Michael Brown, President/CEO

mbrown@insurewithknight.com

Michael Brown is the President & CEO as well as a partner at Avalon Risk Management. Avalon is a national insurance brokerage that specializes in providing International and Domestic Transportation Liability Insurance, Customs & Transportation Bonds, Cargo, and other lines of insurance through its offices across the United States and Canada.

As one of Avalon’s founding managers, Mike opened the company’s Boston office in 1998 as the Regional Vice President. He has served in various positions at Avalon including Senior Vice President of Sales and, most recently, Executive Vice President before assuming his current role in August of 2021. Before his involvement with Avalon Risk Management, Mike worked for another transportation-focused insurance broker (1991-1998) as a Regional Vice President. He is a graduate of Purdue University and holds Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Risk Manager designations. Michael is active in various regional and national trade and transportation associations.

Terrie Sapronetti, VP Underwriting

tsapronetti@insurewithknight.com

Terrie joined the insurance industry in 1980 as a marine insurance clerk for a leading provider of insurance products for the Freight Forwarding and Customs Brokerage industry. Over the past 35 years she has held various management and underwriting positions and currently serves as the Vice President of the MGA division of Knight. In her role she is responsible for product development, marketing, underwriting and management of various proprietary insurance policies and products including Professional Liability, Ocean Marine Cargo and Regulatory Defense.

She has held past positions with the Harbor Transportation Club, including Secretary, Vice President, President and Chairman of the Board as well as Secretary and Treasurer of the Marine Underwriters Association of Southern California and Secretary and Director of the Los Angeles Transportation Club. She is an active member in Women on Course, the Express Carriers Association, the California Delivery Association, LA Air Cargo Association, Harbor Transportation Club, Foreign Trade Association and Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association.

Dawne Brown, Underwriting Manager

dmbrown@insurewithknight.com

Dawne has more than 20 years of experience in insurance. Coming from a family background in Property & Casualty Insurance, Dawne understands all aspects of client service for diverse insurance products tailored to companies engaged in international trade and transportation. She began her career as an Account Manager, undertaking renewal reviews for annual policies, coverage reviews, on-site customer visits, providing on-site training seminars to clients and their employees, inside sales and participation in trade conferences. Dawne has extensive knowledge of claims handling and settlement, marketing policies for Property & Casualty programs, as well as supervisory and agency account management positions. In her current role as Underwriting Manager, she is responsible for the Property & Casualty book of business growth, policyholder service and expansion of coverage availability.

Dawne has a bachelor’s degree from Salem State College and is pursuing professional designations of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU).

Ronna Larson, Program Manager

rlarson@insurewithknight.com

Ronna has over 25 years of experience in the insurance and transportation industry. With remarkable success, she has led the growth of multiple trucking programs at leading trucking agencies and implemented numerous procedural processes. Her new product development efforts continue to expand. Her responsibilities have included account management, marketing, market relationships and monitoring agency financial reports. Additionally, she has built and led teams and mentored junior associates.

Ronna was one of the first to earn the Transportation Risk Specialist (TRS) designation in the country. She is a member of numerous organizations, including the Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation (MCIEF) and the Illinois Trucking Association. She has long been associated with the American Transportation Association (ATA) and Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA). She holds the Professional Designation of Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI) and has completed several courses in the Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation program.