Mercury Authors & Contributors
Meet the Experts Behind Our Content
At Mercury Insurance, we’re committed to delivering reliable, informative, and timely insights that help you protect what matters most. Our blog and resource center content is written and reviewed by a trusted team of experts—including licensed insurance professionals, experienced claims specialists, and subject matter authorities in risk, safety, and industry trends.
Whether you’re learning how to better protect your home, navigating the aftermath of a car accident, or simply seeking tips on staying safe and financially secure, you’ll find expert-backed guidance you can trust. Get to know the people behind our content—real-world professionals who bring valuable insight, practical advice, and a passion for helping you make confident decisions.
Larry Anderson
Director of Underwriting Operations at Mercury Insurance
Larry Anderson is the Director of Underwriting Operations for Mercury Insurance, where he leads several teams including Audit, Training, and Regulatory Compliance. Anderson has been with Mercury since 2002 when he began as an underwriter. Anderson received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.
Adam Bakonis
Senior Product Manager at Mercury Insurance
Adam Bakonis is a Senior Product Manager for Mercury Insurance, overseeing homeowners and landlord products for California. Bakonis originally joined Mercury as a casualty adjuster and has worked in multiple roles, including claims examiner, property field adjuster, claims project and analytics manager.
Stephen Bennett
Senior Director of Mercury Insurance’s Climate and Catastrophe Science
Stephen Bennett is Senior Director of Mercury Insurance’s Climate and Catastrophe Science Division, where he leads the company’s strategy on climate risk and catastrophe modeling. With experience advising companies like Apple and Unilever, supporting weather-informed investment at Citadel, and quantifying storm risk at Demex, Bennett brings a deep background in climate science. He serves as a councilor of the American Meteorological Society, chairs its Forum on Climate Linked Economics, and teaches risk management at UNC Chapel Hill. He holds a BS in Meteorology from the University of South Alabama and a JD from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
Kelly Butler
VP, Chief Underwriting Officer for Mercury Insurance
Kelly Butler is the VP, Chief Underwriting Officer for Mercury Insurance, where she is responsible for combining analytics with traditional underwriting to evaluate wildfire risk and exposure. Her wildfire training includes the completion of a two-day National Fire Protection Association course “Assessing Structure Ignition Potential From Wildfire,” which identifies the most effective mitigation techniques. Butler received a BA in Marketing and an MBA from CSU Fullerton.
Chong Gao
Director of Research and Development at Mercury Insurance
Chong Gao is the Director of Research and Development at Mercury Insurance and is responsible for personal auto ratings plan research and development for all of the Mercury 11 states. Chong led the personal private auto (PPA) research and development team through the analysis, development, and implementation of the Mercury Advantage 1.0 project, a product update where all major components were solved using Mercury data. Chong has been with Mercury for XX years and holds a BA in Business Economics and a BS in Mathematics from UCLA.
Steve Ward
Director of Strategic Planning and ERM at Mercury Insurance
Steve Ward, Director, Strategic Planning & Enterprise Risk Management at Mercury, has been with the company for more than 14 years, heading up Mercury’s ERM initiatives. He leads the company’s climate risk reporting and sustainability governance programs, including initiatives that minimize the company’s impact on the environment. Steve has been a leader in the IT/Innovation industry for more than 40 years. He has a BS from Cal Poly Pomona and earned his Master’s Degree from USC. Steve, his wife Sylvia and their two sons live in Redondo Beach.
Justin Yoshizawa
Director of Product Management at Mercury Insurance
Justin Yoshizawa is Director of Product Management for Mercury Insurance, overseeing California’s personal lines, including auto, homeowners, landlord, and umbrella. He has led major initiatives such as the rollout of the aligned umbrella product across all Mercury territories and serves as a company spokesperson on auto-related topics. Yoshizawa holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Applied Mathematics and Applied Statistics from UC Santa Barbara.
Mercury Human Capital
Mercury Human Capital is dedicated to promoting the good works and providing important information pertaining to the heartbeat of Mercury Insurance…the people who work to make it the very best in the business. The team can be found on LinkedIn and on Facebook.
Mercury Team
The Mercury Marketing Team is made up of professionals in the fields of Content Creation, Public Relations, Social Media and Journalism. The team works together to deliver professionally written and researched content to provide information for consumers.