In this industry, we talk a lot about resiliency. What we don't always talk about, however, is how that word applies to many of the men and women who serve as the human face and the backbone of the insurance business.

Last month, I had the honor and pleasure of visiting the great city of New Orleans to spend a few days with the subject of our March cover feature, Richie Clements—current national president of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) and principal at Clements Insurance Services in Chalmette, La.

It's fortuitous that Clements should serve as PIA's national president during the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The story of how he rebuilt his agency from the ashes is not only an amazing, inspiring one, but it's also a microcosm for his beloved city's challenge to regain a sense of normalcy through its continued recovery efforts. A decade later, that challenge remains an ongoing one, and it affects every single one of its residents.