Illinois

• Cargo Ace: William Montanez

  By Bonnie Cavanaugh  |  April 17, 2013

  William J. Montanez knows a thing or two about the perils of shipping cargo. As director of risk management for Ace Hardware Corporation of Oak Brook, Ill., he has oversight of the retail-agency operations for the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry.

• Allstate Expands Drivewise to 16 States, Adds Smartphone App

  By Robert Regis Hyle, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 16, 2013

  Allstate has expanded its Drivewise telematics program into six additional states and introduces a usage-based app for smartphones.

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  How Mobile and Cloud Technology Kept an Agency Running During Sandy

  By James Lawson  |  April 1, 2013

  Catastrophes like Superstorm Sandy accelerate the growing role of mobile and cloud technology for agent-customer-insurer connectivity. And for an industry that’s traditionally averse to embracing technology, it’s a game changer.

• Power of the Package

  By Paul Morrissette  |  April 1, 2013

  Retain business, increase long=term relationships by packaging policies

• Spring Forecast: Mix of Flood, Drought & Warm Weather

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360  |  March 29, 2013

  NOAA's spring outlook calls for a mixed bag of flooding in the Midwest and South, and worsening drought conditions in other parts of the country.

• Taking Flight: ‘Into the Wild, Blue Yonder!’

  By Ken Brownlee, CPCU  |  March 29, 2013

  Man has always yearned to fly, but at what expense? Risk-managing air and space involves hardware, government, and private enterprises.

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  Producer Profiles: March 2013

  By Staff Writer  |  March 25, 2013

  Six insurance professionals from Ohio, Illinois, New York, California, Idaho and Virginia offer career advice and describe why they love serving as agents

• NOAA Spring Outlook a Mix of Flood, Drought & Warm Weather

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  March 21, 2013

  NOAA’s Spring Outlook calls for a mixed bag of flooding in the Midwest and South, and worsening drought conditions in other parts of the country accompanied by above-normal temperatures for much of the U.S.

• Liability Outbreaks From Foodborne Illness

  By David D. Thamann, JD, CPCU  |  March 20, 2013

  Every now and again there are reports of groups becoming ill after eating something, whether it be hamburgers, chicken or certain fruits or vegetables. The foodborne illness usually affects multiple people in multiple areas, even when the contamination comes from one source. Such illnesses can then lead to multiple injury...

• The Horton Group: Giving Retail Clients A Heads-Up

  By Bonnie Cavanaugh  |  March 20, 2013

  The biggest concerns among retailers in the current economy are Workers’ Comp, getting added value from their insurance agency and loss control, says Paul Sabatino, vice president of The Horton Group in Orland Park, Ill.

• Crunch Time

  By Dave Lenckus  |  March 20, 2013

  Restaurateurs are feeling the bite of a hardening Property & Casualty insurance market.

• Restaurant Losses: A Slippery Business

  By Dave Lenckus  |  March 20, 2013

  When it comes to the causes of insured losses, one peril clearly tops the list of risks for restaurants: “Slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of loss,” says Debra J. Denker, an industry manager at Travelers.

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  Risk Managers Share Insights on Workers’ Comp Success

  By PC360 Staff  |  March 19, 2013

  Top risk managers from major corporations—including Disney, Hostess, SAP, and Beam—discuss their strategies for a winning program—and name their favorite workers' comp carriers.

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  The World’s 5 Most Ethical P&C Insurance Companies

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  March 18, 2013

  An insurance broker, three P&C insurers and a major insurance/reinsurance company were among 145 companies designated as the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the international think-tank Ethisphere Institute. Click to see the 5 most ethical P&C insurance companies in the world.

• Illinois Bucks Trend in Other States; Looks to Establish Competitive Workers' Comp State Fund

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  March 15, 2013

  Illinois state legislators are running counter to a national trend by proposing creation of a state workers’ compensation insurance fund that would compete with the private system.

• Willis Launches Program for Dairy Farms

  By Staff Writer  |  March 13, 2013

  The specialty business unit of global broker Willis Group Holdings says it now has an insurance solution for dairy operations.