10 Years & Building: Celebrating a Decade of Berkley Construction Professional
How Berkley Construction Professional Came to Be
By Edward L. Sheiffele Jr., Executive Vice President,
Peter Brooks, Senior Vice President,
Chris McQueen, Senior Vice President,
David Pacifici, Senior Vice President
Berkley Construction Professional | a Berkley Company
September 9, 2025
You know that classic line from The Blues Brothers? “We’re putting the band back together.” Well, those words became our rallying cry back in 2016, when a group of us underwriters, friends from way back in the early 2000s, decided it was time to reunite and start our own venture in the construction insurance world.
And so, Berkley Construction Professional was born! Fast forward ten years, and we're proud to be one of the most trusted names in specialized professional liability insurance for contractors and project owners.
Along the way, we didn’t just focus on creating great products; we built a culture based on values, relationships, and making a real impact. It’s about much more than premium and bottom lines; it’s about people.
We are four of the original six founders (Edward L. Sheiffele Jr., Peter Brooks, Chris McQueen, and David Pacifici), who still lead the charge today. And hey, since we've got a reputation for throwing fun karaoke nights at the IRMI CRC Conference, you’ll know we’re more than just colleagues; at Berkley Construction Professional, we’ve become a bit of a family. We work hard together, we laugh together, and we take pride in creating innovative products and services for our clients.
The Backbone of the Business
Let’s talk about our brokers because, honestly, they are a vital part of who we are. Their trust and partnership have played a key role in our journey. Together, we’ve developed customized solutions that help protect projects that shape our world.
“What sets us apart?” Pacifici says. “We’re not your typical insurance company. Our underwriters aren't restricted to a set list of brokers or territories; they have the freedom to form their own relationships, no matter where the opportunity lies. It’s all about collaboration and building connections.”
Our team of underwriters takes pride in its consultative approach to working with brokers. We take the time to genuinely connect with our brokers. Instead of just sending out quotes quickly, we sit down, discuss the details, and help them feel confident when presenting to their clients.
We also have an incredible claims team that has been with us, in some cases, for over 20 years. They have earned a stellar reputation, and we take pride in sharing insights, like claims trends and benchmarks, that give our brokers an advantage and help them market professional liability insurance.
Product Innovation
When it comes to innovation, we’re always looking forward. For instance, we rolled out a faulty workmanship coverage that’s been a game-changer for many of our clients. Plus, we recently introduced a policy tailored for projects delivered through integrated project delivery or lean construction. These are more than just products; they're our way of addressing existing coverage gaps and serving the construction industry better.
Training Tomorrow's Leaders
We quickly realized that, as we were building our dream, we needed to think about the future. “We weren’t getting any younger,” McQueen admitted. “If we wanted Berkley Construction Professional to thrive for years to come, we needed to nurture talent from the ground up. But let’s be real; hiring for niche roles like construction professional liability underwriters isn’t easy, most people don’t even know this world exists!”
So, we made it a point to bring in younger millennials and Gen Z team members who mirror the evolving landscape of the construction industry. We want them involved in everything, the broker meetings, the underwriting decisions, and real-world experiences. These young underwriters aren’t just filling roles; they’re stepping up and making a name for themselves. “They don’t feel like replaceable widgets,” Pacifici pointed out. “They see a future here.”
It’s no wonder that Berkley Construction Professional landed on Business Insurance magazine’s list of the top 100 Best Places to Work in Insurance. We’re committed to creating an environment where employees can thrive and feel fulfilled.
The Next Decade and Beyond
Looking ahead, we’re excited about the future. We’ve got a fantastic new generation of leaders ready to step up and continue innovating.
“Since day one, we’ve more than quadrupled our premium,” Sheiffele shared. “To achieve that kind of success with just two professional liability products? That speaks volumes."
“We’re not here for just a moment,” Brooks added. “We’re in this for the long haul, building partnerships that last.”
Reflecting on this journey, we’re thankful that we got the band back together. Berkley Construction Professional is a testament to what can happen when dedicated people come together with a shared vision and purpose. Here’s to more years of collaboration, growth, and, of course, unforgettable karaoke nights!
About the Authors
Ed Sheiffele leads the Berkley Construction Professional underwriting unit. In this role, he sets strategy and develops the company by bringing creative and innovative solutions to brokers, construction clients and site owners. Ed has three decades of experience underwriting construction professional and environmental liability insurance. Prior to joining Berkley Construction Professional, he was with a leading insurance carrier where he assisted with the start-up of their construction professional business unit and then established the environmental business unit where he successfully entered a crowded marketplace with innovative products. Before that, Ed spent 13 years with a worldwide insurance carrier, beginning as an environmental underwriter, then establishing the construction professional/large A&E business unit. There he held various positions including the role of a regional managing account executive. Ed holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, with a double major in Biology and Environment, Technology & Society. He is based in Morristown, New Jersey and can be reached at [email protected].
Brooks has more than 25 years of experience underwriting professional liability insurance for design and construction firms. Before joining Berkley Construction Professional in 2015, Peter created a successful construction professional/pollution market for a leading carrier from the ground up. Prior to that, he spent seven years with a worldwide insurance company providing key underwriting support for construction professional lines. Peter also worked for a leading specialty design professional liability insurance carrier on a regional and national level. Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Utah State University, Logan, Utah. He is based in Centennial, Colorado and can be reached at [email protected].
David Pacifici has more than 35 years of experience as an underwriter and licensed broker specializing in construction and design professional liability Insurance. For the past 25 years, his focus has been on providing professional liability insurance to real estate developers, construction contractors and design professionals. He specializes in innovative insurance solutions for large infrastructure and vertical projects. David provides strategic leadership and direction for crafting coverage to solve clients’ professional liability insurance needs for alternative project delivery methods such as Integrated Project Delivery (IDP), Public-Private Partnerships (P3) and Progressive Design Build. He frequently presents about different project delivery methods and their impact on risk allocation between project owners, contractors and design firms. David attended the State University of New York at Binghamton. He is based in Los Angeles, California, and can be reached at [email protected].
Chris McQueen has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry with the last 20 years specializing in the construction and design professional liability industry. Before joining Berkley Construction Professional, Chris created a successful construction professional/pollution market for a leading carrier from the ground up before being tapped to head that company’s Design Professional Liability team in 2013. The prior six years were spent at a worldwide insurance company as a construction underwriter focusing on professional lines. Chris is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) in Risk Management and Insurance. He is active in the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter Society (CPCU) and was recently awarded the Outstanding Course Leader distinction as an Institute Instructor. Chris is based in Atlanta, Georgia and can be reached at [email protected].