Just like this year's three finalists, the 2005 National Underwriter Commercial Insurance Agency Of The Year set itself apart from the competition by looking more at the sources of risk than simply how to insure it.
Haake Companies, based just outside of Kansas City in Overland Park, Kan., took the prize last year because it offers clients an entire risk management system rather than price-shopping for simple insurance coverage.
Although Haake Companies concedes that they will, at times, be beaten in terms of price by their competition, they continue to believe the increased value of their risk management services will more than make up for the extra dollars they ask clients to spend on loss prevention.
"The award validated to our clients and our associates that our approach of risk management control makes sense and really does have value," said Chief Executive Officer Charlie Haake.
Receiving national exposure in NU also helped the Haake Companies improve its name recognition, both with their local customers and competition, as well as those outside their immediate market, he noted.
After deciding to move to a more risk control-based approach, the Haake Companies sought out advice from a prior NU Commercial Insurance Agency Of The Year winner–Scott Addis, principal of The Addis Group in King of Prussia, Pa., who won in 2003 based on his consultative brokerage emphasis.
After being named last year's winner, Mr. Haake said his firm was contacted by "several" prospects looking to learn more about how Haake conducts its business.
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