Emerging Issues & Innovation Committee

       
Bryan Clark 
Co-Chair		   Gary Tiepelman  
Co-Chair

Committee Charter

The Emerging Issues & Innovation Committee serves the WSIA membership and wholesale insurance industry across all segments of the marketplace by collaboratively identifying, evaluating, discussing and providing useful knowledge that will enable the membership to better analyze, manage and underwrite emerging issues and trends.

2018-2019 Committee Members 

Robert L. Aheart, R-T Specialty, LLC /  New England
Karen J. Alford MBA, ASLI, AIS, SCLA, Nationwide E&S/Specialty
Robert Cruz, Starr Surplus Lines
Andrew Grim, Brown & Riding Insurance
Keith Hinson, Standard Lines Brokerage / dba SLB Insurance Group
Barbara Ingraham, Verisk Insurance Solutions
Elissa Kelly, Nautilus Insurance Group
Grant D. Kimball, Angus-Miller Ltd.
Joshua W. Korver, The Insurance Center
Jim Kranzberg CPCU, ASLI, ARM, Bell & Clements Inc.
David Laquidara, Jimcor Agency Inc.
Matt Lynch, RPS Minneapolis		      Matthew Meyer, RPS Lexington
Mark Rector, Lloyd's New York
Greg Ricker, Atlantic Casualty Insurance Co.
Ryan Stabile, Tuscano Agency, Inc., CMGA
Aleksa Stojicic, Outsource Insurance Professionals, Inc.
Kevin M. Tromer, MacNeill Group, Inc.
Steven Tunks, Oxford Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Anitta Valdez, Munich Re
Joe Valenza, Virtue Risk Partners
David Vilage, Vilage & Company LLC
Patrick White, RSUI Group, Inc.
Heat Map

The WSIA Heat Map is developed and published every two years by the committee. Members are surveyed to identify developing trends in the surplus lines industry and define their influence on business. The committee compiles the survey responses and from them develops the Heat Map, which identifies the predominant themes and is available to members. 

WSIA  incorporates the results into future planning for education program curriculum and topics, member webinars and research topics for RMI students. 

Committee Research

  • Wholesale Value Proposition - Continuing to add value is more important than ever. This study examines what MGAs and brokers can do to ensure their clients and markets continue to support them now and into the future. (Updated 7/6/2016)
  • Big Data & Analytics - Wholesalers sit on large amounts of data and need the ability to fully analyze it and act upon it. However, technology solutions are either out of reach, aren’t able to interact with legacy systems, or do not provide the features that wholesalers need. (Updated 2/21/2017)
  • The Widening Technology Gap - The gap between firms with leading-edge technology and those without it is widening. As costs, complexities, and lack of expertise increase, many firms are struggling to define and implement their technology roadmap. (Updated 8/3/2016)
  • Increasing Cyber and Related Exposures - With connected homes and cars all tied to our mobile devices, are we more or less secure? (Updated 5/5/2017)
  • Increasing Challenges in Workforce Dynamics - A large segment of the workforce is approaching retirement, and there is a gap in  attracting and retaining new talent and transferring institutional knowledge and expertise. There are also increasing challenges in managing the multi-generation workforce and promoting diversity throughout all levels of the organization. (Updated 5/5/2017)
  • Entrance of Nontraditional Companies - Companies with large amounts of data and capital are entering the insurance market, starting with sales and distribution, and with the potential to become actual risk bearers. (Updated 6/16/2016)
  • Internet of Things - The proliferation of sensors connected to the internet and cross-platform integration creates potential exposures from privacy, bodily injury, and property damage. (Updated 5/5/2017)
  • Global Climate Change - Climate change and the increasing frequency and severity of weather-related events is causing the global insurance industry to take a more proactive approach to risk management and financial impacts. (Updated 1/19/2017)

Committee Staff Support

Julie Fritz