Our Story

Welcome to Amherst Specialty Insurance Company, redefining excellence in commercial property and casualty insurance. With a history of commitment and forward-thinking, we stand as a beacon of reliability and trust. We dedicate ourselves to safeguarding businesses with comprehensive coverage, forging lasting partnerships through tailored solutions.

Meet The Team

Gary Marshall

PRESIDENT

Gary has an extensive insurance background which began as a Claims Adjuster at Progressive in 1982. He has been responsible for all aspects of insurance operations and has specialized in auto dealer and garage insurance programs since 1988. Gary leads the development of new program opportunities and performs an active oversight role for the Amherst businesses. Gary achieved his CPCU in 1990 and is a graduate of Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.

John L Garner

TREASURER

John has over 37 years of high-level experience in the insurance industry. Before joining Amherst, John was President of three insurance carriers and on the Board of Directors of eight carriers. Most recently, he was EVP of Clear View Risk (CVR) Holdings, a specialty managing general underwriter (‘MGU’) and wholesale broker. He served as CVR’s CFO and ushered the company through a sales transaction with a large private equity backed insurance group. John began his career as an auditor at KPMG specializing in auditing insurance carriers. He graduated with a BBA from Baylor University.

Stephen P MacDonough

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Stephen has over 33 years of experience in the insurance industry. Most recently, he was CFO for Berkley Oil & Gas, a subsidiary of WR Berkley. Prior to WR Berkley, he was CFO at Tokyo Marine HCC for 15 years where he oversaw all financial reporting and reinsurance operations for 6 insurance companies. Stephen began his career as an accountant at American Indemnity Financial Corp in Galveston, Texas. He graduated with a BS degree from the University of Texas Austin and a degree in Accounting from the University of Houston. Stephen obtained his CPA certification in 1993.

Richard Schwartz

SECRETARY

Richard was a trial attorney for Wilson & Elser, representing numerous insurance agencies, brokers, and insurance companies. He also served as in-house counsel for Alexander & Alexander Insurance Services. Richard was also General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for U.S. Risk Insurance Group and served as President of Professional Claims Managers. Richard is a graduate of The University of Maryland College Park and has his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Melanie Law

HEAD OF CLAIMS

Melanie has over 25 years of insurance experience with 16 years of leadership experience. She has held multiple past positions in large loss litigation to include Senior Litigation Specialist (Progressive Insurance), Major Case Litigation Manager (Travelers Insurance), and Claims Manager – Core Liability (AmTrust). She joined Applied Claims Group in 2020. Melanie earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and she has her Senior Claims Law (SCLA) Designation.

Contact Us