Thomas M. Van Berkel

Biography

Mr. Thomas M. Van Berkel, also known as Tom, has been Chairman of Main Street America Group, Inc. since September 13, 2006 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Van Berkel joined Main Street America in 1990 as Vice President of marketing and served as Senior Vice President of insurance operations since 1993. In June 2001, he served Chief Operating Officer of Main Street America. He served as Senior Vice President at Associates Insurance Group, Dallas, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. He held several other management positions throughout his insurance career, including key roles with Crum & Forster and Trinity Universal Insurance Company in Dallas. He serves as an Executive Director of Main Street America Group. Mr. Van Berkel is an active member of many industry and community organizations. He is treasurer of the Jacksonville, Fla., Regional Chamber of Commerce board of directors and a past chairman of its Cornerstone economic development initiative. Mr. Van Berkel is on the business advisory council for the University of North Florida Coggin College of Business. He serves on the board of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. He served as a director of the Institute of Business and Home Safety. He served as chairman of the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) Company Council of Executive Officers. He was awarded the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Presidential Citation in 2003. In 1998, he was honored as PIA New Hampshire Company Person of the Year and in 1997 won its President Award. Mr. Van Berkel earned his bachelor’s degree in English and history at Boston College.

Research Interest

Business and Management