Bill brings over three decades of insurance claims expertise to the FCDN Board, with a distinguished background in SIU investigations and suspicious auto claims. His strategic approach to fraud detection in complex SIU cases contributed to two landmark seven-figure verdicts in favor of the insurer. Currently, Bill leads a team of skilled adjusters handling first party property claims in litigation across Florida. A dedicated leader within the Florida Defense Claims Network, Bill has served on the Board of Directors since 2005 and is the organization's Vice President and Immediate Past President.

Deanna Ricci is a SIU professional with more than 36 years of experience in insurance investigations, fraud detection, and litigation support. She currently serves as an SIU Major Case Investigator II with Liberty Mutual, where she leads large-scale, national investigations involving complex, multi-file fraud patterns. Throughout her career she has developed expertise across auto, property, workers’ compensation, PIP, fire, theft, and bond claims. In addition to being a licensed Florida All Lines Adjuster, Deanna is also an active board member and task force participant within the insurance fraud prevention community, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to industry integrity, education, and collaboration.

My career in the insurance industry has spanned 31 years working for regional, national, as well as public carriers, encompassing positions ranging from claims adjuster to Assistant Director of Litigation. Born and raised in New Orleans, LA, I obtained my undergraduate degree from Xavier University of LA and, most recently, my Juris Master degree from Florida State University. Calling New Orleans home makes me an enthusiast for jazz music, Creole cuisine, festivals of all kinds, and the New Orleans Saints!!

Jacqueline Alastra is a founding partner of Alastra, Haggerty & Turner, Ms. Alastra has spent 20 years guiding the state's largest insurance carriers through the intricacies of sinkhole, windstorm, hail, water, and fraud (SIU) claims. As a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator, certified CE instructor, and five times Super Lawyer Rising Star recipient - she is not just a litigator, but a recognized educator and problem solver in the industry. Before entering the legal profession, she worked for a restoration contractor specializing in insurance related repairs. This foundational experience gives her a rare dual perspective of understanding claims from the technical balances of property damage to the legal complexities of the courtroom.

Amy Casanova-Ward is a Senior Attorney for the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), assigned to the Criminal Law and False Claims unit. In her role as a Senior Attorney, she teaches law enforcement, arson investigators and insurance industry professionals at conferences and at the State Fire Collage several times throughout the year. She also assists law enforcement and arson investigators as in-house counsel, available to give legal guidance on current on-going investigations and to review search warrants. At DFS, Ms. Casanova-Ward also assists with new caselaw review, new legislation review, legal bulletins and assisting the designated fraud prosecutors throughout the State of Florida. She is a former prosecutor, practicing for 21 years, working at both the 6th Judicial Circuit and the 13th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Offices. Her prior experience includes being a Lead Trial Attorney and Dedicated Fraud Prosecutor for the Economic Crimes Unit of the State Attorney’s Office, 13th Circuit in Tampa, FL for 12 years, handling hundreds of general insurance fraud cases, workman’s compensation cases, unlicensed contracting fraud cases, charity fraud cases, state tax fraud cases, state benefits fraud cases and PIP Fraud cases.

Valencia N. Poitier, Esq. is Senior Staff Counsel for American Integrity Insurance Company, working out of the Central Florida Division as an insurance defense attorney. Valencia is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), as well as the Southern District of Florida and the Middle District of Florida Federal Courts. Valencia is also a guest lecturer, presenting at numerous speaking engagements throughout the year on a range of topics, including Insurance Defense and Professionalism, Human Trafficking, HIPPA Compliance, Substance Abuse & the Law, to name a few. She takes joy in educating legal professionals and students. Valencia began her career as an Assistant Public Defender in the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida, and then became an Assistant State Attorney in the 9th Judicial Circuit of Florida. As an Assistant State Attorney, she prosecuted felony offenses, including those in the Special Victims Unit (SVU). Most notably, she prosecuted a human trafficking case all the way to a jury trial and received a guilty verdict on all counts, for which the defendant is serving a life sentence. Valencia has also previously served as an Adjunct Professor at Florida A&M College of Law, utilizing her experience to teach and mentor law students. She has also worked as an Associate Attorney litigating first-party property, third-party property and construction defect cases. Valencia’s passion for the community is indicative in the service activities that she has participated in throughout the years. She has served on various Boards, received various appointments and dedicated her time to volunteering at various mock trial competitions. Valencia lives by the motto that, “To whom much is given, much is required; we are blessed so that we can be of a blessing to others…therefore, the best if yet to come!”