About Us

About Us

We are a team of insurance geeks excited by the challenge of helping companies in the Sharing & On-Demand Economy create trust, manage risk, grow, and succeed.

The Y-Risk team brings extensive experience in underwriting, product development, risk management, and actuarial analysis. Combining our experience in a creative & innovative environment, free of traditional insurance silos, allows us to thoughtfully approach the unique risks presented by tomorrow’s economy.

We have proudly built a company operating on the leading edge of the insurance industry where we expertly merge the fundamentals of insurance with the fast-paced world of the tech-enabled Sharing & On-Demand Economy.

The Team
Bill Simmons

Bill Simmons

Associate Underwriter

Bill Simmons

Bill Simmons

Associate Underwriter

williams@yrisk.com

After graduating from Manhattan college with a marketing and finance degree, Bill began his insurance career in The Hartford’s Complex Claims Unit before joining Y-Risk as an underwriter in 2023. As a seasonal sports enthusiast, he hits the ski slopes as often as he can and in the summer months, he patiently waits for the snow to return by running, hiking, and playing bogey golf.

Christie Kennedy

Christie Kennedy

Assistant Manager, Operations

Christie Kennedy

Christie Kennedy

Assistant Manager, Operations

christiek@yrisk.com

Christie joined the Y-Risk team in 2022 as an Underwriting Assistant after her return to insurance a few years prior. During her time away from the industry she very much enjoyed her role as a sports mom and misses spending her free time freezing at a hockey rink or on a sideline somewhere. She deals with her #1 Fan retirement by spending time at the beach or traveling to see her grown children.

Cortney Borreson

Cortney Borreson

Senior Underwriter

Cortney Borreson

Cortney Borreson

Senior Underwriter

cortneyb@yrisk.com

Cortney joins Y-Risk with over a decade of Property & Casualty experience having most recently worked at Travelers. She is a graduate of Bay Path University and a Connecticut native who recently returned to her hometown area after living in Tokyo, Japan, with her husband and two children. As a wannabe travel influencer, when Cortney's not chasing her kids around she's planning her next adventure!

Dan Powell

Dan Powell

Actuary

Dan Powell

Dan Powell

Actuary

danp@yrisk.com

Dan brings more than 30 years of actuarial experience to Y-Risk. He graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Dan is a fan of all Boston sports and plays as much golf as possible.

Elvis Chidozie

Elvis Chidozie

Senior Data Engineer

Elvis Chidozie

Elvis Chidozie

Senior Data Engineer

elvisc@yrisk.com

Elvis began his career in management consulting as a data professional and has worked in various technical roles for firms in the financial services and insurance industries. He is now using this experience to deliver data engineering solutions to Y-Risk customers. Elvis is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a degree in Computer Engineering Technology and is an avid cyclist who enjoys spending time outdoors, preferably, without a laptop.

Frederick Owens

Frederick Owens

Executive Underwriter

Frederick Owens

Frederick Owens

Executive Underwriter

frederick@yrisk.com

Frederick has been in the insurance business for more than 20 years in various claims and sales roles. He earned his undergraduate degree in Communications/French from Oakwood University and holds an MBA from Albertus Magnus. Frederick loves to talk insurance which makes him a huge hit at cocktail parties and in his spare time enjoys eating, running, biking, and doing his best to embarrass his 3 kids.

Iain Boyer

Iain Boyer

Head of Business & Chief Underwriting Officer

Iain Boyer

Iain Boyer

Head of Business & Chief Underwriting Officer

iainb@yrisk.com

Iain brings over 30 years of experience as an underwriter & intermediary to Y-Risk and our clients. He holds a BA from Hamilton College and an MBA from Bentley University’s McCallum Graduate School of Business. Iain enjoys running, unless he’s being chased.

Lucy

Lucy

Office Dog (retired)

Lucy

Lucy

Office Dog (retired)

insureit@yrisk.com

Lucy has been with Y-Risk since 2015 and has enjoyed many years of greeting visitors and collecting her treat tax each morning. Though having recently "retired" from office life, she looks forward to popping in occasionally to see her friends as well as seeing what they're having for lunch.

Melissa Brady

Melissa Brady

Senior Underwriter

Melissa Brady

Melissa Brady

Senior Underwriter

melissab@yrisk.com

Melissa joined Y-Risk as an Underwriting Assistant in October of 2019. After earning a Culinary Arts degree, she made a career in the hospitality industry. Managing guests, including the occasional unhappy one, and raising three girls has positioned her well for a career in insurance.

Melissa Madden

Melissa Madden

Senior Underwriter

Melissa Madden

Melissa Madden

Senior Underwriter

melissam@yrisk.com

Melissa joins Y-Risk with over 15 years in Property & Casualty insurance previously holding both claims and underwriting roles at large local companies. She is originally from eastern Massachusetts and recently moved to central CT. Melissa loves to dance and spends most of her free time out in nature – where the rules were made to be broken.

Mike Visintainer

Mike Visintainer

COO, Head of Actuarial

Mike Visintainer

Mike Visintainer

COO, Head of Actuarial

mikev@yrisk.com

Mike brings more than 30 years of actuarial and finance experience to Y-Risk. Mike graduated with a BS in Mathematics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Mike enjoys running, watching football, and a cold IPA (not necessarily in that order).

Natalie Calletano

Natalie Calletano

Project Manager, Y-Risk Innovation Labs

Natalie Calletano

Natalie Calletano

Project Manager, Y-Risk Innovation Labs

natalie.calletano@thehartford.com

Natalie double majored at the University of Connecticut studying Psychology and Communications before taking a position at The Hartford in the Early Career Leadership Development rotational program. Recently, she joined the Y-Risk Innovation Labs in a project management role. When Natalie isn’t working, you can find her in the gym, at a restaurant or exploring somewhere new & exciting.

Peter Mielert

Peter Mielert

Head of Y-Risk Innovation Labs

Peter Mielert

Peter Mielert

Head of Y-Risk Innovation Labs

peter.mielert@thehartford.com

Peter, a recovering management consultant, has been with The Hartford for more than 15 years and recently joined Y-Risk as Head of the Innovation Labs. In this new role, he’ll tap into his inner insurance nerd to explore new products while partnering with colleagues and partners across The Hartford and beyond. Peter has degrees in History and African Studies from Georgetown University and is an avid fan of the Hoyas, even in the tough years. Off-duty, Peter is an amateur mixologist, enjoys running, hiking, fishing, and modifying his Jeep like kids play with Legos.

Sharmy Dhaliwal

Sharmy Dhaliwal

Managing Director

Sharmy Dhaliwal

Sharmy Dhaliwal

Managing Director

sharmy@yrisk.com

Sharmy started her career at Lincoln Financial Group after graduating from Trinity College with a double major in Public Policy & Law and Philosophy. In 2022 she graduated with her J.D. from The University of Connecticut’s School of Law. When this native New Yorker isn’t behind a book or at the beach, she’s found at a winery or passionately supporting the Knicks.

Wendy Dowd

Wendy Dowd

AVP Product Development

Wendy Dowd

Wendy Dowd

AVP Product Development

wendyd@yrisk.com

Wendy has 25 years of specialty insurance experience in various management, underwriting, product development and innovation roles. Most recently, Wendy was the Global Manager of the Technology Segment for a leading global insurer. Wendy is a graduate of Pomona College and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Longstanding vendetta with the local bear aside, Wendy enjoys being outdoors, gardening and feeding her backyard birds.