about us

providing quality professional and personal development through education, networking, and community support

You probably know someone who belongs to MAIW. With nearly 200 members, we bet you know someone who belongs to MAIW. There are over 120 employers who have at least one employee that belongs to MAIW.

MAIW 2025-2026 Directory

FREE EDUCATION

When possible, MAIW offers FREE education to its members.

NOT JUST FOR WOMEN

MAIW is NOT exclusively for women. Times have changed, and we have members who are male and encourage anyone in the insurance industry to join.

GET TO KNOW YOUR PEERS

You get to know others in the industry. Every member has strengths. As you get to know your fellow members, you will see them as a resource as well as friends.

HELP YOUR BOTTOM LINE

MAIW can help your office’s bottom line. Let’s face it, a knowledgeable employee will sell better and reduce your E&O. Just $60 a year – isn’t that the best reason to belong?

80 YEARS OF SERVICE

MAIW has been around a long time. Over 80 years! Founded as an association for women providing Education and Fellowship, we’ve been assisting Massachusetts insurance professionals for many years.

REASONABLE DUES

MAIW annual dues are a bargain. Annual dues are $60. Where else can you get Education & Fellowship for that amount?

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

You can help out your community. Most chapters volunteer in their community. Shelters, schools, police and fire, as well as food pantries – just to name a few.

REGULAR MEETINGS

MAIW Chapters meet monthly. There are nine chapters that meet monthly. All Chapters come together for three state meetings, with our annual meeting taking place in late April/early May. When you add it up, MAIW has roughly 66 meetings throughout the year!

MEMBER SCHOLARSHIPS

MAIW offers scholarships to its members – MAIW Scholarships are awarded to members in the spring at our annual meeting.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Leadership brings confidence! There are many levels of leadership in MAIW. You can be a leader in your chapter or at the state level. The possibilities are up to you.

become a member now!

We look forward to meeting you soon!

JOIN

meet the team

officers 2024-2025

Phyllis Riordan

President

With a distinguished career spanning back to 1994, Phyllis has leveraged her extensive agency-level experience to become a leader in the insurance industry. She found her passion for Commercial Lines and now guides the Select Team as its leader for Assured Partners, a Gallagher Company Lowell Office. Her commitment to the industry is further demonstrated through her dedicated service with Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women (MAIW) highlighted by her service as President-Elect (2023–2025), State Treasurer (2021–2023), Secretary (2019–2022), and Middlesex/ Essex Chapter and Director / Co- Director (2015–2019). Originally from Sarasota FL, she has thrived since moving to Massachusetts in 2008 and is an enthusiastic convert to New England life.

Denise DeLeo

President-Elect

Denise DeLeo has been in the insurance business for over 20 years. She actually started her insurance career in a life insurance agency in Providence, RI but left for the fun-filled and exciting world of property/casualty in 1984. She then worked in both personal and commercial lines, finally settling in with commercial lines when she moved to the State of MA. Denise was previously a member of Cape Cod Chapter of MAIW and joined the Bristol Chapter in 2013. At the Chapter level, she has been Secretary, Government Affairs rep, and Co-Director for 2018-2020 terms. She is also the Membership Chair for Bristol Chapter and at the Association level. She has served twice as Vice President and was recently installed as President-Elect for the 2025-2026 term.

Andrea Stringer

Vice President

Andrea is a seasoned insurance professional with over 25 years of experience. She began her career in the claims department at Travelers Insurance before transitioning to the agency side, where she developed a strong expertise in coastal property coverage, particularly on Cape Cod. Andrea joined World Insurance Associates in 2022, where she currently serves as a Personal Lines Local Service Manager, leading service operations and supporting client relationships with a focus on excellence and collaboration. She is an active member of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women (MAIW), having held several leadership roles including Director, Secretary, Education Chair, and Public Relations Chair. Andrea is also a proud board member of EmpowHer, World Insurance Associates’ Employee Resource Group for women, which promotes mentorship, leadership, and inclusion across the organization. Andrea is excited to be part of WINS (Women In Insurance Succeed), a collaborative program between MAIW and the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, designed to elevate and empower women in the insurance industry. She lives in Bourne with her husband and their cats—who she adores. Andrea treasures time spent with her children and places deep value on family. She also enjoys crafting as a way to relax and recharge.

Julie Merry

Secretary

Julie has been in the insurance industry for 12 years and is currently a Team Manager in Commercial Lines Operations at Arbella Insurance located in Quincy, MA. Before this position Julie has spent time in the other areas of Operations including Customer Service, the Arbella Service Center as well as the processing team for Personal Lines. Julie has been a member of MAIW since 2017 and is a member of the Plymouth Chapter. At the chapter level she was the Ways and Means chair from 2017-2025, she assisted with the program and membership committees. She was the director of the Plymouth Chapter from 2022- 2024 and prior to that held the chapter officer positions of Secretary, and Assistant Director. At the association level Julie has been a member of the change committee and is a new member of the by-laws committee.

Donna Barr

Treasurer

Donna earned her Massachusetts Insurance Broker's license in 2002 and worked at several agencies before joining the Safe Harbor team in 2011. In her time here, Donna has excelled in many roles, ranging from sales and customer service to managing the office and running the accounting department. It was a natural progression for Donna to team up with Colleen Ormsby to buy the Agency and assume the roles of Vice President and Treasurer. A Cape Cod native, Donna grew up in Harwich but moved "Off Cape" for a short time. When she and her husband decided to start a family, they bought a home in Harwich so they could raise their kids, Sam and Justin, in the town they love. When she's not working, Donna and her husband enjoy camping with their friends and extended family and watching live music by their favorite locally and nationally recognized acts. She is also an active member of the Cape Cod Chapter of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women.

Colleen Ormsby

Immediate Past President

Colleen has been an MAIW member for over 20 years and has as the Director of the Cape Cod Chapter, various capacities within the Chapter and at the Association level, and most recently as the Immediate Past President. The first 19 years of her insurance career were spent learning the Independent Agency side of the business. She followed this with 9 years of working on the carrier side as the Underwriting Manager of a regional mutual insurer. The agency world called her back in 2015 when she and her business partner bought Safe Harbor Insurance Agency, Inc. in Brewster, MA. As the current Chair of the MAIW Education Committee, Colleen actively writes and teaches CE classes for our organization. She is also involved in her community as a volunteer for WE CAN, an organization that supports and empowers women of Cape Cod to build pathways to stability and self-sufficiency.

presidents

Thank you to all who have served our membership in the position of MAIW President.

+Rita Weyn Glass, MAIW President 1960-1962

+Mary Moriarty Meunier, MAIW President 1962-1964

+Ruth Simons, MAIW President 1968-1969

+Evelyn Hawkes, MAIW President 1969-1971

+Agnes McKenna, MAIW President 1971-1973

+Mary Lynch McGowan, MAIW President 1973-1974

+Mary L Williams, Past NAIW Regional Officer, MAIW President 1974-1975

+Irene Handy, MAIW President 1977-1979

Jan Cinganelli, MAIW President 1979-1980

+Anne Sheridan, MAIW President 1980-1981

Susan Williams, Past NAIW Regional & National Officer, MAIW President 1981-1982

+Elsie Gustafson, MAIW President 1982-1983

Nancy Riley, MAIW President 1983-1985

Kathy Silva, MAIW President 1984-1985

+Barbara Dickson, MAIW President 1985-1986

Virginia Wade. MAIW President 1986-1987

+Karolyn Frost, MAIW President 1987-1988

+Adele Heft, MAIW President 1988-1989

Nancy O’Keefe, MAIW President 1989-1990

+Katherine Beckwith, CPIW, Past NAIW Region I Vice President, MAIW President 1990-1991

+Nancy Keefner, MAIW President 1994-1995

Bonnie L. Nicholas, AAI, AAM, CPIW, MAIW President 1996-1997

Gina Desmarais, Past Region I VP, MAIW President 1997-1998

Connie O’Connell AAI, AIS, CPIW, MAIW President 1998-1999, MA State Council Director 2011-12

Deborah Castricum, AAI, CIC, CISR, CPIW, MAIW President 1999-2000

Kimberly Woo, CISR, CPIW, MAIW President 2000-2001

Donnie Hull, CPIW, DAE, MAIW President 2001-2002

LeeAnn Landine, Past Mass. Council Director, MAIW President 2002-2003

Arlene Room, AAI, LIA, CPIW, DAE, MAIW President 2003-2004

Lisa Rancourt, AAI, AIS, CPIW, MAIW President 2004-2005, MA State Council Director 10-11&12-13

Glynnis Walbridge, CPIW, Past MA Council Director, MAIW President 2005-2006

Susan Cohen, CISR, CPIW, MAIW President 2006-2007

Ingrid Brown, CIC, CISR, CPIW, DAE, MAIW President 2007-2008

Angie Metivier, CPIW, MAIW President 2008-2009

Cara L. Curtis, AINS, CPIW, DAE MAIW President 2009-2010

Adrianne Grover, AAI, CIC, AINS, CISR, CPIW, DAE, MAIW President 2010-2011

Lora Lowe FitzGerald MAIW President 2011-2013

Beatrice M. Grant, NAIW Region V VP 2001-2002, MAIW President 2013-2014

Kristin Camarra JD, CPIW, MAIW President 2014-2015

Carol Closson, CISR, MAIW President 2015-2016

Zee Noia, CISR, AAI, CPIA MAIW President 2016-2017

Monique E. St. John (nee Duquette), CISR, CPIA, CPIW MAIW President 2017-2019

Jocelyn Dewey, ACSR, AAI, CPCU, ASLI MAIW President 2019-2021

Laura Sewall, CIC, CISR, MAIW President 2021-2023

Colleen Ormsby, MAIW President 2023-2025

Phyllis Riordan, CISR, CPIA, MAIW President 2025-2027

+ Deceased