Meet Our Senior Leadership Team
Tom Kuzma
CHAIRMAN
Tom began his career with Nautilus Insurance Group in January 1986 and currently holds the position of Chairman. Prior to being named Chairman, Tom was the Vice President of Underwriting, then served as President and Chief Executive Officer from October 1997 to December 2020. Tom has more than 35 years of experience in the Excess & Surplus Lines industry focusing on Commercial Property and Casualty insurance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Arizona State University and attained the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation in 1991.
Tom Joyce
PRESIDENT
Tom currently serves as President of Nautilus Insurance Group and has emerged as a leader in the insurance industry since his start in 1985, serving in various technical and leadership roles and focusing on the Excess and Surplus Lines market. He started with Nautilus as Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer in 2015, was named Chief Underwriting Officer in 2018, promoted to Executive Vice President in 2020 while retaining the office of CUO, and was appointed to President January 1, 2021. He has broad industry knowledge and a keen appreciation for the importance of relationships with distribution partners. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University and the Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI) designation from The Institutes.
Trish Buckhardt
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Trish started in the Excess & Surplus Lines industry in 1985 and has continuously sharpened her skills and expertise leading strategic business initiatives. Trish joined Nautilus in 2016 as Vice President of Business Strategic Projects while leading the design and implementation of a claims management system. In 2020, Trish earned the title of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to Nautilus, Trish worked as a Claims leader at a Fortune 100 insurance carrier. She holds a master’s in Applied Communication from Northern Arizona University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Marymount College.
Trish was inducted into the Insurance Business America (IBA) Hall of Fame in 2023.
Curt Chalmers
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF UNDERWRITING OFFICER
Curt started his career in the insurance industry in the 1990s. His experience includes underwriting and marketing Property, Casualty, Professional, and Workers’ Compensation products, and serving on both carrier and retail sides of the business. Curt has been with Nautilus’ underwriting division since 2009, initially serving as an Assistant Vice President and rising through the department. He was promoted to Vice President – Head of Production Underwriting in 2022 to the culmination of his current role in January 2024. Curt majored in Marketing and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Villanova University, as well as the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) designations.
Joel Lasky
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF CLAIMS OFFICER
Joel has been a claims professional since 1990 and is currently Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer for Nautilus. Prior to joining Nautilus, he held both technical and leadership positions within the industry. Before moving to Arizona, Joel was a field claims professional in northwest and north central Indiana. Joel holds a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University as well as the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU), and Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI) designations.
Kevin Donovan
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, ACTUARIAL
Kevin joined Nautilus in 2019. He has more than 30 years of actuarial experience in the insurance industry. Prior to joining Nautilus, he held leadership positions and honed his strong discipline in actuarial reserving. Kevin earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Economics. He is also an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society, and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Courtney Beyer
VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES BUSINESS PARTNER
Courtney has worked in human resources for more than 24 years. Prior to joining Nautilus in 2022, she held HR leadership positions in several industries including hotels, hospitality, and direct sales. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. Courtney has extensive HR leadership experience in employee relations, recruiting, talent and performance management, recognition programs, change management, and employee engagement, and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) through the Human Resources Certification Institute.
Rob Petronko
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Rob has more than 19 years of experience in the insurance industry and has held leadership positions in finance, operations, and underwriting within Property and Casualty lines of business. Additionally, he worked in Ernst & Young’s Insurance Advisory practice, where he provided consulting services to large, multi-national insurers. Rob earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is a Certified Public Accountant.
