About Us

About Us

We are a team of insurance geeks excited by the challenge of helping companies in the Sharing & On-Demand Economy create trust, manage risk, grow, and succeed.

The Y-Risk team brings extensive experience in underwriting, product development, risk management, and actuarial analysis. Combining our experience in a creative & innovative environment, free of traditional insurance silos, allows us to thoughtfully approach the unique risks presented by tomorrow’s economy.

We have proudly built a company operating on the leading edge of the insurance industry where we expertly merge the fundamentals of insurance with the fast-paced world of the tech-enabled Sharing & On-Demand Economy.

The Team
Aaron Ammar

Aaron Ammar

Head of Mobility

Aaron Ammar

Aaron Ammar

Head of Mobility

aaron@yrisk.com

Aaron brings a balance of underwriting, risk management and entrepreneurial experience to Y-Risk. Previously, he was Head of Risk Aggregation & Analytics at XL Catlin and co-founder/partner of multiple startups. He earned degrees in Risk Management & Insurance and Finance while playing soccer at Appalachian State. The Texas native enjoys cheering on his home-state teams, staying active outdoors and traveling the globe.

Amy Blanco

Amy Blanco

Senior Underwriter

Amy Blanco

Amy Blanco

Senior Underwriter

amyb@yrisk.com

Amy joined Y-Risk after 12 years in reinsurance. Formerly, she was at AspenRe where she worked in different capacities, most recently multi-line property/casualty underwriting. She earned her degree from the University of Connecticut, enjoys spending time with her three kids, vacations on the beach (without the kids when possible) and extra-large coffees on the daily.

Bernie Horovitz

Bernie Horovitz

CEO of Y-Risk

Bernie Horovitz

Bernie Horovitz

CEO of Y-Risk

bernieh@yrisk.com

Bernie has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry in various management, underwriting and actuarial roles. Prior to forming Y-Risk, Bernie worked at XL Catlin leading the Global Professional business. He graduated from Allegheny College with a BS degree in Math. Bernie looks forward to continuing to live life like a millennial even though a few grey hairs suggest otherwise.

Iain Boyer

Iain Boyer

Chief Underwriting Officer

Iain Boyer

Iain Boyer

Chief Underwriting Officer

iainb@yrisk.com

Iain brings over 30 years of experience as an underwriter & intermediary to Y-Risk and our clients. He holds a BA from Hamilton College and an MBA from Bentley University’s McCallum Graduate School of Business. Iain enjoys running, unless he’s being chased.

Jillian Florian

Jillian Florian

Head of On-Demand Services & Asset Sharing

Jillian Florian

Jillian Florian

Head of On-Demand Services & Asset Sharing

jillian@yrisk.com

Jillian started her career in the London market. Moving back to the U.S., Jill worked at IFG Companies as an underwriter before becoming a broker at RT Specialty. She holds degrees in International Business and Finance from Central Connecticut State University and spends as much time on a mountain, hiking, biking and skiing, as possible.

Katie Duff

Katie Duff

Director of Operations

Katie Duff

Katie Duff

Director of Operations

katied@yrisk.com

Katie joins Y-Risk with more than a decade of Management Liability, E&O and Cyber underwriting experience from Chubb, XL Catlin and, most recently, a Ryan Specialty Group MGA. She is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, CT, wishes she was born in a tropical climate and volunteers at a goat farm in her free time.

Melissa Madden

Melissa Madden

Senior Underwriter

Melissa Madden

Melissa Madden

Senior Underwriter

melissam@yrisk.com

Melissa M. lives in West Hartford and has a dog named Sonny.

Melissa Brady

Melissa Brady

Underwriting Assistant

Melissa Brady

Melissa Brady

Underwriting Assistant

melissab@yrisk.com

Melissa joined Y-Risk as an Underwriting Assistant in October of 2019. After earning a Culinary Arts degree, she made a career in the hospitality industry. Managing guests, including the occasional unhappy one, and raising three girls has positioned her well for a career in insurance.

Mike Visintainer

Mike Visintainer

COO, Head of Actuarial

Mike Visintainer

Mike Visintainer

COO, Head of Actuarial

mikev@yrisk.com

Mike brings more than 30 years of actuarial and finance experience to Y-Risk. Mike graduated with a BS in Mathematics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Mike enjoys running, watching football, and a cold IPA (not necessarily in that order).

Sharmy Dhaliwal

Sharmy Dhaliwal

Legal Analyst & Associate Underwriter

Sharmy Dhaliwal

Sharmy Dhaliwal

Legal Analyst & Associate Underwriter

sharmy@yrisk.com

Sharmy started her career at Lincoln Financial Group after graduating from Trinity College with degrees in Public Policy & Law and Philosophy. Fall of 2018, she started working towards her J.D. at The University of Connecticut’s School of Law. When this native New Yorker isn’t behind a book or at the beach, she’s found valiantly supporting the Knicks – despite some letdown.

Wendy Dowd

Wendy Dowd

Head of Innovation & Solutions Design

Wendy Dowd

Wendy Dowd

Head of Innovation & Solutions Design

wendyd@yrisk.com

Wendy has 25 years of specialty insurance experience in various management, underwriting, product development and innovation roles. Most recently, Wendy was the Global Manager of the Technology Segment for a leading global insurer. Wendy is a graduate of Pomona College and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Longstanding vendetta with the local bear aside, Wendy enjoys being outdoors, gardening and feeding her backyard birds.