{
  "author": {
    "name": "Shirley Lukens",
    "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens/",
    "description": "",
    "imageLarge": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f16d6fc2845f417ea0e93a3f2b6cd37d?s=136&d=mm&r=g",
    "estimate": 12,
    "social": [],
    "articles": [
      {
        "uri": "/2011/06/03/intern-programs-great-way-to-grab-new-talent/",
        "title": "Intern Programs: Great Way To Grab New Talent",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens, Brian McNeely",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "June 03, 2011",
        "timeToRead": "4 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens-brian-mcneely/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens, Brian McNeely"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "An increasing number of agencies are implementing internship programs as a way of identifying and recruiting top performers before they choose other careers.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2010/03/07/agencies-need-to-change-their-tunes-in-tough-times/",
        "title": "Agencies Need To Change Their Tunes In Tough Times",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens, Brian Deitz",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "March 07, 2010",
        "timeToRead": "6 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens-brian-deitz/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens, Brian Deitz"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "When Bob Dylan wrote the iconic 1960s song, \"The Times They Are A-Changin',\" he captured the social and political upheaval that characterized the times.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2009/04/26/agency-earnings-alert-contingent-income-at-risk/",
        "title": "Agency Earnings Alert: Contingent Income At Risk!",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens, Brian Deitz",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "April 26, 2009",
        "timeToRead": "5 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens-brian-deitz/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens, Brian Deitz"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "During our annual valuation work for agencies and brokerages across the country, one trend we're noticing is most are forecasting significant declines in contingent income this year, even though commission revenues are holding or increasing slightly.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2008/03/30/mcdonalds-not-best-model-for-ideal-insurance-agenc/",
        "title": "McDonald's Not Best Model For Ideal Insurance Agencies",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "March 30, 2008",
        "timeToRead": "6 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "Because I lead the annual "Best Practices Study" research effort, people often ask me to describe the best way to set up and operate the typical independent agency. But I have learned that too many",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2007/10/21/best-practices-agencies-grow-despite/",
        "title": "Best Practices Agencies Grow Despite",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens",
        "kicker": "News",
        "prettyDate": "October 21, 2007",
        "timeToRead": "5 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/news/",
            "sectionName": "News"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "If you expected market conditions and other external factors to have negatively affected this year's performance results in the 15th annual \"Best Practices Study,\" think again. Unexpectedly, organic",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2007/05/06/agents-show-new-respect-for-personal-lines-stepchild/",
        "title": "Agents Show New Respect For Personal Lines Stepchild",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "May 06, 2007",
        "timeToRead": "5 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "Through the years, personal lines have been the backbone of the smaller agency. Larger, commercially dominant agencies, however, have had little respect for the line. If written, it was provided as",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2006/11/12/best-practices-agencies-set-the-standard-for-value/",
        "title": "Best Practices Agencies Set The Standard For Value",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "November 12, 2006",
        "timeToRead": "6 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "Chances are that your agency is the most valuable asset you own. Whether you plan to perpetuate it internally or sell it to a third party, maintaining and enhancing its value is critical to your",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2005/09/18/top-agencies-holding-their-ground-on-performance-d/",
        "title": "Top Agencies Holding Their Ground On Performance Despite Softening Market",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "September 18, 2005",
        "timeToRead": "6 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "Top Agencies Holding Their GroundOn Performance Despite Softening MarketLeadership, not merely management makes the difference in productivity, profitabilityIt was with some anxiety that this ...",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2004/10/13/top-agencies-share-secrets-of-their-success/",
        "title": "Top Agencies Share Secrets Of Their Success",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "October 13, 2004",
        "timeToRead": "6 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "Top Agencies Share Secrets Of Their Success High-performers talk perpetuation, revenue growth, keeping competitive edgeThe \"2004 Best Practices Study,\" done in conjunction with the Independent ...",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2003/09/16/hard-market-mas-boost-agency-revenue/",
        "title": "Hard Market, M&As Boost Agency Revenue",
        "byline": "Shirley Lukens",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "September 16, 2003",
        "timeToRead": "1 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/shirley-lukens/",
            "name": "Shirley Lukens"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "Hard Market, M&As Boost Agency RevenueThe annual "Best Practices Study" originated in 1993 as an initiative to help independent agents build the value of their ...",
        "body": null
      }
    ]
  }
}