thirty years of Safety and Loss Control experience in various types of companies. This includes managing safety as part of the management process, policy development and implementation, dealing with OSHA, plant security and preventing insurance losses. His hands on approach have helped companies reduce injuries and control their costs. This includes experience at Waring Products and the Olin Corporation at their Somers Thin Strip facility in Waterbury. He has provided loss control services to several of our Chittenden clients that include, Seidel, Gar-Kenyon, Summit Corporation of America, Traver IDC and Howard Engineering. Mike is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, the Waterbury Regional Chamber and the Northwest Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is also an Authorized General Industry Outreach Trainer for OSHA Standards. Mike holds a BS Degree in Business from Sacred Heart University and a MS Degree in Labor Relations form the University of New Haven. |
