Management Team
Ray Simon
President and CEO
Ray Simon started his career in 1982 at AT&T Bell Labs, and then moved on to Rockwell International Telecommunications. Ray joined Instec in 1992 and since then has provided the overall leadership to make Quicksolver Instec’s object technology for rating and policy issuance software, a solid, leading edge cornerstone for the future. Ray received a MS in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan, and a BS in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
William T. Budde
Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Bill Budde, CPCU, has led the Insurance divisions for Global Services providers such as EDS (NYSE=HP) and Patni (NYSE=PTI), and has held roles in actuarial, underwriting, product development, information technology and operations at Zurich, USF&G and has consulted for insurance organizations in 40+ countries. Bill is a graduate of Northwestern University, and has held his Charter since 1987. Having formed and sold companies, and having been both an employee and client of Instec, Bill now leads Instec's revenue and relationships. He and his wife live in Avon, CT.
Kevin Mason
Vice President, Product Development and Maintenance
Kevin Mason has worked in many aspects of software development since 1981, including roles as Product Strategist, Software Development Methodologist, Project Manager, and Technology Architect for companies such as Cincinnati Bell Information Systems, SHL Systemhouse (now part of EDS), AGENCY.COM, and GENECA. He joined Instec in 2008 and is responsible for all development associated with all products. He holds a BA in Political Science, from the University of Iowa and an AS in Computer Science.
Mark Steffens
Vice President, Finance
Mark Steffens began his finance career in 1970 at Arthur Young & Company, and has deep expertise in corporate accounting, finance, and employee benefits. He joined Instec in 1993 as a Controller and was the driving force of transitioning the company’s ownership to 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Program) to position the company for well-purposed longevity. Mark holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from Loyola and is a CPA.
Pat Walsh
Vice President, Client Services and Solutions
Patrick Walsh began his career in technology in 1982 at AT&T Bell Labs and then moved on to MCI Systemhouse (now part of EDS) to grow the MCI Systemhouse Insurance practice in the Midwest. He joined Instec in 1997 to provide leadership for business development and marketing, and is responsiblefor all customer interactions, including special software development projects. He holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and a BS in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology.
Tanya Dziubla
Director, Client Solutions
Tanya Dziubla began her career in the insurance field in 1981, working for companies such as Harco National Insurance Company and Sentry Insurance Company. Tanya joined Instec in 1986 and currently leads new client implementations and large-scale client projects. She received her Illinois agents’ license for Property & Casualty in 1994.
Mike Fagan
Director, Product Development
Mike Fagan has worked in Property and Casualty insurance and automation since 1988, including ten years with Cigna's Special Risk Facilities. Mike joined Instec in 1996 and works closely with Instec’s clients, and has delivered many of Instec’s new software releases, ensuring a smooth transition for clients having the prior release of the software. He received an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1995, specializing in Finance, and received a BS in Information and Decision Sciences from the University of Illinois.
Sandy Knutson
Director, Client Services
Sandy Knutson joined Instec in 2006 with more than 28 years of commercial insurance operations experience at national multi-line carriers such as Hartford and AIG. She specializes in managing Customer Service operations with an extensive background in service, underwriting, and operations. Sandy continues to utilize her broad-based knowledge and experience to deliver comprehensive long term solutions to all Instec clients.
Mark Strelau
Director, Product Technologies
Mark Strelau has worked with technology since 1985 for companies such as Rockwell International Telecommunications, Argonne National Laboratory and at TRW in the Space and Technology Group. He joined Instec in 1993 to establish the architecture and led the development of quicksolver, an object technology that provides a development platform and a distributed networked execution platform for Instec software products. He received an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Valparaiso University.