OIR Announces Personnel Changes
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has announced announced a series of staff changes at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR).
Al Willis has been appointed acting Deputy Commissioner for Property & Casualty. Mr. Willis previously was the Director of Life & Health Financial Oversight and has been with OIR since 1987. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The Florida State University, and has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1981. He succeeds former acting Deputy Commissioner Robin Westcott, who has been named Executive Director of a newly formed Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force.
Steve Szypula has been appointed acting Director of Property & Casualty Financial Oversight. Until now, Mr. Szypula was the Chief Analyst in the Property & Casualty Financial Oversight unit. He has been with the OIR since 1989. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Syracuse University, is a Certified Financial Examiner (CFE), Certified Public Manager (CPM), and was the first in the nation to achieve the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) designation – Senior Professional in Insurance Regulation (SPIR).
Toma Wilkerson has been appointed acting Director of Life & Health Financial Oversight to follow Mr. Willis. Ms. Wilkerson formerly was the Financial Administrator in the Life & Health Financial Oversight unit. She graduated from the University of West Florida with a bachelor’s degree in business, and is a Certified Public Manager (CPM). Wilkerson has primarily worked at the OIR since 1996, although she did work for a brief period at the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA).
Belinda Miller will continue in her role as the acting General Counsel. She assumed this role in February following the retirement of Steve Parton. Before her current position, Ms. Miller was the Deputy Commissioner for Property & Casualty. She has more than 20 years of experience in insurance regulation and receiverships. Ms. Miller received her bachelor’s of international studies from Emory University, and has her law degree from The Florida State University College of Law.