Senior Leadership

Pamela E. Davis is the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the member companies of the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance.

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.

Michelle Alvis, PHR, is Chief People Officer (CPO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance. Michelle is a seasoned human resources professional with more than 25 years of broad-based and progressively responsible experience in human resources, facilities, operations and administration, both in the private and nonprofit work sectors. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification through the Human Resources Certification Institute. She is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management, the Northern California Human Resources Association and has conducted numerous trainings and workshops focused on professionalizing the role of human resources in the non-profit sector. She is active in the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA and Dress for Success.

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.