I come bearing sad tidings. After 27 years as Florida’s voicefor the insurance industry, Florida Underwriter isshutting down. What began as a glimmer in the eye of super-salesmanDave Weidinger (still with the parent company, by the way, and aterritory vice president in Atlanta) grew over the past two-plusdecades into a respected and authoritative resource for everyoneinvolved in and interested in Florida insurance.

Unfortunately, the double demons of our state’s falling economyand the dominance of the Internet over print products have broughtus to this difficult decision. This will be the magazine’s finalissue.

It has been a long and rewarding journey for both me andFlorida Underwriter. I, too, “launched” myself intoinsurance in the early 1980s. I remember meeting Dave during themagazine’s early days and placing ads (and my faith) in him andthis fledgling publication. Over the years, as I provided corporatecommunication services to various insurance companies, I came torely on Florida Underwriter for essential information andmarketing opportunities. It has been a wonderful bit of serendipityto find myself as its editor-in-chief these past few years.

I was proud to carry on the publication’s mission of being “TheLeading News Source for Florida Agents & Brokers.” An addedbonus has been the truly wonderful experience of getting to know somany of you personally through these pages and my travels aroundthe state. Your contributions both in commentary through featurearticles within our pages and private conversations with me were, Ihope you know, always received with open arms and mind.

My thanks especially to our superb editorial advisory boardmembers: Mike Colodny of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky &Abate, P.A.; Jeff Grady, president and CEO of the FloridaAssociation of Insurance Agents; Steve Israel of South FloridaAffiliated Health Insurers, Inc.; Lynne McChristian, Floridarepresentative of the Insurance Information Institute; JimMcConnaughhay of McConnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver,P.A.; Sam Miller, executive vice president of the Florida InsuranceCouncil; Erin O’Leary of Shelly, Middlebrooks & O’Leary, Inc.;and William Stander, founder of WHISPER – William H. Stander PublicRelations, Inc. Their insight and friendship have been invaluableto me in countless ways.

As Florida Underwriter fades into the archives atSummit Business Media, I hope you will continue to enjoy the otherinsurance magazines in the company’s portfolio, especiallyAmerican Agent & Broker and National UnderwriterProperty & Casualty and Life & Health.

As for me, I will remain involved in our industry. For those ofyou who would like to stay in touch, I encourage you to email me at[email protected]. Iwould love to hear from you and share the opportunities that thenew year will bring me.

For now, as Edward R. Murrow used to say, “Good night and goodluck.”