Michael Levine is a partner in Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s Washington, DC office and a leader of the Firm’s Insurance Recovery Practice. He offers insights into the legal side of the risk management space and the important role that attorneys play in creating a system of checks and balances in the insurance space and offers insights from his experience to young professionals considering a career at the intersection of insurance and law.

Key Takeaways:

• Michael shares insights into his work at Hunton Andrews Kurth.

• Being an attorney who practiced in insurance was not a childhood dream of Michael’s.

• After becoming an attorney, the decision to specialize in insurance coverage was an easy one.

• Michael has practiced both in favor of the policyholder as well as on the carrier side.

• What were Michael’s reasons for switching back and forth between the policyholder and carrier sides multiple times?

• The biggest misconceptions about the motives and actions of attorneys in the insurance space.

• What does it really mean if a lawyer gets involved in a claims case?

• The real reason Michael uses the term “policyholder” instead of “insured.”

• Attorneys are in place to provide a healthy system of checks and balances within the insurance industry.

• Maximizing insurance recoveries means giving policyholders everything they're entitled to.

• When is the right time to get an attorney involved in insurance policies?

• Once counsel gets involved, whether the broker has done their job makes all the difference in the outcome of the claim.

• Michael’s opinion on the high percentage of insurance payouts that ends up in attorney’s pockets.

• Acquiring new clients through marketing and networking, because repeat business is not good business in policyholder litigation.

• Michael reveals the biggest lessons learned from his years of practicing law in the insurance space.

• Tips for picking up the technical language of the insurance world.

• It’s all meaningful; Michael’s advice for finding the issues that mean something to you and righting a wrong.

Mentioned in This Episode:

RIMS — San Diego Event

Michael on LinkedIn

Hunton Andrews Kurth

Daniel Kaniewski is the Managing Director at Marsh McLennan and an American government official who served as the acting deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He also served as the deputy administrator of FEMA for Resilience. In this episode, Daniel recalls the impact that 9/11 had on his personal and professional life and how it strengthened his resolve to increase the country’s preparation for catastrophic events. He shares the hurdles he has faced along the way, the role of luck and risk in every step of his career, and highlights the opportunities that response readiness and resilience have to offer young professionals today.

Key Takeaways:

• Daniel highlights his role at Marsh and reveals his disaster resilience guru status.

• Daniel’s unusual pathway into risk management started with a volunteer firefighter paramedic who wanted to figure out how to reduce losses in the first place.

• After maxing out his EMT certifications and education, Daniel turned to a Ph.D. in public policy.

• An internship on Capitol Hill led Daniel to support the Gilmore Commission, where he worked to increase first responders' preparation for terrorist attacks.

• In a post-9/11 world, policymaker interest has shifted dramatically in favor of proactive training against acts of terrorism.

• The personal and professional impact of 9/11 on Daniel’s life and work.

• Watching the Pentagon take fire from the Capitol Building was a surreal moment, especially after learning that the Capitol Building was the likely target of Flight 93.

• Daniel’s “why” in the years following 9/11 only strengthened his resolve to continue the work he had been doing in the years prior.

• Hurricane Katrina swung the pendulum from terrorism directly to natural disaster relief.

• Federal departments and missions continue with their work, regardless of presidential administration changes, but their focus may change with each new president.

• Every dollar invested in disaster mitigation saves $13 in physical and economic costs should a disaster occur.

• Daniel was willing to help set up FEMA, as long as he was able to maintain a focus on disaster resilience.

• Local and national governments informing the public about key catastrophic exposure is critical for gaining support for investments in response readiness.

• What prompted Daniel’s shift from the public sector over to Marsh?

• Daniel recalls the professional relationships that have enabled him to take the risks that have made his career so fulfilling.

• Response readiness and resilience are top of mind across the country, and have a place for you!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Daniel on LinkedIn

Marsh McLennan

Jenna Kirkpatrick Howard is the Senior Vice President for Lockton Companies. She is also a board member and treasurer for the Community of Hope, a non-profit focused on creating opportunities for low-income families in Washington, DC. In this episode, Jenna shares her journey from hesitantly stepping into a sales position to embracing her skills as a networker and people connector. She shares the truth behind the Lockton/Rolex legend and provides candid advice for young professionals navigating their careers.

Key Takeaways:

• A little bit about Jenna and her role at Lockton Companies.

• Jenna, at first, didn’t see herself in the production role, but with a bit of encouragement and mentorship, she jumped into the position.

• Because of that training, Jenna doesn’t see herself as a salesperson, she sees herself as a communicator and bridge-builder.

• What was the first deal Jenna ever closed and what lessons did she learn from it?

• With any sales position, it’s important to talk with the client and be intellectually curious.

• What does Jenna love the most about being in risk management?

• Another project Jenna is passionate about is connecting accredited female investors to commercial real estate investment opportunities.

• Jenna won the 2023 Women to Watch Awards Americas EMEA and shares what it was like to win an award like that for the non-profit sector.

• Is it true that you are gifted a Rolex after ten years of working for Lockton?

• Jenna shares advice if you’re early in your career and you’ve been laid off and fired.

• Whatever happens, own up to your mistakes. Don’t try to bury it because it will make it so much worse.

• What other advice does Jenna have for young risk professionals?

• The insurance industry has so many options for you!

• Don’t underestimate the power of your young adult relationships in the industry. Everyone will be going on to do great things after 25-plus years in the industry and will become a wealth of knowledge, opportunities, and inspiration.

Mentioned in This Episode:

RIMS — San Diego Event

Jenna on LinkedIn

Lockton.com

Communityofhopedc.org

Cheryl Reecher is the Vice President of Business Development at Cotton Holdings Inc. With a career spanning over two decades, across various high-profile roles in the insurance industry, Cheryl brings a rich wealth of experience from director of risk management to insurance broker, and now as a business developer. In this episode, Cheryl shares her journey from discovering insurance to mastering the intricacies of each major insurance role. Learn how Cheryl’s diverse experiences have enabled her to effectively bridge the gap between underwriters, brokers, and risk managers and how simple communication skills can go a long way in this field.

Key Takeaways:

• A little bit about Cheryl and her role at Cotton Holdings Inc.

• What does a restoration company do?

• How does a restoration company gauge risk and calculate appropriate fees?

• How did Cheryl discover insurance?

• What interested Cheryl about the broker side of risk management?

• Shoutout to all the brokers out there. It is probably one of the hardest jobs in insurance.

• After learning about the broker side, Cheryl moved to the carrier side of the insurance business. She shares some of her key learnings from that experience.

• Through these different role transitions that Cheryl underwent, she ended up having an easier time bridging the gap between underwriter, broker, and risk manager.

• Sometimes the best solution is just to sit everyone down and talk it out.

• What surprised Cheryl the most about being in a carrier role?

• Sometimes being the only woman in the room, Cheryl shares some advice for the younger generation.

• What other advice would Cheryl give someone up and coming in their career?

Mentioned in This Episode:

Cottonholdings.com

Cheryl on LinkedIn

Martin Drux is a Multinational Executive and is currently leading Marsh Multinational’s team in Europe, with a specialization in Asia Client Services. In this episode, Martin shares his experiences and the unique aspects of handling insurance across different continents. Martin also discusses the nuances of insurance practices in Germany versus the U.S., his role in vocational training insurance, and how he leverages his robust LinkedIn network to mentor and recruit talent from a multinational perspective.

Key Takeaways:

• A little bit about Martin and what he does at Marsh.

• Does insurance get handled differently in Germany, where Martin is from, compared to the U.S.?

• If you want people to get excited about the industry, you have to tell stories about how your specific field makes a difference.

• Martin explains his field and how he got his start in vocational training insurance.

• What does a global relationship manager do within the insurance industry?

• Martin has a really robust portfolio and LinkedIn profile and now has over 21,000 followers.

• Now, with a strong LinkedIn base, Martin can use his platform to recruit and mentor talent from a multinational lens.

• Martin loves being able to use LinkedIn and network. It gives you a completely different sense of networking.

• Is there a difference between German brokers and U.S. brokers?

• How does Martin think about and structure mentorships? Very few people seem to know how to do this well.

• What advice would Martin give his younger self?

Mentioned in This Episode:

Marsh.com

Martin on LinkedIn

Josh Levy is the CEO and co-founder of Document Crunch, an innovative company dedicated to explaining construction contracts as simply as possible. With a background in Construction Management from the University of Florida and an enriching experience as a construction law clerk, Josh’s journey into construction and technology solutions is as compelling as it is impactful. This episode shares why Josh is so passionate about reducing risk in construction, how Document Crunch was born out of necessity, and the broader applications of their technology beyond just construction contracts.

Key Takeaways:

• A little bit about Josh and his role at Document Crunch.

• How did Josh get into construction management and technology solutions?

• Why is construction so risky?

• Everything stems from what’s written in the contract. If something bad or unexpected happens, the contract should have it covered and noted.

• Why is Josh so passionate about this industry?

• How does Document Crunch work?

• Is Document Crunch just limited to construction contracts?

• Josh shares what attracted him the most to this industry when he was first studying it in college.

• When it came time to start his own company, what pushed Josh to become entrepreneurial?

• So many people don’t take their shot. Sometimes now is as good a time as any to take that risk.

• What’s next for Josh and his company?

• Josh believes younger folks should be investing in soft skills because that’s something AI won’t be able to take over as easily.

• The contract is key at the end of the day, which means everyone who signs it or is involved in it, needs to understand in layman’s terms what the contract covers.

• Why does Josh have an American flag behind him? He shares a quick story.

• Josh’s final piece of advice: Learn as much as you can and then don’t be afraid to take the risk.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Documentcrunch.com

Josh on LinkedIn

James Benham is the co-founder and CEO of JBKnowledge and shares his journey from bootstrapping a tech empire from his college dorm to becoming a leader in the insurance technology space. With over two decades of experience, James has propelled JBKnowledge to the forefront of insurance software, serving some of the largest companies worldwide. In this episode, he discusses his hands-on approach to business, his passion for the insurance industry, and his thoughts on the future of automation and AI in insurance.

Key Takeaways:

• A little bit about James and his companies.

• James shares a little bit about his experience flying seaplanes.

• What is James’ vision with his companies?

• How did James bootstrap his companies and take in no investor money?

• Why is James so passionate about insurance?

• James shares how he thinks about AI and the future of automation in the insurance industry.

• James is happy that he can focus on the customers and his teammates and he doesn’t have to worry about third-party investors.

• If you look at the large players with investor funding, a large percentage is focused on investor relations and that’s a big distraction and takes away from the focus of the customer.

• How do you best identify a market problem that is both solvable and profitable?

• James speculates on what might be the next “big idea” in risk & insurance.

• Certificates of insurance are still a big pain. Is there any way we can simplify it?

Mentioned in This Episode:

Jamesbenham.com

James on LinkedIn

Jbknowledge.com

Terra.insure

Insurtechgeek.com

Anne Marie Towle is the CEO of Global Risk & Captive Solutions at Hylant. Since joining Hylant, Anne has grown the company’s captive consultancy into a powerhouse, earning U.S. Captive Review’s Captive Manager of the Year award. Prior to joining Hylant, Ms. Towle was an executive vice president with JLT and formerly a senior consultant with Willis Towers Watson for over seven years. In this episode, Anne shares her experience in the insurance industry, what a captive is, and when it makes sense to take on a captive based on company or property size.

Key Takeaways:

• A little bit about Anne and her role at Hylant.

• How did Anne discover the insurance industry?

• There are a lot of different launch paths when you join the insurance and captive field.

• When does it make sense to look for captive solutions?

• Anne shares what it’s like pushing forward as a woman in a male-dominated industry.

• No matter where you are in your career, you should have your personal board of directors.

• Surround yourself with the people you enjoy spending time with, and grow together.

• Life is never perfectly balanced. You’ve got to walk the line a little bit between career growth and family. Anne likes to look at it year-by-year instead of day-by-day.

• Education is highly important throughout your career. You need to educate yourself along with educating your team on the latest methods/processes/technologies.

• There are a lot of captives overseas. Why is that?

• Where can a younger professional learn more about captives?

• What advice would Anne give to her younger self?

Mentioned in This Episode:

Hylant.com

Anne on LinkedIn

Iccie.org