About Us

A 30-year old company with new ideas.

Our track record speaks for itself. We have a 100% implementation success rate, and our technology continues to evolve, so you can be sure that Instec’s insurance platform will always help you meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.

We’re all about speed...without sacrifice.

We’ve gone from a cold start to a live system in as little as 60 days. Sound too good to be true? Just ask some of our clients. We do it with a Fast Track process that helps you ruthlessly prioritize the capabilities and customization you need to begin quoting and issuing new policies, then follow with the “nice-to-haves”.

News and insights that will make you stop and think.

Press Releases

Wright Specialty Launches Municipality and Education Programs on Instec Systems

Instec-Ghostdraft eBook Provides New Angle on Insurance Customer Experience

Kevin Mason Named Chief Strategy Officer at Insurance Software Provider Instec

In the News

Instec Insights

Dealing with Adversity and Creating Opportunity

Millennials Are Ready for Insurance. Are You Ready for Them?

Think You Understand the Customer Experience? Think Again.

Instec Insights

Real customer stories. More product details.

Resources

Careers

Top talent is key to the success of our business and our clients.

We’re a team of dedicated and motivated insurance industry and technical experts committed to the success of each and every one of our clients. Instec is 100% employee owned, so we think and act like owners and take personal pride in every project we complete, and every client’s business we enable.

Career Opportunities

Our Partners - Our Ecosystem

SNLiPartners

ghost draft

mfx

mis

polk

iso

ncci

microsoft partner

Martin & Company

Invoice Cloud

Ray Simon

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.

Mike Fagan

President of Operations

Mike Fagan has worked in property and casualty insurance and automation for over 30 years, including ten years with Cigna's Special Risk Facilities. He joined Instec in 1996 and has worked closely with Instec’s clients and delivered many of Instec’s new software releases. As President of Operations, Mike leads the product development, delivery, account management, and IT services groups. 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.

Chuck Fillizola

President and Chief Revenue Officer

Chuck Fillizola joined Instec in 2020, after serving on the Instec board since 2015. Having spearheaded new technology initiatives as CIO of Orchid Underwriters and, prior to that, as CIO at Sompo Japan Nipponkoa America, and as a Director at Munich Re, so he understands the importance of software like Instec’s from the customer’s perspective. He also spent over 10 years as a service provider in the insurance industry as Vice President of Product and Business Strategy at CSC and President of MFX.

Kevin Mason

Chief Strategy Officer

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 product strategy, sales, and marketing. He holds a BA in Political Science, from the University of Iowa and an AS in Computer Science.

Sandy Knutson

Vice President, Delivery

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.

Rob Reed

Vice President, Sales

Rob Reed began his career in the insurance industry in 1997. Starting as an Underwriter Trainee at Prudential, Rob went on to become an agency interface specialist at CGU Insurance Limited and OneBeacon Insurance companies. Bringing with him deep domain expertise, Rob joined Instec as a Sales Executive, in 2001, and has since helped dozens of insurers solve challenging operational issues with tailored technology solutions. As the Vice President of Sales, Rob executes the Instec mission and serves as a key partner, guiding prospective clients through the sales engagement and initial implementation processes. He holds an MBA from the University of St. Francis and a BA in Public Relations from Southern Illinois University.

Michael Sauber

Vice President, Marketing

Mike Sauber joined Instec in 2016, with over 30 years of experience in technology marketing and sales. Mike has led global marketing teams and programs at IBM, Unisys, and Data General, among others, and prior to Instec was a member of the teams that launched two new enterprise software ventures. His deep technology industry experience includes software, servers, printers, and services, with an exclusive focus on the insurance industry since 2011. Mike holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania (The Wharton School), and a BES (Architecture) from the University of Waterloo.

Mark Strelau

Vice President, Application Platform

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 (now part of Northrop Grumman). 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.

Dorene Morgan

Director, Human Resources

Dorene Morgan joined Instec in 2010 with more than 25 years of human resources experience both in U.S. and Canada in mid-sized and large corporations, specializing in the equipment leasing and financing business. Holding a Senior Human Resources Professional certification through the Society of Human Resource Management since 2001, Dorene as an officer of the Company, provides both strategic and operational direction for Human Resources, Facilities, and Office Management at Instec.

Kent Nelson

Chairman

Kent Nelson is a veteran of the insurance industry with more than 30 years of leadership experience at several top Chicago area insurance brokers, most recently as CEO of American Westbrook Insurance Services. Along with a wealth of knowledge in insurance brokerage operations, his expertise includes strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, human resources, and corporate communications. He has taught in Northern Illinois University’s MBA program, and served as a director for numerous for-profit and non-profit organizations. Kent holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and an MBA from Northern Illinois University, and currently serves as Instec’s chairman of the board.

Thomas Caprel

Board Member

Thomas Caprel has been an entrepreneur for more than 25 years. He serves on numerous boards and as an advisor to several technology incubators. He is called upon by senior leadership to help enrich team performance, and transform operations to boost growth. His BreakThrough Moments Methodology enhances team performance and operational effectiveness while realizing positive, lasting behavioral changes that result in transformative personal and organizational results. Mr. Caprel holds a B.S. in Political Science and an MBA from Western Illinois University. Mr. Caprel has worked with Instec as a strategic advisor since 2008.