Florida Underwriter May 2009
Cover Story
How It All Began
First, there were many companies selling insurance products through Florida's independent agencies. Second, those companies were eager to do a thorough and effective job of marketing. Third, a key
Features
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Three Experts Look at Florida's E&S, P&C and Workers' Compensation Markets
Lawyers are fond of declaring, "You can sue anybody for anything." Insurance agents might counter, "And we'll cover it." Alien abduction? Covered. Injured by a ghost? We'll pay. Pregnant by
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A View From the Insurance Office -- '76-'89
My congratulations to National Underwriter and Florida Underwriter on this 25th anniversary issue. I have had continuous involvement with Florida's insurance scene and with the national scene for
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A View From the Insurance Office -- 1989-1995 and 2001-2007
One of the highlights of my career as insurance commissioner and treasurer has to be that cover photo on Florida Underwriter's December 2002 issue. This magazine depicted me clad in a suit of armor,
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Risky Business
The health-care facilities and services industry currently accounts for over 16 percent of the nation's gross national product, with growth expected to nearly 20 percent by 2017. Combined with
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A View From the CFO's Office -- Today
Florida has the ninth largest volume of insurance premiums in the world -- larger than Texas, Canada, even China. Given that volume, decisions made in Tallahassee don't just affect policyholders from
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Q&A With Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty
Kevin McCarty began his career in public service in 1988 when he joined the Florida Department of Labor & Employment Security, quickly becoming an expert on workers' compensation issues. In 1991, he
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Possible End to Rate Regulation
Jolted by the news that State Farm was pulling out of the Florida property insurance market, some state lawmakers are reversing themselves dramatically on how to fix the state's fragile property
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Is Insurance Still a Safe Job Bet?
The worldwide economic collapse has every industry reeling, and insurance is no exception. Here in Florida, agencies large and small are making adjustments. Because of decreasing premiums and
From the Editor
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Celebrating 25 Years of Florida Underwriter
Longtime readers of Florida Underwriter may experience a sense of d?j? vu as they look at this month's cover. Yes, you have seen it before -- or at least something very similar. The
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Meet the Editors
Several names appear in the Florida Underwriter masthead every month and as bylines in stories. Those contributing editors -- Sharon Moorhead, Phil Galewitz, Tim Hoelle, and Gary Fineout -- regularly
People
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New Judge of Compensation Claims Named
Gov. Charlie Crist has appointed Marjorie Renee Hill of Tallahassee as Judge of Compensation Claims. Hill has served as the director of the First District Court of Appeal's Workers' Compensation Unit
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Strahler at Magnolia
Magnolia Insurance Co. of Coconut Grove has appointed Beverly A. Strahler to the position of regional marketing manager for northeast Florida. She will be based in Jacksonville. The company writes
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Lee Joins HomeWise Board
HomeWise, the Tampa-based property insurer, has elected former Florida Senate President Tom Lee to its board of directors. Lee is vice president of Sabal Homes of Florida, Inc. Company information is
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Clark Joins CRU
Daniel Brooks Clark has joined Coastal Risk Underwriters, LLC of Temple Terrace as senior vice president and chief underwriting officer. He will lead product development and oversee the underwriting
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James Named CIO
The Main Street America Group has appointed Ron James chief information officer and vice president of information technology. James joined the super regional property-casualty insurance company in
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Advisory Group Launched
Frank Pennachio, formerly with The Institute of WorkComp Professionals, has teamed up with Susan Toussaint, president of Injury Management Partners, to create The WorkComp Advisory Group. The
Company Notes
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Conseco Pays Up
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has announced that the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has received $466,000 as Florida's share of a multi-state settlement agreement with Conseco
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Re-branding Effort
Risk Transfer Holdings, Inc., has launched a new company, Risk Transfer Programs, LLC, as part of a corporate re-branding initiative to present a unified approach to the insurance market. All new and
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New Company Formed
Patriot Risk Management, Inc., an insurance holding company specializing in workers' compensation insurance and insurance services solutions, has formed Patriot Underwriters, Inc., to facilitate the
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MSC Acquires Optimal
MSC Care Management of Jacksonville, a provider of medical products and services to post-discharge and post-injury workers' compensation claimants nationwide, has acquired Optimal Translation &
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Licenses Obtained
Imperial Premium Finance, LLC of Boca Raton has obtained premium finance licenses in 10 additional states: Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
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Mayo and Aetna in Agreement
Aetna has reached agreement with Mayo Clinic Florida on a new contract that provides in-network access to the clinic and physicians for members of specific Aetna plans. A prior contract between the
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Goodson Ordered to Pay
Goodson Farms in eastern Hillsborough County farm has been ordered to pay nearly $1.1 million in restitution after pleading guilty to crop insurance fraud. According to prosecutors, company officials
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Milestone Reached
C&E Information Services, Inc., an insurance inspection and information management firm located in Bradenton, recently surpassed the completion of one million inspections, all within the state of
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Upgraded Rating
Sarasota-based Universal Insurance Company of North America has received an upgraded Demotech financial stability rating of A' (A Prime) Unsurpassed for its Florida operations. The company, a wholly
Business Trends
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Branding Your Agency: Part II
This month's Business Trends is the second in a limited series about branding your business. Adding their experience and expertise to the discussion in this installment are Kae Groshong Wagner,
