THE LEVITT-FUIRST LEADERSHIP TEAM
Executives
- Lehigh University – BS
- Columbia Business School- MBA
- College of Insurance – CLU., CAP
- Employed by International Paper and Johnson & Johnson in sales and marketing positions in NY, Memphis & Dallas prior to joining Levitt-Fuirst in 1993
- Lives with wife Sue, and their three children in Chappaqua, NY
- Founding Member of Personal Risk Management Association (PRMA)
- Former President of the Lehigh Alumni Club of Westchester
- Former Board Member Pleasantville Community Synagogue
- Board Member of UJA Westchester Business and Professional Division
- Board Member of Independent Insurance Agents of Westchester County
- NYC Marathon PR 2:49:56
- Rode bicycle solo from Seattle, WA to Long Beach Island, NJ in 47 Days; Summer 2014
- Cornell University – B.S. Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
- American Insurance Marketing and Sales Society–Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA)
- Managing Member—Risk Reduction Services (riskreductionservices.com)
- Frequent keynote speaker to industry trade groups on real estate and construction insurance topics
- Annual provider of testimony regarding state of insurance industry to the Westchester County Board of Legislators
- Frequent advocate (lobbying efforts, journal publications) for NY “Scaffold Law” reform
- Performed cost-analysis and procurement of insurance policies for a construction equipment supplier, prior to joining Levitt-Fuirst Associates, LTD.
- Former Procter & Gamble Account Executive, calling on Chicago-based wholesale and retail accounts
- Board Member/Finance Committee—YMCA (New Rochelle, NY)
- Volunteer—Temple Shaaray Tefilia (Bedford, NY) Social Action Committee
- Volunteer (2020-2022)—Yonkers Partners In Education (Yonkers, NY)
- Co-Chairman (2014-2018)—Fairview Country Club (Greenwich, CT) Golf Committee
- President (2001 to 2006)—Phi Sigma Kappa Gamma Chapter (Cornell) Alumni Association
- Chairman—2004 Ryder Cup Matches Marshal Committee, Oakland Hills Country Club (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
- Bronze Medalist, Men’s Master’s Golf—2023 Maccabi Pan American Games
- Former High School All-American/State Champion and 4-year Varsity Springboard Diver at Cornell.
- Hobbies: Golf, Skiing, Chess.
- Lives with his wife Ondrea and two children in Goldens Bridge, NY.
- University of Pennsylvania – BA, Magna Cum Laude
- Columbia Business School – MBA, Beta Gamma Sigma
- Completed Chemical Bank Middle Market Credit Training Program
- Vice President Chemical Bank, Vice President Bank of America – prior to joining Levitt Fuirst
- Lives with two daughters in Purchase, NY
Ondrea Levitt Schiciano, Managing Director – Special Projects
- Cornell University — B.S. Hotel and Restaurant Administration
- Responsible for Special Projects Development and Administration
- Former Director of Asset Management for 5,000+ multi-family units
- Former Vice President of Real Estate Developer, responsible for the development and asset management of a portfolio of lodging properties valued at $100 million
- Former Director of Development for Hyatt Development Corporation
- Former Arthur Andersen Senior Consultant of Real Estate Consulting Group
Darryl Friedricks, Vice President
- University of Michigan- B.S.
- C.P.C.U.-College of Insurance
- Over 20 years experience in the insurance industry performing sales and marketing
- Book of business consists of over 500 clients
- Employed by Tanenbaum-Harber Co. Inc. prior to joining Levitt-Fuirst Associates, LTD.
- Lives with wife, Rebecca, and three children in New York City
Sales Division
- Over 5 years of experience as a Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Risk Advisor
- Prior to Levitt-Fuirst, over 15 years of experience in the private aviation industry performing sales and marketing at Cessna, NetJets and Wheels Up
- Chartered Private Risk and Insurance Advisor (CPRIA)
- Chubb PRS Graduate
- Member of Private Risk Management Association (PRMA), a group dedicated to serving the complex insurance needs of High Net Worth clients
- Member of XPX Fairfield County, a multidisciplinary association of professional advisors located throughout the NYC Metro region
- Member of Real Estate Finance Association (REFA), a group of premier Real Estate Finance Professionals located in Connecticut and Westchester County, NY
- Member of National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP), a group of advisors serving as valuable resources for clientele dealing with divorce
- Hobart College – B.A. Political Science. Varsity athlete.
- Enjoys golf, tennis, squash, skiing
- Resides in Greenwich, CT with wife Jennifer and their two children
- Member of
- Private Risk Management Association (PRMA)
- XPX Fairfield County
- Real Estate Finance Association (REFA)
- National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP)
Finance
Loni Gawey, Managing Director - Accounting & Human Resources
- Joined Levitt-Fuirst in 2007 as Receptionist
- Over 17 years of insurance agency experience concentrating in Accounting and HR/Benefits
- Fordham University
- Bachelor of Science
- Major in Psychology/Minor in Spanish Language
- Journalist for The Fordham Ram
- Member of the Fordham University Band
- Mercy College School of Business
- Master of Business Administration
- Concentration: Human Resources Management
- Member of Delta Mu Delta, International Business Honor Society
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent, New York State
- SHRM Certified Professional
- NYS Notary Public & Electronic Notary
- Bilingual English/Spanish
- Fun Fact: Played xylophone & auxiliary percussion instruments on stage at Carnegie Hall
- Lives with family in NY
Construction & Surety Division
Sean Zampino, CIC, CRIS, Vice President – Construction
- Vice-President for 15 years
- Construction Practice Leader responsible for $60,000,000 GWP
- Insurance industry experience spanning 37 years
- Earned the Certified Insurance Counselor designation from the National Alliance on Insurance Education
- Earning the Certified Risk Managers designation from the National Alliance on Insurance Education with one part remaining to complete
- Earned the Construction Risk & Insurance Specialist designation from the Insurance Risk Management Institute
- Alternative risk fronting, loss sensitive, Self-Insured Retention and large deductible underwriting expertise
- Insurance marketing expertise with understanding for retail brokerage, excess & surplus lines brokerage
- Underwriting and program management expertise as a Managing General Agent and captive manager
- Prior experience with HUB International, Willis Towers Watson, Brown & Brown
- University of Hartford – Barney School of Business, AS
Anthony Basciano, Managing Director – Surety
- 30+ years’ experience as underwriter and broker in the New York Metropolitan Surety Bond Marketplace
- Managing Member/Owner of Surety Risk Solutions, LLC. – Consulting and MGA Program Management Services serving the small, emerging, and minority contracting community
- Graduate of Manhattan College School of Business Administration Class of 1988
- Past President of NYC Surety Association
- Past President with 15 Years of community service to the Lakeland Little League in Stanhope, New Jersey
- Office locations in both Westchester County, NY and New Jersey
Michael Provenzale, Managing Director – Construction
- IONA University
- B.A in Finance
- A.B in Marketing
- Over 23 years of insurance experience
- Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR)
- Former Senior Account Executive – Construction at large regional insurance institution
- Former Portfolio Manager – Investment Banking at large regional financial institution
- Lives in New York, NY
Jose Arevalo, Managing Director – Client Services
- St Johns University, Computer Science Department
- Hartford School of Insurance, Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist Designation
- Selective Insurance Producer Training Graduate
- Specializes in Commercial Real Estate, Construction and Small Commercial Insurance, along with Personal Insurance
- Over 20 Years experience in the insurance industry performing sales, marketing and client risk management.
- 1st Degree Black Belt in Sang Hwa Soo (Martial Art System)
- Martial Arts & MMA Instructor for disadvantaged youths and adults, Bronx, NY
- Lives in Ossining, New York
Real Estate Division
- University of New Hampshire Business School
- POHS Insurance Institute graduate
- Aetna PRIME program graduate
- Over 34 years’ experience in the Habitational Real Estate market
- Lives with wife, Virginia, in Poughquag, NY
Business Market Segment, General Business Division
Joseph Balaez Jr., CIC, Commercial Lines Managing Director and Operations Manager
- 2020 obtained CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) Designation.
- 2020 promoted to CL Operations Manager.
- 2013 promoted to CL Managing Director and created the new Business Market Segment (BMS)
- 2008 joined Levitt-Fuirst Associates as an Account Executive in the Real Estate Division handling primarily habitational risks.
- Former Account Executive at a top 25 national insurance broker.
- Started insurance career in 1998.
- Studied at SUNY at New Paltz.
- Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with Eastchester EMS.
- Resides in Danbury, CT with his wife and two daughters.
Dawn Dettmering, Assistant Managing Director of Business Market Segment (BMS) Team
- Former Senior Account Executive / New Business Marketing for Business Market Segment (BMS) Team
- Over 32 years of insurance experience
- Certified Risk Manager (CRM) Designation since 2023
- The Hartford School of Insurance – Advanced Commercial Lines Consultant (ACLC) Designation since 2023
- Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) Designation since 2010
- Graduate of The Hartford School of Insurance – attained the Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) Designation in 2003
- Former Team Leader at large regional broker in the Middle Market Construction Division
- Former Senior Account Executive/Team Lead regional broker in the Financial Services Division
- Former Commercial Lines Manager at regional boutique broker
- Former Underwriting Supervisor large insurance carrier in the Medical Malpractice Division
- Studied at SUNY Plattsburgh
- Creator of unique gardens and outdoor entertainment spaces – including gazebos, conversation areas, fire pits, metal sculpture gardens, lighthouse / seashore themed garden, rock gardens and butterfly and humming bird gardens. Avid collector of gnomes (for all seasons), flamingos – large and small, and a variety of colorful metal chickens for her daughter the future Dr. Katie – Veterinarian.
- Lives in CT with her family
Personal Insurance Division
Kimberly Vargas, Managing Director – Personal Lines
- College of Westchester, Studied Graphic Design.
- Licensed in Property & Casualty Insurance since 2006.
- Accredited Customer Service Designation achieved.
- Accredited CPRM Designation (Certified Personal Risk Manager) achieved.
- Specializes in Personal Lines Insurance with over 10 years of experience.
- Extensive experience placing insurance for high-net-worth clients.
- Lives in Rockland County with husband and two children.
Workers Compensation /Safety Groups Division
- Specializing in the construction and habitational real estate industries
- Prior to joining Levitt-Fuirst, producer for a brokerage focusing on construction and personal insurance
- Selective Insurance School graduate
- Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI – B.S. Public Relations
- Avid skier, golfer, and sailboat racer
- Lives in Harrison, NY with his wife
Technology Division
Peter Andersen, Managing Director of Information Technology, Marketing, and Risk Reduction Services, LLC
- Joined Levitt-Fuirst in 2011
- Over 25 years of insurance agency experience, focusing on Software Development and Implementation.
- Licensed Insurance Agent, New York State
- Florida State University:
- BS, Business Marketing
- Minor in Literature
- Vice President, FSU American Marketing Association
- St. Baldricks Volunteer
- 10 years of Fund Raising
- Treasurer of annual fundraising events
- Avid basketball player, bicyclist, and fitness devotee.
- Currently lives in Valhalla, New York, with wife and 3 dogs
