THE TENNESSEE
INSUROR November/December 2016
Vol. 27 No. 6
www.insurors.org
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Family Tradition
John McInturff III is Continuing a Legacy of Leadership
2017 Conferees
Mr.Trump Goes to Washington Annual Convention Recap
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2Insurance plans protected U.S. Patent No. 7,908,157.
The Tennessee Insuror
contents
THE TENNESSEE
INSUROR Vol. XXVII, Number 6 November/December 2016
features
Phone (615) 385-1898 Toll Free: 1-800-264-1898 Email: info@insurors.org Editor: Charles T. Bidek, CPCU Publisher: Daniel D. Smith Jr.
4 Family Tradition INSURORS OFFICERS
President ............................. Christie Reeves, CIC, CPCU, CPIW Immediate Past President ......................... Cindi Gresham, CIC IIABA National Director ......................................... Lou Moran III Vice President, Region I ..................................... Chris Allison, CIC Vice President, Region II ................................................... Joe Hunt VP, Region III and President Elect ................ John McInturff III Treasurer .............................................. Battle Bagley III, CIC, CPA Secretary ...................................................................... Rush Powers Director, Region I ....................................................... Portis Tanner Director, Region I ............................................ Stephen Masterson Director, Region I .......................................................... Tim Roberts Director, Region II ....................................................... Chip Fridrich Director, Region II .................................. Matt Swallows, CIC, CRM Director, Region II ................................................. Steve Copeland Director, Region III ..................................................... Kevin Ownby Director, Region III .................... Kym Clevenger, CPCU, CACW Director, Region III .................................................... Eric Campbell Young Agents Chairperson .................................. Brent Chance
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Display advertising rates, deadlines and specifications may be obtained by writing to Insurors of Tennessee, 2500 21st Avenue South, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37212, calling 615.515.2601, e-mailing dsmith@insurors.org or online at www.insurors.org The Tennessee Insuror is provided to all Insurors of Tennessee members and associate members as a member service.
John McInturff III is Continuing a Legacy of Leadership
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Over 80 Industry Professionals Earn Designations
10
Trumped Up Economics?
12
Annual Convention Recap
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Daniel Learns About Ins.: Game Cancellation Insurance
Following Up on the Events of Our 123rd Annual Meeting
departments 21
From Your President
Putting a Bow on 2016
23
From Your IIABA National Director
25
From Your CEO
29
Education Calendar
31
Government and Legal Affairs
37
Program Spotlight
INSURORS OF TENNESSEE 2500 21st Avenue South, Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37212-0539 www.insurors.org
2017 Conferees
Being Prepared for Being Wrong Is Zero a Number?
Mackinaw Underwriters
39 Program Spotlight Summit 51 Meetings 53
Member Tips
Holiday Parties, Liquor Liability and Home Business Insurance
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John III and his father John Jr. pose beside a potrait of agency founder Clifford McInturff
Family Tradition
John McInturff III is Continuing a Legacy of Leadership
It's been over 100 years since a McInturff first began selling insurance in the East Tennessee community of Greeneville. In 1910, Clifford McInturff founded McInturff Agency, and family tradition was started. Now, 106 years later, Clifford's greatgrandson, John McInturff Ill is continuing that tradition. In fact, being in the "family business" is very important to John, and one of the reasons he is here today. "Going into insurance was just natural for me," John says. "I took a look at a few other career paths, but this was where I was always meant to be." Luckily those "other career paths" didn't catch on, as we now prepare for John to be President of lnsurors of Tennessee in 2017. We know he has the pedigree, but how did he get here?
The Hills of East Tennessee John was born in Greeneville in 1963, and spent many days during his early years at the family insurance agency, where he would watch his great-grandfather, grandfather, father and uncle all working together. Even though his greatgrandfather passed when he was 5, and his grandfather retired when he was 10, it left a strong impression on him to see them all working in the same industry and being known throughout their community for helping people. John would attend Greeneville High School, where he played football, tennis and was on the wrestling team. After 4
high school, John attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, which was just far enough away to feel like he'd left home. He was part of the club rugby team at UT, and started out as an Engineering major. It didn't take him long, however, to realize that, "engineering was not going to be my thing." As a Sophomore he changed his major to Business, and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing in December of 1985. He immediately started work in the insurance industry, beginning as a multi-line trainee at USF&G in January of 1986. After completing the 16 month training program the company transferred him to Columbus, Ohio, where his position was a commercial lines underwriter. Wanting to move back to the South, he took a position as a producer for the Bennett & Edwards agency in 1989. During his time in college, the family agency had gone through many changes as well. McInturff Agency had become part of Corroon & Black of Greeneville in 1982. Then in 1983, six partners and John's father purchased Mcinturff, Milligan and Brooks and Bennett & Edwards back from Corroon & Black and re-established themselves as one of the largest locally owned agencies in the region. So when John went to work for Bennett & Edwards he was returning to his family agency. In 1999, John was named President of Bennett & Edwards and The Tennessee Insuror
its subsidiary Tri State Claims. He was also a Vice President of Mcinturff, Milligan and Brooks. In 2007 Bennett & Edwards was sold but they retained the third party administrator Tri State Claims. He continued as President of Tri State Claims and Vice President at McInturff, Milligan and Brooks from 2007 until 2012 when he was named managing partner of MM&B. In 2013, along with partners Erica Brown and Ben Brooks, John bought both entities and became president and managing partner.
John with MMB partners Erica Brown and Ben Brooks
his wife Tonya and daughters Lauren and Lindsey. John grew up with Tonya, attending school with her and dating through college as they both attended UT. They got married in April of 1988, and she joined him in Columbus, Ohio. She worked at Bank One while John was pursuing his insurance career in the Buckeye State. Upon their return to Tennessee, Tonya earned her second degree in Education from East Tennessee State University. She began teaching, and finished her Master's degree from Tusculum College in 1994. She has now been teaching for 25 years, and works at Lincoln Elementary School teaching first grade, just down the street from their home in Kingsport. The 90s definitely brought a lot of change for the couple, as they welcomed their first child, daughter Lauren, in July of 1992. The in 1997, their second daughter, Lindsey, was born. Lauren graduated from Milligan College with an accounting degree, where she was a three-year starter on the soccer team. She worked with Deloitte in Bristol before moving to Ohio to begin her own insurance career with Cincinnati Insurance Company. Lindsey is a Sophomore at the University of Tennessee, and was a novice on the Vols Rowing team for her first year in school. She is majoring in Chemistry and hopes to follow with medical or pharmacy school after graduation.
An Insurance Destiny Part of the reason for John's insurance "destiny" was his father, John Jr. "Dad has been a friend, mentor, business associate and fishing buddy for my whole career," he adds. He watched his father's career, including his involvement with Insurors, and knew that was a path he could follow. "I saw Dad be involved with Insurors, and then I worked with him when he was President in 1993. His legacy is important to me as I begin this role." In fact, John remembers family trips and activities that were built around Insurors conventions and events. "I have met too many friends through Insurors to even count or name names," John declares. It's that feeling of family that has made him want to be active in the Association from the start. He began attending Insurors events on his own as soon as he got in the business, and first became a Board of Directors member in 1999, when he was elected as Young Agent chair. In 2001, he was brought back to the Board as a Director of Region III. Then in 2007, he was elected and Secretary, and in 2012, he became the Vice President of Region III. That's almost a dozen years of service already, with at least two more to go. But John says he doesn't mind volunteering his time, because he feels it is important. "Insurors does so many things for our industry, it's only fair that I give back some of my time to help support it," John adds.
Putting Family First Family means more than just business to John, it also means The Tennessee Insuror
John with wife Tonya and daughters Lindsey and Lauren
In addition to spending time with his family, when John's not working or volunteering, he also enjoys fishing for trout and small mouth bass, hunting for turkey and grouse, and watching UT football.
Goals for the Presidency As he embarks on his year as President, John has several goals in mind. One of his biggest goals is to find a way for Insurors to play a role in attracting new talent to our industry. Like many insurance professionals, he is concerned about the future of hiring people into insurance. John says there are plenty of factors that should be appealing about such a career, including flexibility in your job and the capacity to become successful based off of your own merits. "We are salespeople," John argues. "If anybody should be able to sell people on the merits of this industry, it should be us." 5
How do we accomplish that? John envisions an expanding role with the Middle Tennessee State University Insurance program, continued work with our Young Agents and education programs, and improved access to job networks as well as licensing and pre-licensing resources. He also wants to make sure that Insurors continues to be a leading advocate for the good of the industry, including our public perception.
John and the family preparing to enjoy another UT game
And speaking of perception, John is also going to make sure he doesn't do anything to "mess up" the family legacy. He is the sixth son of a former Insurors President to serve in the same position, and the first that Insurors CEO Chuck Bidek has worked with both father and son while in the role of executive director.
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John with some of his friends and fellow Insurors members
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John III and John Jr. at their office in Greeneville
Whatever the course in 2017, you can rest assured that this is one "Family Tradition" that John won't let falter. u 6
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2017 Conferees
Over 80 Industry Professionals Earn Designations
Each year, many hard working insurance professionals are furthering their education by completing designation programs such as the ones offered through Insurors by the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. In 2016, over 80 such individuals have completed programs to earn these prestigious designations. Please join us congratulating the designees, who were honored at a ceremony in Nashville on November 15th.
Certified Insurance Counselor Conferees Renae Adelsberger, CIC, CISR The Allison Insurance Group - Jackson Renae is a graduate of Union University and shortly after graduation she joined the Allison Insurance Group, where she quickly began pursuing her CISR designation. She has been a commercial account manager for four years. April Sanders Ashe, CIC, CISR Hardin County Bank Insurance Agency - Savannah April has more than 16 years of insurance experience. She is a graduate of University of Tennessee at Martin. She completed her CIC designation in 2015 and her CISR in 2010. She currently works for Hardin County Bank Insurance Agency as a commercial account manager. 8
Lori Bridgewater, CIC, CISR Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance - Memphis Lori is a commercial lines account manager for Lipscomb and Pitts Insurance LLC. She has more than 10 years in the industry and is a graduate of Liberty University. Krystal Lavone Burton, CIC, CISR The Crichton Group - Nashville Krystal has more than 23 years of insurance experience and currently works as the commercial lines account manager at The Crichton Group. Leigh Cumbow, CIC, CISR BB&T KDC Insurance Services - Kingsport Alden C. Defeo, CIC, CRM, CISR AMSURG - Nashville Alden has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. She began in personal lines in 1996 and later began working with commercial lines clients of varying types and sizes. She became an account manager in a Large Commercial/Risk Management Department working with large accounts managing their risk and insurance placements. Alden recently join AMSURG, an ambulatory The Tennessee Insuror
surgery center management company as an insurance manager in the Corporate Risk Management Department. Wayne Garrett, CIC Hart Insurance Agency - Knoxville Wayne is a certified insurance counselor for Hart Insurance Agency with six years in the industry. Before entering the insurance field, he previously had worked in the construction industry. Aaron M. Hammons, CIC Mountain Empire Agency Alliance - Kingsport Aaron is a Lincoln Memorial University graduate with more than 9 years of insurance experience. His career began as a financial advisor at Mass Mutual and eventually he became VP at HJS Insurors in Knoxville. His role included agency management, sales and obtaining new carrier appointments. He currently works at MEAA as Director of Member Services where he assists agencies with carrier appointments, sales tactics and increasing agency profitability. Amanda Hobbs, CIC, CISR BB&T KDC Insurance Services - Kingsport
Bruce, a David Lipscomb University alumnus, has been in insurance for more than 27 years. He spent 16 years as an agency principal in P&C and Medicare sales. He has been with Consumers Insurance for over 11 years as a marketing representative. Christi J. Lane, CIC, CISR, AAI Collier Insurance - Memphis Will Lowe III, CIC Chappell, Smith & Associates Will graduated Summa Cum Laude from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Shortly after graduating he began working with Chappell, Smith & Associates as the commercial marketing assistant. In his two years at the agency, his focus has been on marketing and improving upon a more streamline approach to creating agency growth and providing the best for their clients. Rob Sentell Jr., CIC The Crichton Group - Nashville Neely Fred Wix, CIC Kemmons Wilson Insurance Group, LLC
Bruce A. Hunzicker, CIC Consumers Insurance/Motorists Insurance Group
Continued on page 44
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Mr. Trump Goes to Washington Is a Dodd-Frank Repeal on the Table Under the New President? Apart from the obvious surprise that put financial markets in temporary disarray, the election of real estate mogul and reality TV icon Donald Trump to the office of the President of the United States has left many wondering “what effects will this have on the economy?” While many pundits have been quick to speculate on dramatic consequences in recent days, history suggests that answers to this question will likely not be as clear, or nor will they happen as fast as many would expect. One issue that has been highly speculated upon is the fate of Dodd-Frank legislation. The mother lode of all financial legislation, Dodd-Frank has been one of the most impacting pieces of legislation in the history of our nation, at least in the eyes of bankers across the country. A reaction to the financial crisis of 2008, it’s thousands of pages have resulted in regulation that has limited consumer choice and increased costs such that banks are now consolidating at a percentage rate higher than ever. One of the public outcries at the time of the crisis was that large banks were too big to fail. Ironically, those few banks are now even larger than they were back then, and sadly, Dodd-Frank has manifested in reducing bank profits expectations such that there is virtually no investment thesis to support investing in a start-up bank today. Nationwide, there have only been five startup banks opened in the last several years.
What Will the President-elect Do About Regulation? So, what says Trump? The President-elect has indicated he is no fan of Dodd-Frank or excess regulation in general. Having said that, he has previously indicated that he thinks commercial banking and investment banking should not be combined, a la the Glass-Steagall legislation of 1933 (GlassSteagall was mostly repealed by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999, and some have suggested that this was an enabling cause of excess risk-taking that led to the last crisis). In deciding how to move forward on Dodd-Frank, Trump will have plenty of both opponents and proponents. Bankers and free market advocates will universally applaud any efforts to repeal Dodd-Frank, citing the barriers to economic growth that excess regulation has put forth. They will cite historically paltry GDP growth coming out the last recession to support their arguments. Regulators and consumer groups, on the other hand, will make more visceral arguments that certain consumers stand to lose if such action is taken. They will cite
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instances such as the recent Wells Fargo fiasco as reasons why Dodd-Frank should be sacrosanct. One dimension to this debate that is not fully appreciated by everyone is the concept of inertia. When thousands of pages of law and regulation have been digested, tested, and implemented, the process of unwinding is probably uglier than its creation. Accepting that a full repeal of Dodd-Frank is highly improbable, one then has to consider the potential number of variations of its modification. Quite frankly, that is probably a bigger number than the various combinations of drinks and flavors that Sonic Drive-In promotes in its arsenal of sugary blissful beverages. This inertia is an unfortunate by-product of government bureaucracy, where government employees are effectively incented to grow government by having their personal wage grades being a function of the size of the budget they are responsible for, and/or the number of people that report to them. It’s no wonder that in this election Hillary Clinton received 90% of the popular vote in Washington, D.C. as compared to Donald Trump’s meager 4%. Yes, that’s not a typo; it was f-o-u-r percent. To those fearing a repeal of DoddFrank I say don’t worry: all of Washington, D.C. will be fighting for its survival. All of the above suggests that Americans need not worry about drastic changes in these matters. At the end of the day the House and Senate are roughly divided evenly in political persuasion, which is fortunate in times of change and controversy as it minimizes the likelihood of decisions that would be significantly detrimental to the nation. About the Author Jim Rieniets serves as President and CEO of INSBANK, which requires him to manage the day to day activities of the bank. He also serves as a director of INSBANK and on the Loan and Investment Committees, as well as being the Chief Manager of the bank’s subsidiary, Finworth Mortgage, LLC. Jim has an extensive banking career and leadership background and formerly served on the Credit Committee of the Tennessee Bankers Association. u
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Annual Convention Recap Following Up on the Events of Our 123rd Annual Meeting
On Tuesday, November 1st, we completed our Insurors 123rd Annual Convention. Over 460 people attended this year's event, and so far we've received some great feedback. We informally "kicked off" on Saturday night with our football viewing party presented by Towerstone and our Nashville Symphony outing.
McDonald. We again want to thank Cornerstone National for their sponsorship of this great concert. The Young Agents kept the fun going after the concert, as our After Party presented by Berkley Southeast saw a great turnout at Primings Cigar Lounge.
The meetings got started on Sunday with our first breakout session and the opening of the exhibit hall. We had 85 exhibit booths in our sold out trade show, the largest in Insurors history. Attendees were able to meet with a wide array of carriers, brokers and vendors, and also network during our reception in the exhibit hall.
Attendees gather in the Chubb Business Connection Lounge
Past President Roger Smith talks with exhibitors Kevin Ford and Matt Cochran
On Sunday evening, things got officially kicked off at our opening night celebration presented by Consumers/Motorists. Guests enjoyed dinner in the Country Music Hall of Fame and optional tours of the venue. After dinner, our surprise guest Darryl Worley performed his many hits as went above and beyond to fill in as our guest entertainer in place of Richie
Monday morning had us gather back in the exhibit hall for more networking and fun. Our breakfast was presented by StoneWood Insurance and many of our attendees reconnected with their peers in the Chubb Business Connection Lounge. The voice of the Titans, Mike Keith, was on hand greeting our guests and interviewing sponsors, and then we wrapped things up with the many door prizes from our exhibitors.
Insurors CEO Chuck Bidek talks with Mike Keith and Steve Enoch as well as Jordan Wheeler from Platinum sponsor Cornerstone National
Darryl Worley performs for the convention guests
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Once the trade show ended, our next breakout sessions kept things going. The DOL Overtime Rules session and the "Protecting Your Data" session both got good reviews from their attendees. The Tennessee Insuror
After wrapping up the morning, our optional activities began. The wine collection seminar presented by Chubb and Martin & Zerfoss was a huge hit, and we saw some impressive displays at our golf and clay shooting outings. Sam Bradshaw was our top shot, hitting 96/100 targets on the clay course at the event presented by Markel Specialty. Over at Richland Country Club, our host sponsor Travelers put on another great event. The top foursome of the day was Battle Bagley, Chris Allison, Bobby Sain and Dave Baker.
Monday evening, we reconvened at a reception for our top InsurPACTN supporters, then wrapped up the evening with the many company dinners and outings. Tuesday morning was the culmination of the convention, as we closed out the event with annual Association Day Meeting. Our new Board of Directors, led by President John McInturff III, was inducted for 2017. We also heard from Big "I" Chairman-elect Vaughn Graham and our outgoing President Christie Reeves. Christie also presented our 2016 award winners, which included Presidential Citations for Pam Willet of FCCI, Scott Coon of Travelers and Clay Jackson of BB&T Insurance Services. Our Jim Alexander Chairman of the Year Award went to Battle Bagley of Bagley & Bagley, and our Arch Northington Young Agent of the Year was Tommy Allmon of White & Associates. Finally, our most prestigious award was presented, the Insuror of the Year, which was given to Kevin Ownby of Ownby Insurance Service.
Laurie Lee Sisk wins a prize at the Chubb/Martin & Zerfoss wine seminar
Kevin Ownby shares a laugh with Christie Reeves as he accepts his award
Kevin and Leanne Hale talk with Brent Chance, David Allen and C.W. Bartlett
Award Winners
Thanks again to all our attendees, and we hope everyone will make their plans now to attend next year's Insurors of Tennessee 124th Annual Convention, taking place October 14-17, 2017 at The Peabody hotel in Memphis. We want to see you there! u
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION CLAY JACKSON BB&T Insurance Services Clay was awarded for his service to Insurors, Big "I" and our industry, including his work on the IIABA Agents and Brokers Roundtable. PRESIDENTIAL CITATION PAM WILLET FCCI Insurance Group Pam was awarded for her many contributions to independent agents during her career in Tennessee. PRESIDENTIAL CITATION SCOTT COON Travelers Insurance Scott was awarded for his support of the Association through sponsorship and Government Affairs efforts. The Tennessee Insuror
ARCH NORTHINGTON JIM ALEXANDER YOUNG AGENT AWARD COMMITTEE AWARD TOMMY ALLMON BATTLE BAGLEY White & Associates Bagley & Bagley Tommy was named Young Battle was awarded for his Agent of the Year for his work as the Chair of the work on the State & Local Finance Committee and as level and volunteerism. Treasurer of the Board.
INSUROR OF THE YEAR KEVIN OWNBY Ownby Insurance Service Kevin was named Insuror of the Year for his ongoing service to Insurors, including six consecutive years on the Board. 13
Daniel Learns About Insurance: Game Cancellation Insurance When the Big Game Gets Cancelled or Postponed by the Big Storm
Insurors Director of Communications Daniel Smith is far from an insurance expert, but he is trying to learn! In this series he will look into insurance industry and coverage questions he has about popular trends in day-to-day life.
written by Daniel Smith
their finances from past games and seasons and come up with the average amount of money they'd make," Reed told CNN Money for a story on the topic.
It's no secret that I'm not a fan of the Florida Gators. In fact, it's one of the few things I can agree on with my many Big Orange brethren. So when Florida had to postpone their football game with LSU in October, I quickly pointed the finger at UF and their athletic director Jeremy Foley.
Back in 2014, the Gators had to cancel a game with the Idaho Vandals after the season opener was wiped out by rain and lightning delays. The school collected $1.8 million under their Lloyd's policy, specifically for lost ticket revenue.2 Florida refunded that same amount to around 40,000 ticket purchasers. The game was not rescheduled due to Idaho's logisitcal issues on the available make-up date.
But in reality, they did have a very real threat from Hurricane Matthew bearing down on them. The storm changed its path more than anticipated, sparing Gainesville from major damage, but they were better safe than sorry. The Gators do deserve some credit though, as they have been covered for game cancellations from natural events including tornadoes, thunderstorms, fires and snowstorms for many years.1
In the case of the LSU game, a date was rescheduled, and Florida may also be able to recoup some travel expenses for having the game relocated to Baton Rouge. It all depends on their policy language of course, but it is still an excellent safeguard for these high-revenue programs.
The school has been insured through Lloyd's of London to protect the revenue from tickets, concessions, merchandise and parking in cases of event loss. These policies generally only cover the home teams, according to Christian Reed, Owner and CEO of Dissinger Reed, a special risk agency specializing in school athletic program insurance. "They look at
Event Cancellation Insurance for Your Clients Although you may not be insuring any major college football programs, you may have clients with other event cancellation coverage needs. Event cancellation protection can help your clients cover non-refundable deposits and non-reimbursable expenses that may be lost due to extreme weather, vendor
An empty Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, home of the Florida Gators
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withdrawal, accidents, illness and other unforeseen circumstances. Special events require a lot of planning and involve many moving parts. This coverage can help protect clients from loss at events of all sizes, from business meetings and weddings to major concerts and promotions. To find the right coverage for your client's event, thoroughly discuss all the details of the event and assess what risks may be involved. Are there thirdparties that the event's success depends on? Is ticket revenue or registration income on the line? Is there potential or risk for bodily injury by event attendees?
Creative Solutions for Small Businesses BSIG Advantage provides a simplified solution for writing your small business customers through access to our proprietary online rating system. BSIG Advantage provides comprehensive coverage, while offering the flexibility of a BOP.
Comprehensive Coverage With over 400 eligible classes in 8 market segments, we have the right product to fit the needs of your small business clients. Everyone gets excited about good event insurance
These are all crucial factors in determining the right event coverage. As with most policies, certain exclusions and policy terms exist. Some of these may add to the value of the coverage, and some may increase your clients exposure. For example, coverage under an event cancellation policy may not be available if insufficient financing or marketing efforts caused the loss. Similarly, under most event cancellation policies, cancellations or postponements stemming from lack of attendance caused by competing events or declining interest in the event, performer, or team are not likely to be covered.3 So remember, planning is key to any event, and that includes insurance planning. Don't let your clients get "chomped" at their special event. 1-Per "Good news for college football: There's game insurance” via http:// money.cnn.com/2016/10/08/news/football-game-hurricane-matthewinsurance/ 2-Per “Insurer to Pay for Florida Gators-Idaho Vandals Cancelled Game” via Insurance Journal at http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2014/09/15/340449.htm 3-Per "Insurance Coverage for Event Cancellation and Postponement"at http://www.acc.com/legalresources/quickcounsel/icfecap.cfm
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Berkley Southeast Insurance Group is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation, whose insurance company subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M.Best. Products and services are provided by one or more insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all products and services are available in every jurisdiction, and the precise coverage afforded by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies as issued. ©2016 Berkley Southeast Insurance Group. All rights reserved.
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Daniel Smith serves as the Director of Communications for Insurors of Tennessee. He has a Bachelors degree in Marketing with a minor in Graphic Design from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He may be contacted at dsmith@insurors.org. u 16
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Future Leaders Spotlight
presented by
E. Johnson • Tigrett & Pennington - Dyersburg Eloiett "E" Johnson originally hails from Houston, Texas, but has lived in Dyersburg for 27 years. With that kind of time, it's no wonder he considers Dyersburg to be his hometown. He has been married to his wife Sally for 18 years and they have four children; Trey, who is 16, Annsley who is 13, Ty who is 9 and Blakley who is 7. He E. Johnson of Tigrett & enjoys going to UT football Pennington games and playing golf. But most of all, he loves watching all of his children participate in the activities they enjoy.
The Insuror: Can you tell us a little about your current job title and responsibilities? E: I’m a senior account manager for Tigrett & Pennington. I’m a producer first and foremost, however I do market large commercial accounts for the agency.
The Insuror: What can you tell us about your educational background? E: I graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1996 with a degree in Political Science. I was always fascinated with history and the political history of our country. I wanted to go to law school after graduation, however I decided that was not the right path for my life.
The Insuror: How and why did you get your career in the insurance industry started? E: Like most people I just kind of stumbled into the business. After deciding not to go to law school I knew I had to get a job. After looking into the financial advisor world and other sales opportunities, I just didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. After about 5 months of searching, I decided to sell life insurance with Kansas City Life in Memphis. At 24 years old I found out pretty quick that I didn’t know anything about anything.
The Insuror: Do you have any influences/role models in the industry? E: I have worked for two agencies in my 19 years in the P&C 18
business and have had great influences from many of the veterans of our industry. From the very beginning I was taught that hard work pays off. From cold calling when I first started until 8:30 at night to being involved in the community so I could learn to network, I learned the “old school” way of prospecting, working and selling. As I have grown in this industry, I found that many of these same techniques are still applicable today. However, one thing that always holds true, nobody want to talk insurance at 8:30 pm.
The Insuror: Is there any advice you could offer Young Agents or others in the industry to achieve success? E: This business is challenging, but it is so rewarding. Stick with it, always do what is in the best interest of your client and what’s in the best interest of your companies. Every day is different than the day before, that’s why I enjoy it so much.
The Insuror: As an independent agent, you have many partners in this industry, including carriers, MGAs and many more. How do you determine which ones are the right relationships? E: We really try to partner with companies and MGAs that fit what we typically write and go after. We strive to be industry leaders in all we do so we want to partner with carries and MGAs that strive for the same things.
The Insuror: Thank you for giving us your time, Kevin, we appreciate it and wish you continued success in your career. E: It has been a pleasure. That you for all that the Insurors of Tennessee does for our industry. u
Young Agents ‘17
Upcoming Events and Information
Our Young Agents Committee strives to offer young insurance professionals with an outlet to meet their counterparts and The Tennessee Insuror
develop in the industry. 2016 was another successful year for the program, as we saw growth in both our number of enrolled Young Agents and in the amount of participation and engagement throughout the year. We want to thank our 2016 committee, led by Brent Chance, for there continued efforts to make this program a success. We are excited about our 2017 group, led by Tim Treadwell, as they look to carry the momentum over into 2017. We also want to thank past chair Stuart Oakes, who rotates off of the committee at the end of this year, for his hard work and leadership. Below is the next activity on our schedule for 2017. Other events will be setup throughout the year at locations across the state following our January Young Agents Committee meeting. If you have interest in volunteering, participating, or helping to organize future activities, please contact Daniel Smith at dsmith@insurors.org or call him at 615.515.2601. March 8 - Agency Growth Conference Young Agents Reception Location TBD • 7-9 pm CST • Knoxville
Young Agents Committee Brent Chance - Chair Principal Agent/Owner Ivy Insurance Brentwood bchance@ivy-insurance.com Stuart Oakes, CRIS - Immediate Past Chair Producer/Construction Division TIS Insurance Services Knoxville sfoakes@tisins.com Tim Treadwell V - Region I Account Executive Boyle Insurance Agency Memphis timt@boyle.com Alan Sisk, AU, AINS - Region II Producer Geny Insurance Nashville alan@genyinsurance.com David Allen, CIC, CRM - Region III Principal Agent RSS Insurance Chattanooga dallen@rssins.com For more information, or questions on the Young Agents program, please e-mail dsmith@insurors.org or call him at 615.515.2601. u The Tennessee Insuror
INTRODUCING
Exceptional Agents Berkley Southeast Insurance Group recognizes the need to mentor the growth of new talent and to perpetuate the Independent Agency System, as well as provide young agents with a competitive advantage. Tennessee’s Young Agents are the future of our business. That’s why we are working together for success.
Congratulations Exceptional Agents 2016 Aaron Jensen Adam Reeves Andrew Powers Blake Dickens Brandon Patterson Chad Richardson Chad Snider Charlie Taylor Clement Ledbetter Cooper Permenter David Allen David Clark David Evans Jamie Williams Jared Smith Jason Teague John Brock John Fritts Josh Witt KC Covington Kevin Lockmiller Kevin Ownby Matt Spellings Michael Greer Michael Novarese Mike Thomas Neil Scott Paul Steele Preston Martin Ramsey Brock Robert Harris Stacy Woodard Stuart Oakes Taylor Ragan Taylor Walker Tim Treadwell Trey Powell Will Webb
Shafer Insurance Agency, Knoxville Union City Insurance Agency, Union City Burke, Powers, and Harty Insurance, Bristol Harris, Madden and Powell, Memphis Ownby Insurance Services, Sevierville Swallows-Newman Insurance, Cookeville Westan Insurance Group, Martin Burke, Powers, and Harty Insurance, Bristol Battle Page Insurance, Franklin Harris, Madden and Powell, Memphis RSS Insurance, Chattanooga RSS Insurance, Chattanooga The Insurance, Group, Inc., Knoxville Hardin County Bank Ins. Agcy., Savannah TIS Insurance Services, Knoxville Watauga Insurance, Johnson City Heritage Brock Insurance, Chattanooga TIS Insurance Services, Knoxville The Insurance Group, Inc., Knoxville Carroll Insurance Agency McKenzie V.R. Williams & Company, Winchester Ownby Insurance Services, Sevierville Consolidated Insurance Agency, Paris V.R. Williams & Company, Winchester McDaniel-Whitley, Inc Insurance, Inc., Nashville Insurity Group, Chattanooga Martin & Zerfoss Insurance, Nashville Union City Insurance Agency, Union City Brock Insurance, Chattanooga Tigrett & Pennington, Nashville Shafer Insurance Agency, Knoxville TIS Insurance Services, Knoxville Martin & Zerfoss Insurance, Nashville Thompson & Smith Insuance, Jackson Boyle Insurance, Memphis RSS Insurance, Chattanooga Battle Page Insurance, Franklin
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The Tennessee Insuror
From Your President Putting a Bow on 2016
I cannot believe that Christmas is right around the corner! I love the holiday season and all the extra time I get to spend with family and friends. We have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season and I wish each of you peace and happiness. This is my final article for the magazine and my time as president is almost over. This year really flew by but as I look back, a lot was accomplished. Here are just a few of the highlights. My first outing as President was attending the Memphis Christmas luncheon last December where I swore in the new officers. It was my first visit to a Memphis meeting and it was great to see a good turnout for this event. Local boards are so important to our Association. Working with local boards was one of our initiatives for 2016 and I think we made some headway. We will continue this work going forward. Be on the lookout for an event in your area and please make every effort to attend. We had a successful legislative year with the most notable issue being the blockage of the Workers' Compensation Opt-Out bill. With the help of some carrier partners and the stellar efforts of some individual members we were able to defeat this effort. Thank you Chuck and Ashley for all the many hours you spent educating the membership on this important issue as well as the time you spent working against the bill. If it reappears during the next session, I am confident we can be just as successful at defeating it again. Our Spring Agency Growth Conference was a success again this year with even better attendance by both agents and company people. The conference will be in Knoxville next spring. Our young agent numbers continue to increase with a solid base in each region. Young agents are the future of our industry and the lifeblood of our organization. Thanks to Daniel Smith and all the young agents who are working to increase our numbers and get these young people active in our Association and in local events. They have done an incredible job and we look for even more success in the coming years. The Tennessee Insuror
Our education program is still going strong with CIC, CRM and CISR courses being held around the state. We are also working with MTSU to increase the number of qualified graduates coming out of their insurance program. This year a new Chairholder for the Tommy Martin Chair of Insurance, Dr. Dave Wood, came on board in August and we look forward to working with him to bolster industry talent. As president I was also fortunate to attend several Big “I” conferences and to participate in Insurance Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C. I enjoyed seeing what goes on at the national level and was very impressed at how much they do and how well we are represented in our nation's capital. We have a lot to be proud of. The real highlight of my year was working with such wonderful people. Chuck, Ashley, Daniel and the Insurors staff – you made my job so much easier and I thank you for that. I have a new appreciation for the amount of work you do and the dedication you have for our Association. I will really miss working so closely with you all. You are the best! The board was outstanding this year and I was lucky to be working with each and every one of them. A special thank you goes to my friend, Cindi Gresham, who was a great president in 2015 and left things in good shape for me. She even kept notes on all the little things one needs to know and do as President and passed them on to me. That was so thoughtful of her and also very helpful to me this year. I will add a few notes of my own and pass them down to your next president, John McInturff III. I feel confident that we are in good hands for 2017 with John at the helm.
“ T h i s A ssociation does a lot to make this industry even better f o r u s a l l .”
I would urge each of you to get involved with this Association, either at the local level, the state level or both. I promise you will get back much more than you put in. This Association does a lot to make this industry even better for us all. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as your President for 2016. I am so grateful to all of you for this opportunity. Thank you so much. u
Christie Reeves, CIC, CPCU, CPIW 21
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From Your IIABA National Director Being Prepared for Being Wrong Although I somewhat suspected the outcome, the media and most of the country believed that Donald Trump could not win our latest Presidential election. In fact, many had staked a lot against such a victory. Political pundits, politicians and even members of Trump's own party had all but written him off. Now that it was shown to be a mistake, what will the fallout be? Trump's victory was combined with a Republican "hold" in Congress. That means that for the next two years, the Republicans will have a pretty strong grip on policymaking in D.C. There are some critical issues that may come into play, including revisiting things like the DOL Overtime Rule and the ACA Cadillac Tax, if not the entire ACA system. Those that were wrong about Trump's election may be doing some major backtracking at this point. Luckily, your National Association doesn't put all their eggs in one basket, and was prepared to move ahead with either scenario. We may now see some opportunity for our industry, based on the results. The Big "I" Government Affairs staff has released several predications for what may be on the table in the early days of Trump's Presidency: "With this new power shift, the Big “I” expects that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be a top priority in 2017. The day after the election, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) reiterated his expectation that repealing the ACA will be at the top of next year's agenda. Unlike most pieces of legislation, which require 60 votes to avoid a Senate filibuster, most of the ACA can be repealed through a process called reconciliation, which requires only 51 votes. The Big “I” will continue to guard against harmful changes to the employer-sponsored health care system in ACA replacement legislation. The Big “I” also expects the Trump Administration to prioritize tax reform. The majority of Big “I” member businesses file at individual tax rates, since they are organized as pass-through entities such as Subchapter S Corporations, Partnerships and Sole Proprietorships. For that reason, the Big The Tennessee Insuror
“I” believes that the Trump Administration and Congress must address both individual and corporate tax rates in any discussion on tax reform. The Big “I” will continue to push both the Administration and Congress to reform the tax code in a way that provides relief for its small business members, allowing them to thrive in the marketplace. Republican control of the executive and legislative branches is likely to yield a better legislative environment for businesses, including independent insurance agencies. For example, legislative efforts to temper or rollback regulatory cornerstones of the Obama Administration, such as the Department of Labor (DOL) overtime rule and fiduciary rule, could be on deck. The Big "I" will continue advocating for adjustments to both DOL rules and will issue more compliance information on the overtime rules next week as they set to take effect on Dec. 1, prior to the new Administration. Furthermore, Republican oversight of the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) for the first time since the office was created could move the tenor of federal insurance regulatory efforts away from increased federal oversight and change the status of international insurance negotiations. Renewed legislative efforts to change the FIO’s structure are also possible. Finally, the NFIP is set to expire Sept. 30, 2017, and the Big “I” has been at the forefront of policy discussions as Congress considers a major overhaul of the program..."
“T h os e that we re w ro n g about Trump's election may be doing some major backtracking at this point.”
Support for Our PAC is Critical With those next two years in Republican control, this is a crucial time for our Big "I" political action committee, InsurPac National. We have surpassed the $1 million mark several times in the past few years, and we need to reach that goal again to be considered as industry players on Capitol Hill. I would encourage you to consider a donation to the PAC as a critical part of your agency's future. You can visit http://www. independentagent.com/GovernmentAffairs/InsurPac/default.aspx for more information. Let's make sure we're prepared. u
Lou Moran III 23
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From Your CEO Is Zero a Number?
Since the passage of the ACA (commonly called Obamacare) there has been an ongoing debate on the role of agents in the enrollment process, and indirectly, the compensation an agent could receive in the process. The age old “percentage of premium” was immediately discarded when the federal law ruled that insurance companies could not have expense ratios (the Medical Loss Ratio [MLR]) above 15%, which included agent compensation. Quickly, companies changed from a commission percentage to a per-head fee which would stabilize costs and not be subject to rate increases. For the first three years of the ACA our National Association worked to amend the MLR definition to not include agent compensation. One public official once said to me (regarding TennCare), “Looking back we should have had agents involved from the start.” IIABA arranged bill sponsors and pushed the members of Congress to recognize the work agents do for their clients. In football terms, this was a "Hail Mary" as it was doubtful if the bill could succeed and somehow avoid a presidential veto. Even those supporters who recognized your work were hesitant to sign on to the Bill since they had vowed to make no changes to the ACA. With a new President and a House/Senate of the same political party, Obamacare may be repealed. Even so, it will likely be replaced. The issue of agent compensation could be revisited in a major healthcare overhaul, but it's way to early to tell.
neration received by agents dropped to ZERO in most cases.
Cross-Border Companies At first reaction to these changes we had plenty of calls from agents asking for names of companies that were appointing agents. When the ACA was created there was talk about allowing non-admitted insurers to “cross borders” and write in Tennessee. In fact, cross-border insurance was brought up again, by President-elect Trump, as a way to increase competition. Crossborder insurance sales would allow an out-ofstate health insurer to sell its policies in Tennessee. For example, you could have an Ohio company sell its products in Tennessee using Ohio rates, forms and be regulated by Ohio. This would require Tennessee legislation – and likely federal legislation – to be permitted. Any such legislation has a myriad of issues to be solved. If enacted we could expect to see this type of insurance sold online and using direct mail marketing. Given the instability of rates in Tennessee, we don’t see companies rushing to fill voids and coming to our towns to sign people up.
Farm Bureau Health
Just this year as we prepared for the 2017 enrollment, we saw one major medical carrier leave the program after a federally-subsidized startup company in Knoxville failed. As a result, the remaining carriers must absorb more customers. Large rate increases were already necessary to keep the individual market alive, and the rate increases were approved by the Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Agents have asked about Farm Bureau’s Health Insurance company (formerly Tennessee Rural Health) and if they would consider appointing our independent agents. We talked directly with them about the matter. They told us they had about 3,000 customers this year and might be able to handle around 10,000 for 2017. Their market would be available across the entire state, and even after receiving a 33% rate increase they question whether that will bring them rate stability.
Two more distinct changes came in this enrollment period. First, the number of plans available on the marketplace from carriers was significantly reduced, and second, the remu-
The Farm Bureau products are “off Marketplace” meaning ineligible for subsidies. Additionally, they sell through “health specialists” housed in the offices of the regular Farm Bureau agent.
The Tennessee Insuror
“T h e i s s u e of agent compensation could be revisited in a major healthcare overhaul.”
Chuck Bidek, CPCU 25
The bottom line is this will not be a viable alternative market for independent agents anytime in the near future.
Fees vs. Commission So, what’s an agent to do? Many agents have called asking questions about the ability to charge fees to customers whether they be new or renewals. The issue of fees has been a contentious one for over twenty years. Former Commissioners Neff, Sizemore and Attorney General Burson have all issued opinions. Simply put, if the individual major medical policy is with an admitted market and agent may not charge a fee. Any and all compensation must be shown in the rate filing with the state. And as stated above, compensation contained in a rate filing must be calculated the in the MLR (85%). Therefore it is highly unlikely at this point that carriers will move to include compensation in their filings.
What If? Therefore we go back to the original question. When your commission dropped to zero, are you selling something? Or are you helping some else to buy insurance? Insurors and NAIFA-Tennessee have worked together to ask what we think is a reasonable question, and we have formally asked the Department for an opinion. (You may view the full request online at http://www.insurors.org/pdf/ACA_fee_opinion_request. pdf).
We see an analogy with tax advisors and preparation companies. The federal income tax code requires us to file a tax form on any income we earn during a year. We can meet our obligation to file by doing it ourselves through a computer application or using preparers like H&R Block, tax firms, CPAs, etc. All of these receive different "fee" amounts depending upon which one and what services we choose. Although Federal legislation was introduced in 2015 to regulate these fees charged by tax preparers, no such legislation has been enacted to do so. In its ruling on the ACA, the United States Supreme Court said that Obamacare was, in fact, a tax. Treating it the same way as our Federal income tax, we believe that you should be permitted to charge fees for services provided in counseling on business where you are otherwise not being paid. With a possible scrapping of the entire program in Washington and a total rewrite following it, things will change. Your Association will need to be at the table. We believe our long time work and relationships in Nashville and D.C. can get us there. But on this do-over, our message needs to be clear. This is a Healthcare problem and not an insurance problem. More importantly, agents can and should be part of the new solution. We think your time is worth more than "zero," and we'll be working to make sure that mistakes of the past legislation aren't made again. u
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The Tennessee Insuror
Education Calendar
2017 Continuing Education Chattanooga 4/4 CISR Agency Ops 10/5 CISR Commercial Casualty II
Memphis
Johnson City
3/1 CISR Commercial Casualty I
4/5 CISR Agency Ops 10/5 CISR Commercial Casualty II
3/15-17 CIC Commercial Multiline 6/14 CISR Personal Residential 11/8 CISR Personal Lines
The Insurors of Tennessee offers education opportunities to member agents across a wide range of insurance specialities that satisfy individuals at many different experience levels. If you are looking to further your career, seeking a professional designation, or need to satisfy continuing education requirements, check out the variety of courses available.
Nashville
2/28 CISR Commercial Casualty I 5/3-5 CIC Commercial Property 6/13 CISR Personal Residential 7/20-21 CIC Ruble 9/13-15 CIC Commercial Casualty 10/1-3 CIC Company Operations
Knoxville 4/6 CISR Agency Ops 8/16-18 Agency Management
Registration is fast and easy at www.insurors.org. More information about each class can also be found online.
10/3 CISR Personal Auto
10/8 CISR Personal Lines
Paving The Way
CISR 2/28 3/1 4/4 4/5 4/6 6/13 6/14 10/3 10/4 10/5 11/7 11/8
Fee: $186
CE: 7
Commercial Casualty I Commercial Casualty I Agency Operations Agency Operations Agency Operations Personal Residential Personal Residential Personal Auto Exposures Personal Auto Exposures Personal Auto Exposures Personal Lines - Miscellaneous Personal Lines - Miscellaneous
CIC
Fee: $424 (Ruble $430)
Nashville Memphis Chattanooga Johnson City Knoxville Nashville Memphis Knoxville Johnson City Chattanooga Nashville Memphis
CE: 24 (Ruble 16)
Memphis Nashville Nashville Knoxville Nashville Nashville
The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Website: www.nasba. org. Advanced Curriculum Rating = 20 CPE Credits. For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, please contact our offices at 800-633-2165.
ABEN Webcasts (insurors.aben.tv) E&O - Understanding Agent Duties NFIP Basic Flood Insurance Course Data Privacy Insurance E&O - Consideration of Agency Ops
CE: 3 $48 CE: 3 $72 CE: 2 $48 CE: 3 $48
Fee: $430
9/26-29 Practice of Risk Management*
Nashville
Specialty Seminars 4/4-6 Affleunt/High Net Worth Clients 4/10-11 Legal Concepts in Insurance
Fee: Varies
Nashville Nashville
Online Courses (www.iiaba.net/vu) Available from IIABA Virtual University. Member pricing shown.
Ethics for Insurance Professionals How to Calc. Business Income in 5 Min. National Flood Insurance Program New Employee Training Course
3/15-17 Comm. Multiline Institute 5/3-5 Commercial Property Institute 7/20-21 Ruble Graduate Seminar 8/16-18 Agency Management Institute 9/13-15 Commercial Casualty Institute 11/1-3 Company Operations
12/9 12/13 12/14 12/16
CRM
CE: 3 CE: 3 CE: 6 CE: 9
$75 $50 $80 $100
*check VU site for current information on CE and pricing
Available from The National Alliance
(www.scic.com)
Legal & Ethical Requirments of Insurance CE: 4 Insuring Flood Exposures - NFIP Review CE: 4 Available from The Institutes
$75 $75
(insurors.ceu.com)
Insurance Principles and Policies CE: 7 Long Term Care CE: 24 Workers’ Compensation CE: 10 Employee Benefits for Small Companies CE: 4 Healthcare Reform and Affordable Care CE: 5 e-Coverage CE: 15 Fundamentals of Personal Auto Insurance CE: 3 Management Process for Ins. Professionals CE: 21 Intro to Flexible Spending Accounts CE: 4 Terrorism and Its Impact on Insurance CE: 4 Toxic Mold and Homeowners Insurance CE: 15
$49 $99 $59 $39 $49 $79 $29 $89 $39 $39 $79
Register Online at www.insurors.org
Indicates course is presented by The National Alliance. Register for these courses at www.thenationalalliance.com The Tennessee Insuror
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Government and Legal Affairs The Effect of an Insured's Bankruptcy on Their Coverage
cancel the insurance policy at will, the insurer cannot do so where the reason for doing so is based upon the insured having filed for bankruptcy.1
This article originally appeared in the IIABNY online publication The E&O Report and is reprinted with their permission.
An insured’s bankruptcy filing will also provide at least some protection against the insurer canceling the insured’s policy, even where the cancellation is predicated on the insured having failed to pay its premium, or a material change in conditions exists that would otherwise permit the insurer to cancel the policy. Filing for bankruptcy triggers an “automatic stay,” which prohibits a variety of actions against the debtor, including “any act to … exercise control over property of the estate.”2 In interpreting this provision, courts have held any attempt by an insurer to cancel an insurance policy constitutes an act to exercise control over property of the estate and violates the automatic stay.3
Written by Robert W. Lewis, Esq., Keidel, Weldon & Cunningham
In a perfect world, all your insureds would remain in business (and continue to be your customers) in perpetuity. However, in the real world, this is not always the case and sometimes one of your insureds may end up filing for bankruptcy. When this happens, one issue your insured may face is what effect does the bankruptcy have on its insurance coverage? The effect of bankruptcy on an insurance policy depends, at least in part, on whether the insured had paid its premiums in full prior to filing for bankruptcy. Where an insured has paid its premiums in full prior to the time when the bankruptcy is filed, the filing for bankruptcy should have little effect on insurance coverage. In fact, bankruptcy courts have found on several occasions that, even where the insurer would have otherwise been permitted to
Courts have also routinely found notices of termination and cancellation issued to debtors are void and without effect.4 Since many policies of insurance will automatically renew unless the insurer issues an effective notice of non-renewal, such insurers will likely be powerless to prevent the policy from renewing, at least absent relief from the automatic stay.
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The Tennessee Insuror
31
On the other hand, policies that expire on their own terms will likely do so irrespective of any automatic stay.
specific facts of their bankruptcy to determine how this protection may apply in their particular case.
That being said, the automatic stay does not leave an insurer whose insured has filed for bankruptcy without any remedy where the insured falls behind on payments or where other circumstances arise justifying the insurer’s cancellation of the policy. In such circumstances, an insurer can petition the bankruptcy court for relief from the automatic stay.5 However, the bankruptcy court is not required to grant this relief in every situation, and it may deny the relief where the requested cancellation would significantly impair the bankruptcy proceeding.6 This process also gives the trustee time to cure any problem causing the insurer to cancel the insurance policy.
1 - See, In re Cahokia Downs, Inc., 5 B.R. 529, 531-32 (Bankr.S.D.Ill 1980) 2 - See, 28 .U.S.C. § 362(a)(3) 3 - See, In re Minoco Group of Companies, Ltd., 799 F.2d 517 (9th Cir. 1986); Matter of Pester Refining Co., 58 B.R. 189, 191(Bankr.S.D.Iowa 1985) 4 - See, In re Elder-Beerman Stores Corp., 195 B.R. 1019, 1023-24 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 1996); see, Minoco, 799 at 518. 5 - See, In re Payless Cashways, Inc., 305 B.R. 303, 306 (Bankr.W.D.Mo. 2004) 6 - See, Matter of Amber Lingerie, Inc., 30 B.R. 736, 737 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 1983)
Of course, every situation has its own peculiarities. While your insureds should be aware that filing for bankruptcy might provide them with some degree of protection against their insurers cancelling their insurance policies, you should direct your insureds to speak to their bankruptcy attorney about the
About the Author Robert W. Lewis, Esq. is an Associate at Keidel, Weldon & Cunningham, LLP in New York. He has focused his practice on handling complex insurance coverage disputes, representing insurance agents and brokers in liability actions and handling regulatory compliance issues faced by insurance agents and brokers. Robert is also very involved in the firm’s appellate practice. u
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The Tennessee Insuror
Association Update
Best Practices Agencies Named for 2016
The Big "I" has released its 2016 Best Practices Study (BPS) benchmarking analysis which found modest declines in organic growth but steady profitability across the group of 260 Best Practices Agencies studied. The 2016 Best Practices Study benchmarking analysis includes in-depth discussion on four key challenges facing the insurance brokerage industry, including growth, consolidation, aging workforce and technology. Among the winners were 13 Insurors members, including: • • • • • • • • • • • •
Athens Insurance Agency dba P&C Risk Services in Athens BFS Insurance Group in Clarksville Bagley & Bagley in Fayetteville Hatchett Insurance Agency in Winchester Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance in Memphis McDaniel-Whitley in Germantown Montgomery & Associates Insurance and Financial Services in Brentwood Regions Insurance Group in Memphis Scott Insurance in Knoxville and Franklin TIS Insurance Services in Knoxville The Crichton Group in Nashville Widener Insurance Agency in Johnson City
The complete findings of the study can be purchased online at http://www.iiaba.net/cbsupx/education/evtpreview. aspx?evt=25734
The Crichton Group Among "Best Agencies to Work For" The Crichton Group in Nashville has been named by Insurance Journal as the bronze winner of its "Best Agency to Work For" awards in the Southeast region. The winners were chosen from nominations made by agency employees and took into account programs, benefits and overall happiness in the workplace.
Reliance Partners Among Fortune and Business Insurance's Best Workplaces Chattanooga agency Reliance Partners, LLC was ranked number 21 of the country’s Best Small and Medium Workplaces recently announced by consulting firm Great Place to Work® and Fortune. Great Place to Work® reviewed the survey results of more than 52,000 employees from hundreds of companies in the ranking process. In addition, Business Insurance announced that the agency has ranked in the annual Best Places to Work in Insurance, which recognizes employers for their outstanding performance in establishing workplaces where employees can thrive, enjoy their work and help their companies grow.
Jamieson & Fisher Named Keystone Agency of the Year
IIABA's Rusbuldt & Symington Recognized The Hill, a leading political newspaper, has named Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO, and Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of external and government affairs, among the top trade association lobbyists in Washington, D.C. The Hill piece noted the association’s work on delaying the ACA’s “Cadillac tax” provision and its effort to protect the National Flood Insurance Program. Congressional leaders regularly tap the Big “I” federal government affairs team for its political acumen including sitting on congressional steering committees, raising campaign dollars, hosting political events, and strategizing to help members of Congress better serve their constituents and advance top issues. A vital component of the association advocacy efforts is InsurPac, the Big “I” political action committee. It has disbursed approximately $2.1 million this election cycle to U.S. Senate and House campaigns on both sides of the aisle that are supportive of the independent agency system. The Tennessee Insuror
programs and partnerships.
Keystone Insurers Group has named Covington-based agency Jamieson & Fisher as its 2016 Agency of the Year. The agency was recognized for its success this year in partnership with Keystone and its agency relationship
Lipscomb Pitts Employee of the Year Stephanie Wright, CISR has been named as the Lipscomb & Pitts Employee of the Year for 2016. Stephanie received the award at the agency's 62nd Annual Employee Recognition Lunch on November 8th. She has worked as a Commercial Lines Account Executive with the agency for several years. u 35
“Exclusive member agencies, collaborating to bring the best insurance solutions to their clients.� The Allison Insurance Group - Jackson Bagley & Bagley Insurance - Fayetteville Boyle Insurance Agency, Inc. - Memphis Burke, Powers & Harty - Bristol Carnal-Roberts Agency, Inc. - Lexington Cate-Russell Insurance, Inc. - Maryville Goss Insurance - Hixson Inter-Agency Insurance Services - Knoxville Martin & Zerfoss, Inc. - Nashville
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McInturff, Milligan & Brooks - Greeneville Miller | Loughry | Beach Insurance Services - Murfreesboro Ownby Insurance Service, Inc. - Sevierville Smith-Berclair Insurance, Inc. - Memphis S.N. Anthony, Inc. - Ripley Tigrett & Pennington Inc. - Dyersburg V.R. Williams & Company - Winchester Watauga Insurance, Inc. - Johnson City
Get more information now at www.securerisk.com
The Tennessee Insuror
Program Spotlight
Mackinaw Underwriters
Preferred Comp of Tennessee and Mackinaw Underwriters have partnered to bring exciting new products to valued Insurors members, including: • • • • • • • • • • • •
Medical Malpractice Monoline GL and Property Hospitality Program Liquor Liability Special Events Umbrella/Excess Liability Garage Program Aviation Environmental Program Technology & Professional Liability Multimedia Liability Non-profit Management Indemnity
The relationship between Meadowbrook and Insurors goes back to 1995 when Preferred Comp of Tennessee (PCOT) was established. PCOT is Meadowbrook’s agency, endorsed by the Association. PCOT has been partnering with Insurors for
over 20 years, providing workers' compensation insurance solutions for our nearly 500 independent agency members. PCOT works with any Insurors member, without a contract and premium volume commitment, allowing even the smallest agency the ability to provide work comp solutions for their clients. Mackinaw Underwriters, Inc. is a unique insurance organization providing both admitted and surplus lines product solutions. Mackinaw Underwriters became part of Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc. in October 2015, and is committed to providing competitive coverage solutions. Meadowbrook Insurance Group is pleased to develop this new partnership between the two divisions to bring Insurors members expanded product offerings. Send your submissions directly to submissions@mackund. com or for more information, please contact Keller Chapman by email at keller.chapman@meadowbrook.com or by phone at 615.514.5562. u
BRIDGING THE GAP to bring your agency the ADMITTED and SURPLUS LINES solutions your clients need. email SUBMISSIONS@MACKUND.COM | contact KELLER CHAPMAN at 615.514.5562 or keller.chapman@meadowbrook.com
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The Tennessee Insuror
Program Spotlight
Summit ...the people who know workers' comp® Strong agency support, superior claims management and results-driven loss prevention services make Summit a standout workers’ compensation company. Summit employs hundreds of professionals throughout the southeastern United States and has a team dedicated to Tennessee agents and policyholders. Summit offers workers’ comp products and services exclusively through independent agents. Summit-managed carriers in Tennessee include Bridgefield Casualty Insurance Company, Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company and BusinessFirst Insurance Company.
The Summit Advantage Summit has spent nearly 40 years analyzing the factors that drive workers’ comp costs, and identifying ways to improve them. Their experienced professionals are committed to do the right thing and know the most effective ways to reduce costs through loss prevention, strategic claims management and return-to-work programs. The company’s proven strategies have saved millions for insured businesses. State-specific expertise - Summit’s dedicated Tennessee team includes skilled sales agency executives, underwriters, loss prevention consultants, auditors and adjustors. Summit also has a dedicated agency relations team to ensure that agents always have the support they need. Back2work® - Summit’s groundbreaking return-to-work program is designed to help insureds create manageable, successful plans to get their employees back to work as soon as possible after an injury. It includes an award-winning Back2work Tool Kit, documents and forms to get employers up and running, and a certification process. Most important, Summit’s Back2work coordinators have the experience – and creativity – to help tailor the program for The Tennessee Insuror
individual businesses. Online solutions - Agents and insureds can use Summit’s website, www. summitholdings.com, to manage workers’ comp policies quickly and easily. Agents can also submit quote requests through the company’s WriteNow® Online Quoting Service, which also features an exclusive Risk Eligibility Tool that allows agents to check on the eligibility of any potential accounts. Knowledgeable claims management Summit claims managers average more than 20 years of workers’ compensation claims experience, and adjustors average more than 10 years of experience in taking care of injured workers. Claims management by knowledgeable inhouse professionals streamlines the claims process and can lead to more cost-effective outcomes. Proprietary provider network - Summit maintains a proprietary, contracted provider network with more than 21,500 doctors, specialists and medical facilities throughout the southeastern United States. The company also has an in-house medical director (licensed doctor) and on-staff nurses to ensure that injured workers receive quality care while keeping an eye on costs. Summit's provider network, along with additional cost-containment services and discounts, generate savings in excess of 60 percent on the billed amount of medical invoices. James Wood, Summit’s Southeast Region senior vice president, sums it up. “At Summit, we’ve been doing workers’ comp for a long time, and we know how to do it right. And yet we’re always growing, always improving. We’ve got the experience, but we never rest on that. Agents have trusted Summit for a long time, and we're still committed to earning that trust for the future.” For more info on what Summit can do for your agency and your clients, visit summitholdings.com, call 1.800.971.2667, or contact your Tennessee team. u
Tennessee Contacts James Wood Senior VP, Southeast Region james.wood@summitholdings.com Paul Marks Director of Sales, Southeast Region paul.marks@summitholdings.com Morris Smith Tennessee Agency Executive morris.smith@summitholdings.com Christine Lamb Tennessee Agency Executive christine.lamb@summitholdings.com Brannon Nix Tennessee Agency Executive brannon.nix@summitholdings.com About Summit Based in Lakeland, Florida, Summit is a monoline provider of workers’ compensation services in the southeastern United States and is a member of the Great American Insurance Group. Great American is a subsidiary of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG). With almost 40 years of experience across the southeastern United States, Summit is a top contender for your Tennessee work comp clients. Great American Insurance Company has received an “A” (Excellent) or higher rating from the A.M. Best Company for over 100 years. Summit Consulting LLC, 2310 Commerce Point Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801. Policies are underwritten by Bridgefield Casualty Insurance Company and Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company, authorized insurers in AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MI, NC, SC, TN and TX. © 2016 Summit Consulting LLC. All rights reserved.
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Independence isn’t easy You could have sold the agency, but you didn’t. Success rests squarely on your shoulders and the path forward isn’t always clear. Independence means freedom, but it also means responsibility. It is about staying true to the commitments you’ve made - to your clients, your colleagues, your community, and your family. Keystone is for people who believe that powerful partnerships generate prosperity. 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.
©2016 Keystone Insurers Group ®. All rights reserved. This does not constitute an offer to sell a 40 franchise in any state in which the Keystone Insurers Group franchise is not registered.
Contact Michele Bicknell for more information: 570.473.2148 mbicknell@keystoneinsgrp.com keystoneinsgrp.com
The Tennessee Insuror
Company Briefs ACUITY Receives Two ACORD Tech Awards
development of Lead Generation and Quoting and integration with online insurance aggregators.
Acuity recently received two ACORD awards for delivering independent agents technology solutions that support realtime business capabilities.
CNA Appoints Robusto as Chairman & CEO
ACORD Awards are presented to organizations that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in implementation in the past year and recognize business process improvement, individual and organizational leadership, global outreach, and industry community excellence. Since 2000, Acuity has received more ACORD awards than any other propertycasualty insurance company.
CNA Financial Corporation has announced the appointment of Dino E. Robusto as its chairman and chief executive officer, effective on or about December 1st. Robusto will succeed Thomas F. Motamed who has decided to retire at the end of 2016, and who has served in that role since 2009. Mr. Motamed will continue as chairman and chief executive officer until Robusto joins CNA.
Acuity earned a Leadership Award and a Case Study Award. The Leadership Award highlighted Acuity’s use of ACORD Standards in ways that have enabled the insurer, independent agents, and trading partners to improve electronic communication and gain operating efficiency. For the Case Study Award, ACORD recognized Acuity’s omni-channel approach that connects the company, agents, and customers, including
Robusto comes to CNA after almost 30 years at The Chubb Corporation. After joining Chubb in 1986 as a commercial lines underwriter, he held a number of leadership positions there including chief claims officer, chief field operations officer for commercial lines, and eventually executive vice president and president of their commercial and specialty lines. In
PO $ N LI 150 EW For Dwelling Fire/Mobile Home Insurance, put your trust in CY L ,00 IM 0 a company that has been insuring homes for over 50 years. IT S National Security Can Provide You With: • $150,000 MAXIMUM POLICY LIMITS • AAIS Basic Form 1 Policy • Direct Contract with National Security • 15% New & Renewal Commission • Partnership Profit Sharing • Fast Online Policy Issuance • Tenant Schedule Option • Easy Payment Options National Security has provided competitive, affordable insurance to policyholders for over 50 years, but we also provide a lot for our agents, with competitive commissions, excellent customer service and experienced company adjusters. As an admitted Southeastern based regional company, National Security prides itself on fast, efficient service from a friendly small town company, and online access for all agents, providing fast quotes, online policy issuance, online dec page printing, and real-time policy information. Find out more by calling Sharon at 1-800-239-2358 x213 or visit nationalsecuritygroup.com.
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The Tennessee Insuror
this latest position, he was also responsible for information technology and innovation.
prior experience included work on the retail side of the business as a commercial lines producer/agent.
Summit Adds Lamb and Nix in Tennessee
Mountain Empire Agency Alliance Adds 100th Member
Summit, a workers’ compensation insurance company based in Lakeland, Florida, is proud to announce the additions of agency executives Christine Lamb and Brannon Nix. Christine has been in the insurance business for 22 years, and she has spent much of that time developing solid relationships with Tennessee agents. Originally from Indiana, Christine followed her family to Tennessee after college, and has since called the state home. You can reach her via email at christine.lamb@summitholdings.com. Brannon graduated college in 2013 and worked his first year in the business alongside his father, a 30-year veteran of the industry. Being around the industry his entire life has provided Brannon with a solid foundation of knowledge. In 2014, he began his career at Summit as a loss prevention consultant. Brannon, born and raised in Georgia, is excited to make the transition to Tennessee. Summit writes business in Tennessee through Bridgefield Casualty Insurance Company and Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company, both Summit affiliates, and BusinessFirst Insurance Company, managed by Summit. You can reach Brannon at brannon.nix@summitholdings. com.
Central Wins Applied Pinnacle Award The Central Insurance Companies were recently awarded the prestigious Pinnacle Award from Applied Systems at the Applied User Group National Convention held in Orlando, Florida. The Pinnacle Award recognizes Applied’s best customers and business partners for technology innovation and business success. Of the five Pinnacle awards given out this year, Central was the only carrier out of several hundred in the industry to receive this recognition.
Arlington/Roe Promotes Heinlein The Arlington/Roe commercial lines department has announced the promotion of Carrie Heinlein from assistant underwriter to commercial lines underwriter. Carrie has worked hard to provide the best service to her clients and fellow colleagues since joining Arlington/Roe in 2014. Her The Tennessee Insuror
SIAA, Inc. - the largest Alliance of Independent Insurance Agencies in the country – is proud to announce that Master Agency partner, Tennessee-based Mountain Empire Agency Alliance, has signed its 100th Member Agency, adding to the national total of over 5,900 signed members. “In the last few weeks, we have proudly added our 99th, 100th and 101st members, making us one of the fastest growing Master Agencies with SIAA” announced Mountain Empire Agency Alliance President Keith Sims. “In the last eight years, we have proudly introduced the SIAA business model to five territories including 78 counties in Tennessee, 12 counties in western North Carolina, 23 counties in central and northern Virginia and 4 independent cities. Our members stand to benefit from access to our strategic partners as well as leveraging our years of experience mentoring agency growth as an SIAA partner Master Agency.“
FCCI Adds Hines to Tennessee Team FCCI has introduced Ralph Hines as the new Senior Risk Control Consultant for middle and eastern Tennessee. Ralph has more than 20 years of risk control experience including supervision, field consulting, mentoring and content development. Ralph is certified as a Field Safety Representative in Arkansas and an OSHA Authorized Construction Trainer. He graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Safety Sciences and is a U.S. Army Veteran. He may be contacted at 800.226.3224 x4019 or by email at rhines@fcci-group.com.
PURE Now PGA Champions Event Sponsor The PGA TOUR and Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) Insurance have announced an agreement making the policyholder-owned P&C insurer for high net worth families the title sponsor of the longstanding PGA TOUR Champions event contested annually at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. The newly-named PURE Insurance Championship will continue to bring together the Legends of the game alongside top juniors from The First Tee, with a four-year agreement in place through 2020. The Monterey Peninsula Foundation will serve as the event’s host organization. u 43
2016 National Alliance Conferees , continued from page 9
Certified Risk Manager Conferees Pamela Jeffreys of the University of Tennessee receives her CRM pin from MTSU Chair of Insurance Dr. David Wood
Pamela Jeffreys, CIC, CRM, AINS University of Tennessee - Knoxville Pamela started 2016 with a new job as Director of Risk Management with the University of Tennessee. Her responsibilities include administrative supervision of the system-wide insurance management system, claims management system, risk management system and unemployment compensation function. Her position supervises, direct and manage the University’s risk management program concentrating in risk identification, risk analysis, risk control and risk financing. She also acts as an intermediary capacity for the risk management programs between campuses and the state risk management office in Nashville. Previously, she was a commercial lines insurance agent for James E. Brown Insurance Agency for over 12 years. Leland Taylor King, CIC, CRM Church Mutual Insurance Company - Crossville Stanley Jason McConkey, CRM Athens Insurance - Athens Shirley J. McGhee, CRM Willis Pooling Practice - Nashville Lori Anne Sandlin, CIC, CRM Germantown Rachel Foster Sieverding, CIC, CRM, AAI, AIC Frost Specialty - Nashville Rachel earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and from there worked at Cottingham and Butler in Dubuque, Iowa for six years. For the past two years she has been an associate for Frost Specialty in Nashville.
Certified Insurance Service Representative Conferees Dara Floyd of Willis Towers Watson receives her CISR pin from MTSU Chair of Insurance Dr. David Wood
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Kiersten Agee, CISR, AINS, CPIA J.R. Prewitt & Associates - Spring Hill Kiersten has more than 16 years in the insurance industry and currently works as the marketing manager for Full Service Insurance. Graham Alligood, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Pamela Armistead, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Ryan Baker, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Kristen Elizabeth Beal, CISR Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance - Memphis Kristen has been in the insurance industry for more than four years and currently works for Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance as an account assistant. Gwendolyn Berkley, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Laurie Borum, CISR Griffin Insurance - Kingston Jessica Dawn Bunch, CISR Westan Insurance Agency - Union City Jessica is a Murray State University graduate and has more than 10 years of combined background experience working in financial institutions and brokerage firms. She currently works as a CSR for Union City Insurance Agency. Jessica L.W. Buttram, CISR TIS Insurance Services - Knoxville Jessica graduated from Maryville College in 2005 with a degree in Mathematics. She joined TIS Healthcare Services in 2013 as a technical assistant and transitioned into an account manager position in 2016. She earned her insurance license in 2013. Heather R. Caudill, CISR Southern States Gardner Agency - Morristown Joshua Tyler Chism, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Patrice Doemer, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Patrice earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of South Florida. She has two years in the industry as a commercial underwriting assistant prior to working at Willis Towers Watson. Shelly R. Emerson, CISR Insurance Incorporated - Cleveland The Tennessee Insuror
FROM THE DELTA TO THE SMOKIES WE’RE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY’S BEST.
Construction • Education • Financial Institutions • Healthcare • Manufacturing Professional Services • Real Estate • Retail • Technology • Wholesale Distribution
CNA is proud to support Tennessee’s independent agents and brokers with customized coverages, local industry knowledge and the strength and stability of an “A” rating by A.M. Best. When you’re looking for a carrier with a broad industry appetite, who understands your commitment to business success … we can show you more.® Learn more about our coverages and services today. Contact our local Nashville Branch at 615-886-3300, or visit www.cna.com. CNA is a service mark registered by CNA Financial Corporation with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. CNA Financial Corporation subsidiaries use the “CNA” service mark in connection with insurance underwriting and claims activities. Copyright © 2016 CNA. All rights reserved.
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James Evans, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Dolores Fisher, CISR Swallows Insurance Agency - Livingston Manya Flowers, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Dara Floyd, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Jo Anne Fowler, CISR Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance - Memphis Sarah Garrett, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Sarah received her BA from Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario. She has 3 years of experience in insurance. She started out in personal lines and recently switched to commercial lines. Jodi Gibbs, CISR USI Insurance Services LLC - Knoxville Cynthia Kay Gregg, CISR Price & Ramey Insurance - Kingsport Gloria Jean Helle, CISR Price & Ramey Insurance - Kingsport Emily Grace Hendrix, CISR Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance - Memphis Monica Shea Hill, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Anita Lynn Hollis, CISR Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance - Memphis Susan D. Hutton, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Carrie Johnson, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Anne Parker Justice, CISR Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance - Memphis Jim M. Kendrick, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Jim is a commercial client services specialist for Willis Towers Watson.
Stephanie L. Leutbecher, CISR CR Gregory Insurance - Johnson City Jennifer C. Lewis, CISR RSS Insurance - Chattanooga Jennifer has an Associate Degree in Accounting. She has more than 16 years of experience, 7 of those years with Allstate Insurance before transferring to the independent side where she is currently working at RSS Insurance. Amanda Loveday, CISR TIS Insurance Services - Knoxville Shannon Magda, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Bethany McFall, CISR, AFIS Strate Insurance Group - Morristown Bethany has an associates of Science degree in Business from Walters State Community College and is currently enrolled at Tusculum college working on her Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Prior to working in the insurance industry, she was in personal loan financing where she obtained her Life and Health Insurance license. Intrigued with the license, she decided to also obtain a Property and Casualty license and focus her career on insurance. She began as a Farmers Insurance Reserve Agent, moving to the independent agency side with a small agency in Rogersville. Since March of 2014 she has been with Strate Insurance Group, Inc. where she has achieved both CISR and AFIS designations and has continued to work towards her CISR Elite Designation. Arnita Denice McKeever, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Mary Beth Miller, CISR The Insurance Group, LLC - Knoxville Mary Beth has been with The Insurance Group, LLC for more than six years. She is a University of Tennessee graduate. She has performed various roles at the agency including CSR, marketing manager and training specialist. She enjoys building relationships with both carriers and clients. She intends to further her industry knowledge, keep informed of coverage trends and provide excellent customer experiences so that she remains an asset to her insureds and the industry. Rachel Morton, CISR TIS Insurance Services - Knoxville
Bryan Konsig, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville
Renee Mullican, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville
Abby Michelle Lawson, CISR Alder & Cox - Hixson
Gary Nardi, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville
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The Tennessee Insuror
Samantha Organek, CISR Griffin Insurance - Kingston Shayne K. Osceola, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Shayne is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Sociology. Following college graduation, Shayne joined State Farm as a Claims Adjuster. After a lengthy and accomplishing career with State Farm, Shayne has now joined the ranks of the Commercial Brokers and Agents with Willis Towers Watson. Among Shayne’s initial accomplishments with his new employer, he has recently fulfilled the requirements for the designation of CISR. Meredith Parker, CISR The Crichton Group - Nashville Jessica L. Peart, CISR Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance - Memphis Jessica graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2005 with a major in English and obtained her masters in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Indiana State University. She worked in advising Student Programming Boards and Fraternity and Sorority Life. In 2011 she started on a new path at Lipscomb & Pitts and currently works in the commercial lines transportation department. Michelle Perez, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Susan Pleso, CISR Regions Insurance Group - Memphis Scott James Price, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Savannah Roberts, CISR Insurance Incorporated - Cleveland Kinsley Shannon, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Janeary Smith, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Jasmine N. Smith, CISR BB&T Insurance Services - Nashville Angela Steen, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Mark Alan Suarez, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Dawn Taylor, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville The Tennessee Insuror
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Robert Vantrease, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Robert is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in Criminal Justice. He started out as an underwriting specialist with Direct Auto before joining Willis Towers Watson as an assistant Client Support Specialist. Kaleida R. Watson, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Emily C. Wilhoit, CISR Athens Insurance Agency - Athens Rachael L. Willis, CISR Newton Jones Agency, Inc. - Knoxville Rachael graduated with an Associate’s degree and had 14 years of retail and sales experience before venturing into the insurance industry. With 4 years of experience, she currently is an insurance producer for Newton Jones Agency. Milisea Wilson, CISR Willis Towers Watson - Nashville Milsea has a Business Management degree from Strayer University. She also continued her education with a Six Sigma Certification and a P&C license. She has more than 10 years in the insurance industry and currently works as a client service specialist for Willis Towers Watson. Insurors congratulates these and all other 2017 conferees. u
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• Small-Business, Multi-Line Coverage • 3rd Largest National Workers’ Comp Provider • A.M. Best Rating of “A” (Excellent) FSC “XIV”
Get started with an application at amtrustnorthamerica.com or call 877.528.7878 for more information.
Connect with us A.M. Best Rating of “A” (Excellent) FSC “XIV”
The Tennessee Insuror
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Agencies and our Company develop a Partnership and work together in providing insurance solutions for your Insureds ! Highlights Include: * Personal Auto * Business Auto
*Renters Insurance
*Motorcycle Program
* Multi-Peril for Artisan Contractors
*Garage Repair Facilities & Used Auto Dealerships & Commercial Property
PERSONAL LINES & COMMERCIAL LINES
Phone: 800-346-6071 Fax: 800-296-0419 50
www.HaulersInsurance.com The Tennessee Insuror
Meetings
Looking Ahead to the '17 Calendar Big "I" Winter Meeting January 11-14 The Big "I" Winter Meeting and Best Practices Symposium will be held January 11-14, 2017 at the Hilton Austin in Austin, Texas. This event includes the meetings of our National Executive Committee, Council for Best Practices, Diversity Task Force and InVEST Board. More information and registration may be found online at http://www.independentagent.com/Events/ WinterBoardMeeting/home.aspx
YOUR FIT FOR WORKERS’ COMP AND MORE! Preferred Comp of Tennessee is endorsed by the Insurors of Tennessee (IOT) to provide member agencies competitive workers’ compensation options.
2017 Agency Growth Conference to be Held March 8-9 in Knoxville The Insurors Agency Growth Conference will return this Spring, this time in East Tennessee. Please join us in Knoxville at the Hilton Downtown on March 8-9, 2017 for our annual event featuring speakers, sessions and exhibits designed to help you and your agency grow. Keynote speakers will include Carl Canales, Vice President and General Manger of the Southeast Region for Safeco Insurance, as well as Chris Langille, Founder and CEO of Advisor Evolved. More information, including registration, will be available on our website at insurors.org in the coming weeks.
Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc. Low to Moderate Hazard Workers’ Compensation
• • • • • • • • • •
Artisan Contractors Auto Repair & Service Goods & Services Hospitality Light Contracting Light Manufacturing Office/Clerical Physicians Restaurants Wholesale/Retail
NetVU 2017 Returning to Tennessee on March 23-25 The Network of Vertafore users (NetVU) will host their next annual conference, NetVU17, on March 23-25, 2017 in Nashville. The event is intended to support the efficient and effective use of technology to drive productivity and profitability in the insurance industry. The event will include over 100 classes, 120+ experts, 7 different learning tracks and numerous technology and business services exhibitors.
For more information or to get started, please contact: Keller Chapman (615) 406-8033 keller.chapman@meadowbrook.com Josh Allen-Bottoni (978) 933-4161 joshua.allen-bottoni@meadowbrook.com
Tennessee is excited to host this opporunity for insurance professionals to network, learn and grow through the support and imporvement of industry technology. Get more information on the conference, or register online now, at http://www.netvu.org/web/Online/Events/ Conference/NetVU17.aspx u The Tennessee Insuror
www.preferredcomp.com
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YOU KNOW OUR
SERVICE-CENTERED WAY OF DOING BUSINESS
We form trusting relationships built on loyalty and integrity. What sets us apart is far more than what we do — it’s how we do it.
Join Us MEGAN WETLI MEGAN.WETLI@MOTORISTSGROUP.COM | 614-225-8389 CHRISTOPHER SNYDER CHRISTOPHER.SNYDER@MOTORISTSGROUP.COM | 513-490-5816
®
Member Tips
Holiday Parties, Liquor Liability & Home Business Insurance Did you know that RLI Home Business policies provide coverage for host liquor liability? Host liquor liability insurance provides home business owners protection from bodily injury or property damage claims. Coverage is important because while you are hosting a get-together entertaining your guests, a liquor-related claim could occur. Host liquor liability exposures are insurable under standard home business insurance policies, including RLI's.
Who Has Liquor Liability Exposure? Your clients may have liquor liability exposure if they: • • •
Allow patrons or guests to bring their own alcohol and consume it on the premises Serve alcohol at an event they're hosting Allow others to serve alcohol at their venue
Best practices for responsibly serving liquor at an event:* • • • • • •
Know the state's social host liability laws, which can vary widely Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages and drive them home Offer non-alcoholic beverages and serve food so guests aren't drinking on an empty stomach Stop serving liquor toward the end of the evening If guests drink too much or are too tired to drive home, call a cab for them Have a responsible host that limits their own alcohol intake
TIP: You clients should seek separate liquor liability coverage if they are in the business of manufacturing, distributing, selling, serving or furnishing alcoholic beverages. Refer to the policy for coverage details and restrictions. *Source: Insurance Information Institute (http://www.iii.org/ article/ social-host-liability) u
Directory of Advertisers Advertiser
Phone
Website
Page
ACUITY (920) 458 - 9131 www.acuity.com 38 Amerisafe (800) 897 - 9719 www.amerisafe.com 22 AmTrust North America (877) 528 - 7878 www.amtrustnorthamerica.com 49 Applied Underwriters (877) 234 - 4450 www.auw.com/us 2 Arlington/Roe & Co. (800) 878 - 9891 www.arlingtonroe.com 17 Bailey Special Risks, Inc. (800) 768 - 7475 www.bsrins.com 9 Berkley Southeast Insurance Group (615) 932 - 5508 www.berkleysig.com 16, 19 Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Cos. (800) 673 - 2465 x4567 www.guard.com/apply 24 Brentwood Services Administrators (800) 524 - 0604 www.bwood.com 24 Builders Mutual (800) 809 - 4859 www.buildersmutual.com 22 Burns & Wilcox (800) 341 - 4844 www.burnsandwilcox.com 15, 34 CNA Insurance (800) 251 - 5852 www.cna.com 45 CompTrust AGC Tennessee (800) 524 - 0604 www.comptrustagctn.com 26 Consumers Insurance.Motorists (615) 896 - 6133 www.ciusa.com 52 Donegal Insurance (800) 277 - 7442 x3418 www.donegalgroup.com 7 FCCI Insurance Group (800) 226 - 3224 www.fcci-group.com 6 Harford Mutual (800) 638 - 3669 www.harfordmutual.com 48 Haulers Insurance (800) 346 - 6071 www.haulersinsurance.com 50 Hilb Group (804) 414 - 6505 www.hilbgroup.com 20 INSBANK (866) 866 - 4268 www.insbanktn.com 11 Jimcor Agencies (678) 952 - 3023 x1418 www.jimcor.com 32 J.M. Wilson (800) 595 - 0063 www.jmwilson.com 42 Johnson & Johnson (931) 704 - 0810 www.jjins.com 28-29 Kaplam University (877) 761 - 9150 www.kaplanfinancial.com/firm-insce 47 Keystone Insurers Group (800) 416 - 5498 www.keystoneinsgrp.com 40 Martin & Zerfoss/AIG (615) 297 - 8500 www.martinzerfoss.com 31 MetLife Auto & Home (615) 812 - 4811 www.metlife.com 26 The National Alliance for Insurance Ed. (800) 633 - 2165 www.thenationalalliance.com 37 National Security Group (800) 239 - 2358 x267 www.nationalsecuritygroup.com 41 Penn National Insurance (800) 395 - 0518 www.pennnationalinsurance.com 56 Preferred Comp/Meadowbrook (800) 755 - 8090 www.meadowbrook.com 30, 37, 51 Preferred Property Programs (888) 549 - 2465 www.umbrellaprogram.com 42 Risk Innovations (678) 213 - 6730 www.riskinnovationsllc.com/tni/ 47 Securerisk (770) 723 - 8096 www.securerisk.com 36 South & Western (800) 492 - 5351 www.southandwestern.com 33 Summit Holdings (800) 971 - 2667 www.summitholdings.com 26
register now at iiaba.net
“Sustainability, service, and partnership are at the core of our long-standing promise to independent agents.” The Big “I” Professional Liability program was created by and for independent insurance agents. As Swiss Re Corporate Solutions’ steward of this 28-year program, I’m proud to say that we’ve built the leading national program working hand-in-hand with independent agents every step of the way.
At the foundation of this program’s substantial success is our relationship with IIABA and each Big “I” state association. We work together in harmony with the shared goal of providing Big “I” members with nothing less than the best possible product. Program sustainability serves our mutual long- term goal of enhancing the security and success of independent agents.
Sabrena Sally, CPCU Head US Agents Swiss Re Corporate Solutions
Our dedicated underwriters and claims staff also take great pride in the program and in their record of superior customer service. We strive to provide an unparalleled experience and working with the talented state administrator staff listed at right we hope to continue to make Swiss Re Corporate Solutions synonymous with the highest service acumen.
Another unique program feature is that we work in partnership with a committee of working independent agents to ensure that we’re not only offering agents an insurance product, we’re offering agents a seat at the table. Agent input has directly affected the architecture of our policy forms and I believe that that input is also an important part of their strength.
It’s my goal to see the program continue to provide broad coverage, excellent claims service, and meaningful risk management tools to independent agencies countrywide. We look forward to serving you and your agency for years to come.
To receive a proposal, contact your state E&O program manager. Visit www.iiaba.net/EOContact.
2500 21st Avenue South Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37212
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Nashville, TN Permit No. 380
We look for the best independent agents and build relationships that last the duration. We are committed to the independent agency system as the only means to deliver our products. Because of that, we work hand-in-hand to help our agencies grow profitably.
Our agents set us apart. Business • Surety • Auto • Home
www.PennNationalInsurance.com