INSURICA: The U Podcast

INSURICA's National Healthcare Practice Leader Phillip Smith talks about the evolution of INSURICA's Healthcare Practice. With its extraordinary growth, INSURICA has been able to hire a dedicated healthcare practitioner as a risk management specialist. Leah Saylor joins Phillip and host Andy Paden to discuss the healthcare practice happenings.

As INSURICA approaches its next milestone – 225 x 25 – company leadership asked a great question: “What can we do TODAY to continue our momentum as a leading privately-owned broker for the next 10 years…20 years…and even 50 years?” That's how TGS was born. INSURICA is “doubling down” on the momentum of the past two decades. INSURICA President and CEO Mike Ross is in the INSURICA Podcast Studio for an exclusive conversation with host Andy Paden.

INSURICA's President and CEO Mike Ross announced that May 2023 is DAVE SALDON MONTH within the INSURICA Community. Dave Saldon is retiring May 31 as INSURICA's first-ever Director of Sales Development and on this podcast episode he sits down with host Andy Paden to reflect on 13 years of leadership and legacy. The good news is that Dave will continue to serve INSURICA post retirement in a role that reflects his passion and greatest gift: mentoring and coaching new producers! Run time is 30 minutes.

Herman Williams is well known throughout the INSURICA Community because he's one of the friendly voices who helps solve IT problems. But Herman also provides great leadership with INSURICA's Diversity and Inclusion initiative, U Belong, and wants to encourage all INSURICAns to come along on the U Belong journey. Herman is a thoughtful guest. His first podcast episode from 2021 is the most listened to podcasts we have. Run time is 31 minutes. Enjoy!

VP of Data & Innovation, Jeff Nickles, and Director of Data & Lead Resources, Kylie Hubbard, join host Andy Paden to discuss the latest developments in INSURICA's innovation initiatives. Jeff and Kylie have just returned from the InsureTechConnect conference in Las Vegas, the largest-ever conference of its type.

INSURICA's Environmental Practice Leader and Partner Club Member Tom Caraway invited Tulsa Lawyer Samanthia Marshall for a discussion about Oklahoma's Government Tort Claims Act and how that affects educational entities like public school districts and technology centers. Sam's law practice focuses on education and employment law. Read more about Sam here: http://www.rfrlaw.com/our_people/samanthia-s-marshall #tort #education #Oklahoma

Dora Martindale leads a team of INSURICA claims specialists who are currently tracking more than 2,000 open claims. From reporting claims in a timely fashion to advocating for our customers, INSURICA's claims department helps reduce the stress of claims. They are heroes in many ways, and customers who get help tend to stay INSURICA customers for the long haul. Run time is 25 minutes.

Jeremy Hearron talks about his approach to bringing the most value to his clients. Many insurance agents start with insurance. Jeremy -- and INSURICA -- begs to differ. Start with risk -- and reducing a client's risk profile in every way possible -- before taking the company to an underwriter. Taylor Caraway joins Andy Paden in the hosting duties. And Season 3's first guest is from INSURICA's westernmost state -- California!

INSURICA's newest partner agency -- The Evans Agency -- represents an historic moment for the company: our very first partnership EAST of the Mississippi River. The Evans Agency, with locations in Jackson, Mississippi, Quincy, Florida, and Birmingham, Alabama, is led by its CEO, Maurice Evans, and COO, Reginald "Reggie" Thompson. In this episode we get to learn a little bit about their backgrounds, the agency they've built, their expertise, and their outlook for the future now that the partnership with INSURICA is official. Welcome to the family, Evans Agency!

INSURICA's Energy Practice and premier Oklahoma workers compensation provider, CompSource Mutual have created a new Workers Compensation Program exclusively for Oklahoma's energy industry. The program REWARDS Best in Class companies for hard work and innovation in safety and risk management. All it takes to begin receiving the benefit is to participate in a short risk management survey developed by INSURICA's Energy Practice. National Energy Practice Leader Dave Deardeuff and Energy Practice member Dax Deardeuff join host Andy Paden to talk about the program, and how energy companies and other Oklahoma insurance brokers can participate.

For employERs, staying in compliance with all the federal laws and regulations surrounding human resources management can be a daunting task. In this podcast episode, INSURICA's Director of Employee Benefit Sales Development, Tim McFall, provides a terrific overview of the various things that employERs must keep an eye on. And having a great attorney and a great Employee Benefits advisor are keys to successfully navigating the complex world of staying in compliance.

INSURICA Colleague Herman Williams might be best known by his moniker, "Herman with the Helpdesk." It's not a stretch to say he has likely had interactions and conversations with the majority of INSURICAns -- just like his comrades in the IT Department. This episode covers a variety of topics ranging from the heroic response of the IT department at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic to life lessons learned in the garden. Herman is one-of-a-kind, and we love the idea of you getting to know him better.

Our Employee Benefits leadership -- Michael Bakonyi, Tim McFall, and Sydney Overstake -- join the podcast to discuss how technology has revolutionized the practice of Employee Benefits administration for not only the employEE but also the employER. Not all brokers have made the investment in the technology that dramatically improves the client experience. But INSURICA has.

INSURICA's Vice President of Innovation, Jeff Nickles, talks about innovation. It's not always about technology. It's about discovering and implementing new and better ways to serve our clients. Jeff oversees a rapidly-growing department which in many ways is fueling INSURICA's growth as one of America's largest insurance brokers.

The Affordable Care Act changed EVERYTHING for the Employee Benefits world. No longer was employee health insurance simply a commodity that business leaders could purchase anywhere. Now that the federal government was involved, businesses needed the advice and guidance of experienced professionals. Tim McFall, INSURICA's Director of Employee Benefits Sales Development, explains how the shifting landscape of their business the past 10 years has positioned INSURICA well. This is the first podcast of our Employee Benefits series for Season 2.

The U Podcast features the members of INSURICA's Partner Club as a special feature for Season Two. California Regional President Michael Moore is in the spotlight in this episode. A lifelong resident of the Bakersfield region, Michael reveals a little bit of his background as well as his approach to the insurance business. It's a "must listen" especially for INSURICA's Rising Stars and Book Builders.

Tom Caraway wraps up his discussion with our friends at Oklahoma City law firm McAfee & Taft. In the final part of his interview they address some emerging issues and industry trends related to insurance claims in the Energy and Construction industries. See Jodi's bio and Todd's bio here: https://www.mcafeetaft.com/bios/jodi-c-cole/ https://www.mcafeetaft.com/bios/j-todd-woolery/

Tom Caraway continues his discussion with our friends from OKC law firm, McAfee & Taft. In Part 2 of the conversation, Tom, Jodi and Todd talk about contracts between business owners and their independent contractors. These contracts are essential to understand, especially in the construction industry. In some cases, these contracts are Master Service Agreements (as discussed in the previous episode). In some cases, these are AIA documents. No matter what type of contract, terms and conditions generally exist and are related to risk…so there is definitely a need for insurance coverages to be placed in order to address those risks. See Jodi's bio and Todd's bio here: https://www.mcafeetaft.com/bios/jodi-c-cole/ https://www.mcafeetaft.com/bios/j-todd-woolery/

Partner Club Member and Environmental Practice Leader Tom Caraway talks about Master Service Agreements with our good friends at Oklahoma City law firm McAfee & Taft. MSA's are very common and clients frequently ask insurance professionals to review them to ensure they are in compliance with, for example, Insurance and Indemnity clauses. Jodi Cole and Todd Woolery provide valuable insight for INSURICA's Community -- our clients, colleagues and carriers. See Jodi's bio and Todd's bio here: https://www.mcafeetaft.com/bios/jodi-c-cole/ https://www.mcafeetaft.com/bios/j-todd-woolery/

INSURICA Southwest's Eric Pach has an exciting announcement to make about INSURICA's newest capabilities in the world of captive insurance/risk transfer innovations. But first, we get to know Eric a little bit better, and perhaps most importantly hear how the legendary Wink Ames impacted his life. As we continue to help our clients and prospects become Best In Class businesses...the logical outcome of that effort is to help them reap the rewards of excellence and put some of those premium dollars back in their pockets.

It is completely understandable that INSURICAns have grown weary of this Coronavirus world in which we live. Recently, promising news articles about two effective vaccines have provided hope and a possible light at the end of the tunnel. But today, data show the pandemic is raging, setting daily records for new cases, hospitalizations, and unfortunately, deaths. In an effort to encourage the INSURICA Community to stay vigilant and stay safe for a while longer, Tom Caraway and Mark Bridges share their first-hand experience with the virus and how it has changed their lives. Joining host Andy Paden is Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, Jeff Beagle, and he discusses INSURICA's plans to manage our risk until the Vaccine Cavalry arrives sometime in 2021.

Host Ed Young welcomes Jack Melton, President and CEO of North American Solutions. NAS is widely regarded as THE Texas public school insurance program. North American Solutions is part of the INSURICA family, and consistently performs at the highest levels. Ed and Jack discuss the history of NAS and its remarkable growth trajectory over the years. Come for the interview -- but STAY for the bonus near the end of the podcast. Jack's son, Clay Melton, is a rising star in the Southern Blues Rock-n-Roll scene. There's a :45 clip you won't want to miss. Check out NAS at www.nasrisk.com and learn more about Clay's music at www.claymelton.com.

Simply put, there's no INSURICA without Bill Durrett. It was 1959 when Bill and C.B. Cameron founded our company, and from Day 1 Mr. Durrett -- "Bill" as he insists everyone call him -- has provided the leadership and vision fueling the growth of one of America's largest and most successful agencies. There's much more to INSURICA's history than a 30 minute podcast can contain, but Bill gives us some insight into how the agency began...and persevered through a devastating tragedy. Bill is a living legend, and we were honored to have him as a guest on the podcast.

INSURICA's Director of Risk Management Services gives us an overview of the people and services found within our outstanding Risk Management Department. Our professional risk managers and claims handlers are at the very heart of INSURICA's desire to partner with and develop clients who are committed to being Best In Class businesses. Michael Whitson's leadership and vision for the department translates to success for INSURICA's clients.

Texas Region President Mark Bridges talks about growing up in the insurance business, his career, and joining the family agency by establishing a formidable presence in Amarillo. And when the agency formerly known as DFB Insurance joined forces with INSURICA a few years ago, the fusion of energy is taking Texas to the greatest heights ever.

INSURICA Partner Club member Tom Caraway talks about how he found his way into the business and the complex world of environmental exposures.

The word "marketing" is in quotes because in the insurance profession "marketing" is a very different thing than when it's used in the creative/advertising/graphic design context. There is nobody better than Wendy Capirci when it comes to The Art of (Insurance) Marketing. Phoenix is home to one of INSURICA's best offices, INSURICA Southwest. Full of incredible professionals and folks dedicated to their craft, it's possible that their secret sauce is a colleague named Wendy.

Sydney Overstake joins the podcast to discuss one of the most valuable resources INSURICA has for clients and producers. THINK HR, a web-based human resources consultant service, is a perfect fit for growing businesses who may not have a robust HR department. For that matter, THINK HR is a great resource for ANY sized business.

INSURICA's CFO Ed Young takes over the hosting duties of The U Podcast and highlights INSURICA's Toastmasters Chapter, U Speak, with two of INSURICA's emerging young leaders, Herman Williams and Colton Zajac.

Two of INSURICA's Transportation Practice leaders -- Chris Conder and Kevin Riley -- join The U Podcast remotely from Tyler, Texas. In this episode we learn more about the developing Transportation Practice, how technology and data are revolutionizing loss control and prevention, and how INSURICA's Transportation Practice works with customers toward achieving Best in Class status.

Bobbie Duke is widely regarded as INSURICA's "Dean" of INSURICA University. She is a teacher and a mentor, and claims that the next generation of INSURICAns has won her heart over, despite some initial reservations about Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Y. She sees a bright future for INSURICA.

The U Podcast's very first guest is none other than our own CEO, Mike Ross. In this episode we hear Mike's comments about this extraordinary moment in history amidst a global pandemic, how INSURICA has responded and what the "new normal" might look like for the company.

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