Leavitt Group Welcomes David Bridges, CIC

The Leavitt Group, the nation’s 2nd largest privately-held insurance brokerage, is pleased to welcome David Bridges, CIC, as the President of the Leavitt Group’s Atlanta office. He will also serve as an Executive Vice President of the Leavitt Group’s affinity programs division.

Most recently with Wells Fargo Insurance Services as a Senior Vice President, Bridges has been in the insurance industry for over twenty years as a property and casualty specialist for large to mid-market accounts with an emphasis on commercial real estate, manufacturing, hospitality, and professional associations.

"This is a great opportunity to be a part of a privately-held organization," said Bridges. "As such, the Leavitt Group has the unique ability to be more connected to the needs of customers."

Prior to working in insurance, Bridges had ten years of business experience as the Chief Operating Officer of a major floor covering distributor and installation contractor. Bridges graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in Finance.

Leavitt Group of Atlanta has been in business since 1987 and has been affiliated with the Leavitt Group since 2003. The agency represents the top insurance companies in the country and are committed to building lasting relationships with clients and the insurance companies they represent.

Leavitt Group and Fireman's Fund Award Grant to Joplin Fire Department

$10,000 Helps Replace Wildland Gear Destroyed by Tornado

JOPLIN, Mo. (Dec. 12, 2011) – The tornado that hit Joplin in May caused unimaginable devastation throughout the community. Not only were homes, schools and a major hospital damaged and destroyed, the fire department also suffered significant loss. Two fire stations including most of the equipment were destroyed and four fire trucks were lost.

The Leavitt Group is partnering with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company to donate $10,000 to the Joplin Fire Department to purchase equipment for fighting wildland fires, including two heavy-duty electric winches, two backpack blowers, emergency scene lighting, and four sets of coats, pants and helmets. The owner of the local IHOP restaurant that was destroyed in the tornado was instrumental in letting Leavitt know about the needs of the department.

“This grant has helped us restore our wildland firefighting capabilities,” said Fire Chief Mitch Randles. “We’re so thankful for the support. It helps us achieve our main mission­ -- serving and protecting the Joplin community.”

On December 14th at noon fire department officials, firefighters, executives from the Leavitt Group and Fireman’s Fund, and the local IHOP will come together at the Joplin Fire Department for a special public event where the grant package will be presented.

The grant is part of a nationwide philanthropic program funded by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. The program is designed to provide needed equipment, training and educational tools to local fire department and burn prevention organizations. Since 2004, Fireman’s Fund has issued grants to nearly 1,800 different organizations totaling more than $28 million. Independent insurance agencies and brokers that sell Fireman’s Fund products, like the Leavitt Group, are able to direct these grants to support the fire service.

The Leavitt Group has directed more than $160,000 nationwide in grants supporting firefighters.

“We can’t think of a better way to support the firefighters in Joplin,” said Andy Pettise of the Leavitt Group. “The sooner the department can replace equipment lost in the tornado, the sooner they will be back to providing the high level of service to the community they did prior to the disaster.”

To visit Fireman’s Fund’s “Supporting Firefighters” Facebook page, go to http://www.facebook.com/SupportingFirefighters.

About Leavitt Group
The Leavitt Group, founded in 1952, is one of the largest insurance brokerages in the United States. It is an organization of affiliated independent insurance agencies with over 115 locations across the country and approximately $2 billion in annualized premiums. Leavitt Group affiliates are able to provide effective, sophisticated and creative risk management and risk transfer solutions to all types of businesses. For more information, visit http://www.leavitt.com/.

About Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company
Founded in 1863, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal and commercial insurance products backed by industry-leading claims and risk management solutions. Fireman’s Fund is a leader in high-net-worth, entertainment, and green insurance. Fireman’s Fund is a member of the Allianz Group, one of the world’s largest providers of property and casualty insurance, ranked 27th on Fortune’s Global 500 list of the world’s largest corporations. For additional information, visit http://www.firemansfund.com/.

Bradford Backlund Featured in Employee Benefit Adviser

Bradford Backlund of Flanigan-Leavitt Insurance is featured on the cover of Employee Benefit Adviser magazine, November issue, as one of 10 young standouts in the benefits industry.

“Younger people bring a newer enthusiasm and a different way of looking at things in the insurance business,” says Backlund. As the industry as a whole sees many colleagues go into maintenance mode as they look ahead to retirement, Buckland is constantly looking for new business opportunities. “I have a young family I have to support 100 percent on my own,” he says. “I’m driven to put money on the books.”

Bradford is the president-elect of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) Nevada chapter and past-president of the NAHU Reno chapter. He has been recognized within the Leavitt Group as a top producer, and has received recognition within the Circles of Excellence award program.

To read the full article visit http://digital.employeebenefitadviser.com/employeebenefitadviser/201111_def#pg1.

Leavitt Group Welcomes Brett Borisoff

Santa Ana, CA (October 24, 2011) – The Leavitt Group, the nation’s 2nd largest privately-held insurance brokerage, is pleased to welcome Brett Borisoff to their executive team. Borisoff is a known insurance leader in the Southern California region who most recently served as senior vice president for SullivanCurtisMonroe.

In Borisoff’s new role with the Leavitt Group as an executive vice president, he will help guide the sales management of the Leavitt Group’s Southern California offices, including Leavitt affiliates PrideMark-Everest (Angelo Maroutsos, managing principal), Valley Insurance Services (Dennis Monahan, managing principal), Leavitt Benefits Insurance Services (Kevin Garrett, managing principal), Leavitt Insurance Services of Los Angeles (Doug Fyfe, managing principal), and Leavitt Insurance Agency of San Diego (Tom James, managing principal).

Borisoff brings with him 30 years of insurance knowledge and innovation to the Leavitt Group’s Southern California offices. His breadth of experience ranges from account manager, to marketing manager, to president, to agency owner. His entire career has been in California working with middle and upper-middle market clients. He has also created and managed numerous national programs in property and casualty and workers compensation for the construction, paper, and metal finishing industries. Borisoff graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Biology, and attended Loyola Law School.

Borisoff will office in the Leavitt Group’s PrideMark-Everest agency, which is located in the heart of Orange County.

“We are very pleased to have someone of Brett's caliber join the firm. With the ever-changing market place, Brett’s strong insurance carrier relationships and his ability to recruit and mentor producers will prove valuable to our group and our clients. I’m looking forward to working with Brett,” said Maroutsos.

“The way the Leavitt Group has positioned itself in California to become the predominant middle market brokerage is very exciting,” said Borisoff. “It was an easy decision to join in and become part of the action.”

The Leavitt Group is an organization of independent insurance agencies with 115 offices across the United States. Ranked as the 12th largest brokerage in the nation, and the 2nd largest privately-held brokerage, Leavitt Group agencies provide their clients with greater insurance market access, specialty products, and insurance programs ranging from property and casualty risks to employee benefits solutions. Clients also benefit from the consultative approach to risk management found within the culture of each office and the unique flexibility that comes with local, on-the-ground agency principals.

Insurance Associates Names Officers

The Insurance Associates of Billings recently elected two Taylor-Leavitt employees as officers for the July 2011-2012 year. Janet Zaccagnini, CISR, AINS, as president-elect and Pam Oberweiser, CISR, as treasurer.

The Insurance Associates of Billings is a local nonprofit organization made up of insurance professionals, providing education and professional development to members and employers as well as providing various opportunities and donations to the general public.

CIA-Leavitt Sponsor PALS Adventure

This past summer Dan and Debbie Bowers of CIA-Leavitt Insurance Agency sponsored a white water adventure down the Arkansas River for the children of PALS, which stands for Positive Activities Lead to Success. Dan and Debbie, along with their staff, enjoyed a day of rafting with the children.

PALS is a licensed after-school and summer children’s program. The program provides a positive structure, offers an explorative learning environment, and builds trusting relationships for children who come from difficult or traumatic backgrounds.

Jenkins Named A Healthiest Employer

Jenkins Insurance Group was recently named a Healthiest Employer of the Bay Area by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal in partnership with the San Francisco Business Times. Nominations were accepted for over 100 companies, and the agency was ranked seventh out of the 26 companies recognized in their category for inspiring healthy employee lifestyles.

Shana Lynch of the Business Journal writes, “Smart companies that want to keep their hard-working employees happy and healthy are making a serious investment in wellness programs.”

The employee benefits packages and corresponding wellness programs played a clear role in the selection process of nominees. Jenkins was therefore pleased to see that two of their clients were also recognized as Healthy Employers receiving first place and thirteenth place respectively.