Our Executive Team
David M. Lovitt, Jr., CLU
Owner and President
David was born in Tucson and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1965 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. He began his insurance career in 1968 with his father’s agency, D.M. Lovitt and Company, and has built a solid reputation over the past 40 years as a professional insurance counselor.
David is a member of the National Association of Life and Health Underwriters, a Certified Life Underwriter (CLU), a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table and a member and past president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Tucson.
His current community activities include serving on the Board of Directors for Boys and Girls Clubs (President in 1988) and Tucson Botanical Gardens (President in 2008-2009). David is a member of the Tucson Rotary Club, Southern Arizona Leadership Council and Tucson Airport Authority. In the past he has been involved in numerous other non-profit organizations including the Tucson Symphony Board of Directors, Big Brothers & Big Sisters Advisory Board, and the Red Cross Board of Directors.
David has been the recipient of numerous awards throughout his career. Most recently he was awarded the Paul H. Jones Agent of the Year Award by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Arizona, 2008. Past awards include the National Quality Award for Life Insurance, Father of the Year, 2002, Dynamic Duo, 2005, and the Spirit of Philanthropy Award, 2007.
David is married and has two daughters. His activities of interest include running, cycling, scuba diving, and photography.
Carina Lovitt
Vice-President, Health Insurance Administrator
Carina became the third generation of the Lovitt family to build a career in the insurance industry when she joined DM Lovitt Insurance Agency in 2000. She enjoys being a part of the family business and working with her father. Carina is currently working towards her Life Underwriters Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) designation. The LUTCF designation is a highly regarded credential in the insurance industry and signifies a broad understanding of a variety of insurance products.
Carina is very active in the community and has volunteered her time and served on committees for numerous organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, Tucson Botanical Gardens, and Southern Arizona Aids Foundation. Carina is a native Tucsonan and a graduate of Salpointe and the University of Arizona. She is married and has a beautiful baby girl.
Lynell Anderson
Commercial Lines/Personal Lines Agent, CISR
Lynell began her insurance career in 1976, working for a direct writer. She then moved to an independent agency in 1983. She worked with Vanderkolk Insurance Agency for 15 years before it was purchased by D.M. Lovitt Insurance Agency. In 2004, Lynell achieved her CISR designation, or Certified Insurance Service Representative. The CISR designation program is a nationally recognized credential. The designation reflects a commitment to insurance education and professionalism. Lynell volunteers her time with the Special Olympics in the regional area for all events and at the state level for bowling and track and field.
Mitch Childers
Commercial Lines
Mitch is a graduate of Mountain State University in West Virginia. He also attended University of Charleston and University of Tennessee. His career in the insurance industry began 35 years ago as a claims adjuster. He has spent the last 11 of those years at D.M. Lovitt Insurance Agency in the commercial lines department.
Mitch is currently the Treasurer of the Arizona Daily Star Sportman’s Fund, an organization whose mission is to provide children an opportunity to spend a week at camp in an environment that helps promote positive ideals, such as honesty, responsibility and respect.
He has been a member of Independent Insurance Agents of Arizona since 1988 and served as president during the 2008-2009 term. Mitch is married with two daughters.
Kathy Dunn
Department Manager, Life & Health Department
Kathy brings to our agency 30 years of experience in the Life and Health Insurance fields with an emphasis in the area of Plan Administration. She has a diversified background encompassing plan design, underwriting, utilization review, cost containment management, claims adjudication and management, provider network management, sales and service.
Kathy began her career in 1978. And over the vast years in the industry, Kathy has accomplished her goal of learning all aspects of the business and credits her very diversified experience with having worked for carriers, third party administrators, preferred provider organizations and brokerages.
Kathy is a licensed agent for Life, Health, and Disability Insurance and has successfully completed accreditation courses with the Health Insurance Institute of America (HIAA), Life Office Management Organization (LOMA) and Insurance Claims Association of America (ICA).
Jennifer Gooch
Producer, Life & Health Department
Jennifer joined the D.M. Lovitt team in January 2008 after working as an independent agent for four years. Her previous experience in human resources, customer service, and marketing prepared her for a career in insurance. Jennifer has lived in Tucson for over 23 years and is a graduate of the University of Arizona.
She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Handi-Dogs and is President of the Foothills Chapter of Business Networking International. Jennifer is working towards her Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) designation. The RHU designation indicates a high level of knowledge about the principles and practices governing the disability income and health insurance business.
Jennifer is married and has a daughter and step-son. After recently rediscovering her love of running, she now enjoys participating in local races.
Patricia Hughes
Personal Lines Manager
A graduate of Tucson College of Business , Pat started her insurance career over thirty years ago working for a small independent agency as a producer and customer service representative. After 7 years she moved on to a position at Mendelsohn & Associates. In 1993, Pat came to work for David M. Lovitt , Jr. when he purchased a book of business from Mendelsohn & Associates.
She is now the Personal Lines manager for D.M. Lovitt Insurance Agency. Pat is a true Tucson native. Her passion is and always has been horse racing. She is currently a member of the Historic Save Rillito Race track committee which hopes to preserve and save Rillito Park and quarter horse racing in Tucson.
Louise Jacobson
Client Service Representative, Life & Health Department
Louise joined our Agency in April 1999 and is a licensed agent for Health and Disability Insurance. A graduate of National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois, she has over 30 years experience in administration and management. She was formerly employed by Continental Grain Company in Chicago and Guthrie Latex, Inc. in Tucson.
At D. M. Lovitt Insurance Agency, Louise is currently responsible for group and individual health insurance applications, medical claims adjudication, provider service issues and customer relations as well as various philanthropic projects.
Louise is a member of the National Association of Professional Women, is an avid reader, and enjoys movies and having friends for dinner. She is the proud mother of three daughters, loves being grandmother to eight amazing grandkids and enjoys taking her dog on long walks.
Debbie Meehan
Customer Service Representative, Personal Lines Department
Debbie came to Tucson from New Jersey in 1993. She began her insurance career in 2007 and joined DM Lovitt Insurance Agency in early 2009, where she now helps clients with their auto and homeowners insurance needs. Her background in customer service oriented positions has meshed well with DM Lovitt Insurance Agency’s strong focus on client relationships.
Mona L. Poniske, CIC
Manager, Commercial Lines Department
Mona has been with D.M. Lovitt Insurance for 16 years and is currently the Commercial Lines Manager. She has been in the insurance field for over 25 years.
Mona is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and has held the designation for over 12 years. She annual attends CIC updates to maintain consistent education in the constantly changing insurance industry. She is a past President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Tucson and served on the board of the organization for over five years.
Currently, she is working on insurance accounts up to $1,000,000 in premium. In the past, she has worked on large insurance accounts for school districts, contractors, and car dealerships as well as other medium to small accounts. She has a wide background of experience from small to large accounts and understands the insurance needs of her clients regardless of their size.
Michele Poteet
Commercial Lines
Michele Poteet has 36 years of insurance experience. Her Arizona history began 29 years ago, with the agency then known as Snodgrass, Lovitt, Downey & Touché, working in the Commercial Lines Dept with Jim Spring. When David M. Lovitt, Jr. began his own agency, Pacific International Insurance in 1980, she joined him and has been working for him for the past 29 years, first with Pacific International Insurance and then with D. M. Lovitt Insurance, when the two agencies merged in 1997.
Sandi Wright
Assistant and Customer Service Representative, Life & Health Department
Sandi joined our agency in January 2008. She was in the title/escrow industry for 30 years, which provided her with a solid background in administration and customer relations. She was formerly employed with Fidelity National Title Agency where she received the employee of the year award for going above and beyond in her duties for her dedication.
Sandi’s current duties include group and individual claim adjustments and enrollments, as well as compiling reports and various projects. Sandi is leading the effort to plan and organize Red Cross blood drives at her church.
Fiona Yacob
Administration
Fiona’s career in insurance began over 31 years ago at the home office of Bankers Life in Chicago. She worked her way up from a clerk’s position to an underwriter. In 1990 she and her husband left Chicago and moved to Tucson. Shortly after that she came to D.M. Lovitt Insurance Agency.
