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February 2011
FEATURES

Marketing Agency of the Month:
Always moving forward (well, sometimes sideways)
The Seltzer Group becomes a marketing machine.

Specialty Lines:
Nailing down opportunities in construction

Agents, underwriters and specialist intermediaries adjust to "the new normal"
.

Marketing:
Leading from the inside out
To engage your clients and employees, you need to find their "why"—and yours.

Technology:
Streamlining the sales effort
ProspX delivers sales collaboration and networking capabilities to the agency sales force.

Benefits Agency:
Wellness going well in a mid-sized market
Historic agency builds a thriving benefits practice anchored by wellness.

Other Feature Stories:  
New impetus for group captives
ASAE establishes protected.

Congratulations to Van Gilder Insurance
2010 Marketing Agency of the Year.

A case for fee-based services
State departments of insurance are starting to weigh in on "valued-added services".

Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) Special Section
New CICA chair prepares for 2011—Svoboda brings captive owner experience to his role
CICA president looks ahead to 2011
CICA 2011 annual conference reflects changing times
Mid-sized accounts move into the ART market—Opportunities for independent agents abound

Human resource consulting: New dimensions in risk management
An in-house specialist delivers HR solutions to the Gibraltar Group's business clients.

Creating informed consumers
Met Life Auto & Home survey shows that an annual review is vital to fill
gaps and educate buyers.

Softness continues in the commercial umbrella market
RLI waits out the downturn with a conservative, long-run strategy.

Construction surety bonds ride the economic cycle
Agents advised to maintain close communication with sureties.

 

COLUMNS
Building Equity Value—Strong balance sheet, stronger agency
By Craig C. Niess

AAIS Perspective—Coverage for watercraft evolves into standardized form
By Joseph S. Harrington, CPCU

Risk Managers' Forum—Data, data everywhere
By Steve Anderson, CIC, and Tim McClendon, CIC, CWCA

Risk Management—Forgetting to cover a crane?
By Donald S. Malecki, CPCU

Public Policy Analysis & Opinion—Carriers foresee active legislative year
By Kevin P. Hennosy

Benefits Products & Services—Product differentiation critical in voluntary market
By Thomas A. McCoy, CLU

Management by Coaching—I'm leading—Why aren't they following? Part 2
By Kimberly Paterson, CEC

Enterprise Risk Management—One step forward, two steps back
By Michael J. Moody, MBA, ARM

Customer Service Focus—Customer centric should be the focus
By Jeanette Machisic, CIC, AAI, CTM, and Matt Coleman, CPCU, ARM, AAI

Internet Marketing—Become a world-class agency
By Tim Sawyer

The Innovative Workplace—Implementing value-added programs
By Don Phin

Strengthening the Front Line—Do you possess the qualities of a proud CSR?
By Emily Huling, CIC, CMC

Beyond Insurance—7 secrets to peak producer performance
By Scott Addis, CPCU

DEPARTMENTS
Court Decisions
Centuries of Rough Notes (PDF)
Rough Notes Staff
Reprints

ADVERTISERS INDEX & PRODUCTS PAGE (PDF)