Contact: Cullen Werwie, (608) 267-7303
Dan Schwartzer appointed Deputy Commissioner
Madison – Governor Scott Walker announced today that he was appointing Ted Nickel as Commissioner of Insurance and Dan Schwartzer as Deputy Commissioner.
“I’m pleased to have Ted and Dan join my team to help grow Wisconsin,” said Governor Walker. “Both men know the industry well, and know how vital proper regulation is to economic growth and job creation.”
Brief biographies of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner are below.
Ted Nickel – Commissioner of Insurance
Ted Nickel has spent nearly his entire career in the insurance industry working primarily in the property/casualty insurance business. For almost 18 years Ted has worked in a variety of roles, including Director of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs for Church Mutual where he engaged in regulatory and advocacy work, and also augmented Church Mutual’s compliance function. Ted has also been actively engaged in insurance industry affairs in Wisconsin having served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance and having served as a member of the board of directors of the Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund. Ted’s national work includes serving as a member of the Oklahoma Property Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association and national trade association participation as a member of the Legal and Government Affairs Committee of the Property Casualty Insurance Association of America.
He has recently served on the Northcentral Technical College Board of Trustees for six years. While there he served as Secretary/Treasurer and participated in a CEO recruiting committee. Locally, he has chaired the Merrill Parks and Recreation Committee and is vice-chair of the City Planning Commission.
In 1999 he ran unsuccessfully for the Wisconsin State Assembly. Prior to coming to Church Mutual, he worked in the Governor Thompson Administration.
In his spare time he teaches hunter and boater safety courses, mentors youth and spends time with his wife Kim, and their two children Anie and Jack.
Ted earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Valparaiso University.
Dan Schwartzer – Deputy Commissioner of Insurance
Dan Schwartzer owned his own Association Management and Government Relations firm that worked with trade associations from a variety of industries. Dan served as Executive Director for the Wisconsin Employee Benefit Advisors Association, which represents insurance agents throughout Wisconsin and Executive Director for the Wisconsin PPO Association, which represents PPO Health Plans. Dan was also Executive Director for the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, as well as Executive Director for the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin.
Dan is a Wisconsin-licensed intermediary holding a property, casualty, life, accident and health insurance license. Dan has over 25 years of experience in insurance, health care financing and business issues and over 12 years experience in association management. He earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University, and he also serves on the Board of Directors of Wiscraft, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization employing the blind.
Dan lives in Wisconsin Dells, WI where he enjoys spending time with his five children and two grandchildren.
