Viewpoints

If a teacher’s dog bit a child on school property, would the teacher’s personal liability policy respond or would it be excluded? And would the school be liable?

With over 25 years in integrated marketing and StoryBrand certification, Julie Furst cares deeply about continuous learning across every aspect of life and people, and about supporting the businesses she truly believes in.

Last year, Scott Gray was honored with the Barney Burns award at the 2025 Big “I” Legislative Conference for his dedication, passion and leadership in government advocacy for the independent insurance agency system.

An agency has a book of medium and large-sized commercial accounts with stable cash flow. Currently, they work with two premium finance companies and are considering handling it inside the agency in a designated department with an accounting team. What are the pros and cons of an insurance agency setting up and running its own…

As organizations move beyond experimentation, AI is beginning to reshape the underlying workflows that power insurance operations. The shift is less about adding another tool to the stack and more about fundamentally rewiring how work gets done across the industry.

“The benefits market is incredibly dynamic, with so many opportunities to learn and grow,” says independent agent Cara Mooney. “I was excited to be part of a space that combines strategy with helping employees feel valued and supported.”

Summer Cole’s insurance career began in 2003 in the commercial department of a local independent insurance agency, where she quickly fell in love with the industry. Like many in agency roles, she wore multiple hats, gaining hands-on experience in all aspects of agency operations.

“I’m a firm believer that you should do what you love, and while I love insurance, I also love eating, experiencing new restaurants and talking to restaurant owners,” says independent agent Jimi Honochick.

To secure the industry’s future, we must reimagine talent acquisition, development and retention strategies to position insurance as a hub of innovation, data intelligence, and societal impact.

Rob Bourne is the senior vice president and general manager of EZLynx, bringing strategic insight and proven expertise in scaling innovative technology solutions.