Your Team

Our underwriters understand the E&S Property market and aim to develop deep relationships with a limited number of brokers

Kiley O’Connell

Chief Executive Officer

Kiley is the CEO and a founding member of Lynx Specialty. He previously held roles in underwriting, business development, and management with Fortune 500 insurance carriers. Most recently he served as CUO of Specialty Property for The Hanover Insurance Group, which included oversight of their E&S, Programs, and Industrial Property books of business. Previous officer level roles included VP, Head of E&S Property for The Hanover Insurance Group and Divisional AVP, Head of E&S Property for Great American Insurance Group. Kiley obtained his BA from Miami University and MBA from Xavier University. He also holds the insurance designations of CPCU, ARe, AMIM, and AINS.

Paul Ritter

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

West Region

Paul is a founding member of Lynx Specialty and is the Senior Vice President in the West region. He started his insurance career at Great American Insurance Group in their Excess Property unit before transitioning to their E&S Property unit. Within E&S Property, Paul oversaw the West Coast Region before being promoted to Head of E&S Property. Paul graduated from the University of Kentucky with a double major in Business Administration & Philosophy.

Jackie Neuhalfen

UNDERWRITING SPECIALIST

Midwest Region

Jackie is a founding member of Lynx Specialty and is an Underwriting Specialist in the Midwest region. She started her insurance career at Great American Insurance Group in their E&S Property unit as a Production Underwriter, with her main broker relationships in the West and Midwest regions. Jackie graduated from Illinois State University where she double majored in Finance & Risk Management Insurance and minored in Economics. She also holds her ARe and CPCU designations.

LINDSAY MARCUM

SENIOR UNDERWRITER

West Region

Lindsay joined Lynx Specialty in 2023 as Senior Underwriter in the West region. Lindsay started her insurance career on the agency side in Employee Benefits, where she obtained her insurance licenses. She then moved to the carrier side and held various roles in E&S Property. Lindsay is a graduate of Miami University with a degree in Mathematics and focus in Actuarial Sciences.

SHAUN CAWLEY

UNDERWRITING SPECIALIST

Northeast Region

Shaun joined Lynx Specialty in 2023 as an Underwriting Specialist in the Northeast region and helped launch our excess property product. He started his insurance career as an agent before joining The Cincinnati Insurance Companies as an Underwriter. He progressed into various E&S Property underwriting roles at Great American and was most recently an Underwriting Specialist in Excess Property at Intact. Shaun is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University’s Risk Management & Insurance program. He also holds the CPCU, ARe, ARM and ASLI designations.

MEGAN GILENE

UNDERWRITING SPECIALIST

Southeast Region

Megan joined Lynx Specialty in 2023 as an Underwriting Specialist in the South region and helped launch our excess property product. She started her insurance career at Great American as an intern and progressed through various underwriting roles, most recently as Senior Production Underwriter for Excess Property. Megan is a University of Cincinnati graduate where she majored in Communication.

JAKE FEELEY

UNDERWRITING SPECIALIST

West Region

Jake joined Lynx Specialty in 2024 as Underwriting Specialist in the West region. Jake has held roles at various E&S property carriers before joining Lynx, most recently at Hanover Insurance. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi where he played football and obtained a BBA in Finance and Risk Management.

KIRSTEN LUCAS

SENIOR UNDERWRITER

Midwest Region

Kirsten joined Lynx Specialty in 2024 as Senior Underwriter in the Midwest region. She comes to Lynx after several roles of increasing responsibility at American Modern Insurance, most recently as an Underwriting Consultant. Kirsten has an MBA and BBA in Information Systems and Insurance & Risk Management from the University of Cincinnati, where she also teaches courses.

JAIDA MARTIN

INTERN

Jaida joined Lynx in 2024 as a fall intern. She previously completed internships in the commercial lines department of a large insurance agency. Jaida is a third-year student at the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Insurance & Risk Management. She also serves as Vice President of the University of Cincinnati Gamma Iota Sigma chapter and leader of Gamma’s Community Service Committee.

BROOKE DYNDA

INTERN

Brooke joined Lynx in 2024 as a fall intern. She previously completed internships in the commercial lines department of a large insurance agency. Brooke is a fourth-year student at the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Insurance & Risk Management. She also holds her Property and Casualty insurance license in Ohio.

ELLIE HEISLER

INTERN

Ellie joined Lynx in 2024 as a fall intern. She previously completed internships in the Compliance department of an insurance carrier. Ellie is a fourth-year student at the University of Cincinnati, double-majoring in Marketing and Insurance & Risk Management.