In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, PropertyCasualty360.comwanted to know what insurance IT leaders were most thankful for, so we asked a variety of the industry'stop people one simple question: What should insurance IT leaders bemost thankful for?

Included in the group of respondents are insurance carrier CIOs,technology consultants and analysts, and software solutionproviders. We hope their words give you a sense of appreciation forthe difficult job people in this industry face and the hopefulnessthat comes with the Thanksgiving holiday.

Here are their responses.

Ernie Pearson, IT director – applicationsdevelopment, SECURA Insurance

Today's insurance IT leaders can be thankful for recognition oftheir role in the organization, their opportunities to contribute,and the tools they have to succeed.

In almost all cases, insurance IT leaders have earned theprivilege (and responsibility) of a seat on the executive team.Their role is respected not only for technical leadership butbusiness acumen and strategic thinking.

The opportunity for these leaders to contribute to the strategicgoals of their organizations has never been greater. The effectivedevelopment and deployment of technology-based solutions isinextricably linked to almost every important corporateinitiative

At the same time, insurance IT leaders have almost limitlessoptions and alternatives in the tools needed to support corporateinitiatives. These options include agile development methodologies,a plethora of mobile devices, web service based integrationoptions, and increasingly configurable software solutions.

Not that it's without it challenges, but, it's a good time to bean IT leader in our industry.

Frank Petersmark, CIO advocate at X by 2

In this season of thanks, IT insurance leaders should bethankful that, at long last, they find themselves in a position toreally make a difference in their organizations as leaders andinnovators, and have the tools and solutions sets to make ithappen.

Likewise, insurance organizations should be thankful that theyhave IT leaders who, at long last, posses the business andtechnology acumen to guide their organizations to the promised landof competitive differentiation and market leadership.

So be careful with what you've asked for IT leaders, as thetable has been set for you and your job is now to execute anddeliver—and in this season of thanks, that's a lot to be thankfulfor.

Piyush Singh, senior vice president and CIO,Great American Insurance Co.

I am thankful for the environment and opportunity to make adifference for the business. This is the luckiest period in mycareer because I get to work daily with an absolutely wonderfulgroup of colleagues who care about the company's positioning todayand in the future.

I am thankful for the innovators who drive us to achieve more bybeing on the edge and creating products that change the “game” andfor the specialists and staff augmentation firms that provide uswith hot and just-in-time skills.

I am thankful for the trade associations that provide a platformfor knowledge sharing, information dissemination, and networking.I'm also thankful for the environment established by the Lindnerfamily, the founding family here at Great American Insurance, thatvalues making a difference in the society that has given us somuch.

Lastly, but very importantly, I'm thankful for the unsungfamilies that support all of us as we no longer have clear-cut workand personal-life boundaries.

Craig Lowenthal, business development manager,ISCS

One of the things I believe insurance IT leaders should bethankful for is a realization by the industry at-large thattechnology modernization can provide a competitive edge. Whereas only a short time ago IT was talked about as little morethan a cost center, today technology has a seat at the executivetable and a voice in how to achieve strategic objectives. For that,I am very thankful indeed!

On the other hand, the proliferation of smart mobile devices hasbecome an IT leader's nightmare. I'd be really thankful forsome solid, integrated and foolproof solutions to effectivelymanage the exposure this revolution presents.

Deb Smallwood, founder, SMA

It's a perfect time of year for counting our blessings and rightat the top of that list sits the insurance technology community—thepeople that are working to make our industry more competitive andmore responsive to customer needs.

We are fortunate to work in an industry where people operatewith a willingness to network, share, and exchange ideas. It helpsthe entire industry better understand how technology can advancethe business.

This spirit is helping insurers meet their unique goals and, atthe same time, it is helping propel the industry forward. Theinsurance technology community is exemplary and the people justmake it the best.

Rod Travers, executive vice president, RobertE. Nolan Co.

These past few years have been an uphill marathon for theinsurance industry and IT has certainly felt its share of thepain. Perhaps paradoxically, IT leaders can be thankful forsome of the positives brought on by the downturn:

• Fewer pet projects instigated by well-intentioned businessstakeholders who become enamored with newfangled technology. With budget dollars very scarce, decision-making has become muchsimpler: the business benefits, ROI, and risk-mitigation aspectsmust be crystal clear, or the project doesn't happen.
• Solution providers are, these days, much more accommodating interms of pricing, license terms, and overall “deal flexibility.”Lean times heat up the competition, and IT is the beneficiary.

Now let's hope this marathon reaches level ground! HappyThanksgiving, everyone.

Joe Pomilia, executive director, IASA

No matter which industry you work in, technology is hot. IT leaders can be thankful because they are at the center of themost crucial business initiatives.

Gone are the days where questions about why certain technologiesare needed and what value technology can do for theenterprise. Those days have been replaced by days when a newgeneration of consumers and business partners look to technology tofacilitate faster business processing, better communication, workfrom home options, and 24 x 7 x 365 accessibility.

Insurance IT leaders today are the mavens behind keydifferentiators, such as skyrocketing customer retention rates,lower operational costs and improved bottom line results.