Insurance at 78 RPMs

Connie Germano, Chief Casualty Officer
Meet Connie! Connie is DUAL’s brilliant Chief Casualty Officer and has been since July 2023. She oversees DUAL's Commercial Casualty and Financial Lines divisions, drives growth initiatives, optimizes underwriting performance, and enhances carrier partner relationships. Prior to her current role, Connie served as the President of an Insurtech startup and before that, she served as the President of Specialty Casualty at Everest Insurance. Having served in a variety of leadership roles in the specialty casualty insurance sector, she brings nearly 30 years of industry experience to DUAL.

As co-host of Insurance at 78 RPMs, Connie’s warm energy and extensive musical knowledge make her a fantastic guide through lively conversation surrounding music history and the insurance industry. Connie’s favorite artists include Pearl Jam, Elvis Presley and Van Morrison, but you’ll have to tune in to hear some of her favorite songs. Connie developed a love of music while listening to her grandmother play piano in her living room. As a child, Connie looked forward to listening while her grandmother played songs she heard on the radio or knew from her time playing in bands as a young woman – Noni, as she was known, played by ear, working on songs until she got them right. Those early impressions built a lifelong love and fascination with music.

Jon Knouse, Chief Property Officer
Meet Jon! Jon is DUAL’s esteemed Chief Property Officer since 2021. Jon is responsible for all underwriting strategies, decisions, proficiency, development, and performance across all property lines. He works in partnership with Property Division Presidents to ensure results are achieved consistent with outlined objectives and business strategies. Prior to his current role, Jon served as the Chief Underwriting Officer of Catalytic Risk Managers and previously held the role of President at Western Re for eight years. He has also held positions at North Shore Management Associates and Rollins Burdick Hunter (Aon). Jon graduated from the University of Missouri in 1989 with a Bachelor of Journalism degree and a U.S. History minor.

As co-host of Insurance at 78 RPMs, Jon's passion for music and learning about the relationships people have with music creates an environment where guests are encouraged to discuss both their music tastes and industry knowledge. The Police, The Psychedelic Furs and any older country artists like Waylon Jennings, George Jones and Dolly Parton are just a few of his favorite artists, though Jon’s favorite songs span across a wide variety of artists and genres, like many soundtracks to people’s lives. Jon’s dad was a policeman and professional big band jazz trumpeter and coming home from school as a kid to jazz music blasting from the house speakers taught Jon that music and life do indeed go together and sent him off on his musical journey (as a listener, not a player, that gene skipped Jon!)