Richard Augustyn
Chief Executive Officer
Richard Augustyn is founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Marquis Agency. Mr. Augustyn has been a successful insurance entrepreneur and visionary for more than 15 years. He conceived, founded and continues to manage several highly successful ventures. His business success led to being named in 2003 NJ Biz’s NJ’s Forty Under Forty, that recognizes young men and women who have made outstanding contributions to their fields.
Mr. Augustyn is a nationally recognized commercial insurance expert who has interviewed on CNN/FN, WABC, and public television’s PBS and NJN. He is regularly quoted in publications such as the New York Times, the Newark Star-Ledger and the American Medical Association’s national weekly American Medical News, and speaks regularly on commercial insurance-related topics throughout the country.
Mr. Dunn is the Chief Financial Officer of NIP Group Inc., the parent company of Marquis Agency and a member of its management committee. Mr. Dunn brings over 25 years experience in the insurance and financial services industries. Prior to joining NIP Group, he was Managing Director and Chief Operational Risk Officer for a major subsidiary of GMAC Financial Service, global financial services company; a senior financial executive at American International Group Inc. and Treasurer of C.V. Starr & Co. Inc., one of the world’s largest Managing General Agents.
Mr. Dunn began his career in public accounting as a member of the insurance practices, first at KPMG and later at Deloitte & Touche. He also served as President of the Society of Insurance Financial Management. Mr. Dunn graduated from Pace University with a B.B.A. in Accounting with highest honors and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Keith Fitschen
Vice President and Professional Services Practice Leader
Mr. Fitschen is Vice President of Marquis Agency and the Leader of its Professional Services Practice. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the company’s risk management committee and develops informative seminars, webinars and white papers for clients. Since joining the insurance industry in 2002, his entire career has been focused exclusively on design professional firms.
Mr. Fitschen has been serving the needs of design firms of all sizes from small partnerships to ENR 100 organizations. He graduated from William Paterson University with a BS in Marketing and is actively pursuing his Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) designation.
Debra A. Pellet
Vice President
Ms. Pellet is Vice President of the Marquis Agency and a member of its professional practice leadership team and risk management committee. Ms. Pellet’s insurance and risk management career spans over 20 years, concentrated in the design professional liability market. Prior to joining Marquis, Ms. Pellet was a professional liability underwriting with AIG Group and was a senior executive with one of the nation’s leading design professional brokers.
Ms. Pellet has been published in several Architecture and Land Surveying trade magazines. She has also developed and presents risk management seminars for numerous design professional associations. Recently Ms. Pellet was recognized by the NJ Land Surveying Society for her outstanding contributions and services to the society and was honored with “Friend of the Society.”
Conrad Cyriax, Esq.
Claims Consultant
Mr. Cyriax is the Claims Consultant for the Marquis Agency. Mr. Cyriax has more than 25 years of experience in claims management and as a practicing litigation lawyer. Prior to joining the Marquis Agency, he was the Senior Litigation Manager for a subsidiary of the Zurich Insurance Group and Prudential Reinsurance, two of the worlds largest insurance companies; a Senior Associate in the litigation practice of Riker, Danzig, Schere, Hyland & Perretti, one of New Jersey’s largest law firms; and an Associate with Thacher & Proffitt, a New York City based global law firm.
During his career, he has successfully defended some of the most complex civil litigation matters serving a variety of commercial clients. Mr. Cyriax graduated from Seton Hall University with a BA in Political Science and holds a Juris Doctorate degree from New York Law School.
Angie M. Tarighi
Risk Claims Consultant
Ms. Tarighi is a Risk Claims Consultant for the Marquis Agency, with over 20 years of experience in Workers Compensation and Loss Control. Prior to joining the Marquis Agency, she was the Regional Claims Manager and Corporate Loss Control Manager for Turner Construction. Ms Tarighi also served as the Risk Claims Manager for Pathmark Stores, Inc.
During her career she developed several successful cost containment programs including a National Workers Compensation Return to Work program focused on limiting ADA exposures. Ms Tarighi earned a BA from Ashcroft University and is currently pursuing an ARM designation. She holds the Certified Workers’ Compensation Professional and Certified Safety Auditor Professional designations.
Ted Van Aulen
Safety Consultant
Mr. Van Aulen is a Safety Consultant for the Marquis Agency, bringing more than 15 years of experience in environmental, safety, and loss prevention. Prior to joining the Marquis Agency, he held positions with ServiceMaster as a Regional Environmental Health and as Safety Manager for Terminix and TruGreen companies. He also served as the EH&S Client Services Director for Applegate Associates.
During his career, Mr. Van Aulen gained valuable experience in Hazardous Waste Operations, Industrial Hygiene, Fleet and Driver Safety/Respiratory Protection, OSHA intervention, and manufacturing process safety. He has a BS in Occupational Health from Rutgers, Cook College in NJ, is a member of the ASSE, and a volunteer fire fighter.
Craig F. Stanovich, CPCU, CIC, AU
Independent Risk Management Consultant
Mr. Stanovich is a Risk Management Consultant specializing in all aspects of commercial insurance and risk management. A principal in the independent consulting firm of Austin & Stanovich, Mr. Stanovich has practical, in-depth experience in risk management, pollution liability, retrospective rating programs, workers compensation self-insurance groups, association captives/risk retention groups, and is familiar with most legal issues concerning insurance. He has published articles in various national and local journals and magazines in both the insurance and business fields. He has also served as an expert witness in several cases involving insurance custom and practice as well as insurance coverage issues.
Mr. Stanovich graduated from Bridgewater State College with a BS in Education and has worked in the insurance and risk management field since 1978. He is also an instructor for CPCU, ARM, and CISR classes, and also serves on the National Faculty of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors for the James K. Ruble Advanced Coverage Series. He holds the Associate in Underwriting (AU), CPCU, and CIC professional designations.