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Meridian Gives

At Meridian the urge to give back is a daily exercise, coming directly from our fearless leader. We recognize many people who need...

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Trust comes with experience.

Meridian helps you protect your property, family, business & lifestyle with the
premium products and personal service that you deserve.

ABOUT MERIDIAN

Anyone can sell you insurance –
we help YOU BUY IT.

An important difference that defines the very essence of Meridian. Selling insurance is a transaction, managing your risk properly requires insight and understanding. About the way you live, the hopes and dreams you have for your family, your professional goals and more. When you work with Meridian, you work with people who have walked in your shoes, for four decades.

Our experience extends across the spectrum of insurance risks, so we are uniquely qualified to accommodate your needs as your assets and responsibilities grow. We thoroughly analyze all cost and coverage options to offer you products that are not only trustworthy but represent value for your spend. Meridian provides expert consulting and a wide array of insurance and financial products for both personal and commercial purposes. We reflect the values and principles of our founder and his father: Discipline, diligence, honesty and commitment to community.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

JOE SOLIMINE JR.

Joe Solimine, Jr., Founder and President of Meridian Risk Management has the insurance business in his blood. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Joe Solimine, Sr. who co-founded his own independent insurance agency in 1965 in the Bronx, and later brought Joe Jr. with him to Pelham, New York, beginning in 1972.

The road to Meridian was a colorful and rewarding path for Joe, Jr. He grew up in Pelham (where he still lives to this day). A natural talent for baseball led him to Fairfield University in Connecticut where he was ’89 Athlete of the Year and made All Northeast Region that same year. Graduation in 1989 was not the end of Joe’s connection to Fairfield – he is now very active with the Alumni Association and is Founder of the Mike Andrews Memorial Scholarship fund.

Post-college life found Joe, Jr. once again stepping in similar footfalls to his dad – this time in professional baseball. Joe was a catcher for the Chicago White Sox organization from 1989-1991. Joe, Sr. played for Pittsburgh.

Joe, Jr. and the entire Meridian team place a high importance on giving back, especially where it matters most: close to home. Joe supports many local events and organizations, including: The Junior League of Pelham, The Picture House, Pelham Children’s Center, Pelham Art Center and many more.

Joe met his wife Annie through his Fairfield University roommate, and Joe and Annie have been married since 1996. Annie went to Middlebury College and was Phi Beta Kappa. They have four great children together – Chandler, Tim, Maggie, and Shep. When not making sure Meridian is the best independent insurance agency around, Joe enjoys time with family, pursuing the art of golf, and boating in Maine where they visit Annie’s family in Prout’s Neck. All are welcome to come tubing – after signing a waiver, of course.

Meridian was founded in 2003 and to this day embodies the priorities Joe learned from his father – Knowledge, Integrity, Family, and Community.

  • Pelham Youth Football – Coach

  • Pelham Hockey Association – Board member and Dad

  • PTA – All Pelham Schools (PMHS graphics helped choose our color scheme…it’s the same as theirs!)

  • The Junior League of Pelham – Major sponsor of yearly fundraiser

  • Pelham Country Club – Past president and current and future golfer…sort of

  • Pelham Picture House – Restoration and awareness

  • Pelham Art Center

  • Pelham Education Foundation – Annual Top Level Corporate Sponsor

  • Pelham Little League – Coach, Annual Parade Sponsor and Dad (we gave back-packs to the teams this year)

OUR PEOPLE

Joe Solimine Jr.

Joe Solimine Jr.

Joe Solimine, Jr., Founder and President of Meridian Risk Management has the insurance business...


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Kristen Rice

Kristen Rice

Kristen joined the Meridian team after experiencing a long, successful career focused on the Service...


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SALES

Peter Bennett

Peter Bennett

Peter is focused primarily on developing the property casualty business at Meridian. His background...


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Jack Burridge

Jack Burridge

Jack Burridge is an experienced Benefits Consultant that has worked on the sales and service side...


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Tom Clements

Tom Clements

Tom Clements is the Head of the Employee Benefit Division at Meridian Risk Management. A native...


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Jeannine Foxx

Jeannine Foxx

Jeannine (Solimine) Foxx has been a part of Pelham for many years, but it wasn’t where she started h...


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Tyler Garrow

Tyler Garrow

Tyler Garrow is a Personal & Business Risk Advisor here at Meridian Risk Management. Tyler’s k...


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Chrissy Kantrowitz

Chrissy Kantrowitz

Chrissy Kantrowitz began her career in the insurance industry in 2001 and has been working at Meridian...


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James Ingle

James Ingle

A transplant from Ohio, James made his way to the East Coast in the late 80s and began his employee...


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Alex Lucas

Alex Lucas

Alex Lucas is Head of the Meridian PEO Market Analytics Practice, where he is driven by the goal of...


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Lisa Marino

Lisa Marino

Lisa is responsible for working with Meridian's clients and their advisors to develop personal...


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Robert Raniolo

Robert Raniolo

Rob Raniolo joined Meridian's Private Client Group in 2017 as a Personal Risk Advisor. He focuses...


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Joe Solimine Sr.

Joe Solimine Sr.

Joe Solimine Sr. has been advising insurance since 1965. While pursuing his dream of playing professional...


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Tom Solimine

Tom Solimine

Tom Solimine has been advising his clients in insurance for over 30 years and has helped laid the...


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Michael Welling

Michael Welling

Michael came aboard to direct the firm’s Life Sciences group, serving the needs of the commercial i...


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MARKETING

Erin Moriarty

Erin Moriarty

Erin is Meridian's "Everything Marketing" Manager and we mean everything. From local charity donation...


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CLIENT SERVICES

Yasmine Annabi

Yasmine Annabi

Yasmine began her insurance career at the early age of twenty. She started her first job in the...


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Fehim Blakaj

Fehim Blakaj

Fehim joined the Meridian team in July of 2021 as Manager of our Commercial Lines Department. He...


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Catherine Reilly Botta

Catherine Reilly Botta

Cathi began her insurance career over 25 years ago flying airplanes up and down the east coast,...


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Jill Brideau

Jill Brideau

Jill Brideau is our Senior Account Manager, Benefits Division at Meridian Risk Management. Jill...


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Mercedes Crispin

Mercedes Crispin

Mercedes Crispin has been in the Insurance Industry for more than 15 years. "Meche", as her friends...


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Joanna Cruz

Joanna Cruz

Joanna Cruz have been in the Insurance industry for a little over 6 years. Joanna enjoys Commercial...


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Monique Edwards

Monique Edwards

Monique Edwards grew up in White Plains, NY and loves spending time riding bikes with her family,...


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Janet Locascio

Janet Locascio

Janet Locascio was first introduced to the world of Insurance as a Part Time Receptionist at an...


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Joe Marino

Joe Marino

Joe Marino is our Senior Account Manager, Benefits Division at Meridian Risk Management. Joe...


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Michele Medina

Michele Medina

Michele began her career in the Insurance industry 15 years ago as an assistant working on middle...


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Sharon Morrison

Sharon Morrison

Sharon grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock before...


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Patricia Nachstein

Patricia Nachstein

Trish joined the Meridian team in May of 2022, as a Commercial Lines Account Manager. Trish was...


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Destiny Nieves

Destiny Nieves

Destiny was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. In 2019, she began working as a receptionist in the...


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Michele Noviello

Michele Noviello

Michele has worked in the insurance brokerage industry since 2013. With almost a decade of experience...


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Tracy Pufpaff

Tracy Pufpaff

Tracy joined the Meridian team in December of 2019 as a Commercial Lines Account Manager. She brings...


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Morgan Rakow

Morgan Rakow

Morgan has worked in the insurance industry since 2020. Growing up, her father, grandfather and...


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Candice Ripoll

Candice Ripoll

Candice Ripoll has been in the insurance business – from service to sales – since graduating fro...


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David Schneider

David Schneider

David grew up in Westchester, NY and graduated from Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business w...


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Bernadette Tyrrell

Bernadette Tyrrell

Bernadette was born in the Bronx but raised in Warwick, NY. She went to school for Fashion & worked...


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Anabel Vega

Anabel Vega

Anabel grew up in Bronx, NY and began her career in the insurance industry in 2019. She is excited...


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OPERATIONS

Tina McCleod

Tina McCleod

Tina began her insurance career in 1997 and joined Meridian Risk Management on December 3, 2007...


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Taryn Rodriguez

Taryn Rodriguez

Taryn came from Long Island when she made the life decision to move to Westchester to be with her...


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