This is Insurance IT All-Star week here at the technologychannel of PropertyCasualty360.com and for the seventh consecutiveyear we've selected a group of insurance IT leaders that have stoodout among their peers—and those observing the insurance ITmarket—for their hard work and dedication to the industry.

I was thrilled to sit down and speak with each of this year'sall-stars because I came away from each interview a little smarterthan when they began. I think you'll see for yourself when you readthe individual articles online this week beginning today withDavid Lawless of Magna Carta insurance and continuing with:Peter Settel of Homesite Insurance on Tuesday, Tracey Berg ofWest Bend Mutual on Wednesday, Suren Gupta of Allstate on Thursday,and Dan Colarusso of Cypress Insurance on Friday.

It is difficult to give a simple definition of what an InsuranceIT All-Star is. Since the ultimate decision falls on my shoulders Ilook for someone who has taken the basics of what an insurance CIOneeds to run an IT shop and brought several "extras" along withhim—or her.

Some of those extras are indefinable, but when you speak to anyof this year's group of all-stars you know that they not only getwhat being an IT leader is all about, but they are both curious andknowledgeable about the business side of the industry as well.

One of the strengths of insurance has always been theeducational opportunities offered to anyone that is interested inimproving their knowledge and those who have come to insurance witha technology background have benefitted greatly from thoseopportunities.

Each of our all-stars could certainly tell you that without aworking knowledge of what the insurance industry is all about,finding the right technology answers for their companies would beimpossible.

It is also a pleasure to speak with smart creative people whoalso understand the meaning of humility. Several of this year'sall-stars were both surprised and humbled by their selection.

They needn't be, though. This year's class of all-stars canstand alongside any of the previous six classes. That's part ofwhat makes dealing with insurance IT so exciting.