Environmental Engineers, Consultants & Contractors

Chief Growth Officer

Rich has over 35 years of environmental and insurance industry experience. He joined Freberg in 2025 to assist with new product development and marketing/distribution strategy.

He began his career as an environmental project manager, performing sampling investigations of potential Superfund Sites under the direction of the USEPA. Rich moved into the environmental insurance field, first as a risk control consultant, and then as an underwriter, focused on alternative risk options for environmental exposures. He was recruited as a founding member and PLL underwriting manager for Kemper Environmental, overseeing a staff of underwriting, loss control and claims management personnel; and ultimately growing its PLL business to over $100M in GWP.

After 12 years on the underwriting side of the business, he shifted into specialty broking. Rich spent the majority of his broking career with WTW, where he served over the years as a Producer and Regional Manager, Environmental Practice Leader, Head of Specialty Broking, and Senior Director of Carrier Relations. As a part of the Carrier Relations team, he was responsible for leading governance reviews with clients and carriers, addressing escalation matters, developing products and cross-selling across the enterprise, and complex claims intervention and resolution strategies.

Rich holds a Bachelors in Geology / Physics from Bloomsburg University of PA, and a Masters in Business / Environmental Health from West Chester University of PA. He has also received his Associates in Risk Management from the Insurance Institute of America. Rich serves as a Board Member for the Pennsylvania Organization of Watersheds and Rivers (POWR).

Program Manager - Environmental Engineers, Consultants, & Contractors

Brandon brings 10 years of environmental underwriting insurance experience to Freberg Environmental and is currently the ECC Program Manager. Prior to joining Freberg, Brandon was employed by Argo Group, where his most recent position was Assistant Vice President of Environmental. As an environmental underwriter, he has underwritten environmental General Liability, Contractor Pollution Liability, Professional Liability, Premises Pollution Liability, Auto Liability, Workers Compensation, Follow Form Excess Liability, and Unsupported Excess Liability. ​
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Prior to Brandon’s 10 years of experience in underwriting, he worked in other areas of insurance, such as claims and personal lines. He initially started working in the personal lines sector of insurance at a local insurance agency while he was attending college. After he graduated from the University of Kansas, Brandon wanted to continue his insurance career and took a position working in claims. After 4 years of working in the claims department he wanted to find a new challenge. Brandon found an opportunity to continue to grow his insurance career in underwriting and has been underwriting ever since.

Brandon earned his BGS in economics with a minor in business from the University of Kansas and his MBA with an international business concentration from Baker University.

Program Manager - Hazmat Commercial Auto

Penny Baker has a track record of building successful underwriting teams and strong agency relationships, which aligns with the goals for the hazmat trucking division. Acting as program manager, Penny leads a team of experienced underwriters and support staff while providing agent support and carrier program management.​

Penny has insurance licenses in property, casualty, life, health and surplus lines since 1996 in multiple states. She received her degree in business management from Western Washington University.​

Program Manager - Environmental Impairment Liability

David Brereton joined Freberg Environmental (FEI) in 2004 as an
Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL) underwriter. He was promoted to Program Manager of the EIL program in 2010. In his role, David oversees and manages the underwriting of fixed-site pollution and associated package business. ​
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David brings over 20 years of experience in environmental consulting, environmental regulation, and environmental insurance. His experience includes nine years as a senior consultant at Advanced Analytical Solutions, Inc. where he consulted primarily on questions of cost allocation at federal and state cleanup sites. David also worked as an Industrial Waste Survey Technician at Metro Wastewater District in Denver, Colorado. Prior to joining FEI, he was an underwriter for AIG Environmental in Denver, Colorado. At AIG, David focused primarily on secured creditor fixed-site pollution coverage.

David earned his B.A. in Political Science as well as M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver.

Head of Claims

Jeff Miller joined Freberg Environmental (FEI) in 2022 as Head of Claims. Jeff, who is a U.S. Navy submarine veteran, brings over 20 years of claim experience in health, dental professional liability, supplemental and workers’ compensation as well as asbestos and environmental insurance and reinsurance. Prior to joining FEI, he was a claims analyst for Old Republic International Corporation responsible for treaty and facultative run-off claims involving asbestos, environmental, workers’ compensation and personal injury protection claims.

Jeff earned his B.S. in finance with a minor in management from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.

Head of Operations & Systems

With over a decade of experience in insurance operations and business systems, Julia Burns currently serves as Head of Operations & Systems at Freberg Environmental. In this role, she leads strategic initiatives to streamline workflows, optimize technology platforms, and drive operational efficiency. Her background includes deep expertise in underwriting operations, systems management, and process improvement—consistently solving complex challenges at the intersection of insurance and technology. Prior to her current position, Julia held progressive leadership roles at both Freberg Environmental and ICAT, building a strong track record of delivering scalable solutions and operational excellence.

Julia has a B.S. in environmental science from Simmons College.​

Chief Underwriting Officer

Reneé Miller joined Freberg Environmental (FEI) in 2015 as the Program Manager for FEI’s Environmental Engineers, Consultants and Contractors (ECC) lines of business. In 2016, Reneé was promoted to the role of Chief Underwriting Officer. In this position, Reneé leads all FEI programs, including environmental consultants, contractors, site pollution, commercial auto and professional liability lines.​
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Reneé has over 20 years of experience in environmental insurance, environmental consulting, and hazardous waste management. Prior to joining FEI, Reneé was employed at Zurich North America where she held the position of environmental underwriter for 13 years, and international construction underwriter (including international environmental contracting) for three years.​
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As an environmental underwriter, Reneé has underwritten operational exposures associated with environmental contractors, professional liability of environmental consultants, professional liability of architects and engineers, environmental impairment liability coverage and associated commercial general liability. Prior to underwriting, Reneé worked for a national Hazardous Waste Disposal company, at which she provided technical assistance as to the proper treatment and management of waste and supported the customer base through thorough knowledge of hazardous waste regulations. Prior to the hazardous waste industry, she worked for a national environmental consulting firm.​
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Reneé has a B.S. in Natural Resource and Environmental Science from the University of Illinois.

President & CEO

Stacy Brown serves as President & CEO of Freberg Environmental, a Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers MGU specializing in insurance solutions for environmental risks. He has served as CEO of Freberg since 2009, following its acquisition by Willis. He first joined the company in 1998 with a strong background in environmental consulting, shaping Freberg’s core insurance programs and launching numerous new programs. Over the years, Stacy has been deeply involved in all aspects of the business, including underwriting, reinsurance and marketing.

Prior to joining Freberg, Stacy spent eight years as an environmental scientist and project manager for Dames & Moore (now AECOM), a large multinational environmental and engineering firm. In 2015, Stacy concurrently served as CEO of Willis Programs, overseeing 20 specialty programs across diverse sectors, including recycling operations, lawyers’ professional liability, social services and ski area risks.

Appointed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Stacy is currently serving his third term on the Environmental Financial Advisory Board, providing strategic guidance to advance environmental and public health protections.

Stacy has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY and he received his M.B.A from the University of Phoenix in Denver, CO.