meet the executive team

James P. Kellner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has devoted his entire professional life to property and casualty insurance technology. In partnership with Bain Capital LLC, Kellner maintains ownership of Applied Systems. Since 1985, Kellner has been an integral part of his company’s growth as a thought leader and foremost provider of technology solutions for the property and casualty insurance industry. Kellner began his Applied Systems career as director of New Product Development. He was director of the company’s Large Agent and Broker Division and company president before assuming his current roles. Every year since 2001, Kellner has been named one of the “100 Most Powerful People in Insurance in North America,” a distinction awarded by Insurancebroadcasting.com and the Insurance Media Association.

Mark P. Layden, Chief Operating Officer, joined Applied Systems in early 2008. Layden’s responsibilities include overseeing the Technology Division of Applied Systems. A technology industry veteran, Layden was most recently vice president and general manager of Products and Innovation at Fair Isaac Corporation, a decision management solutions company. His experience includes senior management positions at TempoSoft SA, based in Boulogne, France; SAP AG in Waldorf, Germany; and Chicago-based Campbell Software Inc., a company he co-founded.

Colleen E. Mikuce, Chief Financial Officer, joined Applied Systems in 1985. Promoted in 2000 to senior vice president and controller, Mikuce assumed responsibility for all Applied Systems financial and office-related functions. Mikuce was named executive vice president of finance and administration and management representative to the board of directors. She is responsible for all financial and administrative functions. Mikuce became a corporate officer in 2006, and became Chief Financial Officer in 2007.

Jeffrey D. Purdy, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, joined Applied Systems’ Canadian operations in 1989. Four years later, Purdy was named president of Applied Canada, assuming responsibility for Canadian product development, sales, implementation, and support. In 2002, Purdy relocated to Applied Systems’ U.S. headquarters and was named executive vice president of Diamond Implementation and Account Services, departments within Applied Systems’ carrier division. In 2004, Purdy was named senior vice president of sales, assuming responsibility for National Sales, Inside Sales, Canadian Sales, and DORIS Sales.

Doug Johnston, Vice President of Partner Relations & Product Innovation, joined Applied Systems in 1985. Knowledge of insurance and insurance operations allowed Johnston to take a leading role in designing and developing agency management systems, comparative rating software, insurance company systems, and agency-company interface. In 1992, Johnston spearheaded the creation of Applied Systems’ Company Products Division to offer products and services exclusively to insurance companies. In 1999, Johnston led the way as the industry embraced Transformation Station’s ™ Internet-based Web services for real-time transactions. Johnston is among the industry’s most stalwart advocates of ACORD XML and the Web Services movement.

James R. White, Vice President of Corporate Accounts, brought more than 20 years’ experience in enterprise software sales and service to Applied Systems when he joined the company in September 2007. White has held senior management positions with enterprise software companies such as Pilot Software (currently known as SAP), Portal Software (currently known as Oracle), and ManageSoft Corporation. During his first year, White built a Corporate Account Management and Strategic Service Team responsible for improving customer relationships and expanding Applied Systems solutions to the corporate user community.

Gregory Shiple, Vice President of Customer Support, began his Applied Systems career in March 1986. In the early ’90s, Shiple was among the developers of products including fax@vantage®, ConneXion®, PocketTAM®, and Vision Custom Forms. Shiple helped develop and promote agency-carrier communication through WARP technologies, which formed the basis for IVANS® Transformation Station™. In 2005, Shiple took on the responsibilities of data conversion development and systems development. He assumed his current role over Customer Support in 2007.

Timothy A. Sander, Vice President of Information Technology, began his Applied Systems career in 1987. In 1991, he became manager of Research and Development as well as Information Technology, and took on management of Hardware Support in 1994. Sander changed focus to developing and implementing the ASP-hosted system platforms, overseeing the first customers brought online in October 2000. Sander’s current responsibilities encompass all Information Technology including data center operations for the online products as well as corporate infrastructure.

Kathy R. Lattz, Vice President of Client Service, Primary Market & Education Services, began her career at Applied Systems in 1989. Moving up the Support ranks, Lattz prepared and created internal processes and education. Lattz designed Vision’s extensive transaction functionality. She took on management of personnel for all agency products in 2002. In 2006, she was named vice president of Product Management, and later became vice president of the entire Products division.

Ronald (Buck) Stimson, Vice President of Development, started at Applied Systems in May 1992. Stimson worked briefly on TAM development before moving to Vision development, where he built Vision’s initial activity system. Stimson managed Vision Development for five years before becoming manager of business application development. He assumed his current position overseeing all development in September 2006.