Placing You First Insurance Podcast by CRC Group
Business & Finance
About
The Placing You First Podcast spans a diverse spectrum of insurance industry issues to keep you and your clients informed.
Episodes
- From Submission to Solution: How CRC Gets Deals Done—Together
We pull back the curtain on what’s actually happening on the wholesale side when you hit send on a submission, and how we make the first big call: does this risk belong in binding authority for speed, brokerage for flexibility, or a blende…
- What’s Happening in the Builders Risk Market
Builders risk is moving fast right now and if you’re a retail agent, that can be a gift or a trap depending on how you play it. We’re seeing softer property conditions, abundant capacity, and genuinely competitive pricing, but the market i…
- The New Recall Reality: Emerging Exposures + Insurance Impacts
A paradox defined 2025: recall events dipped, but total units recalled soared. We dig into why severity spiked, rising labor costs, tariffs, supplier churn, and a two-speed regulatory landscape, and what that means for your insurance progr…
- Caring for Caregivers: Risk, Reality + Opportunity in Senior Living
The senior living world is growing fast, but the risk profile is changing even faster. We dig into what happens when higher acuity residents stay longer in assisted living, how staffing shortages and inflation strain operations, and why ve…
- From Ink To Encryption: Understanding E-Signature Risks in the Digital Banking Era
Speed is winning deals, but speed is also feeding fraud. We sit down with CRC Specialty Professional Lines Broker Mark Waldeck to unpack the messy middle where e‑signatures, legacy policy language, and decentralized bank controls collide.…
- Building Against the Blaze: Rethinking Wildfire Risk
Urban wildfires are rewriting the rules of home insurance, and the details matter more than ever. We sit down with Brittany Martin, Personal Lines Team Leader for CRC’s Western Region, to break down the construction features, spacing stand…
- Beyond Compliance: Real Protection for Pollution Losses
Spills don’t wait for business hours, and neither should your coverage. We dig into transportation pollution liability with Mike Padula , President of Starwind Environmental, to discuss why relying solely on MCS-90 or CA 99 48 can leave pa…
- Protect What Powers You: Inside Starwind Equipment Services
What if repairs didn’t stall your schedule or drain your cash while invoices pile up? We sit down with Starwind Equipment Services’ president, Randi Glaszer , to unpack a smarter way to protect heavy equipment—one that matches the way cont…
- Navigating the Rise in Sexual Abuse Claims
Sexual abuse and molestation claims have skyrocketed in recent years, creating significant financial and reputational risks for organizations across various sectors. The numbers are staggering – $651 million in settlements in 2023 alone, w…
- AI in Banking: The Risk Beyond the Reward
ChatGPT reached a million users in just five days, while Bank of America's AI assistant Erica has handled over two billion customer interactions without human intervention. The AI revolution in banking isn't coming—it's already here, trans…
- When Rebuilding Costs More: Navigating Residential Reconstruction Risks
Rising construction costs coupled with widespread labor shortages have created a perfect storm for homeowners facing property losses. The gap between insurance coverage and actual rebuilding expenses continues to widen, putting families at…
- Breaking Ground: Introducing Starwind Cannabis
In this conversation with Starwind Cannabis leaders Tony McIntosh and Eric Morrison , we unpack why traditional insurance approaches fall short for cannabis operations. From navigating the complex regulatory framework to addressing distinc…
- The Rising Impact of Convective Storms
Severe convective storms are reshaping America's insurance landscape, hitting communities harder and more frequently than ever before. What used to be a defined spring storm season has expanded into a year-round threat, leaving homeowners,…
- The CRC Journey: From Solid to Relentless Powerhouse
Six years and 100 episodes later, the Placing You First podcast welcomes back Neil Kessler , CEO of CRC Specialty and Benefits, who was our very first guest in 2019. What a journey it's been! The transformation runs deep—while our collabor…
- Who's Watching Your Content? The Changing World of Media Liability Protection
Every business with a social media account now faces media liability exposures that were once limited to publishers and broadcasters. This reality stands at the core of our fascinating conversation with Mario Romero , a professional lines…
- Uncovering Hidden Challenges: Navigating Problematic Healthcare Exposures
The healthcare insurance landscape is rapidly evolving beyond traditional pain points, creating new challenges for retail agents seeking coverage for specialized risks. From ketamine clinics to advanced med spas, these emerging sectors req…
- CRC Quick Quotes: Where Tech Meets Expertise for Your Insurance Placements
Technology is reshaping insurance placement, but the most powerful solutions don't just automate—they amplify human expertise. This fascinating conversation with Team CRC's ExecPro Broker Brian Benda and Director of Digital Distribution Er…
- Cyber Insurance Remains Critical as Ransomware Attacks Rise
Learn more about navigating cyber threats and insurance with insights from Hunter Maskell , a Director with the CRC / INSUREtrust Cyber Practice Group and Professional Lines Broker Chris Zepeda . Ransomware attacks are making a sophisticat…
- PFAS: How Far Do They Reach?
Could "forever chemicals" like PFAS be the new asbestos for the insurance industry? Join us on the Placing You First podcast as we unpack this pressing issue with CRC Environmental Broker Sean McLaughlin . We explore how these persistent c…
- Cyber & Crime Policies: Protecting Against Social Engineering Fraud
Learn more about safeguarding your business against one of the most insidious threats today—social engineering fraud. Join us as we sit down with specialists, Lori Wheeler and Jackie Leslie from CRC's ExecPro Practice Group, who share thei…
- What 2024 is Teaching Us About the Human Services Market
Summary: Join hosts Amanda Knight and Scott Gordon as they engage with industry specialists Tyler O'Connor , Josh Anderson , and Michelle Earle to dissect the seismic shift from admitted carriers to the thriving Excess and Surplus (E&S) ma…
- The Skinny on GLP-1s for Healthcare Industry Risks
Ever wondered how the latest advancements in GLP-1 medications are revolutionizing the treatment of diabetes and obesity? Join us for an insightful conversation with healthcare brokers Scott Scheiblin and Chip Wenges as they unravel the co…
- Mastering Property Submissions for Small & Midsize Business
Learn how to master submissions for small and midsize property placements with insights from Destinie Kindle a seasoned Underwriting Team Leader with CRC Group's Fort Worth Texas office. Discover how precise and detailed property submissio…
- Unpacking Food Recall Impacts
Imagine the financial and logistical nightmare of discovering that a single contaminated ingredient has infiltrated multiple food products across your supply chain. That's exactly what we're examining with John O'Malley and Chris Martin fr…
- Navigating TDPSA Compliance & Insurance Coverage in the Digital Age
Unravel the complexities of the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) with cyber and professional lines broker Josh White from CRC Group’s ExecPro practice group. Discover the essential components of this new legislation, understand…
- Embedded Insurance, Tech Partnerships and the Sharing Economy
The sharing economy is booming, and its growth isn’t expected to slow down any time soon. Listen in as SVP & Casualty Broker Andrea Ward and Apollo ibott President Chris Moore discuss where they’re seeing growth, some of the more widesprea…
- Charting A Course Through the E&S Property Market
Gain valuable insight into the ever-changing E&S property market with CRC Group's property brokers, David Christopher and Jonas Williams . This episode peels back the layers of market trends as the calendar flips from 2023 to 2024, highlig…
- Crafting a Safety Net for Cosmetics Recall Challenges
Learn how to traverse the evolving cosmetics industry regulatory landscape with CRC Group Casualty Brokers John O'Malley and Chris Martin . They discuss the changes brought into effect by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act as we…
- Navigating the Senior Living Insurance Landscape
Listen in as Lee McClure a Senior Healthcare Broker with Team CRC in Birmingham, Truitt Taylor , a Broker with CRC Group’s Jackson, MS office, and Rebecca Adelman , founder of Adelman Claims Management, discuss the terrain of the senior li…
- Navigating the Ins and Outs of Security Firm Insurance
Are you ready to navigate the security guard insurance market? Prepare to arm yourself with the essential knowledge shared by industry specialists Vince Polese and Greg Zschiesche . In our latest episode, we tackle the shrinking pool of in…
- Dwelling Dilemmas: Navigating Habitational Property Marketplace Challenges
In this episode we attempt to unravel the complexities of Habitational property insurance with Daniel Ball, a Property Broker with CRC's Boca Raton, FL office and David Pagomian , President of CRC's Red Bank, NJ office. Join us as we trave…
- Cyber Sentinel: EDR’s Role in Modern Business Protection
As the world of remote work continues to explode, so does the need for robust cybersecurity solutions. In our latest episode, we're joined by Chris Zepeda, an Associate Broker with CRC Group’s Boca Raton, FL office, and Alexandra Kish, an…
- Rain & Risk: Why Flood Insurance Matters More Than You Think
Today we’re jumping into the deep end with Ben Tschepikow , a Broker with Argenia, a CRC Group Company located in Little Rock, AR as well as Emma Grimshaw, an Underwriting Manager with Liberty Specialty Markets in London. They're going to…
- On the Rocks: Navigating the Liquor Liability Insurance Landscape
The holidays will be here before we know it and with the holidays come parties, and social gatherings with colleagues, friends, and family. Alcohol also tends to flow a little more freely than at other times of the year, making it a perfec…
- Stock Throughput State of the Market
July 1st property renewals saw high prices and capacity cuts, but in the middle the toughest property market in recent history, the stock throughput market offered some relief. Today, Amanda and Scott are joined by Ted Clayton , a Senior P…
- Evolving PFAS Regulations Heighten Environmental Risks
PFAS have been referred to by some as the next asbestos when it comes to their potential health impacts and claims potential. Today, Amanda and Scott are joined by Jim Hamilton , Senior Broker and CRC Group’s Environmental Practice Group L…
- FDA Rule Change
Significant changes are coming to the farming industry. The FDA’s recent traceability rule changes increase the product recall risk for food producers. Today, Scott and Amanda are joined by Jon O’Malley an Associate Broker with CRC Group's…
- Public Works Construction
We're delving into the challenges and opportunities when it comes to insuring public works construction in the U.S. in light of the pressing need for nationwide infrastructure upgrades. Amanda and Scott are joined by Jeff Dunn and Ryan Nad…
- Tech Risks: How Pixels and Biometrics Lead to Privacy Claims
Pixels and Biometrics are a hot topic. They’ve been referred to by some as the next asbestos when it comes to their potential health impacts and claims potential. Today, Scott and Amanda are joined by Mike Edmonds , an Assistant Vice Presi…
- Cannabis State of the Market
The cannabis industry continues to grow rapidly. It’s expected to be worth $134.4 billion by 2030. With that kind of growth, it’s clear the industry is shedding its taboo status in some areas, but many insurance carriers are still hesitant…
- Telemedicine Is Here To Stay
Telemedicine is here to stay and it’s impacting the insurance needs of healthcare providers. In this episode, Amanda and Scott are joined by Josh Anderson and Conner Madey - Brokers with CRC Group’s Chicago Office where they specialize in…
- Why Every Restaurant Needs Foodborne Illness Insurance
All it takes is one bad batch of inventory to cause a foodborne illness outbreak in a restaurant, which can be a costly risk for owners. The fallout can include lost inventory, a drop in sales, and long-term reputational damage. Unfortunat…
- Primary Trucking State of the Market
The trucking industry faced several challenges in 2022, but rate growth for primary auto insurance flattened for the first time in years. Today, Amanda and Scott are joined by Chris Slezak , Director of CRC Group’s Central Transportation R…
- Cyber War Exclusions
Cybercriminals have turned the internet into a virtual battlefield, but insurers are increasingly worried about the growing risks that actual war and state-sponsored attacks pose to the market. Many insurers are adding new cyber war and te…
- VPN & MFA: Why Cyber Insurance Applicants Need Both
These days utilizing only a Virtual Private Network may not be enough to qualify for a cyber insurance policy. Insurers want companies to have not only a VPN but also Multi-Factor Authentication in place for remote network access. Unfortun…
- The Challenges of Insuring Healthcare Staffing Companies
The pandemic exacerbated healthcare staffing shortages, pushing many organizations to rely on staffing agencies for help. However, this can increase the risk of claims. Because claim severity continues to be an issue, many markets have nar…
- How Digitization Is Driving Cyber Risk for Motor Carriers
From electronic logging devices (ELDs) to logistics and maintenance software, trucking companies are utilizing innovative technologies to improve efficiency and connectivity. Unfortunately, this often leads to increased cyber risk. In this…
- Utilizing Assessments to Help Prevent Behavioral Health Violence Claims
Behavioral healthcare providers can help mitigate growing violence rates by adequately assessing the risk of violence a patient presents toward others. The right behavioral healthcare assessments can help protect people from harm and preve…
- Miya's Law: What Agents Need to Know
In 2021, 19-year-old Orlando student Miya Marcano was tragically killed in her apartment by a 27-year-old maintenance employee with access to her apartment complex’s master key fob. In response to this tragedy and a growing trend of violen…
- Hurricane Ian with Meteorologist James Spann and Chris Carlson
Hurricane Ian has proved to be a significant event for the insurance industry. In this episode, we talk with Nationally Renowned TV Meteorologist James Spann from ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, AL. Also, Chris Carlson , the property practice lea…