Placing You First Insurance Podcast by CRC Group

Late notice to an excess carrier is one of those “small” steps that can explode into a coverage dispute at the worst possible time, like right before mediation or on the eve of trial. We talk through why excess claims notification is getting tougher in today’s market and how retail agents can protect their clients and themselves when a claim starts creeping toward the tower. We’re joined by CRC Gr...

Submissions can feel like a scavenger hunt: PDFs in one place, schedules in another, critical details buried in an email thread, and a clock ticking while you try to meet client expectations. We wanted to dig into what actually helps, not another tool that creates more work. So we sat down with Leah Herman , product manager for CRC’s Ready Intel, to talk about how AI-driven insights and automation...

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 blended strategy that uses both? We’re joined by CRC Sacramento Office President Wendy Mejia and Port Orange Office President Paul Sipos to explain the real decision t...

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 is still picky where it counts: renovations, flood considerations, technology-driven projects, and the steady grind of attritional losses. We break down what’s re...

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 program. With CRC Casualty Brokers John O’Malley and Chris Martin, we connect market signals to real exposures, from food’s massive unit surge and undeclared allergen...

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 verdicts are getting bigger and tougher to defend. Alongside partners from Future Care RRG, we unpack the friction between occupancy goals and clinical capability,...

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. From the difference between a simple e‑signature and a cryptographically protected digital signature to why underwriters hesitate when controls vary by departmen...

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 standards, and modeling tools that are redefining eligibility in California, Colorado, and beyond. From tempered glass and enclosed eaves to ember-resistant vents and...

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 painful gaps when real-world logistics meet environmental scrutiny. From remote cleanups to loading dock mishaps, we break down how TPL delivers true risk transfer...

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 contractors actually buy, finance, and fix their machines. We break down how multi‑year physical damage insurance on admitted paper can be written to the life of a l...

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, with each settlement exceeding $1 million. What's driving this dramatic increase, and how can organizations protect themselves? Michelle Levine , SVP with CR...

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, transforming how financial institutions operate and creating complex liability questions few insurance policies directly address. Mark Waldeck , Team L...

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 significant financial risk.. Mary Roy, Senior Underwriting Team Leader at CRC Group, breaks down the complex factors driving this trend. The fundamental differe...

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 distinctive risk profiles like high-value crops and cash-heavy transactions, cannabis businesses face challenges that standard BOPs simply weren't designed to hand...

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, businesses, and insurers scrambling to adapt. Join hosts Amanda Knight and Scott Gordon as they dive into the growing crisis with guests Ben Tschepikow fro...

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 collaborative, hustle-driven culture remains intact, we've become an entirely different organization. Perhaps most significant has been our shift to an ownersh...

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 broker specializing in media and entertainment coverage with CRC Group in Los Angeles. The digital transformation has democratized content creation while simulta...

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 require specialist navigation to secure appropriate protection. Healthcare has always presented unique insurance complexities, but today's market features seve...

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 Erin Dyer reveals how CRC’s Quick Quotes platform delivers exactly that balance. Quick Quotes began as an internal tool refined over five years before be...

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 sophisticated resurgence, matching the concerning levels of 2020 and 2021. Despite strides in incident response, the financial strain from business interruptions and legal...

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 chemicals infiltrate our everyday lives, from kitchen cookware to essential firefighting gear, raising alarming health concerns. Listen as we navigate t...

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 their invaluable insights into the growing prevalence and sophistication of these cyber threats. Gain a thorough understanding of how these scams have surpassed...

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) market. You’ll learn precisely why high-severity claims and social inflation are pushing human services organizations toward E&S solutions, especially...

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 complexities and opportunities these groundbreaking drugs bring to healthcare providers. You'll discover the hidden pitfalls of improper prescribing practices...

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 submissions can be a game-changer in securing optimal insurance coverage. Destinie shares her specialist advice on enhancing your submission process, including the c...