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AAC Meeting Highlights

SPRING 2018

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Centauri's Agent Advisory Councils Meet to Tackle Initiatives

Florida

Members of our Florida AAC met at Centauri's corporate headquarters in Sarasota April 17-18, 2018. Pictured from left are Kagen Cooksley of Regency Insurance Agency; John Meyer of Centauri; James McCall of Liufau McCall Insurance Group; Felicia Cox, Joe Gregory, Martha Bako and Marc Hatcher of Centauri, Rick Moore of Brown & Brown; Andria Moore of Centauri; and Ryan Papy of Tom Gallagher Insurance.

Centauri’s Agency Advisory Council (AAC) of Florida met at Centauri’s Sarasota headquarters during the week of April 16 to discuss ways to ensure that Centauri remains relevant in the competitive, yet complex Florida P&C marketplace. Members discussed product improvements with Centauri's Senior Product Manager, Martha Bako, and received a claims update from our Assistant Vice President of Claims, Cindy Gaul.

 

Technology was on the minds of AAC members as they discussed faster ways to report claims, inspect homes and make the overall policyholder experience easy and hassle-free. Allowing insureds to use time-saving technology, such as simplified consumer portals and apps would create a more robust product and give insured time-saving tools. Staying ahead of the curve when competing with direct-to-consumer insurance writers was also a concern, which we will continue to address in years to come.

 

The tri-county underwriting guidelines in South Florida were also a hot topic for members as this area faces issues such as public adjusters and Assignment of Benefits (AOB). Discussion was focused on how Centauri could loosen restrictions and continue to write profitable business in a volatile market. AAC members contributed many suggestions supporting limited, yet positive growth in these three counties; all which will be reviewed by our product, sales and leadership teams in the near future.

 

Our Florida AAC was attended by Kagen Cooksley of Regency Insurance, James McCall of Liufau McCall Insurance Group, Rick Moore of Brown & Brown Insurance, and Ryan Papy of Tom Gallagher Insurance.

 

Our AAC plays a critical role in getting real-time feedback on how Centauri can remain relevant as a market for all of our agency partners.  Feel free to reach out to a member of our Agency Advisory Council if you have any recommendations for improvement.  For a complete list of the members and their contact information, visit:  www.centauriinsurance.com/for-agents/Agent-Advisory-Council. The Florida AAC is scheduled to meet again September 12-13, when all states’ AAC members will come together to share ideas and participate in a group discussion.

South Carolina

Members of our South Carolina AAC met in Charleston on March 6, 2018. Pictured from left are Andrew Muller of Mappus Insurance Agency, Felicia Cox and John Meyer of Centauri, Kim Gore of HUB International Southeast, Wyatt Hall of Centauri, and Kim Taylor of Taylor Agency.

The South Carolina Agency Advisory Council (AAC) met on March 6, 2018 at the Harbour Club in historic downtown Charleston. Charter South Carolina AAC members Andrew Muller of Mappus Insurance Agency and Kim Taylor of The Taylor Agency welcomed new member Kim Gore of HUB International, Southeast. They were joined by Wyatt Hall, Regional Sales Manager; John Meyer, Director of Sales; and Felicia Cox, Vice President of Sales and Agency Relations.

 

During the meeting, AAC members were presented with a summary of product and systems changes that were made as a result of their prior recommendations. While not all recommendations could be implemented, several important changes were made in an effort to keep Centauri relevant such as increasing the limits of animal liability, significantly increasing the Auto Companion Policy Discount, and introducing a Dwelling in Course of Construction discount.

 

Cox gave members an update on the "State of Centauri" stating that while a highly competitive environment persists across all markets and lines of business, the company is poised to maintain its position in the face of growing competition. 

 

AAC members were then given the assignment of reviewing our current policies and endorsements. They made recommendations on coverage changes, policy processing enhancements and marketing offerings that Centauri will carefully consider implementing.

 

The South Carolina AAC will meet again this fall. For a complete list of the members and their contact information, visit:  www.centauriinsurance.com/for-agents/Agent-Advisory-Council.

Texas

Members of our Texas AAC met in Waco on March 21-22, 2018. Pictured from left are Kent Kaltwasser of Southern Group Insurance Agency, David Turrentine of Turrentine Insurance Agency, Joe Miller of Centauri, Joel Pond of Rockland Insurance, Andy Priesman of Greenway Insurance and Risk Management, John Meyer of Centauri, Kyle Brown of Alpha Omega Insurance Agency, Dan Strack of Laura Strack & Associates, Felicia Cox of Centauri, Shawn Cox of Select Insurance Markets, Craig DeWitt of Texas Classic Insurance, Joe McCormick and Cindy Gaul of Centauri, and Ryan Davis of Davis Insurance Agency.

Centauri’s Texas Agent Advisory Council (AAC) met in Waco on March 21-22, 2018. Felicia Cox, Vice President of Sales and Agency Relations, kicked off the discussion with an in-depth "State of Centauri" business overview.

 

Cox cited Centauri’s long-term approach and strong reinsurance program as critical factors in helping the company weather a historically challenging catastrophe year in 2017. “We are well-positioned for continued growth in 2018,” said Cox.

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Cindy Gaul, Assistant Vice President of Claims, followed with an update on last year’s claims performance metrics and initiatives for 2018. AAC members expressed their appreciation for Centauri’s claims handling, particularly in response to Hurricane Harvey.

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After a review of Centauri’s Agency Rewards Program for 2018, discussions focused on ways to continue building on Centauri’s success in Texas and further strengthening agent partnerships. Key topics discussed included:

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  • Innovative ideas for Centauri’s product portfolio and rating plans in Texas

  • Mitigating the hail damage challenge

  • Continuous improvement efforts on ease of doing business with Centauri

  • Marketing support for agencies

 

Cox wrapped up the productive meeting by thanking the Texas AAC members for their active participation, candid feedback, and strong partnerships. The Texas Agency Advisory Council (AAC) will meet again this fall.  For a complete list of the members and their contact information, visit:  www.centauriinsurance.com/for-agents/Agent-Advisory-Council.

Gulf States

Members of the Gulf States Agent Advisory Council (AAC) which includes representatives from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi met April 11-12, 2018 at the Beau Rivage Hotel in Biloxi, MS.

 

The AAC welcomed new member, Jim Roseberry, agency principal for Roseberry Insurance Agency in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Roseberry Agency was appointed with Centauri in late 2012 and has been a consistent performer and a valued partner to Centauri.

 

Felicia Cox, Vice President of Sales and Agency Relations, presented the “State of Centauri” overview which included updates on total written premium, profitability, our current reinsurance program and the company outlook for 2018.

 

The AAC also welcomed Brock Howard, Centauri’s Vice President of Claims, and Jessica Witvoet, Gulf States Product Manager. Howard provided a claims update on loss drivers by state as well as an update on the Claims Satisfaction Survey.  Witvoet and Mike Ely, Regional Sales Manager, updated the AAC on future pricing and product filings for the Gulf States.

 

The Gulf States AAC is an experienced, tenured agency group that continues to recommend cost-effective enhancements to Centauri’s product, pricing and processing programs. Recent initiatives recommended by the AAC and approved by Centauri management include revisions to online endorsement processing, development of the HO-3 Course of Construction endorsement (Builders Risk), revisions to the Tier +21 referral process, and the PC 9 & 10 new business referral guideline.

 

AAC members and the sales team concluded the session with conversations on topics such as the Agency Rewards Program and how Centauri can become more relevant in the Alabama and Mississippi coastal markets.

 

Feel free to reach out to an member of our Agency Advisory Council if you have any recommendations for improvement. The Gulf States AAC will meet again this fall. For a complete list of the members and their contact information, visit:  www.centauriinsurance.com/for-agents/Agent-Advisory-Council.

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