Letter From the President
We often think of our business partners in terms of the people with whom we have daily contact. In that vein, we are fortunate to have such a dedicated and supportive group of producers. I am also proud of how well Investors is represented by our outstanding underwriting staff. But many talented and dedicated people who you do not see provide the platform from which our underwriters operate.
We recently completed a significant undertaking in our Information Technology and Accounting departments. The successful introduction of five new applications simultaneously is noteworthy. They included the revamping of our reinsurance processing system, the enhancement of our Data Mart and reporting capabilities for premium and loss tracking, and the upgrading of our actuarial reporting system.
These undertakings involved virtually every department at Investors as well as some Markel units outside of Investors. Although these accomplishments are transparent to our broker force, they are critical in the efficient and successful operation of our business. They will also allow us to continue to service your needs promptly and provide the outstanding service you are accustomed to from Investors.
We always strive behind the scenes to improve our processes. This is another aspect of Investors’ commitment to our broker force, and part of our continuing effort to earn your “first call and last look.” Thank you for your continued support and commitment to all of us at Investors Underwriting Managers.
Glen E. Curley, CPCU, ARe
President and Chief Operating Officer
Investors Underwriting Managers, Inc.
gcurley@markelcorp.com
732-450-8725
The Environmental Division's "Lucky Seven"
November 1999 seems like yesterday. That is the date that Investor’s opened the Environmental Division in Red Bank, New Jersey. We finished our first full year in 2000 at slightly under $6,000,000 in gross written premiums. While in 2006, our seventh year, we are projecting gross written premiums of $52,000,000.
The Environmental Division opened a field office in Columbia, Maryland on April 3. It is staffed with three new hires to Investor's: Lou Ann Cook, Tim Ho and Sharon Jimenez. This is an extremely exciting time for us and brings the total staff in both offices to 16, including eight Underwriters and eight Underwriting Assistants.
The division is also pursuing a much more structured regional approach for servicing our Select Wholesale Producer Force. Each region will have a team leader focused on service and business development, as well as accountability for the success of that region. Each producer will be notified about the details of the regional approach in the next 30-60 days. We anticipate that the process will be seamless and have very little change for our current business partners.
Each of us in the Environmental Division looks forward to a successful year and thanks you for the dedication, support, and mostly for the loyalty you have shown us. We recognize our success is directly related to your dedication to the Environmental Division.
Markel University
The quality of our people and their credentials are crucial to the continued success of Investors. Markel currently offers a hands-on graduate training program within the organization called Markel University. The purpose of the program is to give recent college graduates a broader exposure to our business operations and the insurance industry. Trainees participate in the rotational program for 12 months with the ultimate goal of being placed in a position that matches their skills and interests.
The program includes rotations through underwriting, claims, marketing, information technology, legal, human resources, finance, and actuarial. Associates spend time at several Markel business units to get a true sense of what our company embodies. Through a dynamic learning environment, associates are introduced to concepts essential to our industry. Accompanying the hands-on learning is classroom training, with the goal of obtaining insurance professional designations such as AU, ASLI, and CPCU. The program has been in place for several years and continues to be a valuable resource for Markel and Investors.
Matt Hannay, in Investor’s Special Programs Division, is a Markel University graduate. Matt has worked in various capacities including reinsurance and marketing before moving to Special Programs. Matt and Markel University are examples of our commitment to providing you with the best the industry has to offer.