11 minute read
Vendor Spotlight
Human Capital Concepts (HCC) is a certified professional employer organization (CPEO), helping small and mid-sized business owners simplify being an employer. They do this by taking on all of the administrative and regulatory HR work tied to having employees. As a partner to brokers and insurance agencies, HCC serves your clients with expert HR solutions while you maintain control of your clients, keep your commissions and block out competition from payroll vendors or other PEOs.
HCC knows that how we treat our employees is how they’ll treat our clients. With that, every HCC client has a dedicated service team with HR specialists who build personal relationships. Clients have direct access to contact their service team members, not an 800 number or group email addresses. This leads to a service level that gets clients quick and accurate answers to HR questions from people they get to know and trust. Just as importantly, it gives you peace of mind, knowing they take care of your clients the way you do.
Payroll service bureaus have aggressively expanded into the insurance space over the last several years, meaning they continue to approach your clients with health and workers’ compensation insurance options. Likewise, other national PEOs continue to market large-group health and workers’ compensation offerings to clients as a way to "save money."
Working with HCC allows you to offer PEO services to your clients who need them, without losing control of those relationships or the commissions associated with them. Their approach is unique in this space and helps you protect the client relationships you’ve worked so hard to develop in your agency.
Why HCC?
HCC frees business leaders to grow their organizations by removing employment challenges and delivering expert guidance. They take on the administrative challenges of maintaining a workforce so clients can focus on developing their people and running their companies. For more info on HCC, please contact Jeff Hallam at 317.439.0814. u
We Simplify Being An Employer www.hcchr.com | 800.419.4037
Independence can’t happen alone
Independence means freedom, but it also means responsibility. It is about staying true to the commitments you’ve made - to your clients, your colleagues, and your community.
Keystone connects you to a community of like-minded independent agencies. Our mission remains unchanged: to provide access to the expertise, resources, and relationships that sustain independent insurance agencies over the long haul.
Keystone. Independence works better together.
Contact Michele Bicknell for more information:
Company Briefs
West Bend Announces Promotions
West Bend Mutual Insurance Company recently announced two promotions.
Tammy Muckerheide has been promoted to assistant vice president - Commercial Underwriting. Muckerheide has been with West Bend for 35 years, serving in a variety of roles within the Commercial Lines division, including director of Commercial Underwriting.
Marc Emery has been promoted to assistant vice president - Commercial Underwriting. Emery joined West Bend in 2015 with a combined 15 years of management and agency experience. He previously served as director of Commercial Underwriting.
Acuity Named a Top Claims Company
Acuity is named one of the 10 best insurers in the nation for claims service in a recent study by CRASH Network. In addition to being ranked in the top 10 auto insurers nationwide, Acuity is the highest-ranked Wisconsin-domiciled insurer.
CRASH Network surveyed over 1,100 collision repair shops across the country for its 2021 Insurer Report Card. Shops were asked to grade the claims service of insurance companies they interact with on a regular basis based on how well each company’s claims handling policies, attitude, and payment practices ensure quality repairs and customer service.
Grange Adds Digital Risk Appetite
Grange Insurance has announced its commercial risk appetite is now digital. Agents now have an easy, accessible online view of Grange’s clear commercial appetite for risks across all industries and product lines. This enhancement is part of Grange’s commitment to investing in innovative solutions that support its independent agency partners’ success while maintaining its competitive edge.
Grange’s digital risk appetite is powered by Ask Kodiak, an API platform providing real-time appetite and eligibility for insurance companies. Grange’s independent agency partners can use Grange’s agency portal, Grange Agent.
Grange’s digital risk appetite can help drive increased profitability and efficiency, allowing agency partners to leverage underwriting guidelines and product and eligibility information while matching needs to markets for reduced agency costs and helping increase their business close rates.
Partner Platform Adds Rocket Referral Tie-in
Partner Platform has announced seamless integration with Rocket Referrals – expanding marketing automation capabilities to send timely communications, cross-sell policies and measure client satisfaction while building longterm relationships with their insureds. Rocket Referrals helps expand the marketing functions that are already available in Partner Platform by enhancing the automation of Google reviews, Net Promoter Score and hand-written cards.
Partner Allies provide products and services which work with Partner Platform agency management system enhancing the independent agency's capacity to retain, grow and service clients. These relationships are more than integrations – they are commitments from like-minded vendors collaborating to serve mutual clients and leveraging diverse strengths to improve the experience of agencies.
Builders Mutual $2.7M Dividend; New Pres.
Builders Mutual Insurance Company announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Michael A. Gerber, current Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), to succeed John K. Boggs as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 1, 2021. Mr. Boggs, who has served as President and CEO since 2009 and held the previous role of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from 2004 to 2009 and, recently announced his retirement.
National Alliance Names Janecka CExpO
The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research has announced that Danielle Janecka has been promoted to Chief Experence Officer. Janecka has been with the organization for 28 years and previously served as the Senior Vice President.
Tennessee-based Siege AMS Launches
Siege AMS has announced the launch of its platform for insurance agencies. SiegeAMS takes a progressive approach to agency management. The SiegeAMS package combines a powerful Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and AMS capabilities in one platform. The majority of agency management systems on the market today charge extra for additional features and do not include options for all of the software applications an agency needs. SiegeAMS includes
most of the software needed to operate your entire business in its package. Included at no extra charge are programs such as Accounting, E-Signature, Marketing Campaigns, Website Creator and Hosting and more.
The imagination is the limit on what you can accomplish with SiegeAMS. For more information, visit www.SiegeAMS.com, call 1.888.895.9055, or email info@siegeams.com.
Cowbell Receives $20M in Series A Funding
Cowbell Cyber, the industry’s first AI-powered cyber insurance provider for small to medium enterprises (SMEs), has announced that it has closed $20 million in Series A funding to scale its game-changing offering for continuous underwriting and closed-loop risk management.
Brewer Lane Ventures led the investment with participation from Pivot Investment Partners, Avanta Ventures, Markel Corporation, and existing investors ManchesterStory, TriValley Ventures and Holmes Murphy. The new capital will be used to fund product development, expand risk engineering, sales, marketing and increase Cowbell’s footprint nationwide.
Progressive Set to Buy Protective Insurance
The Progressive Corp. is acquiring Indiana-based trucking industry insurer Protective Insurance Corp. in a move that will increase its stake in the commercial lines insurance market.
Progressive has agreed to pay $23.30 per share in cash, for a total transaction value of approximately $338 million. The per share price represents a 49.1% premium and 63.2% premium, respectively, to Protective’s share prices as measured on February 12, 2021.
J.M. Wilson Announces Promotions, Addition
J.M. Wilson is pleased to announce the promotions of Cheryl Gleason to Director of Claims and Adam Benda to Claims Manager, as well as the addition of Matt Schultz as Brokerage Underwriter.
Gleason has been with J.M. Wilson since 2015 where she began as a Claims Specialist before being promoted as Personal Lines Manager. She will continue to manage the Personal Lines team.
Benda joined J.M. Wilson in 2015 where he began as a Claims Representative and Personal Lines Underwriter, before being promoted as a Claims & Litigation Specialist.
Schultz is a graduate of Western Michigan University and Olivet College and has earned CLCS (Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist), CAWC (Certified Authority on Workers’
At Stonetrust, we know a little something about showing up when it matters most, and we strive to
always be there for the independent insurance agents and policyholders that trust us with their business.
Along with offering workers’ compensation and employers’ liability insurance, Stonetrust works to help companies prevent accidents and remain
Stonetrust Safe - an entire system of in-house processes and services designed to achieve safety goals and keep premiums and claim costs down.
800.311.0997
STONETRUSTINSURANCE.COM
Compensation), AIC (Associate in Claims) and AINS (Associate in General Insurance) designations. Prior to joining J.M. Wilson he held positions with insurance agencies as a Commercial Account Manager and Commercial Property Inspector.
Harford Mutual Releases Leadership Changes
Harford Mutual Insurance Group, projected to surpass $277 million in direct written premium in its 179th year, has announced changes to its leadership team.
Senior Vice President Jeffrey Rink has been promoted to Executive Vice President with the added oversight of Administrative Operations, Customer Service, and the Special Investigative Unit. Joining Harford Mutual in 2009, Rink has transformed its Business Development team and oversaw the successful expansion and new office in their Southern Region. Rink has over 30 years of insurance experience with national carriers including Travelers and Great American Insurance.
Assistant Vice President of Underwriting David Curtin and Assistant Vice President of Claims Wayne Gearhart have been promoted to Vice President. Curtin joined Harford Mutual in February 2019 and has been instrumental in realigning the company’s Foundation Unit, analyzing profitability by segment, and preparing Harford Mutual for the responsible introduction of predictive analytics. Curtin has more than 30 years of experience with both mutual and stock insurance carriers.
Gearhart joined the company in September 2019 from Westfield Insurance, bringing over 25 years of claims perspective to his role. While at Westfield, Gearhart led the $1.9 billion dollar company through an operational and claims technology transformation, one of his key strategic goals at Harford Mutual.
LUBA Acquires FHM Insurance
Workers' compensation provider LUBA Casualty Insurance Co. announced recently that its board of directors has approved the acquisition of regional work comp provider FHM Insurance Co. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Jacksonville, Floridabased FHM provides workers' comp coverage across seven states, including Florida, and will remain domiciled in Florida.
Key Risk Expands Human Services Focus
Key Risk (a Berkley Company), a leading provider of workers' compensation insurance products and services for employers throughout the United States, today announced the expansion of their service offerings to support Human Service providers on a national scale. Ashley Hough has been named Director, Human Services Practice.
This national program will focus on industry leading workers compensation insurance solutions for non-profits and human service providers including, but not limited to, child services, substance abuse facilities, community-based programs, group homes, fitness/sports facilities and religious organizations.
UFG Board Chair Evans to Retire
Jack B. Evans, Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Fire Group, Inc. (UFG) announced he will retire from the Board effective immediately following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 19, 2021. Evans's resignation is in compliance with UFG's bylaws, which state that "every director shall submit his or her resignation not later than the first day of February after the director attains age 72."
Selective's Murphy Wins Big "I" Lifetime Award
The Big “I” presented Greg Murphy, executive chairman of the board of directors for Selective Insurance Group, Inc., with the Jeff Yates Lifetime Achievement Award at the Big “I” virtual Board of Directors meeting on January 29.
The Jeff Yates Lifetime Achievement Award, named in honor of former Big “I” CEO Jeff Yates, recognizes individuals beyond the agent community who contribute to the vitality and strength of the independent agency system. It is the highest recognition in the nation a non-agent can receive for a lifetime of work dedicated to furthering independent agencies.
Murphy joined Selective in 1980 in the finance department, becoming Senior Vice President of Finance in 1994 and Chief Financial Officer in 1995. In 1997, he was named President and Chief Operating Officer, and two years later he became President and CEO. He assumed the role of chairman in 2000. In 2013, he transitioned to chairman of the board and CEO, and in February 2020, was appointed executive chairman of the board of directors. On February 2, Murphy became nonexecutive chairperson of the board.
AIA Appoints Albrecht as President
Associated Insurance Administrators (AIA) has announced the appointment of Patrick Albrecht as President. The position of President was previously filled externally by a member of the AIA Board of Directors and the move brings the authorities and responsibilities into the day-to-day operations.
Prior to becoming President, Albrecht was the Senior Vice President for AIA. He is a 20-year veteran of the insurance industry. Albrecht serves on the Board of Directors for the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA). u
