On Dec. 31, after nearly three decades with the Big “I” at both the state and national levels, Bill Wilson passed the reins of the Big “I” Virtual University (VU) to Chris Boggs, who succeeds Wilson as executive director.

A respected insurance subject matter expert, speaker and author, Boggs joins the Big “I” from his previous role as vice president at the Wells Media Group, Inc. Academy of Insurance. Find out what he’s learned from his time in the industry, what makes him tick outside the office and what he plans to bring to the VU.

IA: Why insurance?

Boggs: I made someone mad along the way—that’s the only thing I can figure. Sorry, just kidding.

Actually, I did not intend to enter the glorious field of insurance growing up or even in college. My plan was to be an advertising copywriter, hence my journalism degree. My first job after graduating from college was with Insurance Services Office (ISO) as a field representative. ISO wanted someone who could write well, so they hired me because of my journalism background—thus, I ended up in insurance.

Once I started down the insurance path, I decided I probably needed to learn a little something about the business, so I immediately began taking insurance classes. I discovered I truly enjoyed the intricacies of insurance. I became fascinated and quickly developed a passion for the technical side of insurance. That is what has kept me in the business and ultimately led me to teaching insurance. My first full-time teaching position was as the associate director of education with the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina.

How has the industry changed since you started?

It seems relationships between carriers and agents have splintered a bit over the course of my career. I left ISO to work with an independent agency—my first exposure to the Big “I”—at the time when relationships between underwriters and agents was as personal as it was professional. Now, carrier-agent relationships don’t seem to be as close.

Granted, a few carriers still work to develop close relationships with their agency force. Insurance is a relationship business, not only from client to agent, but from agent to underwriter. We need to do all we can to preserve these relationships.

And I almost hate to say it again, but here goes: Education and training have changed drastically since I entered the insurance business in 1990. This change is not limited to the insurance practitioners and their desire to learn. It also applies to the training that’s available.

When I joined the industry, carriers would spend months training an employee before expecting them to be “productive.” Now, it seems like new hires are given some very high-level training and access to a set of electronic manuals, then immediately sent out to underwrite, audit, settle claims, do loss control or whatever. Likewise, continuing education has hit bottom due to changes such as online CE programs that don’t prove or require learning, and live classes with very little real content—only enough to check the regulatory box that it was completed.

I don’t know if it’s lack of desire, lack of time, lack of interest, lack of money or a combination of these that has led to the current situation. Regardless, it needs to be fixed. Insurance is very technical. Those charged with analyzing exposures, recommending coverage, underwriting coverage and settling claims must know how to properly interpret policy language and apply insurance concepts. I think there is still the desire to learn; the industry just needs to make learning a priority again.

We have also seen incredible growth in colleges and universities offering insurance and risk management degree programs, either as a major or minor. This is great for the industry because we now have the opportunity to hire young folks who at least have some idea of what they’re getting into, rather than getting blindsided like I did. Since these “kids” already show a desire to learn the business, maybe they can help the entire industry develop a desire to learn, too.

Favorite hobbies outside the office?

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I don’t have many hobbies. I have two daughters and a wife, so I don’t have the time or money for much else. I like trivia, but that’s trivial information. I like to write, but since that’s also what I do for work, I’m not sure that can be considered a hobby. I tell great stories, but my kids don’t listen, so that’s not a hobby. I do read from time to time—most recently a book on statistics. I also work out on a regular basis.

I used to carve, but you can only make so many pointy sticks. I used to play golf, but that ended when my first daughter was born. I play once a year or so now. I have no artistic ability, so I don’t paint, draw or play an instrument. I used to want a boat until I discovered that a boat is just a hole in the water into which you pour money. I used to participate in full-contact origami, but the doctors recommended I stop before I suffered permanent injury. (OK, not true—I stole that one from Bill.)

My older daughter plays volleyball and basketball at school, and it looks like my younger daughter is going down the same path when she is eligible in another year. So my wife and I attend their games.

My wife and daughters—did I mention I live in a house full of women?—really enjoy all things Disney, so I guess my hobby is going to Disney and on Disney cruises. (It’s really their hobby—I’m just along for protection and to carry the bags. Maybe this explains why I don’t have the money for any other hobbies.)

What do you hope to get out of your time at the Big ‘I’?

I’m stepping into a position held by a modern-day insurance legend. (No, Bill didn’t tell me to say that—I just know from my own experience.) My hope is that I can continue to offer the same level of service and benefits to which the members have become accustomed. I also have my own style and ideas I hope to infuse into the VU, and I hope the members will find some of those ideas and services beneficial.

Personally, I look forward to increasing my knowledge level in my service to members. I enjoy researching coverage questions, and I know the Ask an Expert service of the VU receives a lot of very good, thought-provoking questions. I think I will learn as much as, if not more than, I will teach in this position.

I also look forward to developing personal and professional relationships across the country. Independent agents are great people. Most have a strong desire to serve and the heart for serving. The owner of the first agency I worked for after leaving ISO was one of the best people I ever knew; he truly cared and took great care of his clients. Over the years, I have found that quality in a majority of agents. These are the people I look forward to serving as the executive director of the VU.

Jordan Reabold is IA assistant editor.