Jerid Schmickle
Chief Executive Officer
A third-generation insurance professional, Jerid brings over 30 years of industry experience. Jerid’s roots have been sharpened by the experience of working in specialty insurance markets since 1995. Prior to co-founding Applied Entertainment & Sports, he was President of Real Media Insurance Services, Managing Director & Founder of Alive Risk, and Sr. Director of Underwriting at Allianz/Fireman’s Fund Entertainment & International division. Jerid’s entrepreneurial spirit has inspired startup MGA’s as well as Claims and Risk Consulting firms. He is an innovator of unique insurance coverages, risk management strategies and reinsurance placements for the advertising, entertainment, media, and sports industries.
Tim Troester
Chief Operating Officer
Tim Troester served as Executive Vice President at an entertainment-focused insurance firm, leading various underwriting programs, including the Motorsports and Surplus Lines programs as well as Large Event Cancellation & Non-Appearance placements. Tim’s background includes developing key entertainment and sports programs, such as a municipal TULIP program that allowed municipalities to offer insurance to renters of their facilities for events spaces, collaborating with Jerid to create and execute a major Motorsports program, and growing a $50M premium organization in four years.
David Cloward
Chief Underwriting Officer
David Cloward brings to Applied Entertainment and Sports years of experience with highly specialized, niche market underwriting. His proven and in-demand underwriting expertise in the Entertainment insurance realm have taken him around the globe, helping to insure some of the largest festivals, touring acts, and various other large-scale events. He is recognized as one of the thought leaders in Live Entertainment insurance, not only providing direction and solutions to the ever-evolving Entertainment community but acting as one of the leading industry advocates of safety and good stewardship.
Kelly Iwan
Senior Vice President, Excess & Surplus Lines
Prior to joining Applied Entertainment & Sports, Kelly Iwan led the North America Live Entertainment & Motorsports Program Division for one of the world’s largest global carriers, with responsibility for strategy, high level complex referrals, and managing profit and loss. Kelly started as a Specialty Underwriter, progressing to senior leadership roles in Commercial and Personal lines, and growing books in Rental House, Promoters, Touring, Transportation, Hospitality, Venues, and Auto. Kelly’s deep risk management knowledge enables her to assess client needs in the dynamic entertainment/sports landscape and provide solutions for some of its most challenging risks.
Dexter Alcedo
Executive Vice President
Dexter Alcedo brings decades of knowledge in property and casualty insurance, with specialized expertise in the entertainment industry. He has deep experience in underwriting and program development for film/TV, live entertainment, and sports, creating specialty insurance programs that drive growth and provide a competitive edge. Throughout his career, Dexter has worked for leading insurance carriers and MGAs, building strong foundations in underwriting, program design, and strategic expansion. His entrepreneurial spirit has helped launch and scale three successful startups, fueling innovation in competitive markets. Dexter combines industry insight with effective leadership to help businesses thrive and grow.
Spyros Cuison
Senior Director of Underwriting - North America
Spyros Cuison has been an underwriter in the Entertainment and Sports insurance arena for over 20 years. He first developed an interest in Entertainment insurance in 2001 and since then has held underwriting positions with other carriers specializing in Entertainment. Spyros has also experienced the Entertainment space from the broker side while working in Marsh and McLennan’s Entertainment division.
Martin Holness
Head of Contingency
Martin Holness has over 35 years of experience in the London insurance market, 30 years of which has been spent in the Contingency and Entertainment area. Martin started his career working for a Lloyd’s Syndicate before becoming a broker, where he first became involved with Contingency and Entertainment insurance in the mid -1990s where he has specialised in the niche sector ever since. Upon returning to Underwriting, Martin has experience working at market-leading carriers and has also establishing Contingency as a new line of business for an insurer entering the sector.