Larissa Shakespeare
Casselberry,FL
Summary
Dynamic and results-oriented Senior Underwriter with 9+ years of experience in commercial insurance underwriting, risk analysis, carrier negotiations, and portfolio management. Proven leader with a track record of mentoring underwriting teams, supervising assistant underwriters, driving operational excellence, and fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture. Skilled at building strategic relationships with agents, brokers, and carrier partners while balancing profitability, compliance, and customer service objectives. Recognized for sound underwriting judgment, effective decision-making, process improvement initiatives, and the ability to lead teams through complex risk evaluations and changing market conditions. Holds active Florida 2-20 Property & Casualty and 1-20 Surplus Lines licenses.
Overview
1
1
Certification
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Underwriter / Broker
Halcyon Underwriters
Maitland, FL
01.2017 - 08.2026
- Market and place complex risks with admitted and surplus lines carriers while negotiating competitive pricing, coverage enhancements, deductibles, and exclusions.
- Underwrite and evaluate new and renewal commercial insurance submissions, determining acceptance, modification, or declination of risks based on underwriting guidelines and profitability objectives.
- Market and place complex risks with admitted and surplus lines carriers, negotiating competitive pricing and coverage terms to optimize client outcomes.
- Manage and grow an assigned book of business through strategic agency development and strong carrier partnerships.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with retail agents, brokers, carrier underwriters, and internal stakeholders.
- Solicit and secure additional lines of coverage to strengthen client retention and increase account profitability.
- Build and maintain relationships with retail agents, brokers, and carrier underwriters to facilitate collaboration and enhance service delivery.
- Solicit and secure additional lines of coverage to enhance client retention and support overall profitability of accounts.
- Review risks for securities law and specialized practice exposures to ensure appropriate coverage placement and compliance.
- Oversee policy lifecycle management including submission review, policy issuance, endorsements, audits, invoicing, and documentation maintenance.
- Monitor underwriting quality standards and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and accuracy.
- Train, mentor, and supervise assistant underwriters, providing guidance on underwriting practices, carrier appetite, and workflow management.
- Support business growth initiatives through market development, agency prospecting, and carrier relationship expansion.
Skills
- Commercial Property & Casualty Underwriting
- Excess & Surplus Lines (E&S)
- Risk Assessment & Coverage Analysis
- Portfolio & Book of Business Management
- Carrier & Agency Relationship Management
- New Business Development
- Renewal Underwriting
- Coverage Negotiation
- Regulatory Compliance
- Team Leadership & Training
- Quality Control & Audit Management
- Policy Issuance & Endorsements
- Customer Service Excellence
- Strong analytical and decision-making abilities
- Excellent negotiation and communication skills
- Proven ability to manage competing priorities in fast-paced environments
- Detail-oriented with exceptional quality control standards
- Skilled in agency development and carrier marketing strategies
- Collaborative leadership style with commitment to team success
- Risk evaluations
- Training and mentoring
- Underwriting guidelines
- Microsoft office
- Industry trends
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Excellent communication
- Policy renewal
Certification
- Florida 2-20 Property & Casualty License, Active
- Florida 1-20 Surplus Lines License, Active
Timeline
Senior Underwriter / Broker
Halcyon Underwriters
01.2017 - 08.2026