Joseph Merullo, CIC – President/Owner
Vreeland Insurance Owner and President Joseph (Joe) Merullo began working at the agency ten years ago in sales. He was promoted to Sales Manager and Vice President of Sales, until becoming President of the agency. After three years, the prior owner wanted to sell the agency and Joe seized the opportunity to purchase it in 2007.
Prior to joining Vreeland Insurance, Joe started his insurance career in 1982 with Prudential Insurance Company of America. After six years, he joined Lynwood Insurance as a salesperson and soon became a partner in that agency. Lynwood Insurance was sold in 2000, the year Joe began his career at Vreeland Insurance.
Joe has his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation. He is currently serving on the board of the Independent Insurance Agents of NJ and the Agency Council for Peerless Insurance. He has also served on the board of Independent Insurance Agents of Morris and Sussex County, NJ, and has served on Selective Insurance’s Agent Council.
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Brian Ward – Vice President
Brian Ward, our Vice President, has worked at Vreeland Insurance since 2003 and moved into his current capacity two years later. As operations manager, Brian performs the functions of human resources, systems administration, and bookkeeper for Vreeland Insurance. Prior to his promotion to operations manager, Brian worked as a Personal Lines Account Executive.
This is Brian’s second time with Vreeland Insurance as he also worked at the agency from 1996-1998 as the Office Manager before he went on to pursue a career in the world of information technology. Brian worked for T-Com Associates, Ltd. from 1998-2003 as a Senior Field Engineer.
Brian has served on the Board of the Independent Insurance Agents of Morris and Sussex County, and is currently serving on a committee for the Independent Insurance Agents of NJ.
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Nicholas Diamantis, CISR – Vice President
Nicholas (Nick) Diamantis, Vice President and Commercial Lines Account Executive, has been working with Vreeland Insurance since March 2006. For over five years, Nick has been producing and managing a rapidly growing commercial book of business by specializing in writing Commercial Property, Casualty, Auto, Inland Marine, Umbrella, and Workers Compensation coverage for his many clients.
Nick has been in the insurance industry since 1988 and has extensive work experience on both the company and agency side. He’s been licensed by the State of New Jersey since 1991 and obtained his Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) designation in 1997.
Before coming to Vreeland Insurance, Nick was an Assistant Vice President at Commerce Insurance in Randolph, NJ. At Commerce, Nick was the Commercial Services Manager for the Northern New Jersey Region. Prior to Commerce Insurance, Nick was the Commercial Team Leader and Sr. Customer Service Representative for Traber Vreeland Insurance in Randolph, NJ.
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Richard Disbrow – Vice President
Richard (Rich) Disbrow, Vice President and Commercial Lines Account Executive, has been with Vreeland Insurance since August 2002. He previously worked as an Account Executive and Account Manager at LRD Insurance Agency, Inc., which was purchased by Vreeland Insurance in 2001.
Rich hold licenses in Property and Casualty and Life and Health, and has worked as an Account Manager and Account Executive in the Commercial, Personal, and Health insurance fields, focusing primarily on Commercial Lines since 2003. He has formulated and established insurance programs with specialized coverages for a variety of Contractor and Retail businesses.
Prior to entering the insurance industry in 1995, Rich worked in the newspaper industry, first as a reporter and later as an editor for a number of local New Jersey publications. He served as News Editor for The Daily Journal (Gannett Newspapers) and as Publisher of The New Jersey Angler Magazine.
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Larry Swensen, CIC – Commercial Lines Account Executive
Larry Swensen joined Vreeland Insurance in spring 2002 as an Account Executive in the Commercial Lines Department. He also provides expertise and sales experience in Life and Health insurance. Larry specializes in medium to large commercial accounts.
Prior to joining our agency, Larry was a partner/owner of HIS insurance, located in Sparta, NJ. HIS Insurance was eventually sold to Commerce Insurance where Larry worked as a Commercial Lines Account Executive. Larry has received his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation through The National Alliance.
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Kenneth G. Rota, CIC – Account Marketing Manager
Kenneth (Ken) Rota, our Marketing Manager and newest addition to our agency, has over 20 years experience in Commercial insurance. He attributes his success to a combination of quality submissions, integrity, and strong relationships with our many insurance companies.
Before joining Vreeland Insurance, Ken worked for a large commercial agency in Northern New Jersey, as well as State Farm and Prudential Insurance Companies. Ken is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and is presently studying for his ARM designation.
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Mike Terrano, LUTCF – Personal Lines Account Manager
Mike Terrano has been in the insurance industry for 29 years and has been working for Vreeland Insurance since 2006 as a Personal Lines Account Executive. Mike specializes in Personal Lines, mutual funds, Life Insurance, and annuities.
Prior to joining Vreeland Insurance, Mike worked for 24 years with Prudential Insurance as an Agent and Sales Manager. Mike has also achieved his Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) designation.
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Diann Gonzalez – Personal Lines Account Manager
Diann Gonzalez has been working with Vreeland Insurance for four years as a Personal Lines Account Manager. Diann is an expert in her field and has been a Personal Lines Producer for the past 10 years. She has also worked as a Personal Lines Account Manager for other New Jersey agencies. Her passion for the business has earned her a number of sales recognition awards.
Before joining Vreeland Insurance, Diann worked for Commerce Bank Insurance as a team leader in the Personal Lines Department.
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Allan Sales – Personal Lines Account Manager
Allan (Al) Sales has been with Vreeland Insurance for six years as a Personal Lines Account Manager. He has been providing Personal Lines insurance for his many clients for over 30 years.
Prior to joining Vreeland Insurance, Allan was with Prudential Insurance as an Agent and Sales Manager for over 24 years.
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James Magliacane, LUTCF – Account Manager
James (Jim) Magliacane has been with Vreeland Insurance since June 2004. He’s held the position of Account Manager in the Benefits department during the entire time, specializing in Health, Life, Long Term Care, and Disability.
Jim received an undergraduate degree from the University of Memphis in 1970 and a Master’s degree from Montclair State University in Psychology.
Prior to joining Vreeland Insurance, Jim was a manager in the Benefits/Personal Lines Department with the Prudential Insurance Company of America for 33 years. During those years, he won numerous citation awards and was recognized as a leader in his field. Jim has also achieved his Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) designation.
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Mike Martin – Life and Health Account Executive
Mike Martin is in our Benefits Department and has been a Licensed Insurance Agent since 1978. He has a total of six years of experience with Vreeland Insurance.
Mike holds licenses in Life, Health, and Property and Casualty Insurance, but has worked primarily in the Group Benefits side of the business for most of his career. He specializes in helping the small business owner provide the best solution to their employee benefit needs and in assisting employees with any issues they may have with their benefit plans.
