Declaration of Independents: Dulce M. Suarez-Resnick

Dulce M. Suarez-Resnick

Vice President
NCF Insurance Associates
Miami

CBS News 4 Miami, Spanish radio, news-papers, high schools, state legislative sessions in Tallahassee—this Miami native advocates zealously wherever she can on behalf of Florida consumers, tomorrow’s independent agents and the insurance industry.

WHY INSURANCE?

At a young age, I realized the importance of our jobs, because the decisions you help the consumers make determine at the time of loss whether they’re going to be able to rebuild their lives. In 1994, I started teaching insurance and felt I was starting to make a difference for people.

MENTORS?

My mentor was my mom. The past presidents of the Insurance Professionals of Miami Dade have been additional mothers to me. They beat the drum the same way: “Yes, you can. Yes, you can. You need to go speak.” Us women, we build a very strong network and help each other.

FLORIDA LEGISLATION?

My true passion is the betterment and survival of our industry, and to protect the consumer. Fellow members of the Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies and I meet with legislators in our home and work districts to educate and let them know they have a resource. Every year since 2003, we go to Tallahassee during session to speak about the bills that are up—which are good or not so great, and what the unintended consequences could be.

ADVICE?

Get involved. Every state has its own issues. Unless you roll up your sleeves and get involved, there is no change in your industry or your state. If you see something that is hurting the consumer or is detrimental to your industry, have a voice.

I encourage women to reach out and give the time you can. Belonging is good business, whether it’s belonging to the Big “I,” to the International Association of Insurance Professionals, to the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents or to the LAAIA. There are so many associations out there, and we all work together.

FAMILY TIES?

I started in the insurance industry completely by mistake. The family business was restaurants, but I was going to study medicine. My fear of needles did me in. In 1985, I was in the school work-study program at a condominium association, and an insurance agent who came to bid on a condo asked, “Would you like a job in the insurance industry?” They were looking for a personal lines tech. I got the job.

I started to learn the business, and about a year in, I really started to enjoy it. At 18 years old, I used to read all the forms and endorsements. The person in personal lines left and pushed me into their seat, but before I’d take the job, I said I needed education. They sent me to the PIA personal lines insurance school.

I joined NCF in 2009 and made partner in January 2015. My daughter, born in 1996, started going to insurance conventions when she was six. Even though insurance is far from what she wants to do, she’s going to college and working in an agency part time, and she has her license. She tells me, “Mommy, this is not my career.” I say, “I know.” But insurance is a great thing to fall back on.