Elmer Becomes Marketing Rep of C&S Entertainment Insurance

C & S (formerly Coulter & Sands), the entertainment industry boutique insurance agency headed by Debra Kozee, has added former Actors' Equity Rep Sheila Matthews Elmer as its new Marketing Rep.

Sheila Mathews Elmer comes to C & S with over 20 years experience in New York theatre.  Sheila has held various administrative and staff positions in commercial and not-for-profit theatres, including several stints stage managing and assisting General Managers. Prior to joining C & S, Sheila was with Actors Equity for 12 years. As a Senior Business Representative with Actors' Equity, Sheila administered and negotiated contracts and helped members directly resolving disputes between members and Producers.  Sheila divides her time between New York and North Carolina where she resides with her husband, George Elmer. 

Sheila's mission as a Marketing Rep is to introduce C & S's services to new clients and to enhance existing relationships within the theatrical community. 

C & S (formerly Coulter & Sands) is a boutique insurance agency founded in 1987 to solely cater to the insurance needs of entertainment, media and theatrical clients.  C & S, headed by respected Insurance Broker Debra Kozee, is a 100% female owned and operated; a Certified Women Business Enterprise.

Says Kozee, "We are thrilled that Sheila has joined us and I am certain that her insight has enhanced our ability to serve our clients. We are looking to build long term relationships based on mutual trust and respect.  Having Sheila on board demonstrates our continued commitment to the theatrical community." 

C & S is an independent insurance brokerage that offers commercial, property and casualty insurance, for businesses and individuals.  The firm specializes in coverage for media, entertainment, arts, leisure and related businesses.  Founded in 1987, the New York-based firm opened under the name of Coulter & Sands Inc. with just two employees including owner Debra Kozee.  The firm's first clients included superstars Patti LaBelle and Willie Nelson, as well as the internationally renowned Boys Choir of Harlem.  In addition to film, tape and electronic production, the firm provides theatrical production insurance for Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, as well as National Tours and Regional Theatre.  In 1994, C & S designed a special discounted liability program with the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (ART/NY), an off-Broadway advocacy and support group.   C & S works with many independent producers primarily in the genre of documentaries and other fact-based filmed entertainment in addition to feature film producers, corporate video and live events, educational films and commercial producers. C & S also handles a variety of not-for-profit organizations, and many other entertainment-related companies such as theatres, nightclubs, studios and post-production facilities.  A sister company, Events Insurance Brokers LLC, handles special events insurance for almost any type of short term projects such as showcases, concerts, benefits and fairs.
 
 "We are eager to work with clients of all sizes," says Kozee, "we have a special affinity for the entrepreneurial spirit.  Our strength comes from our ability to offer our clients creative and flexible insurance packages that meet their needs, their timing and their budgets."
 
C & S designs a wide variety of packages through many different insurance carriers.  It includes workers' compensation; general liability; automobile; cast; negative film/videotape; theatrical property floaters property and equipment floaters; errors and omissions media liability; weather; non-appearance of entertainers; event cancellation; foreign political risks; directors & officers liability and employment related practices coverage; and as elements of overall coverage plans. Through a network of other independent agents and brokers, C & S provides coverage virtually anywhere in world.
 
Debra Kozee has served as President of C&S International Brokers, Inc. since she formed the New York-based independent insurance brokerage in 1987. As President, Ms. Kozee develops new business, designs special insurance programs and oversees the firm's operation. Ms. Kozee is a charter member and former chairperson of the East Coast chapter of the AON Entertainment/CNA Producer Advisory Council, an insurance broker's advisory council developed by CNA Insurance Company. She participated in the Independent Feature Project's IFP resource program, providing pro bono insurance counsel to members.  

Other professional associations include AIVF, IFP and IDA/International Documentary Association. Debra is the only insurance industry professional with membership in both New York Women in Film & Television and the League of Professional Theatre Women.  Ms. Kozee served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer of New York Women in Film & Television/NYWIFT. Ms. Kozee has frequently been an invited guest speaker on insurance, and has addressed many organizations over the last several years, including the National Alliance of Musical Theatre Producers, the Alliance of Residence Theatres (ART/NY), Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, AICP, the League of American Theaters & Producers, Performing Arts Services, Women Make Movies, International Television Association, Emerson College Film Department and the League of Professional Theatre Women. The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York-ART/NY presented C & S and Debra Kozee with their Local Hero Award. C & S developed and manages a Liability Risk Purchasing Group Plan that has saved ART/NY member participants hundreds of thousands of dollars in combined insurance costs over the last few years.