Our People

Jim Lauerman – President
With over 4,000 hours of flight time, Jim's career has spanned almost every aspect of general aviation. It all began in the Navy where he was an acoustic sensor operator aboard a P-3 Orion. Upon returning to civilian life, he purchased and managed his own flight school and Grumman-American dealership, which he later sold to become Chief Pilot and Chief Flight Instructor at Elliot Beechcraft. Then, in 1985, National Aviation Underwriters recruited him to enter the aviation insurance profession. Jim was soon promoted to Vice President of US Specialty Insurance Company (USSIC) and later became Executive Vice President of Operations at Avemco. He added Chief Underwriting Officer to his list of titles in 2001, and in 2007 became President of Avemco. "I'm truly blessed to be working at Avemco where I'm able to mix my profession with my passion."

Mike Adams – Vice President of Underwriting
Mike first learned to fly in Hillsboro, Oregon. That interest in aviation led him to a position at the local office of National Insurance Underwriters, which eventually led him to join Avemco. While Mike's job is to decide what Avemco will insure his goal is to help customers understand why these decisions are designed to keep them safe. "I want customers to understand that buying their aircraft is a transaction. But buying their aircraft insurance is a partnership. And when they partner with Avemco, we're in this together with them to make sure they're protected if something bad should ever happen."

Michael Kerwin – Vice President of Underwriting
A third-generation insurance professional, Mike earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation - the industry's highest achievement - in 1984, and has since taught several thousand hours of insurance courses, including more than 40 lectures around the country. However, he likes to think of himself more as an aviation insurance historian. "My job is to create a mathematical picture of the company's claims over the past 10 years. That's because you look to the past to predict the future." But Mike's first passion is a winged subject of a different kind: birds. He's currently regarded as one of the country's top amateur ornithologists.

Marci Veronie – Assistant Vice President of Sales
A graduate of the Bradford School of Business in Pittsburgh, Marci is still unabashedly fanatical about her job after 23 years with Avemco. "There isn't a day I haven't jumped out of bed and been happy to come to work. I'm like a cheerleader. My job is to help the underwriters help our customers. And I'm proud of what we offer. I'm passionate about representing the company that stands for aviation insurance." Marci is an active member of Women in Aviation and the local DC chapter. Marci's other passions include cars, fashion, art, and taking care of her son and pet bulldog.

Lesly Potts – Senior Aviation Underwriter
Lesly first joined Avemco from 1985-'88. She took a nine-year hiatus to raise two children in her native Frederick, Maryland, returning to Avemco in 1998. And she's been a proud employee ever since. "I love getting people excited about becoming a part of the Avemco family. That's because I feel great about our product and enjoy helping pilots understand the value of our policies. Once I show them the benefits, it just opens their eyes right up." When not helping Avemco customers, Lesly can be found helping out in her church community.

Kim Skipper – Senior Aviation Underwriter
Having been with Avemco for over 22 years, Kim says there's nothing she can't handle. "I love the fact that my experience combined with being a direct underwriter allows me to deliver immediate answers to the customers. Plus, I get to develop a one-on-one relationship with many of them. For me, it's like talking to your best buddy." During Kim's tenure with Avemco she spent nights and weekends earning the designation of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), the insurance industry's highest achievement. When Kim isn't helping Avemco customers, she's helping the needy by knitting and crocheting items for donation through Project Linus.

Luke Barnette – Aviation Underwriter
Right out of college, Luke began working in the insurance business as a personal claims representative. That responsibility was a superb learning experience for him, but he wanted a new challenge. So he joined Avemco in 2007. "What I love about Avemco is the great diversity of people you get to deal with. There are the young folks just starting out in aviation, the people who fly for business, and the older pilots who've been flying for decades. It's a wonderful mix." When not at work, Luke devotes his time to hunting and fishing in the woods and lakes of Maryland.

Stephanie Brown – Aviation Underwriter
Stephanie first began working at Avemco in 1992 as a service underwriter. And the one thing that drew her to the position is what still motivates her today: "I like the problem-solving aspect of being an underwriter. Every call is something new. It may be a different aircraft or a different set of circumstances, and my goal is always to figure out how to help the person on the other end of the phone." Outside of work, Stephanie is a scrapbooking enthusiast and yearly visitor to the Reading Air Show in Pennsylvania.

Rachel Butler – Aviation Underwriter
A proud grandmother and die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan, Rachel started her career with Avemco back in 1981 as a policy typist. While the company has evolved and grown over the years, her reason for sticking with Avemco has remained the same: "I love helping people. And pilots are a terrific group of people to talk to. One of the best parts of my job is when I can surprise them by letting them know about the things we offer that the competition doesn't. It's a very rewarding feeling."

Helen Davis – Aviation Underwriter
When Helen started at Avemco in 1991, she was nervous about working as an aviation underwriter. But that didn't last long. "I love it! I've always loved aviation, yet I wasn't sure I was the right fit for this position. But the pilots turned out to be such a fun group of characters." Helen's energetic and glowing personality even motivated one customer to ship her a package of fresh salmon from his home state of Alaska. "I couldn't accept it, of course, but it was such an honor to think I had made that kind of connection with a customer."

Brian DeMay – Aviation Underwriter
"I'm a self-certified airplane geek. When I was a kid, Tom Poberezny and The Eagles aerobatic team were my idols. I even had a poster of them on the ceiling above my bed." Brian's passion for aviation is as strong as ever. In addition to being an 11-year employee of Avemco, he's earned his private pilot's license with a single- and multi-engine rating and a single-engine sea rating. Brian has even had the chance to fly his dream aircraft - the P-51 Mustang - through the Collings Foundations' Wings of Freedom Tour.

Gayle Palm – Aviation Underwriter
"Aviation is my career." Since 1981, Gayle has been helping Avemco customers get the best coverage around. "I really enjoy what I do. My main goal is to be a good listener and try to provide people with exactly what they want. My motto is 'Be quiet and listen,' and it has served me well for all of these years." In addition to being a great listener, Gayle has a knack for fluently explaining to pilots the value of Avemco in comparison to other insurance offerings. And pilots have heeded her advice for nearly three decades.

Bryon Schwartz – Aviation Underwriter
Bryon has been an aviation buff his entire life, and even considered becoming an astronaut. He settled for making astronomy a hobby, but refused to settle when it came to becoming a pilot. He earned his commercial rating for both single- and multi-engine aircraft in 1990, and joined Avemco in 1999. Bryon considers his aviation background invaluable when it comes to helping customers. "Being a pilot is really helpful in this position because I can understand exactly what customers' needs are, and I can hopefully provide pilots with proven sources of loss prevention strategies."

Elizabeth Yaeger – Aviation Underwriter
"The thing I love best about my job is being able to talk with and help pilots from all locales and backgrounds. It’s really very rewarding." Elizabeth began as an underwriter for Avemco Insurance Company in 1999, and even spent several years as a life insurance agent with the Avemco Insurance Agency, Inc. This gave her a terrific perspective on the importance of life insurance for both pilots and their families that adds additional value to her aircraft insurance clients. Prior to working at Avemco, Elizabeth attended Penn State where she majored in Earth Science, and also attended Beaver Community College in Pennsylvania where she majored in professional pilot studies. In addition to her love of flying, Elizabeth is an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State Nittany Lions fan.