In March, California's population reached a noteworthy landmark:Latinos nowoutnumber whites for the first time in the state's history.This is more than just a demographic factoid. It is a benchmarkmoment on a path toward greater diversity in the U.S. population.This trend will also test the ingenuity and adaptability of thewholesale insurance market, while also playing to itsstrengths.

Insurance is still a people business. People like to work withpeople who are like them. Facebook works as a marketing toolbecause people like interacting with their friends. This samephilosophy has sustained mono-ethnic enclaves in countless Americancities–networks built on trust, which is particularly true of thewholesale insurance marketplace.

We are a business of people and ideas. To make it work, we mustengage demographic shifts and represent the needs of a diversepopulation and their unique needs and risks, while adopting the newideas they bring to the table.

All of the demographic shifts are beneficial for the wholesalemarket. We're seeing more women in leadership positions andstarting new businesses; and we're experiencing an increase in thenumber of young professionals exploring opportunities that requirespecialty risk solutions. Also, the explosive growth of theHispanic community cannot be overlooked. Much like the AfricanAmerican, Asian, LGBT and other growing, diverse populations in theU.S., the Hispanic community's engagement and risingentrepreneurial spirit present enormous opportunities for thewholesale market since standards lines professionals are reluctantto write insurance for new businesses absent a loss history. Asthese demographics continue to launch new businesses, the wholesaleinsurance marketplace becomes an access point of first resort forthem to insure their businesses and livelihoods.

We employ the freshest ideas from professionals of allbackgrounds, whether we're serving new entrepreneurs with newbusiness solutions, or small to medium-sized businesses accessingthe wholesale market because their loss records are inadequate forstandard insurers.

In the past, insurance has been criticized as beingoverwhelmingly male, but we have improved our track record. In2012, the Insurance Information Institute on Women in Insurancereported women made up 44.1% of insurance agents and 70.4% ofunderwriters were women.

As an international organization representing the wholesaleinsurance space, the AAMGA has long worked across borders.Recently, the Latin AmericanAssociation of Insurance Agencies (LAAIA) joined ourprofessional network. Representing more than 200 agents andorganizations throughout the U.S., this alliance provides membersof both organizations with broader networking, education and newbusiness opportunities. Our association also works extensively withCanadian and U.K. insurance professionals, including many Lloyd'smanaging agents and syndicates.

It may come as a surprise that approximately 58% of employees ofAAMGA member organizations areunder age 40. Wholesale insurance entities have long been workingon succession planning and nurturing new talent. Our Under Forty Organization (UFO) playsa significant role in supporting the recruitment, training andretention of the next generation of insurance professionals.

AAMGA members and the wholesale insurance community have longembraced the opportunities of diversity, and will continue to doso. We'll do it the same way we undertake all our efforts: bybuilding trusting relationships.