Courtesy of Forth Insurance
Forth Insurance announced today the expansion of its leadership team with the addition of Bart Dugdale as Chief Executive Officer, Steve Craig as Chief Financial Officer, and Christine Berry as Executive Director of Organizational Effectiveness.
The appointments reflect Forth’s continued investment in experienced leadership as the agency builds on its legacy of trusted service, strengthens collaboration across its teams and positions the organization for continued growth.
Forth Insurance was introduced in 2023 as the unified brand for Origin Bancorp, Inc.’s insurance operations, bringing together four legacy agencies under one umbrella. Together they represent a legacy of more than 280 years of combined experience serving clients throughout Louisiana, Texas and beyond.
“As Forth continues to grow, we are focused on aligning the right people, structure and strategy to support our teams, clients and carrier partners,” said Forth Insurance President, Randy Graham. “Christine, Steve and Bart each bring valuable experience and perspective that will help advance Forth’s purpose and strengthen the way we serve our customers and communities.”
Dugdale serves as Chief Executive Officer of Forth Insurance in addition to his role as Director of Investment Partnerships at Origin Bank. As CEO of Forth, he works to strengthen alignment across the agency while driving growth, improving operational and financial performance, and supporting long-term strategic objectives. Dugdale’s background includes more than 18 years in the insurance industry, including experience as Associate Managing Director for Burns & Wilcox and as principal partner of McIntyre & Associates, Inc. Early in his career, he worked at Heard, McElroy and Vestal, LLP, earning his CPA license while focusing primarily on audits of bank financial statements. A Ruston native, Dugdale is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in professional accountancy.
“I believe the strength of any organization starts with the people you put around the table. What excites me about this next chapter for Forth is the leadership team we’re assembling and the incredible talent that already exists throughout our organization,” said Dugdale. “Steve and Christine each bring strengths that complement our team, and together we have an opportunity to build a more connected, collaborative organization that can continue to grow while delivering exceptional value to our customers and communities.”
As Chief Financial Officer of Forth Insurance, Craig brings more than 40 years of experience in accounting, audit and financial services to his role. Prior to joining Origin in a Business Development role, he retired from Heard, McElroy and Vestal, LLC, where he began as an auditor and later became a partner at the Shreveport-based firm. Craig served as partner in charge of the audit department, leading a team of fraud specialists and accounting professionals and specializing in audit and assurance services for financial institutions, government and nonprofit organizations, and closely held businesses. Craig earned both his Bachelor of Accounting and Master of Professional Accountancy degrees from Louisiana Tech University.
Berry’s role as Executive Director of Organizational Effectiveness was created for her to oversee the strategies, systems and partnerships that support talent development, organizational growth and leadership readiness across Forth Insurance. A primary focus for her will be to design a development model that intentionally cultivates risk advisors with deep technical expertise, business insight and consultative capabilities. With a doctorate in risk management and insurance from Florida State University and Bachelor of Science in finance from West Virginia University, Berry brings more than 30 years of experience in insurance education, risk management and professional development. She served as program chair and professor of risk management and insurance at the University of Louisiana at Monroe from 2001 to 2026, established and led the Small Business Risk Management Institute, consulted for the Louisiana Department of Insurance, and held prior roles with E. W. Blanch Holdings, Inc., E. W. Blanch Company and St. Cloud State University.
Forth Insurance is one of the largest independent insurance providers in Louisiana, with offices throughout Louisiana and parts of Texas. The agency provides full-service insurance solutions for personal, business and benefits needs while continuing to serve clients through the same trusted local teams that have supported their communities for generations.
About Forth Insurance
Forth Insurance is an independently operated agency offering full-service insurance to protect every part of life’s journey. Built on a legacy that began in Louisiana more than 100 years ago, Forth provides experienced guidance on a range of commercial, personal and benefits services. With offices located throughout Louisiana and parts of Texas, Forth serves clients across the southern U.S. and beyond. To learn more, visit www.forthinsurance.com.
