Meet The Board
Erin Bracken
President 2022
Erin Bracken, CFE, AIC is an SIU Investigator with Zurich North America Claims. She obtained a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in 2003. After working as a private investigator, she began her career in the insurance industry in 2004. Over the years, she has held positions as a claims case handler, senior corporate compliance investigator and field investigator. Erin was previously a Director with New England IASIU before becoming Vice President, and now President.
Tania Spring
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Vice President 2021
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Vendor Coordinator
Tania Spring is a SIU Supervisor with MAPFRE Insurance. She has been in the insurance industry since 1992, starting her career with Amica Insurance. She has been with MAPFRE/Commerce Insurance since 1996 and transitioned to the SIU in 1999. Tania holds SCLA, INS and AIC designations. Tania served on the Board of Directors prior to being elected to Vice President.
Suzette Cavanaugh
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Secretary 2022
Seminar Coordinator
​Suzette Cavanaugh is currently employed as a Senior Investigator with Pilgrim Insurance Company. After receiving her BA degree from Suffolk University she embarked on her career by joining the Massachusetts Attorney General's Public Protection Bureau as an investigator before becoming an SIU Investigator in 1993. She is a Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator (CIFI), is a founding member of the New England Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (NEIASIU), is Past President of the New England Association of Insurance Fraud Investigators (NEAIFI), and is a member of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI).
Heidi Mussler
Treasurer 2021
Heidi Mussler is the SIU Manager at Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company and also works in their Legal Department. She has been in the insurance industry since 1998, starting her career with Safeco in Los Angeles as a field investigator for casualty claims. She has been with Quincy Mutual since 2002, and has worked in SIU since 2004. Heidi holds CPCU and CIFI designations. She is a long-time member of both NEIASIU and NEAIFI, is a member of the Boston CPCU Society, and was previously a Director with New England IASIU before becoming Treasurer.
Life Members
Sue MacKay test
John Gasiorek test2
Joe Stephenson test3
Derek Byron
Director (2022)
Training & Social Media Coordinator
Derek Byron is a Senior Investigator with Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation where he began his career in SIU in 2001 as a co-op while attending Northeastern University. He was President of NEAIFI (New England Association of Insurance Fraud Investigators) from 2016-2019, having previously sat on the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the New England Association of Auto Theft Investigators, and serves on the Board of Directors for the London Riley Memorial Scholarship Fund which awards scholarships to cancer survivors and their immediate family members since 2010.
Michael Gottlieb
Director (2022)
Website Coordinator
Michael Gottlieb is the North East Region’s Senior SIU Data/Field Analyst for AIPSO. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Providence College in 1997, prior to working for a major Rhode Island insurance carrier. He joined AIPSO in 2002 as an Assistant Data Analyst in Data Services and was promoted to Data Analyst in 2005. In June 2005, he transitioned into AIPSO’s SIU becoming the Eastern Region’s SIU Data Analyst and was directly involved in the “start-up” efforts for the region’s SIU program. In December 2008 he was promoted to Senior SIU Data Analyst. In 2011, he was instrumental in designing and implementing a robust SIU Data Warehouse/Case Management System with link analysis capabilities. Mike is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), and the New England Association of Insurance Fraud Investigators (NEAIFI).
John Gasiorek
Director (2022)
Events Coordinator
John M. Gasiorek became a Special Agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau in September 2005 and was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent in May of 2009. John supervises eight additional Special Agents overseeing all NICB investigations in New England. John is also assigned investigative responsibilities in Connecticut, specializing in property and casualty insurance fraud with a specific emphasis on multi-claim, multi-carrier, ring activity perpetrated by unscrupulous medical providers and attorneys. John organized and heads the Mini-Medical Fraud Task Force in CT where he assists in the coordination of criminal investigations with federal, state and local police agencies.
Frank Loto
Director (2021)
Marketing & Merchandising Coordinator
​Frank Loto is a Sr. SIU Analyst with Lincoln Financial Group. He has worked in the anti-insurance fraud industry since 1998, investigating insurance fraud across multiple lines including property & casualty, group disability, life and A&H. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire and a MBA from Franklin Pierce University. He also holds CIFI & SCLA insurance designations. Prior to his anti-fraud career, Frank was in law enforcement in New Hampshire. Frank has been a Director with New England IASIU since 2016.
Jack Parenteau
Legal Counsel
Jack Parenteau is a Partner and Founder of Parenteau & O’Hara, P.C. A former Police officer, Bodily Injury claim representative, SIU Investigator, Auto Theft Unit Supervisor, SIU Manager, and Lawyer currently licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Jack has handled and litigated SIU cases since he became licensed as a lawyer. He has handled SIU cases from inception through appellate decisions. He has developed strategy for handling medical fraud cases locally and as national coordinating counsel. He continues to handle SIU cases throughout New England, is a frequent lecturer on fraud related issues, and has been a published author of fraud related articles regarding Kickbacks and Medical Clinic Investigations.
Audrey Parr
Legal Counsel
Audrey C. Parr, Esq, is the founder of Parr Law, P.C., where she advocates for insurers and policyholders in all types of first and third-party insurance defense matters, including pre-trial investigation, coverage matters, litigation, and appellate work. Since 1991, Attorney Parr has specialized in suspected fraudulent injury and property damage claims, relating to automobile, PIP, homeowners, medical provider, and commercial liability coverage on behalf of both personal and commercial carriers. Before her private litigation focus, Attorney Parr served the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, where she spent 12 years successfully prosecuting hundreds of District and Superior Court jury trials involving major felonies including homicide, child abuse, arson, and insurance fraud.
Sue MacKay
Director (2022)
Venue Coordinator
Marketing & Merchandising Coordinator
Sue MacKay, FCLS, CIFI, CPIW is a Senior Special Investigator with Hanover Insurance. She holds a Masters in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College. She has been in the insurance Industry for 40 years, starting her career with Sentry/Middlesex Insurance. She has been with Hanover Insurance for the last 33 years. Sue is a Life Member of NEIASIU, Past President of NEAIFI and the past President of Mass Chapter of IAAI. She has also sat on a number of Boards including IAMI.
Todd Machtley
Director (2022)
Todd Machtley, FCLS is a Desk Investigator II with Liberty Mutual. He has worked in the insurance industry since 2004 after graduating with a B.A in Communications and Sociology from Muhlenberg College. Todd recently joined Liberty Mutual SIU after 11 years as an investigator with Geico Insurance. He has worked for multiple carriers (Progressive, Safety, One Beacon and Hagerty) and over the years has held positions as an auto damage appraiser, claims handler and liability adjuster.
Mary McDermott
Director (2021)
Membership
​Mary McDermott is currently employed as an Investigator with the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts and a board member of the New England Association of Insurance Fraud Investigators (NEAIFI) . After receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Suffolk University, she began career in private investigation moving into the insurance industry as an SIU investigator for 17 years. Since 2014 she has been with the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts with a focus on Provider Fraud investigations.
Tim Sweeney
Director (2021)
Tim Sweeney is a Claim Service Consultant in Allstate’s Special Investigation Unit. After obtaining a Bachelors in Economics at University of California Santa Barbara, Tim moved to Seattle, WA in 1995. Tim began his career at Allstate 20 years ago as a total loss adjuster before transferring to SIU in 2001. He transferred to their New England SIU unit in 2011. While at Allstate, Tim has earned his SCLA and MBA. He is also a current member of IASIU, originally part of their northwest chapter, Puget Sound Special Investigator (PSSI) from 2001 through 2010, and is Past Treasurer of the New England Association of Insurance Fraud Investigators (NEAIFI).
Laurie Lunt
Director (2021) Speaker Coordinator
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Laurie Lunt is the Intelligence Analyst at MEMIC. She joined MEMIC in 2005 as a claims handler, worked as a paralegal for MEMIC and began her SIU career in 2009. She is a Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator (CIFI), Senior Claims Law Associate (SCLA) as well as a WCP (Workers’ Compensation Professional). When she isn’t fighting fraud, you can find her at Fenway Park cheering on her beloved Red Sox.
Laura Kessler
Director (2021)
Bylaws & Procedures Coordinator
​Laura Kessler is Vice-President/General Counsel to the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. She serves as chief legal officer. Formerly, Laura served as counsel to the Special Investigation Unit of Arbella Mutual Insurance Company and enforcement counsel to the Massachusetts Securities Division. A graduate of Villanova University, Laura Kessler received a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1985. She is a member of the Massachusetts and American Bar Associations, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and NEAIFI.
NEIASIU LIFE MEMBERS