Personnel Changes: Transamerica, ICA, P&R, Others

- P&R Dental Strategies Inc., New York, a dental benefits cost containment firm, has hired Linda Patrick to be director of sales for the Western Region.

Patrick, who will be based in Simi Valley, Calif., previously was manager of dental and vision compliance at WellPoint Dental Services, Camarillio, Calif., a unit of WellPoint Inc., Indianapolis.

- Maddock Douglass Inc., Chicago, a product development firm, has hired Maria Umbach to be vice president of financial services innovation.

Umbach previously was vice president and chief marketing officer at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York. She also has been vice president of life insurance marketing at Prudential Financial Inc., Newark, N.J.

Umbach has a master’s degree in business from Hofstra University. She holds the Chartered Life Underwriter designation from the American College.

- Lockton Companies L.L.C., Kansas City, Mo., has hired Thomas Schmidt to be a vice president in its Chicago employee benefits practice.

Schmidt has been a principal and benefits practice leader at Mercer, a unit of Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., New York (NYSE:MMC).

Schmidt has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Iowa, a master’s degree in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a master’s degree in business from the University of Chicago. He holds the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter professional designations.