2008 officers
Co-Chairs are elected for two-year terms. Treasurer, Secretary and Executive Director are one-year terms.
Dennis Schulkins, Co-Chair
Dennis Schulkins is a Claim Consultant for State Farm's Special Investigative Unit (SIU). He establishes anti-fraud policies, procedures and strategies for the insurer's property & casualty lines, and helps direct field SIU operations in 13 states. He has been with State Farm for 28 years, holding several claims-management positions, including 17 years in the anti-fraud area. Dennis is a past director of the International Association of Special Investigative Units and is an operational liaison to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. He previously served as treasurer of the coalition and currently co-chairs the organization's Executive Committee. Headquartered in Bloomington, Ill, State Farm insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer.
Professor James L. Brown, Co-Chair
Jim Brown is director of the Center for Consumer Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is one of the nation's foremost experts on consumer issues such as insurance fraud, predatory lending, and policy concerning credit cards, debit cards, checks and other forms of consumer payment. Brown serves on the board of the Consumer Federation of America, and has testified before the U.S. House, Senate and numerous state legislatures. Brown also has conducted training or research for the United Nations, American Express, Citibank NA, State Farm Insurance, Ford Motor Company, the Canadian government and numerous others. In addition, he was an expert witness for the prevailing side in the largest civil antitrust settlement in U.S. history, brought by merchants against Visa and MasterCard. He also helped oversee Ford’s acclaimed alternative warranty dispute resolution program for 17 years. Dr. Brown has served on the coalition's board for more than 10 years and previously chaired the organization's Public Information Committee.
Douglas L. Ashbridge, Treasurer
Doug Ashbridge is the director of Special Investigations for Farmers Insurance Group. He developed the insurer’s Special Investigation Unit in 1991. He is responsible for all claims investigations operations nationally. Ashbridge came to Farmers in 1984. He has held key management positions, including senior investigator and human-resources manager. He also managed the field agency force in the Seattle area, and was the officer in charge of operations for the state of Wisconsin. He is a nationally recognized leader in the anti-fraud community. He has served as a faculty member for the National Insurance Crime Bureau Academy, a member of the California Department of Insurance Fraud Advisory Board and officer for the International Association of Special Investigation Units. Doug served for more than 10 years as a police officer and criminal investigator before coming to Farmers.
Steve Perry , Secretary
Steve Perry represents the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) on the coalition’s Board of Directors. He also is the Associate Commissioner of the insurance fraud bureau of the District of Columbia since 2000, and chairs the NAIC’s Anti-Fraud Task Force, Industry Liaison Working Group. Before heading up the fraud bureau, Steve held senior anti-fraud positions with AIG, Travelers Insurance and Fireman’s Fund. His responsibilities ranged from Special Investigation Unit program process leader to regional field investigation leadership to national vice president. Steve also spent 30 years in the U.S. Army’s Special Operation Forces, is a Vietnam veteran, retired as an Army Colonel, and was inducted into the Defense Intelligence Agency Hall of Fame.
Dennis Jay, Executive Director
2008 Executive Committee
Public interest members:
James Brown — Center for Consumer Affairs, University of
Wisconsin
Lt. Allen Carpenter — Louisiana State Police
Walter Dartland — Consumer Federation of the Southeast
Ken McEldowney— Consumer Action
Elizabeth Owen — National Association of Consumer Agency
Administrators
Don Rounds — The Consumer Alliance
Insurer members:
Doug Ashbridge — Farmers Insurance
Ken Jones — St. Paul Travelers
Bob Dean — Unum Group
Dennis Schulkins — State Farm
Frank Sztuk — Hanover Insurance
Glenn Wolf — Liberty Mutual
