Church Mutual® announces leadership promotions

MERRILL, Wis. - Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.1, looks to further the company’s growth and success through the promotion of four leaders. These individuals will continue to guide the company and advance its mission to serve those who serve others.

Craig Huss has been promoted to vice president – information technology and chief information security officer. Huss joined the company in 2016 as senior IT executive director – infrastructure and operations. He was promoted to assistant vice president – IT and chief security officer in 2017. Huss earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and human resource management from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. He holds Certified Internal Security Assessor (ISA) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designations.

Guy Russ has been promoted to vice president – innovation and data. Russ has been with Church Mutual for the last 10 years and joined as director – OCNS program management in Administration. He was promoted to senior information technology executive manager – architecture and administration in 2014 and assistant vice president – Information Technology in 2016. He assumed the role of assistant vice president – Risk Control in 2018. Russ holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and a master’s in business administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee. He holds many industry designations including Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Eric Spacek has been promoted to assistant vice president – Risk Control. He has more than 15 years of insurance risk control experience and joined Church Mutual in 2020 as Risk Control program manager. Spacek holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Eastern University in St. David’s, Pennsylvania, and a juris doctor degree from American University in Washington, D.C. He also holds the ARM designation and has received the Cambridge Certificate in Risk Management for Churches and Schools.

Penny Fons has been promoted to assistant vice president – Claims. Fons has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial claims environment. She joined Church Mutual in 2017 as Claims operations manager. In 2018, she was promoted to director – Claims operations. Fons holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.

About Church Mutual

Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I., founded in 1897, offers specialized insurance for religious organizations of all denominations, public and private K-12 schools, colleges and universities, senior living facilities, secular and non-secular camps and conference centers, and nonprofit and human services organizations throughout the United States. Church Mutual markets most lines of commercial property and liability insurance, including multi-peril, workers' compensation and commercial auto insurance. In addition to insurance, Church Mutual provides a spectrum of value-added solutions that benefit its customers. Church Mutual holds the following honors:

• A.M. Best Company "A" (excellent) rating

• Wisconsin 75 Top Private Company by Deloitte US, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021

• Wisconsin 75 Distinguished Performer: Innovation by Deloitte US 2019

• 2021 Gallup Culture Transformation Award recipient

• 2020 Women and Diversity Award recipient from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association

• Futuremakers Partner by Wisconsin Technical College System

• Celent Model Insurer for innovation and emerging technologies

• Award in Innovation for entrepreneurialism and innovation by National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies

• 2018-2019 Employer of the Year by Northcentral Technical College

# # #

1Church Mutual is a stock insurer whose policyholders are members of the parent mutual holding company formed on 1/1/20. S.I. = a stock insurer.