Company Leaders
Texas Mutual Insurance Company is led by its senior leadership and board of directors.
Senior leadership includes our president, chief operating officer and representatives from each of our divisions.
Our board of directors represents a diverse range of Texas industries and regions. The governor, with the advice and consent of the Texas Senate, appoints five of the nine directors, including the chair. Our policyholders elect the other four directors.
Senior leadership
Richard Gergasko
President & CEO
Richard Gergasko joined Texas Mutual as president in 2013. He was president and COO of SeaBright Insurance Company from 2009 to 2013, and he served as executive vice president of operations for the company from 2003 to 2009. Mr. Gergasko had a long career in various positions in the workers’ compensation insurance industry prior to that. He is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He has a bachelor of arts in statistics from Rutgers College.
President & CEO
Richard Gergasko joined Texas Mutual as president in 2013. He was president and COO of SeaBright Insurance Company from 2009 to 2013, and he served as executive vice president of operations for the company from 2003 to 2009. Mr. Gergasko had a long career in various positions in the workers’ compensation insurance industry prior to that. He is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He has a bachelor of arts in statistics from Rutgers College.
Mike Barron
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Mike Barron is a certified public accountant with over 30 years of experience in accounting and financial management. Prior to joining Texas Mutual in 2003, he spent over 18 years with Big-8 accounting and consulting firms. He also served as the CFO of a major pension fund and two state agencies. Mr. Barron is a member of the Board of Directors of Sendero Health Plans, a Central Texas community-based HMO serving Texas CHIP and STAR Medicaid-eligible members. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the American Institute of CPAs.
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Mike Barron is a certified public accountant with over 30 years of experience in accounting and financial management. Prior to joining Texas Mutual in 2003, he spent over 18 years with Big-8 accounting and consulting firms. He also served as the CFO of a major pension fund and two state agencies. Mr. Barron is a member of the Board of Directors of Sendero Health Plans, a Central Texas community-based HMO serving Texas CHIP and STAR Medicaid-eligible members. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the American Institute of CPAs.
Lynette Caldwell
Vice President Human Resources
After graduating from the University of Texas with honors, Lynette Caldwell spent eight years in HR leadership positions at TN Technologies Inc. She joined Texas Mutual in 1999, serving as senior manager of human resources and senior manager of compensation/benefits. In June 2008, the company promoted her to vice president of human resources. She is a certified senior professional in human resources, certified Seven Habits of Highly Effective People facilitator, and former advisor/chair of the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds Human Resources Committee.
Vice President Human Resources
After graduating from the University of Texas with honors, Lynette Caldwell spent eight years in HR leadership positions at TN Technologies Inc. She joined Texas Mutual in 1999, serving as senior manager of human resources and senior manager of compensation/benefits. In June 2008, the company promoted her to vice president of human resources. She is a certified senior professional in human resources, certified Seven Habits of Highly Effective People facilitator, and former advisor/chair of the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds Human Resources Committee.
Terry Frakes
Senior Vice President Public Affairs
Terry Frakes is a Texas Mutual® pioneer. He became the company's second employee when he came on board in 1991, and he was its first executive council member. Mr. Frakes represents the company during legislative sessions, serves as media contact, and oversees communications initiatives. His 25-year public affairs career includes stops as regional director of governmental affairs of a major national trade association, director of government affairs at the Texas Department of Insurance, and special assistant to the House Insurance Committee.
Senior Vice President Public Affairs
Terry Frakes is a Texas Mutual® pioneer. He became the company's second employee when he came on board in 1991, and he was its first executive council member. Mr. Frakes represents the company during legislative sessions, serves as media contact, and oversees communications initiatives. His 25-year public affairs career includes stops as regional director of governmental affairs of a major national trade association, director of government affairs at the Texas Department of Insurance, and special assistant to the House Insurance Committee.
Bill Huckaby
General Auditor
Huckaby joined Texas Mutual in 2005 as senior manager of finance and operations auditing. In that role, he was instrumental in creating the company's MAR initiative framework. He also helped develop an Enterprise Risk Management program, and he restructured the finance and operations auditing process to a SOX-based methodology. Prior to joining Texas Mutual, Mr. Huckaby spent 21 years as director of internal control for a major health insurance company in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and he holds the following certifications: Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Control Self-Assessment (CCSA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and Professional, Academy for Health Care Management (PAHM).
General Auditor
Huckaby joined Texas Mutual in 2005 as senior manager of finance and operations auditing. In that role, he was instrumental in creating the company's MAR initiative framework. He also helped develop an Enterprise Risk Management program, and he restructured the finance and operations auditing process to a SOX-based methodology. Prior to joining Texas Mutual, Mr. Huckaby spent 21 years as director of internal control for a major health insurance company in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and he holds the following certifications: Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Control Self-Assessment (CCSA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and Professional, Academy for Health Care Management (PAHM).
Randy Johnson
Senior Vice President Investments
Randy Johnson joined Texas Mutual Insurance Company in 1995. His Investments team is responsible for managing the company's more than $5 billion diversified investment portfolio. Mr. Johnson is a University of Texas graduate who has over 25 years of senior-level investment, financial and management experience. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Texas Society of CPAs.
Senior Vice President Investments
Randy Johnson joined Texas Mutual Insurance Company in 1995. His Investments team is responsible for managing the company's more than $5 billion diversified investment portfolio. Mr. Johnson is a University of Texas graduate who has over 25 years of senior-level investment, financial and management experience. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Texas Society of CPAs.
Steve Math
Senior Vice President Underwriting
Steve Math comes to Texas Mutual from Argo Insurance Group, where he served as senior vice president and chief actuary. Prior to that, he served in chief actuary roles at ACE Insurance Group and CNA. Mr. Math holds a bachelor’s in mathematics from MIT and a master’s in management from the University of Texas at Dallas. He has earned the Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society designation, the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation, and the Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (M.A.A.A.) designation.
Senior Vice President Underwriting
Steve Math comes to Texas Mutual from Argo Insurance Group, where he served as senior vice president and chief actuary. Prior to that, he served in chief actuary roles at ACE Insurance Group and CNA. Mr. Math holds a bachelor’s in mathematics from MIT and a master’s in management from the University of Texas at Dallas. He has earned the Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society designation, the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation, and the Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (M.A.A.A.) designation.
Bill McLellan
Senior Vice President Information Technology
Bill McLellan joined Texas Mutual Insurance Company in 2003, after spending the last five years in senior-level Information Technology (IT) positions with Motorola. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in computer science from the University of Texas. In his 25-year career, he has held senior-level IT positions with the Texas Army National Guard, Tracor, and Motorola Semiconductor Product Sector. He retired as a major from the U.S. Army, with over 20 years of combined active and reserve duty.
Senior Vice President Information Technology
Bill McLellan joined Texas Mutual Insurance Company in 2003, after spending the last five years in senior-level Information Technology (IT) positions with Motorola. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in computer science from the University of Texas. In his 25-year career, he has held senior-level IT positions with the Texas Army National Guard, Tracor, and Motorola Semiconductor Product Sector. He retired as a major from the U.S. Army, with over 20 years of combined active and reserve duty.
Mary Nichols
Senior Vice President/General Counsel
Mary Nichols joined Texas Mutual Insurance Company in 1995 as General Counsel. Ms. Nichols has over 25 years of legal expertise. Before joining the company, Ms. Nichols practiced law with Vinson & Elkins, LLP, where she started as a public finance attorney and later moved into insurance-related litigation. Ms. Nichols received her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas, and she is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Travis County Bar Association. She is rated AV, the highest rating designated by Martindale Hubbell.
Senior Vice President/General Counsel
Mary Nichols joined Texas Mutual Insurance Company in 1995 as General Counsel. Ms. Nichols has over 25 years of legal expertise. Before joining the company, Ms. Nichols practiced law with Vinson & Elkins, LLP, where she started as a public finance attorney and later moved into insurance-related litigation. Ms. Nichols received her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas, and she is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Travis County Bar Association. She is rated AV, the highest rating designated by Martindale Hubbell.
Jeanette Ward
Senior Vice President Claims
Jeanette Ward joined Texas Mutual in 1993 after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. She has since climbed the company’s ranks, serving as operations analyst to the chief operating officer; senior manager of corporate planning, budget and accounting; vice president of claim and information services; and vice president of claim support services. In that role, she directed system implementation for the company’s certified workers’ compensation health care network. She has also overseen process and system management, statewide claim offices, the claim intake unit and the imaging unit. Ms. Ward is now responsible for claim operations, claim quality and compliance, and network and medical operations.
Senior Vice President Claims
Jeanette Ward joined Texas Mutual in 1993 after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. She has since climbed the company’s ranks, serving as operations analyst to the chief operating officer; senior manager of corporate planning, budget and accounting; vice president of claim and information services; and vice president of claim support services. In that role, she directed system implementation for the company’s certified workers’ compensation health care network. She has also overseen process and system management, statewide claim offices, the claim intake unit and the imaging unit. Ms. Ward is now responsible for claim operations, claim quality and compliance, and network and medical operations.
Joe Yurkovich
Senior Vice President Strategic Planning &
Policyholder Services
Joe Yurkovich brings 35 years of insurance industry experience to our leadership team. He works closely with senior management and the board of directors to establish organizational objectives, develop long-range and strategic plans, and identify strengths, weaknesses and business opportunities. Before rejoining Texas Mutual in 2013,
Mr. Yurkovich was region president for the Southern Region at SeaBright Insurance Company, where he led a team in building a 13-state territory in the Southern United States.
Mr. Yurkovich served as senior vice president of underwriting for Texas Mutual prior to joining SeaBright. He is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Senior Vice President Strategic Planning &
Policyholder Services
Joe Yurkovich brings 35 years of insurance industry experience to our leadership team. He works closely with senior management and the board of directors to establish organizational objectives, develop long-range and strategic plans, and identify strengths, weaknesses and business opportunities. Before rejoining Texas Mutual in 2013,
Mr. Yurkovich was region president for the Southern Region at SeaBright Insurance Company, where he led a team in building a 13-state territory in the Southern United States.
Mr. Yurkovich served as senior vice president of underwriting for Texas Mutual prior to joining SeaBright. He is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.