TED TAVERAS
President & COO

Ted Taveras is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of ILSA. He has over twenty years experience in the financial services industry working in insurance, commercial banking, and investment banking. 

Ted served as Communications Specialist for the Metropolitan Transit Authority in Houston, Texas, for several years. While working for the company, he won several awards and was recognized twice in three years by the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority for his achievements. 

He has worked with presidents and CEOs of numerous companies to analyze business structures, plan and develop corporate operating schedules, evaluate and troubleshoot organizational weaknesses, hire staff, develop marketing plans, improve corporate communications, and analyze and evaluate new business. Ted has been instrumental in the inception and growth of two New York based non-profit organizations.

In addition to handling the company’s marketing, he works in conjunction with the CEO to run the company’s day to day operations. Ted also takes on the role of training the company’s staff in the areas of personal development, management development, and leadership development. 

Ted currently serves as Board Chair for the Heart of Texas Workforce Commission. He has served on The Texas Surplus Lines Association (TSLA) Legislative Committee and is also a member of the Texas Association of Workforce Boards, The American Bankers Insurance Association (ABIA), The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT), and the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO).

PAST EXPERIENCE

Mr. Taveras was a National award-winning webmaster and graphic designer in the transportation industry. He served for several years as communications specialist for the Metropolitan Transit Authority in Houston, Texas. In 1997 he won the coveted Adwheel Award from the American Public Transit Association, and in 1998 he won the search engine "Snap" Editor's Choice award in recognition of the METRO website's overall excellence in content, design and usefulness. While working for the company, he was recognized twice in three years by the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority for his achievements.

During his tenure at METRO, Ted worked directly with METRO's Chairman to assist him in visually communicating and successfully marketing Light Rail to the citizens of Houston. He has also worked with Presidents and CEOs of numerous companies to analyze business structures, plan and develop corporate operating schedules, evaluate and troubleshoot organizational weaknesses, hire staff, develop marketing plans, improve corporate communications, and analyze and evaluate new business. He has been instrumental in the inception and growth of two New York based non-profit organizations.

Varied management experience and training include the following: President of a communications and graphics design business, including working as a management consultant; Assistant Manager of Marketing for CBS/Fox Video; Public Affairs Director of a radio station (managing large staff as well as scheduling and operating radio programs).

Ted also holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism from Syracuse University.