Leadership

Lead by Experienced, Respected Industry Professionals

GHC’s leadership team and leadership approach is well-known, highly-respected, and committed to preserving and enhancing our company's long-standing reputation for competence, service, and integrity. Inspired by the professionalism and customer service of GHC’s founder George F. Hill, and later his son George "Bud" Hills, our current leadership team focuses on continued excellence – and has diversified GHC’s range of services to meet the strategic and operational needs of our customers.

Michael J. Kielty, ARM

Chief Executive Officer
(916) 859-4804
michael.kielty@georgehills.com

Michael J. Kielty has been in the risk management and JPA leadership field for over 25 years. He began his highly respected career at Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, responsible for adjusting workers' compensation and liability claims. Over the years he served as JPA Executive Director / Program Director for School Insurance Authority (SIA), North Valley Schools Insurance Group (NVSIG), Santa Cruz / San Benito County Schools Insurance Group (SC-SBSIG), California Housing Workers' Compensation Authority (CHWCA). A former Senior Consultant at Advanced Risk Management Techniques (ARM Tech) hired to manage and grow the JPA Division, Mike holds a BS in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno, and an ARM designation from the Insurance Institute of America. He is a Charter Board Member of the CAJPA Accreditation Committee.

John E. Chaquica, CPA, MBA, ARM

President
(916) 859-4824
john.chaquica@georgehills.com

John E. Chaquica has over 20 years of experience in risk management and JPA leadership. John is responsible for laying out the strategic plan of GHC and heads up the firm's JPA Management Division, Optimum Risk Advisers. Prior to joining GHC, John was the Chief Executive Officer of Bickmore Risk Services, served as Executive Director for several California public entity self-insurance pools, and was a consultant to several other entities. Before joining Bickmore, John was a partner in Gilbert Accountancy Corporation, when he was the audit partner and industry team leader on public entity self-insured groups. John served as President and Treasurer of Sacramento's Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). He remains very active in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA). John holds a MBA from Golden Gate University and a BS in Accounting from California State University, Sacramento, and an ARM designation from the Insurance Institute of America.

Rodger A. Hayton

Branch Manager
(408) 260-0152
rodger.hayton@georgehills.com

Before joining GHC in 1985 Rodger had 15 years multi-line claims experience with Crawford & Company including commercial, residential property and all types of casualty. He was also the Manager of Crawford's East and North San Francisco Bay offices for seven years. His training includes CPCU courses, advanced casualty and property courses and workers' compensation courses through IEA. Rodger graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Economics.

Randy Rendig

Branch Manager
(916) 859-4811
randy.rendig@georgehills.com

Randy's claim career began in 1976 at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in San Jose, California. He also worked many years for California Casualty as the manager of their San Jose branch. Randy earned a BA from the University of California, Davis and holds professional designations of RPA and CCLA. He is a Liability Specialist in the public entity arena and is the Account Manager for the County of Sacramento, as well as the Schools Excess Liability Fund.

Janis Ryan

Corporate Administrator
(916) 859-4817
jan.ryan@georgehills.com

Janis Ryan has 37 years of financial experience starting as a bank teller and working her way up to Assistant Vice President, Operations. She also worked for several years in advertising, booking media time in the San Francisco Bay Area. Janis joined George Hills Company in 1986 as an Accounting Clerk and has been the firm's Corporate Administrator since 1999. She is responsible for all aspects of office and corporate operations, personnel, and finance. Janis attended San Francisco City College.

Kim J. Santin, CPA

GHC Finance and JPA Manager
(916) 859-4820
kim.santin@georgehills.com

Prior to joining GHC in 2009, Kim J. Santin was a Group Administration Manager at Bickmore Risk Services. Earlier in her career she was in charge of auditing, accounting services, and consulting engagements at Gilbert Accountancy Corporation for over 50 joint powers authorities and school districts. Her previous experience also includes seven years at Cooperative Personnel Services as the Financial Manager responsible for budgeting, financial preparation and presentation, financial forecasting, cash flow management, and strategic management. A former independent consultant to California pools and SIGs, Kim is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and holds a BS from California State University, Sacramento.

Steven A. Woods

Workers' Compensation Investigation Division Manager
(916) 859-4826
steven.woods@georgehills.com

Steven A. Woods is a licensed private investigator. He was formerly a Principal with Woods & Hayden Investigations and has 20 years of workers' compensation experience. He began his career as a Multi-Line Adjuster with Liberty Mutual before accepting a position with Gallen Adjusters. Steve managed Gallen's Sacramento Office for five years. Later Steve started his own workers' compensation investigation practice. A graduate of California State University Chico, Steve earned degrees in Psychology and Liberal Arts.

Craig Yeary

Construction Defect Program Manager
(909) 806-4184
craig.yeary@georgehills.com

Craig began his claims career in 1972 at GAB as a Multi-Line Adjuster. He was later appointed to the position of Branch Manager. He joined Ohio Casualty Group in 1978 as a resident adjuster. His experience with the handling of construction defect cases began while at Allstate Commercial Insurance in Brea, CA in 1987. Craig joined CNA Insurance Companies in 1989 at which time he furthered his handling of the management of construction defect cases. In 2000 he was promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President of Commercial Lines Claims. Craig returned to Southern California in 2003 as a Construction Defect General Adjuster with the St. Paul Insurance Company. Following the merger of St. Paul and Travelers Insurance Company, Craig was appointed to the position of Western Regional Director of Construction Defect Major Cases. In 2005 Craig joined Crawford Technical Services as the Branch Manager of an office that was dedicated to a construction defect program. Craig joined GHC as Construction Defect Program Manager in July 2008. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.