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Our Team
Skip’s 41 year career has spanned the entire Property and Casualty insurance industry, working at insurance companies as well as the largest insurance brokerage houses. In 2004, USI purchased Dodge, Warren and Peters, the 66th largest broker in the country, where at different times over 21 years, Skip served as President and CEO, CFO, and COO of the company. He won the “top sales award” 14 times. While at Marsh and McLennan, he developed an Errors and Omissions Insurance plan for over 4,500 Century 21 agents, and was involved in insuring a number of Fortune 2500 companies. Skip has served on many insurance company agency committees. He was a Southern California Chairman of PACER, which is CNA Insurance Group’s agency advisory committee, and served on agency advisory committees of the Home, Royal, Fireman’s Fund, Hartford, Superior National and Pacific Rim Insurance Companies at various times over the years. He has held the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation since 1986, and received his designation of Certified Risk Manager (CRM) in 2002 Christopher has 25 years experience in the insurance industry. His early background included 4 years of loss prevention, audit and claims management experience with a direct writer. In 1989 he joined Dodge Warren and Peters as a producer where he eventually served on the Board of Directors. Chris has been invited to speak to local business associations about insurance-related issues impacting the local economy. Christopher graduated from BIOLA University and has a professional insurance designation from the National Insurance Education Association as a Certified Insurance Councilor (CIC). He lives in Redondo Beach with his wife and 3 children. He enjoys anything with 2 wheels in his spare time.
Bernadette began her insurance career in 1973 as a Commercial Property and Casualty underwriter. Bernadette’s experience includes Account Executive, Administration Manager and Vice President of Marketing for Dodge, Warren and Peters. Bernadette is a past President of the South Bay Professional Insurance Agents Association (PIA) and member of the Board of Directors for the South Bay Independent Agents. Bernadette furthered her education by obtaining the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1989 and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation in 1997. Earl, a principal at United Agencies/High Ground Insurance Services, brings 40 years of experience in all aspects of the risk management and insurance services. His leadership of companies includes Claims organizations; Self–Insurance administrators; Captives; Brokers; and Insurance Companies. These positions have been in California, Nationally and Internationally. Mr. Butler has helped create and manage regional and national programs for the American Electronics Assoc., The National Assoc. Of Life Underwriters; The California Metal Trades Assoc., The California Hotel Motel Assoc., The National Pension Actuary Assoc., as well as others. His clients have included Hewlett Packard, Southwest Airlines, Intel, Safeway Stores, Farmers Insurance Company, Northwestern Mutual and Sanyo Corp. Earl is also active in the Nonprofit Community serving on the Boards of the Los Angles County Education Foundation; The Claremont School Of Theology and Toberman Community Center where he is Chairman.
Sandy is a founding member of United Agencies/High Ground Insurance Services and created and maintains their accounting structure. Sandy has extensive experience in accounting with several agencies over the last 30 years. Sandy has been instrumental in helping High Ground achieve a fluid workflow system and procedures as it relates to accounting.
Kristin Bichlmeier Kristin joined High Ground in 2010 as a Customer Service Representative to assist our teams as needed. She brings several years of experience as a technical assistant assisting clients with their insurance needs. She is currently working on increasing her insurance knowledge and has just completed a course where she obtained her AINS designation (Associate in General Insurance.) Kristin lives in Torrance with her husband and two children.
Karen has thirty plus years in the insurance industry managing commercial accounts. She is also a founding member of the United Agencies/High Ground Insurance Services. She began her career with Unigard and Westfield Insurance Companies in the early 70’s and quickly moved to the underwriting department as a Property Underwriter. By the late 70’s she moved to the agency side of the business where she continued. Her experience includes both Personal and Commercial lines of insurance.
Stacy began her insurance career as a Life and Health Agent. Over the last eleven years Stacy has transitioned to the Commercial Property and Casualty field. She has managed and marketed Commercial Accounts with expertise in Property Management, Hospitality and Event Venues. She currently manages New Client Marketing & Service Development.
Kelly has 10 years experience growing and managing a block of insurance business. Kelly also manages the New Business Department. He provides in-house IT for United Agencies/High Ground Insurance Services, with a smile. Kelly’s prior experience is in the staffing and computer industry in sales and management. Kelly graduated from Biola University (La Mirada, CA) with a Bachelors degree in Business. Kelly is happily married and resides in the South Bay with two beautiful daughters.
Jeff began his insurance career with the agency of Dodge, Warren and Peters (DWP) as an Account Executive for new business. Jeff joined United Agencies/High Ground Insurance Services at its inception, with other former DWP/USI people to continue to be of service to his clients. Jeff graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hills and later attended the Hartford School of Insurance. He is now working on his CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) designation. Jeff currently resides in Palos Verdes, is married with two young boys.
Elizabeth began her insurance career in 1995 as an Underwriter’s Assistant in the personal lines department of a small Insurance Agency in the South Bay. A few years later, she joined Dodge, Warren and Peters as a Technical Assistant in the Commercial Lines Department. Elizabeth joined High Ground in 2010 as a Customer Service Representative assisting clients with their insurance needs. She is a valuable asset to her team and brings a pleasant attitude to everything she does. Elizabeth lives in Long Beach with her family and loves to cheer her son on at his baseball games. She is working towards her CISR designation. Charlene is one of the founding members of High Ground Insurance Services. She works with Christopher Cordill managing his book of business, and sometimes, him.
Ralph joined the High Ground team in 2010. He is the former President of The Lilly Company, Inc. in Tarzana California, which is also an affiliate of United Agencies, Inc. The Lilly Company was started in April of 1959 by Ralph's father Ed Lilly. The Lilly family has been actively involved in the insurance industry since 1873. Before becoming a fourth generation insurance agent, Ralph attended Loyola Marymount University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with minors in Business Administration and Philosophy. He played on both the basketball and volleyball teams while at Loyola. After graduating in 1978, he worked part time pursuing new business leads and handling the personal insurance accounts for the agency. Starting full time in 1980, Ralph was groomed by Ed to take over the reigns of the company. Ralph designed association programs for contracting classes as well managing renewals and developing new business for the agency.
Greg Martin joined United Agencies - High Ground in late 2009 to form and build a local construction practice focusing on Commercial General Contractors, Residential and Commercial Trade Contractors, Custom Home Builders, Developers, and Residential Service and Repair Companies. During his 26 year career Greg has attracted a diverse group of construction clients including firms involved in Public Works General Contracting, Residential Framing, Custom Home Building, Commercial and Institutional Construction Management, and Facilities Planning and Relocation Management. Over this time Greg managed insurance programs for a major hospital “wrap-up”, national highway contractors, national mechanical contractors, and regional electrical contractors as well as local general contractors and homebuilders. An expert in negotiating favorable coverage language for his clients Greg brought the “contractors rework” liability endorsement to the West Coast and was instrumental in developing an automated certificate of insurance tracking system for subcontractors. Greg joined Emett & Chandler Companies upon graduation from UCLA in 1983, a firm, which was later acquired by Jardine Insurance Brokers. He was named as the manger of the Construction Division in 1994. Greg retained his Construction Division management roll through the acquisition of Jardine by Alexander & Alexander in 1995, and served as a Team Leader at Aon’s Construction Services Division after it acquired Alexander & Alexander in 1996 In 1999 Greg joined ABD Insurance & Financial Services to lead the Southern California Construction Practice. ABD was acquired by Wells Fargo California Insurance Services in 2007.. Greg served as the Program Vice President for the Los Angeles Chapter of the Construction Financial Managers Association (CFMA) from 2000 to 2004, and led the Property Management Committee Chairman for the Westchester Family YMCA Board of Directors from 1996 to 2003. Greg served as Chairman of the California Young Republicans from 1987 to 1989 and was member of the Presidential Electoral College in 1988. He is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and currently holds a Certified Insurance Counselors designation from the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors.
Michele began her insurance career in at High Ground Insurance Services Michele was an invaluable resource in creating the agency, and has remained so as she has blossomed into more technical work. Michele is working on her CISR designation. She lives in Manhattan Beach with her dog and has a reputation for being an exceptional baker with her teammates.
Joyce joined United Agencies in August of 2011 and brings to the team over 25 years of Joyce brings insurance knowledge, organizational and communication skills to our Construction Practice team. Joyce is active in her church and community.
Ellen brings 25 years of experience to her clients and is happy to a member of our team. Ellen began her career as a file clerk at Continental Insurance, was promoted through the ranks in their Bond department. She joined Traveler’s Insurance Co. as a Property/Casualty Underwriter . She “retired” to be a stay-at-home-mom to her 3 beautiful daughters and 3 handsome sons but eventually returned to the working world so that she could talk to adults. Ellen obtained her degree from Loyola Marymount in Southern California. She continues her dedication to her education with the completion of her CPCU designation. While Ellen is busy with her 11 grandchildren, but she still finds time to learn American Sign Language which she will put to use in her volunteer work.
Amy began her insurance career in 2002 and has worked for both National and Regional Brokers. She has experience handling benefit programs of varying complexities. Amy offers a unique perspective to her Benefits clients. Having worked with clients from Florida to California, she understands the needs of Employees & Employers alike for pro-active, responsive service. As a mother of two, Amy realizes the importance of quality health benefits and how they impact an employee’s state of mind, leading to happy employees. Amy has expertise in creative plan design, alternative funding concepts, cost control, and consumer directed plans. Amy has a marketing degree from University of Central Florida to round out her balanced approach to overall client service. Amy resides in Hermosa Beach with her husband and two daughters.
Esther is the smiling face you see when you first enter our offices. She joined the HGIS team in March 2010 as a technical assistant and has since expanded her knowledge and expertise by transitioning into the Accounting Dept. Esther assists in the Accounting functions of the office to help keep the financial aspects of our organization running smoothly. Esther resides in Torrance with her husband and three children.
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Charles H. “Skip” Collinge, CIC, CRM 
Christopher Cordill, CIC
Bernadette Jackson, CPCU, ARM
Earl Butler, CPCU
Sandy Acosta
Karen Castillo
Stacy J. Colledge, CISR
James "Kelly" Cordill
Jeff Dalis
Elizabeth Espinoza
Charlene Hargreaves, CIC, CRM
Ralph Lilly
Gregory J. Martin 
Michele Parrish
Joyce J. Pernell
Ellen Schmid
Amy Wagner
Esther Cordill| See How We Meet Your Needs and Exceed Your Expectations |
| 3625 Del Amo Boulevard, Suite 200 • Torrance, CA 90503 • Phone: 310-542-4600 • info@hgis.biz |