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FCCI Insurance Group Marks 60th Anniversary

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FCCI Insurance Group Marks 60th Anniversary
FCCI Insurance Group Marks 60th Anniversary
(l to r) Craig Johnson, FCCI Insurance Group’s Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, joins John C. Maxwell on stage at FCCI’s 60th anniversary celebration. t

Milestone Marks Company’s Legacy of Growth and Service

FCCI Insurance Group, a company dedicated to delivering commercial insurance products to agency partners and policy holders in19 states, kicked off its 60th anniversary celebration on April 3 from its Sarasota headquarters with a live feed to 850 teammates and partners in its regional footprint, featuring keynote speaker, author and leadership coach John C. Maxwell.

In his remarks opening the celebration, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Craig Johnson recognized FCCI’s teammates and agents throughout the six regions where FCCI does business. “You are responsible for our six-decade landmark success and tremendous growth and the reason we are able to celebrate 60 successful years in the industry,” he said. “Our culture of keeping promises also translates into the focus our teammates have in giving back to the communities we serve.” In 2018 alone, 2,700 volunteer hours have benefited communities across all of the company’s regions.

A career-long dream, Johnson welcomed his admired leadership guru, John C. Maxwell, to share his insights and inspiration with FCCI’s team. According to Johnson, one of his favorite books is Maxwell’s “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” noting it has fueled his own personal and business growth. Maxwell’s hour-long conversation at the celebration addressed key points from his latest book, “Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace.”

In celebration, Johnson reaffirmed his excitement about where the company is headed. “We are fortunate to be viewed with great respect in the industry. From being the first to integrate risk control and nurse case managers into services offered to agents and policyholders, to developing Risk Management & Insurance curriculum at the university level to ensure a vibrant recruitment pipeline, along with FCCI’s in-house School of Excellence program, we will continue to advance innovative approaches to our business model while staying true to our history of keeping promises, and doing what we say we will do.”

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Honored by the McGlynn Learning Center

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Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Honored by the McGlynn Learning Center
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Honored by the McGlynn Learning Center
Left, Suzanne Gatusky-George accepts the award on behalf of Berkshire Hathaway GUARD employees. Right, Award is a “Tree of Thumbprints” each representing a life that was changed.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies’ employees were recently honored by the McGlynn Learning Center at its annual recognition reception.

The McGlynn Learning Center, provides year-round educational, recreational, and social outreach services to children and teens living in Boulevard Townhomes and Mineral Springs Village, in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

According to Elizabeth Hartman, spokesperson for Berkshire Hathaway GUARD, “We are truly honored to be recognized by the McGlynn Center and to see the impact our activities have had to help the Center provide a safe environment to children in which they can thrive. The center does outstanding work dedicating their time and effort to make a difference in the lives of our youth in Wilkes-Barre.”

GUARD’s relationship with the McGlynn Learning Center spans nearly three decades via the company’s annual Giving Tree event during the holidays. Each year, employees select from a list of names and purchase gifts to be distributed by Santa Claus during the McGlynn Center’s holiday party. This year, gifts were provided for all 112 children who use the Center.

Employees from GUARD also helped create a welcoming environment at the McGlynn center last spring by planting flowers, spreading mulch and painting rooms during the local United Way’s “Day of Caring”. In addition, GUARD’s Special Projects Committee (a group of employees dedicated to looking for opportunities to give back to the community) made a donation to the McGlynn Center’s Life Skills Program, which teaches children about the dangers of drugs.

As explained by Carl Witkowski, the Chief Operation Officer and “curator” of the company’s “human capital” and culture, “At GUARD, we care deeply about our community and have always prided ourselves on building a company culture that inspires employees to give back.”

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies offer a national footprint with a growing list of Commercial and Personal insurance products, including: Workers’ Compensation, property/liability via a Businessowner’s Policy, Commercial Auto, Umbrella, Professional Liability, Disability, Homeowners, and recently launched Commercial Package Policy. Each of the organization’s insurance companies is rated A+ (“Superior”) by A.M. Best – a leading source of independent rating information on the insurance industry.

Liberty Mutual 2019 Workplace Safety Index Reveals Workplace Injuries cost U.S. Companies over $1 Billion per week

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Liberty Mutual 2019 Workplace Safety Index Reveals Workplace Injuries cost U.S. Companies over $1 Billion per week

Latest study is the first to highlight the top causes of workplace injuries for specific industries, including Manufacturing, Healthcare, Construction, and others

BOSTON, April 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The annual Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index documents the top ten causes of the most serious workplace injuries – those causing an employee to miss five or more days from work – and ranks them by their direct cost to employers, which consists of medical and lost-wage payments.

The 2019 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is the first to also report the causes and costs of the most serious workplace injuries for eight specific industries that account for a high proportion of all national workplace injuries:

“The latest ranking helps employers, risk managers and safety professionals improve workplace safety by highlighting its financial impact in total and for specific industries,” notes James Merendino, General Manager, Risk Control, National Insurance, Liberty Mutual. “To better protect employees and the bottom line, each employer needs to understand the root causes of the most serious workplace injuries they face. Only then can they effectively mitigate and manage these through work design, system controls, technology, training, and strategic risk management. Insurance companies and brokers can be a key ally in these efforts.”

Beyond reporting industry-specific results, the methodology used to produce the 2019 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index was improved in three other important ways, which are detailed in the online Methodology section. Given these changes, the 2019 findings cannot be compared to those of earlier Indices.

Results Across all Industries

According to the 2019 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index[1], the ten most costly causes of workplace injuries and illnesses are:

Injury Cause: Cost (billions): Percentage:
Overexertion involving outside sources $13.11 23.65%
Falls on same level $10.38 18.72%
Struck by object or equipment $5.22 9.42%
Falls to lower level $4.98 8.99%
Other exertions or bodily reactions $3.69 6.65%
Roadway incidents involving motorized vehicle $2.70 4.88%
Slip or trip without falling $2.18 3.93%
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects $1.93 3.48%
Repetitive motions involving microtasks $1.59 2.87%
Struck against object or equipment $1.15 2.07%
Cost of the top 10 most disabling workplace injuries $46.93 84.66%
Total cost of the most disabling workplace injuries $55.43 100%

Results for Specific Industries

And here are the top causes by key industries:

Industry Ranking of Cause of Loss
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
All Industries Overexertion,

outside sources

 Falls, same level Struck by object

or equipment

 Falls, to lower level Other exertions

or bodily

reactions
Construction Falls, to lower level Struck by object

or equipment

 Overexertion,

outside sources

 Falls, same level Slip or trip without a fall
Prof. Services Falls, same level Overexertion,

outside sources

 Falls, to lower level Roadway incidents Struck by object

or equipment
Manufacturing Overexertion,

outside sources

 Falls, same level Struck by object

or equipment

 Caught in,

compressed by

equipment

 Repetitive

motions, micro

tasks
Healthcare Overexertion,

outside sources

 Falls, same level Intentional

injury by person

 Roadway incidents Other exertions

or bodily

reactions
Retail Overexertion,

outside sources

 Falls, same level Struck by object

or equipment

 Other exertions

or bodily

reactions

 Falls, to lower level
Transport & Warehousing Overexertion,

outside sources

 Falls, same level Roadway incidents Other exertions

or bodily

reactions

 Falls, to lower level
Wholesale Overexertion,

outside sources

 Struck by object

or equipment

 Falls, to lower level Falls, same level Other exertions

or bodily

reactions
Leisure & Hospitality Falls, same level Overexertion,

outside sources

 Struck by object

or equipment

 Struck against

object or

equipment

 Other exertions

or bodily

reactions

Study Methodology

The annual Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is based on information from Liberty Mutual, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the National Academy of Social Insurance.

Please see the “Study Methodology” section available here for more detail.

About Liberty Mutual Insurance 

Liberty Mutual’s purpose is to help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. The promise we make to our customers throughout the world is to provide protection for the unexpected, delivered with care.

In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, Mass., today we are the fifth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2017 gross written premium. We also rank 68th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2017 revenue. As of December 31, 2018, we had $41.6 billion in annual consolidated revenue.

We employ nearly 50,000 people in 30 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, commercial multi-peril, property, general liability, commercial automobile, surety, workers compensation, specialty lines, and reinsurance.

You can learn more about us by visiting www.libertymutualinsurance.com.

[1] The 2019 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is based on non-fatal 2016 injury data, with more than 5 days away from work. To allow for cost development every Index has been based on claims data 3 years prior to publication.

Southern Insurance CEO Wesley C. Duesenberg, Jr. Honored with 2019 Icon Leadership Award

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Southern Insurance CEO Wesley C. Duesenberg, Jr. Honored with 2019 Icon Leadership Award

ATLANTA, March 8, 2019 – Wes Duesenberg, Jr., CIW, CEO of Southern Insurance Underwriters, Inc. (SIU), was honored with the 2019 Icon Leadership Award by the Georgia State University, Robinson College of Business, Risk Management Foundation.

The Robinson College of Business, Risk Management Foundation recently held their annual Risk Science and Insurance Leadership Awards (The Riskies). The Riskies recognize individuals who have made a significant impact in the risk management or insurance industries, which encompasses a variety of disciplines that measure and manage risk.

Mr. Duesenberg, Jr. is a prominent figure in the insurance industry with a tenure that extends over four decades. In addition to his industry expertise, Mr. Duesenberg, Jr. is highly regarded for his philanthropic endeavors including his commitment to Georgia State University and the Risk Management Foundation. He served as the Treasurer and Trustee of the Risk Management Foundation at GSU and initiated the formation and the endowment of the Department’s AAMGA Distinguished Chair in Risk Management.

In recognition of Mr. Duesenberg, Jr. and his commitment and dedication to Georgia State University, Southern Insurance Underwriters, Inc. established the Wesley C. Duesenberg, Jr. Surplus Lines Endowment for students of Georgia State University Risk Management program.

Mr. Duesenberg, Jr. has been with Southern Insurance Underwriters, Inc. since 1976. He is a Past-President of the American Association of Managing General Agents (1987-88), Founder and past Chancellor of the AAMGA University (1988-1998). Mr. Duesenberg was also the recipient of the Vince Donahue Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008, AAMGA’s highest honor.

About Southern Insurance Underwriters, Inc.

Southern Insurance Underwriters, Inc. (SIU), based in Alpharetta, Georgia is a Certified Managing General Agency serving independent agents throughout the southeast for over fifty years. SIU understands the importance of competitive markets, innovative technology and personalized service. SIU provides access to over 120 markets, spanning: Commercial Property & Casualty, Commercial Transportation, Personal Property, Professional Lines and Standard Lines. With a staff of experienced and reliable underwriters, SIU can quickly turnaround almost any risk ranging from simple to highly complex hazards.

Farmers Insurance® and Nationwide take Top Spots in Vertitonic 2019 Audio Logo Index

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Farmers Insurance® and Nationwide take Top Spots in Vertitonic 2019 Audio Logo Index

Annual Ranking Analyzes How Consumers React To, And How Well They Remember, Leading Brand Audio Logos

Liberty Mutual Audio Logo Has Highest Jump In Recall

NEW YORK, April 8, 2019 – Veritonic, the audio effectiveness platform, today released its 2019 Audio Logo Index, an annual ranking of the audio logos of some of the biggest companies in the world. With consumers moving rapidly toward more audio-centric lives, as evidenced by the rise of podcasts, smart speakers and more, brands are increasingly looking to sound to develop deeper relationships with customers, and audio logos are a primary touchpoint.

The best-performing audio logos were from companies within the financial services industry, with Farmers Insurance® claiming the top spot, Nationwide close behind, and Liberty Mutual showing the highest increase in recall.

“We’re proud that the Farmers® mnemonic has become a part of pop culture, especially given that we are one of the lowest spenders in advertising in the category,” said Leesa Eichberger, head of brand marketing at Farmers®. “As the marketing landscape continuously evolves, sound and our audio logo provide one more touchpoint to engage consumers, and we think ours is especially memorable.”

Through a combination of machine listening and learning, and custom panel data, the Veritonic platform quantifies and compares the effectiveness of audio assets like voiceovers, scripts, music, functional sounds, complete ads, and other sonic brand assets. For this report, the platform surveyed more than 1,600 panelists across the US and UK who recorded their feelings about the audio logos, how well they remembered them, and associations that they make with the brand after listening (e.g., “innovative”). A Veritonic Audio Score (overall score) and ratings for individual qualities were calculated for each audio logo by combining emotional response, association, recall, and engagement data.

Other key findings:

  • Several brand logos that leveraged their audio signatures at both the beginning and end of ads (instead of just the end), including Honda and Xbox, substantially improved their recall and Veritonic Audio Scores.
  • Financial services (including Insurance and Banking) was the highest-performing sector in the US. QSR led in the UK.
  • Liberty Mutual’s updated audio logo, which repeats its brand name multiple times, improved recall by seven points.
  • There is a strong correlation between increased marketing spend/frequency and an audio logo’s performance.

“Between voice, sonic tags, smart speakers and much more, my daughter is growing up in an ‘audio-first’ world,” stated Scott Simonelli, CEO and co-founder of Veritonic. “Great brands like these, who understand, now more than ever, how powerfully they can connect to people through sound, are setting the course for smart, strategic businesses to capitalize on the movement.”

To get a copy of the Audio Logo Index, visit audiologoindex.com.

Darin Grimm Named Vice President of Medical Claims at Summit

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Darin Grimm Named Vice President of Medical Claims at Summit

LAKELAND, Fla. (April 1, 2019)—Summit, a leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance services in the southeastern United States, announced today that Mr. Robert (Darin) Grimm has been named the company’s vice president of medical claims.

Mr. Grimm joined Summit as an underwriter in 2003. Since that time, he has held roles of increased responsibility, most recently serving as vice president of claims operations. “I am extremely pleased to announce that Darin is assuming responsibility for this important part of the organization,” says Carol Sipe, Summit’s president. “Through his leadership roles, he has worked with all areas of our medical management operations, and I am confident in his ability to lead this critical area.”

Mr. Grimm succeeds Mr. Jeffrey (Jeff) Hinson, who retires at the end of the year. “Jeff joined Summit in 2006, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise from the health-care industry that significantly advanced Summit’s medical management operations,” shared Carol Sipe.

Mr. Grimm earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Professional Leadership from Southeastern University and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Leo University.

About Summit
Based in Lakeland, Florida, Summit is a leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance coverage in the southeastern United States, and is a member of Great American Insurance Group. Summit manages the day-to-day operations of five workers’ compensation insurance companies that include its two affiliates, Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company and Bridgefield Casualty Insurance Company, and three non-affiliates, BusinessFirst Insurance Company, RetailFirst Insurance Company and Retailers Casualty Insurance Company. Summit provides its comprehensive workers’ compensation insurance services to businesses in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Summit, which includes Summit Consulting LLC and its subsidiaries, has offices in Lakeland, Florida, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Gainesville, Georgia. For more information, visit www.summitholdings.com.

About Great American Insurance Group
Great American Insurance Group’s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the operations of Great American Insurance Group are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialty commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of traditional fixed, fixed-indexed and variable-indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions, registered investment advisor and education markets. Great American Insurance Company has received an “A” (Excellent) or higher rating from the A.M. Best Company for more than 100 years (most recent rating evaluation of “A+” (Superior) affirmed August 17, 2018). The members of Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), also based in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFG’s common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFG.

Berkshire Hathaway Guard Now Offering Commercial Package Coverage in Pennsylvania

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Berkshire Hathaway Guard Now Offering Commercial Package Coverage in Pennsylvania

WILKES-BARRE, Pa., April 2, 2019 — Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies recently added a Commercial Package product in Pennsylvania. This new offering includes: Commercial Property with limits up to $120 million per location with an enhanced causes of loss form which includes built-in equipment breakdown and inland marine coverages as well as crime coverage; General Liability with base limits of $1 million to $6 million with even higher limits considered; Employment-Related Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI); and Commercial Umbrella for added protection. According to CEO Sy Foguel, “Our goal is to become a ‘One Stop Shop’ for our agents and their insureds. We continue to expand our portfolio to supply our network of independent agents with quality products that enable them to grow. While we are only adding Commercial Package in Pennsylvania at this time, more states are soon to follow.”

Executive Vice President Lyle Hitt explains that this new package product is designed to complement the company’s current Businessowner’s Policy by “addressing the insurance needs of larger, more complex operations or businesses with multiple exposures.” Hitt also notes that “our initial target markets include light-to-medium manufacturing, wholesalers and distributors, truck stops/travel plazas, resorts, and country clubs with plans to expand into additional markets.”

According to Vice President of Commercial Package Ellen Hauser, “GUARD’s coverages are unique and built with a wide range of add-ons and industry-specific endorsements. We take a customized approach to expanding the limits and scope of traditional property and casualty insurance.”

GUARD’s Assistant Vice President of Marketing Elizabeth Hartman says, “We can provide a great service to agents. Our product is competitively priced with discounts available when two or more lines are purchased as well as additional discounts based on unique business characteristics.”

In October of 2012, GUARD was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. – an international holding company with diverse interests that include insurance and reinsurance. In 2013, GUARD unveiled a new identity as Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies.

GUARD offers a national footprint with a growing list of insurance products, including: Workers’ Compensation, property/liability via a Businessowner’s Policy, Commercial Auto, Umbrella, Professional Liability, Disability, and Homeowners. Each of the organization’s insurance companies is rated A+ (“Superior”) by A.M. Best – a leading source of independent rating information on the insurance industry.

Agents interested in learning more should visit http://www.guard.com/cpp/

Grange Insurance Introduces Home Cyber Protection Coverage

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Grange Insurance Introduces Home Cyber Protection Coverage

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Grange Insurance is introducing Home Cyber Protection coverage to provide consumers with expanded protection against cybercrime threats that continue to rise along with the usage and number of smart devices.

“The rapid growth in connected home technology and smart devices is creating the increased need to protect data, systems and software from computer attacks,” said John North, Personal Lines President, Grange Insurance. “Our new Home Cyber Protection coverage provides consumers with financial protection in many cases of cybercrime and provides access to experts who can help them fix the damage done. Our aim is to give people peace of mind as they go about their day-to-day online activities.”

Traditionally, Grange has provided coverage that helps restore a customer’s identity after an illegal breach. Grange’s new Home Cyber Protection goes beyond that by providing coverage and assistance in a combination of areas, including:

  • Computer attack: removes malware and reprograms computers, tablets, Wi-Fi routers and other internet access points
  • Home systems attack: restores devices connected to the internet, including smart phones, thermostats, smart appliances, and security and monitoring systems
  • Cyber extortion: provides professional assistance on how to respond to a ransomware attack and makes payment of ransom when approved
  • Online fraud: assists in losses due to phishing schemes, illegal bank and credit card transfers, forgery, counterfeit currency and other deceptions
  • Data breach: includes forensic IT and legal reviews, as well as notification and recovery services when private nonbusiness data entrusted to an individual is lost, stolen or published

Consumers face increasing dangers related to accessing the internet, from cyber bullying to ransomware and phishing to household breaches, which threaten their families’ financial and emotional wellbeing. Identity theft from email and social media has gone up 37 percent during 2017. Costs to repair the damage caused by cybercrime are rising, too. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, victims lost a total of $360.5 million from compromised email, $59 million from data breaches, and $58.5 million from identity theft in 2016.

Last month, Grange released results of a national study it commissioned on consumer attitudes about cybersecurity. Conducted by Research America, the study showed a high level of concern among consumers about the risks associated with cybercrime from their smart devices, and that one in four consumers had been a victim of a cyberattack. It also showed the vast majority of consumers are unaware of what they can do to protect themselves or feel they’ve already taken sufficient measures.

”Our research suggests that too often people don’t know what to do about cybercrime or where to go for help. Nearly one in five consumers believe that doing more to protect themselves is too much of a hassle,” said North. “With this expanded coverage, we hope to let consumers know we are here to help and that it can be a simple process.”

“Homes on average have six devices that access the internet, and a majority of people intend to add more devices in the future,” said North. “As the potential for cybercrime increases, we encourage people to explore their options and invest in their own protection.”

Consumers can learn more about Grange’s cyber coverage offerings by talking with their independent agent or by visiting grangeinsurance.com.

About Grange

Grange Insurance, with $3 billion in assets and more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance provider founded in 1935 and based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life and business insurance protection. The company and its affiliates serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Florence and Michael were 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season’s Most Damaging Storms

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Florence and Michael were 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season’s Most Damaging Storms

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season was less active than the 2017 season but still caused extensive property damage across the southeastern United States, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

The 2018 hurricane season officially concludes tomorrow (Nov. 30) and saw the formation of 15 named storms. Eight of the 15 became hurricanes, and two (Florence and Michael) became major hurricanes, according to Philip Klotzbach, Ph.D., a research scientist with the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University (CSU). Klotzbach is also a non-resident scholar with the I.I.I.

The original CSU forecast for 2018, presented in April, predicted slightly above-average hurricane activity with three major hurricanes. The seasonal outlooks CSU subsequently released in the summer envisioned less hurricane activity, with CSU forecasting 12 named storms, five hurricanes, and one major hurricane on Aug. 2.

“Even in what ended up as an average year for major hurricane activity, 2018 was record-setting, with Hurricane Florence spurring statewide rainfall records in North and South Carolina. In addition, Hurricane Michael was the first time on record a Category 4 hurricane made landfall in the Florida Panhandle,” said Sean Kevelighan, I.I.I. CEO. “As financial first responders, the insurance industry continues to be on the ground, helping to rebuild our customers’ livelihoods and economies more broadly. Nonetheless, these extraordinary hurricanes highlighted for coastal residents and businesses the importance of disaster preparedness, building resilient structures and insuring properties against both flood and wind-caused damage.”

A named storm is considered a hurricane when its sustained wind speeds are at least 74 miles per hour. Major hurricanes are those that are designated as a Category 3 storm or higher, with sustained wind speeds of at least 111 mph.

Florence made landfall as a Category 1 storm on Sept. 14 near Wilmington, North Carolina. It was categorized as a major hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, but the storm’s wind speeds diminished significantly before striking the U.S. coastline. The weather system lingered for days in the Carolinas, dumping as much as 36 inches of rain in North Carolina and 24 inches in South Carolina, the most ever recorded there after a hurricane.

Michael made landfall on Oct. 10 near Mexico Beach, Florida. More than 85,000 of the 125,000-plus claims Florida’s insurers received as of Nov. 16 as a result of Hurricane Michael were for insured residential properties, and the total estimated insured claim payouts currently are estimated at $3.4 billion.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 12 named storms and six hurricanes, including three major hurricanes. The 2017 hurricane season had 17 named storms. Ten of the 17 reached hurricane strength and six became major hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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AVYST Joins Vertafore Orange Partner Program

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AVYST Joins Vertafore Orange Partner Program

Bi-Directional Forms Integration Extends Reach of eForms Wizard Submission Tool

DENVER and DALLAS (April 2, 2019) — Vertafore, the leading provider of insurance software and Wave Insurance Technologies Inc., dba AVYST, today jointly announced that AVYST has joined the Orange Partner Program. AVYST is an insurtech company providing sales and risk management solutions for independent agents and brokers and their carrier partners.

“We are excited to welcome AVYST into the Vertafore Orange Partner Program,” said Doug Mohr, Vertafore VP of Industry Relations and Partnerships. “Our partners will have unparalleled access to the full range of APIs available for each product, enabling the provision of solutions across multiple Vertafore products.”

The Orange Partner Program provides open access and integration opportunities with Vertafore application programming interfaces (APIs) for customers and partners. The program also extends to complementary third-party technology providers, such as AVYST, which have developed their own integrations with Vertafore solutions and continue to provide innovation within the insurance industry.

“Becoming a member of the Orange Partner Program is the perfect culmination of our product development initiatives,” said Marc Still, AVYST CEO. “We’ve been working with Vertafore’s talented sales and technology executives over the past year and have already engaged with a number of agency owners and carriers we mutually identified as the industry’s outstanding technology leaders.”

eForms Wizard is the initial AVYST solution enabling bi-directional forms integration with Vertafore’s AMS360, with other Vertafore solution integrations to follow. eForms Wizard was launched in 2017 by industry veterans and key AVYST investors who sought to vastly improve the scattered, inefficient workflow required to submit a risk or account to a carrier or wholesaler. eForms Wizard eliminates the numerous manual, paper-based steps in marketing and point-of-sale processes for agents, carriers, MGAs and wholesalers. It provides hundreds of industry standard and carrier-unique applications and forms and also integrates with the IRMI Glossary of TermsTM, leading to a more complete and effective submission process.

AMS360 is an agency management software that enables you to focus on the heart of your business — your customers. It streamlines accounting, automates manual processes, and enables seamless connections with carriers, so you can dedicate more time to your customers and prospects.

AVYST was built by insurance professionals known for their technology advocacy in the industry, noted Kitty Ambers, CIC, CPIA, CISR, AVYST Chief Growth Officer. “We are all about enabling the independent agent and broker system and thoroughly understand this industry and the inherent challenges for producers and CSRs. Quite simply, our vision is a world where confident insurance professionals deliver an enjoyable customer experience without paper or error.”

The Vertafore integration is part of AVYST’s strategy to build partnerships across the industry, Ambers said, adding that the insurtech firm already has strong partnerships with agent associations including PIA National, user groups such as NetVU (Network of Vertafore Users), MGAs, carriers and other technology solution providers.

About AVYST: Wave Insurance Technologies Inc., dba AVYST, is a Dallas and Aurora, Colorado-based company providing sales and risk management solutions that enable independent insurance agents, brokers and carriers to efficiently manage a referral through the application and submissions process. AVYST offers intelligent question sets, standardized workflows and quoting integration, eliminating complexity in how insurance is handled today. For more information, visit www.avyst.com.

About Vertafore:  For over 50 years, Vertafore, the leader in modern insurance technology, has built and supported superior InsurTech products and solutions, connecting every point of the distribution channel. The industry pioneer has partnered with 65 of the top 100 brokers for an agency management system, 23 state governments, and have over 500,000 insurance professionals leveraging a Vertafore solution. Vertafore is focused on organizational and operational excellence, allowing the company to align with key industry partners and serve the largest customer base in the industry. For more information about Vertafore, visit www.vertafore.com.

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