The alternative energy market has many complicated angles to it, including solar warranties, which are essential to solar manufacturers as well as to the development and funding of solar projects.
According to Mike McMullen, president of PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services, banks are hesitant to lend against some larger solar projects because of the severe credit [...]
Paradiso Insurance president Chris Paradiso says successful use of search engine marketing has given his agency a 30% conversation rate in sales this year. But the agency’s recent sales success doesn’t come at a cost. In this interview with Adam DeGraide, Paradiso explains how monitoring closing ratio and a commitment to finding the right employees [...]
Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network (CRDN) is a textile restoration organization specializing in laundry and drycleaning services for the insurance industry. In 2006 CRDN was invited to participate in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition“, a hit show on ABC-TV. Four years later, CRDN has participated in 87 episodes in 40 states. In this interview with Claims [...]
One of today’s biggest insurance trends is green insurance as businesses look at ways to become more sustainable and cut costs. According to underwriters, the regulatory environment for green is changing dramatically as well. For example, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is requiring publicly traded businesses now disclose their climate risks and what they’re [...]
Using the internet to help you find, sell and keep more business can work for commercial niche markets. In this interview with Adam DeGraide, Lisa Sherer, president of Berrier Insurance Agency, discusses the benefits “friending” truckers on Facebook and the rewards of referring business to others.
Commercial roofing, already complicated, is getting more so as new types and materials are being introduced. Kenneth R. Gilvary, a senior engineer with Dallas-based Haag Engineering, specializes in assessing roof losses for insurers. Gilvary says claims professionals need to keep up with how green technology, including vegetative rooftops, and new building standards are changing the [...]
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) began when several veterans and friends, moved by stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need. What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist warriors [...]
With a database of nearly a million wholesale base prices of horticultural assets and a nationwide network of certified arborists and licensed and insured tree crews, Horticultural Asset Management Inc. specializes in helping insurers come up with the replacement cost for lost trees, shrubs and other landscape assets. In this interview with Claims Journal, HMI [...]
With over 600 courses and 24/7 access online, Vale Training Solutions provides quality instructors to anyone desiring improved job skills or a change of careers. In this interview with Claims Journal, Vale Training Solutions president Jon McCreath explains the qualifications for his school, the advantages of online training, and what he thinks about the current [...]
Ken Peterson, CEO of Encharter Insurance knows that driving traffic on the web is good for business, but good marketing doesn’t stop there. In this interview with Tim Sawyer, Peterson talks about beefing up his company’s phone skills in order to make his sales team successful.
Corporate Helicopters is a San Diego business focusing on charter, tours, aerial filming and helicopter sales. In this episode of Watching the Risks, Corporate Helicopters president Ivor Shier explains how looking through the lens of risk analysis from the formative years to the present has led to a safer company.
Scott Purves, president of Purves & Associates, is putting together video vignettes for his clients — for free. In this interview with Adam DeGraide, Purves talks about his foray into video production, and how YouTube has helped him market his business and gain new clients.
Building a social media presence is critical for independent agents to remain competitive. But insurance carriers like Fireman’s Fund are helping agents venture into this new technical world. John Hosbein, vice president of online services, and Alice Cameron, vice president of marketing, share how agents can create engaging Web 2.0 content.
Using SEO to drive organic growth and fuel recruiting efforts, Prostar Insurance principle Dave Whitfield talks with Tim Sawyer about how their young agency is able to be competitive by using technology and new age marketing.
For a number of years, Florida has had a program allowing insurers to take policies out of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance. The original deal was that they took them out and had to stay on the policies for three years. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is relaxing that rule and allowing some of the insurers [...]
The alternative energy market has many complicated angles to it, including solar warranties, which are essential to solar manufacturers as well as to the development and funding of solar projects.
According to Mike McMullen, president of PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services, banks are hesitant to lend against some larger solar projects because of the severe credit [...]
Engle Martin & Associates is an independent adjusting firm providing claims services to the insurance industry. In this interview with Claims Journal, Susan Froman, Engle Martin’s Director of Sales, discusses the growth of the company and providing service to their clients when they need it most.
Too often agency principals find themselves facing a forced sale as a result of not having a proper perpetuation plan. In this podcast, MarshBerry president John Wepler discusses the many difficult and “uncomfortable” decisions required of an owner seeking to properly–and profitably–perpetuate the firm. Listen to this frank conversation as John offers some good news: [...]
The Internet makes it easier to get into business but it also makes it easier to steal others’ ideas. The Web is also expanding the notion of what materials, images and designs need to be protected. Intellectual property attorney David Branfman advises agents on questions to ask clients about intellectual property exposures and warns about [...]
Moving companies face a number of exposures in their daily operations, including workers compensation, cargo, fleet and general liability. Priority Moving in San Diego, Calif. is no exception. A Wheaton Van Lines agent, Priority Moving has created a series of internal procedures, reinforced by a strong employee screening process and training program. Analytics software [...]
Stroz Friedberg is a consulting firm that does computer forensics, mobile phone forensics, electronic discovery and cyber crime response, operating at the intersection of law, technology and behavioral sciences. David Garrett, managing director of Stroz Friedberg’s San Francisco office, explains why clients may or may not have cyber risk insurance, whether those that have the [...]
Corporate Helicopters is a San Diego business focusing on charter, tours, aerial filming and helicopter sales. In this episode of Watching the Risks, Corporate Helicopters president Ivor Shier explains how looking through the lens of risk analysis from the formative years to the present has led to a safer company.
The Mattie Companies was one of the charter members of the Target Markets organization. Bill
PMC Insurance operates out of Mass. but provides workers comp solutions across the country.
To be successful in a soft market, carriers, wholesale brokers and retail agents must enhance their focus on customer service, says Michael Miller, president and chief operating officer of Scottsdale Insurance Co. In this interview with Insurance Journal’s Andrea Wells at the recent NAPSLO Annual Convention in San Diego, Miller says service and speed top [...]
Interview with Management Cybernetics CEO, Mike Benoit, at the NAPSLO 2003 Annual Meeting