Senior Leadership

Pamela E. Davis is the founder, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA), which includes Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC); Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance, Risk Retention Group (ANI); a captive property reinsurer; and a management company. All companies in NIA are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits.

In 2021, Ms. Davis was named for the second time to The NonProfit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50 list which recognizes innovative leaders and visionaries of the nonprofit sector. She first appeared on the Top 50 list in 2002. In 2017, Ms. Davis was named among 125 Elite Women by Insurance Business America as one of the women at the vanguard of the insurance industry. In 2013, the NIA was selected as one of The Bay Area News Group’s Top Workplaces. In 1997 and 2010, Ms. Davis and the NIA were featured in the documentary series Visionaries, which airs on PBS stations nationwide. In 2008, she was named a “Women of Influence in Silicon Valley” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and in 2000, Business Insurance named Ms. Davis one of the 100 Leading Women in the insurance industry, and in 2006, one of the “Women to Watch” in the commercial insurance industry worldwide. She was named one of the nation’s 15 BEST BOSSES by Fortune Small Business and Winning Workplaces in 2005 in recognition of innovative and progressive leadership in establishing a great workplace.

In 2004, Ms. Davis received the first-ever Award for Policy Innovation from The Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley. She holds a BA with highest honors in economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MA in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

NIA has been assigned an A IX (Excellent) rating by AM Best, and was named Best Overall Insurance Provider for Nonprofits in 2021 by Investopedia. Together, the NIA companies have assets of more than $645 million and a surplus of more than $268 million. NIA insures and provides risk management services for more than 22,000 tax-exempt nonprofits in 32 states and the District of Columbia. NIA was founded in 1989.

Kim Aday is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance. She has served the Group since 1997, in various positions throughout the finance department. Prior to joining the group, Ms. Aday was an accountant for Marina Village Real Estate. Kim holds a BS in Finance from San Jose State University and has completed the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program through the San Jose State University College of Business. Her volunteer work has included the California State PTA and coaching youth soccer and softball teams.

Ren Agarwal is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA). He has worked in insurance and technology industries for over 25 years.

Before joining the NIA leadership team, Ren held senior marketing roles at several Silicon Valley companies. He served as CEO and co-founder of Mercury360, an early pioneer in helping organizations manage social media. Mercury360 was a double-bottom line business which employed underrepresented individuals and trained them for digital marketing careers. Prior to founding Mercury360 he was Vice President of Marketing at Keynote Systems, a NASDAQ traded SaaS company, where he was responsible for overseeing corporate marketing, product marketing, and corporate communications. Prior to Keynote he was Senior Director at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, where he oversaw all marketing, online channels, and PR execution for the commercial division.

In addition to his professional work, Ren is active in nonprofit consulting. He recently completed a Salesforce integration project for a major Portland family services agency and helped a Los Angeles animal rescue and adoption nonprofit buildout its search engine marketing program.

Ren is a graduate of the Stern School of Business, New York University, and Rutgers University. He lives in the SF Bay Area with his wife.

Thomas Bakewell is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance.  He is an accomplished IT executive with a proven track record over 30 years of improving business operations, increasing productivity and reducing costs.  He has led the IT organizations in several high profile companies in Silicon Valley.

Mr. Bakewell has served on the CEO boards of Splunk and Vectra Networks.  He also holds a teaching credential in Computer Science from the State of California.

In addition to his professional career, Mr. Bakewell has been involved in many nonprofit and charitable organizations.  He has served as Chairman of the Board for the de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University, was a member of the Diocese of San Jose Advisory Board, and is currently in a leadership role with a UN recognized worldwide charitable organization.

Mr. Bakewell lives in San Jose, California with his wife.  Their children reside throughout the Bay Area and Western United States.  When not working they enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle.

Dave Gibson is Chief Claims Officer (CCO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance. Mr. Gibson brings more than 30 years of experience in the insurance claims industry, and has held management positions for most of that time with Universal Underwriters Insurance Company, Zurich Direct Markets, and Philadelphia Insurance Companies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts  degree in Psychology from Rutgers University. His most recent nonprofit service has been as a youth soccer coach in Rocklin, California, for recreational, select, and competitive teams.

Brian E. Johnson ACAS, MAAA is the Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance.  Mr. Johnson has worked in the consulting, insurance and re-insurance industry for 30 years. Prior to joining the group, Mr. Johnson managed a Treaty Reinsurance Underwriting/Costing team at Swiss Re. Prior to Swiss Re, he was with Employers Re from 2003-2006 as a Senior Underwriter/Account Executive and a Senior Actuary.  Mr. Johnson was with American Re from 1996-2003 and held the positions of Underwriting Risk Manager, Treaty Underwriting Manager and Actuarial Manager. He began his career in 1989 in the Actuarial field with Ernst & Young as an Actuarial Consultant in Atlanta and also worked as a Primary Insurance Rating Actuary at USF&G in Baltimore. Mr. Johnson holds a BS in Mathematics/Actuarial Science from Penn State University and is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Mr. Johnson has worked with various nonprofits in the past including serving on the board of the Mid-State Literacy Council in Central Pennsylvania.

Steven Salar is the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA).  He has worked in the insurance and financial services industries for over 25 years.  Prior to joining NIA, Steven has held various roles at carriers including Risk & Claims Manager, Compliance Officer at AIG; Vice President Compliance Officer at Balboa/Bank of America; Director of Claims Compliance at Farmers; Senior Vice President of Operations at QBE North America; Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning Global Distribution at QBE Insurance Group; and was an Agency Owner at Allstate Insurance.

Working in roles within the USA and internationally, Steven improved business performance by building a methodical, solution-based approach encompassing risk management, process improvement, strategy, and employee led business transformation. He is experienced in resolving fundamental organizational issues including compliance, corporate turnarounds, expansion, and cost reduction strategies. He has been the business point person in working to develop complex reorganizational business plans with external advisors (i.e. Accenture, McKinsey, BCG, etc.) and responsible for execution across the enterprise.

Steve holds a BA from California State University, Northridge, an AA from Los Angeles Pierce College, Woodland Hills, CA and has completed graduate studies in strategic management & nonprofit organizations from Cal State Northridge.  Additionally, Steven holds several licenses including being a licensed Property and Casualty General Lines Agent/Broker.

Starr Thompson is the Chief People & Administration Officer for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance.  Prior to joining the group, Ms. Thompson led overall human resources strategy, talent acquisition, leadership development, and DEI strategy as vice president of human resources for Fitness Club Management, the largest franchise company of Crunch Fitness Gyms.  Prior to that, Ms. Thompson held positions as director of human resources at The Medical Group Executive Services, and human resources manager at Lemonade Restaurant Group.

In addition to her professional work, Ms. Thompson is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management, the National Human Resources Association, and Professionals in Human Resources Management; and she enjoys sharing her expertise in human resources management as a mentor to young professionals.