Category Archives: Business

Press Releases from the Business World. Announcements, Product releases, Appointments.

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Licenses The Bond-Pro® Enterprise Next Gen® Surety Platform To Deliver A Better Customer Experience


The Bond-Pro Enterprise Next Gen Surety platform will help our business respond to agents, brokers and clients faster

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, the commercial insurance arm of the Swiss Re Group, has selected Bond-Pro, a provider of Surety and Specialty Insurance software products, to automate their North America Surety operations and deliver a better customer experience. Bond-Pro®’s Enterprise Next Gen® surety platform will allow Swiss Re Corporate Solutions to automate and manage the entire life cycle of its US and Canada Surety offering, which includes Contract and Commercial lines of business. The platform automates underwriting, rating, scoring and workflow, and includes a comprehensive bond forms library.

“We were looking to expand our functionality and flexibility, and find a system which would seamlessly integrate with our existing business process management landscape,” states Steve Anderson, Head of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Surety North America. “This collaboration kicks off our strategic initiative to create a single integrated technology solution across our entire Surety offering to deliver a superior customer experience.”

“The Next Gen Surety platform will help our business respond to agents, brokers and clients faster,” Steve continues. “Bond-Pro’s technology will also give our underwriters greater access to data, which will drive new solutions to address our customers’ risk management needs.”

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions aims to use technology to transform the commercial insurance industry. An advanced technology framework will increase efficiency, drive consistency, enable process segmentation and standardization, and achieve location optimization.

Frederick Duguay, President & CEO of Bond-Pro said, “We are extremely pleased that another one of the world’s leading carriers has chosen to implement our Next Generation Surety solution. This is a solid testament to the broad industry acceptance of our platform and further recognition of Bond-Pro as the de facto Surety technology standard.”

About Bond-Pro

Bond-Pro, Inc. is the developer and publisher of Bond-Pro® Enterprise Next Gen®, the leading Surety automation and management software utilized by hundreds of agencies and dozens of Surety carriers worldwide. It drives greater premiums, improves underwriting efficiency, reduces costs, and mitigates risk. Bond-Pro’s enterprise products and services enable Surety professionals to fully computerize and effectively manage the entire Surety life cycle including, Accounts, Jobs, Bonds and Claims. For more information, please call (813) 413-7576 or visit https://www.bond-pro.com.

#SuretyTech #SuretySuccess #HighlyConfigurable #RelevantForms #NoTripleEntry #DigitalTransformation

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Franklin Energy Announces Founder Paul Schueller Moving to Board of Directors, Industry Veteran Jim Madej New CEO


Jim Madej photo

Jim Madej, CEO of Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group

We’re at a critical point in our industry’s evolution and I believe we’re well-suited to deliver the innovative, customer-focused solutions our industry needs.

Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group, the leading demand-side management firm in the utility industry, announced today the appointment of Jim Madej as the company’s new chief executive officer. Madej succeeds founder Paul Schueller, who has served as CEO since Franklin Energy’s inception in 1994 and recently announced his transition to the company’s board of directors.

Madej will guide the strategic direction and lead the executive teams of Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group. With more than 30 years in the energy industry, Madej brings an extensive background in business transformation, operational leadership, energy efficiency and customer experience.

“I’m happy to welcome Jim into our Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group family,” said Schueller. “It was important for us to find someone with industry experience, who fits into our culture and could help our exceptional team continue to evolve. Stepping back isn’t easy, but I am confident that Jim will take the reins and continue to push this organization forward, while holding true to our core focus.”

Madej was most recently CEO at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), where he led the company through an extensive transformation, driving improvements in customer diversification, security, leadership, product development, and branding. Prior to that, Madej was the Chief Customer Officer at National Grid USA and the Director of National Sales and Service at Hess Corporation. He also held numerous leadership roles at General Electric, where he began his career. Madej currently sits on the Board of Vermont Public Broadcast System (VT PBS) and is an advisory board member of Custom Essence.

“I am excited to be joining a company with incredibly deep expertise and capabilities that can integrate people, platforms and products to better support the modern customer journey,” said Madej. “Growing and optimizing business for a sustainable energy future is my passion and it’s uniquely aligned with Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group’s purpose. We’re at a critical point in our industry’s evolution and I believe we’re well-suited to deliver the innovative, customer-focused solutions our industry needs.”

About Franklin Energy

Franklin Energy delivers flexible energy efficiency and grid optimization programs that enable utilities to achieve their highest-priority goals. The company’s integrated in-house services and proven software provide deeper personalization and insights, acting as a true partner to utilities. Franklin’s NGAGE™ platform is a scalable end-to-end technology that seamlessly integrates utility portfolio programs into a single interface for more efficient management and more effective customer engagement. The company is celebrating its 25th year serving the utility industry, with solutions implemented by more than 1,000 experts in more than 60 offices across 26 states and provinces.

About AM Conservation Group

Since 1989, AM Conservation Group has been the utility industry’s leading provider of energy- and water-saving products, kits and online stores. We manufacture and distribute nearly 400 energy efficiency and water conservation products, which are custom engineered for the unique needs of the industry and carry ENERGY STAR® and WaterSense® certifications. AM Conservation Group’s product lines include Niagara Conservation and Simply Conserve®.

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How To Compare Car Insurance Quotes Online And Save Money


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“Online quotes will help you compare prices and select the best car insurance provider”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

The Internet can help drivers find multiple price estimates for car insurance services. It is up to the driver to check prices online and decide which insurer has an edge. When getting and comparing quotes, it is important to remember the following tips:


  •     Ask estimates for the same product. When a client compares different quotes from different websites, it’s essential for him to choose the same coverage levels, the same limits and the same extra options. Even a single difference between coverage options can lead to significant price differences.
  •     Provide the same data on each quote. Again, discrepancies between used data may cause significant price differences. Online forms will ask about the car maker and model, year of production, safety devices, driving experience.
  •     Provide realistic mileage estimates. Some questionnaires will ask the user to provide a number, while other questionnaires will ask to choose a limit. It’s important to choose the same range/limit on all questionnaires.
  •     Be honest with the negative aspects of your profile. Aspects like traffic fines, at fault accidents, drunk driving, and even bad credit score have a significant impact on an insurance policy. Not adding these details when completing a questionnaire is pointless, as insurance companies already have access to all of this data.
  •     Look for discounts. Insurance companies offer different discounts for their drivers. The discounts can vary in value, and how long they last. For example, one insurer will provide a 15% discount for six months, while another insurer will provide a 10% discount for 12 months for the same service. Other insurance companies may offer discounts that other insurers don’t. It’s recommended to do a careful research of the market.
  •     Compare multiple quotes. Complete and compare at least three quotes before deciding which insurance company can get you the best policy deal.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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Kazi Monirul Kabir becomes Member of Forbes Technology Council


Kazi Monirul Kabir

We are honored to welcome Kazi Monirul Kabir into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, Our mission is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a social capital-driven network that helps every member to make an even greater impact on the business world

Kazi Monirul Kabir, Tech Entrepreneur, and Founder of Spider Digital Innovation (http://www.spiderdigital.io), a South Asia based Digital Transformation Company, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class Technology Executives and Entrepreneurs.

Kazi Monirul Kabir was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

“We are honored to welcome Kazi Monirul Kabir into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. “Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating, social capital-driven network that helps every member to make an even greater impact on the business world.”

As a member of the Council, Monirul will connect and collaborate with other respected leaders in Forbes’s private forums. Monirul will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

I am super excited to be on the Forbes Technology Council, I hope to contribute and learn from engaging with one of the world’s most exclusive Think tank and Tech Entrepreneur community. My aim would be to work on making technology work for the social good of common people across South East Asia and the Middle East

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Grinnell Mutual recognized as top 50 property and casualty insurance company


“It is always an honor for Grinnell Mutual be recognized by Ward’s as a top 50 property and casualty insurance company. To be part of that list five years running is an accomplishment we’re very proud of,” said Jeff Menary, president and CEO of Grinnell Mutual.

Grinnell Mutual has been recognized by Ward Group as one of its 2020 Top 50 Property and Casualty Performers for the fifth year in a row.

Ward Group analyzed the financial performance of nearly 3,000 property-casualty insurance companies based in the United States and identified the top performances based on objective data and subjective quality measures. Each company must pass primary safety and consistency tests and are measured and scored along five-year average returns on equity, assets, total revenue, growth in revenue, growth in surplus, and combined ratio.

“It is always an honor for Grinnell Mutual be recognized by Ward’s as a top 50 property and casualty insurance company. To be part of that list five years running is an accomplishment we’re very proud of,” said Jeff Menary, president and CEO of Grinnell Mutual. “We’re grateful to our employees, members, and agents, who always put in the work to ensure our continued growth and financial security.”

Ward Group is in its 30th year of conducting the analysis.

About Ward Group

Ward Group is the leading provider of benchmarking and best practices for the industry. Since 1991, Ward Group has performed more than 2,500 operational and compensation benchmarking exercises for companies of all sizes, including more than half of the top 100 U.S. insurance carriers. Ward Group is in its 30th year of conducting the analysis.

About Grinnell Mutual

Grinnell Mutual, in business since 1909, is the 108th-largest property casualty insurance company in the United States and the largest primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies in North America. Its products are available in 17 states.

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For more information please contact:

Jennifer Miller

Integrated Marketing Manager

641-269-8322

jennifer.miller@grinnellmutual.com

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Car Insurance 2020 – What Was Changed During The Coronavirus Pandemic


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“The coronavirus pandemic has made a serious impact on the car insurance industry. Insurance companies and policyholders alike have begun to fell the consequences and they are adjusting to the new realities of the car insurance industry” said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that explains how the coronavirus outbreak has changed the car insurance industry.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/car-insurance-guide-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

The coronavirus has affected the lives of everyone. The consequences of this unfortunate event are dire and no one knows exactly when it’s going to end. The hardships the regular Americans have to overcome are expected to be more severe than the ones from the last financial crisis. Regarding car insurance, there are a few good news for regular Americans. Several major car insurance providers have announced that they will help their customers who are in financial trouble.

In these challenging times, the car insurance industry has changed in several different ways:


  •     Some car insurance companies are refunding premiums during the coronavirus crisis. Since the declaration of a national emergency in the US, the number of cars on the road had fallen drastically. For this reason, several major car insurance companies have decided to give back some of the money policyholders spent on their premiums. Allstate is giving back 15% on the premiums paid by their customers in April and May. American Family announced that they will provide a one-time $50 payment for each vehicle insured at them.
  •     Policyholders are checking different methods to lower their premiums. Car insurance can be a financial burden for many drivers, especially in times of crisis. Canceling car insurance completely is not a solution for drivers unless they plan to give up on their cars. There are other ways to keep the costs of insurance under control. First, drivers can raise their deductibles to lower their monthly premiums. It should be noted that by raising the deductible, the drivers risk paying more money from their pockets if they are at-fault in an accident. Lowering the liability limits can also help drivers save money on their insurance. Another great money-saving method is switching the insurance to a pay-per-mile plan. Usage-based insurance relies on driving data to determine how much drivers have to pay for their coverage.
  •     Car insurance premiums are likely to be more expensive in the near future. Insurance providers collect billions of dollars that are not just waiting to be paid out in claims but are also being invested. Insurance companies make real money from their investments. Unfortunately, the investment world is currently tanking and the only alternative left for insurance companies is to raise the premiums.
  •     How insurers and policyholders handle claims has changed. Everything is going digital in the car insurance world. Many car insurance companies already have full-service apps where their customers can find whatever they need from filing a claim, or the possibility to submit photos of a damaged vehicle.
  •     No one is left alone to deal with this crisis. Many drivers are currently struggling to pay their premiums. To assist them during these tough times, many insurers have already created special programs of assistance.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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PoolRe Insurance Corporation Processing Claims For COVID-19 Pandemic Losses


PoolRe Insurance Corp. has received and is evaluating stop-loss claims for its quota share participants for losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While most commercial insurance policies have sought to exclude pandemic-related losses, certain coverages issued by insurers participating in PoolRe’s stop loss and quota share programs have submitted claims related to the pandemic that may call into effect coverage.

PoolRe serves the captive insurance industry by providing a stop-loss insurance pool that allows participating captives to reduce their overall risk by reinsuring certain losses to a pool that is shared among participants. Many hundreds of insureds participate in the arrangement. Stop loss coverages which PoolRe offers include claims related to regulatory changes, loss of services, and trade/supply chain disruption issued by participating captive insurers some of which may implicate COVID-19 pandemic related claims.

PoolRe is currently receiving claims from participating insureds from COVID-19 related loss events. Just as captive insurance companies have allowed many American businesses to weather the storm of the current economic crisis brought on by COVID-19, PoolRe is assisting those companies in distributing risks among participating insurers. Just last year, the PoolRe administered risk pool provided stop-loss coverage on claims related to trade disputes and disruptions as a result of increased tariffs and other trade restrictions.

If a company providing your insureds coverage is currently a participant in the PoolRe administered risk pool, you are encouraged to provide notice of all claims to your captive and its insurance manager and to PoolRe. If you have a captive insurance company and would like more information about joining the PoolRe risk pool, please contact Lance McNeel at lmcneel@CapstoneAssociated.com.

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Global software technology leader Jenkon introduces Direct Selling veteran Meredith Berkich as Chief Growth Officer


To lead this expansion and launch of a new technology suite, we are very excited to announce the addition of Meredith Berkich as our Chief Growth Officer

The award-winning software provider, Jenkon, welcomes Meredith Berkich as Chief Growth Officer, spearheading business development and new growth strategies. She brings over 25 years of executive experience in corporate direct selling and sales force development. Meredith’s C-level leadership has led to triple-digit increases in revenue, with both billion-dollar and multi-national direct sellers.

“In unprecedented times, the need for innovation, adaptability, and speed with technology has never been more paramount. It is in times such as these that leaders of the future emerge. Over the last 40 years, Jenkon has consistently proven itself to be the industry-leader during significant change in the digital landscape. This month, we are announcing a new solution suite that will vault direct sellers into greater opportunities with online sales, product promotion, social selling, referral marketing and the expanding gig economy.” says Robert Cavitt, Jenkon CEO. “To lead this expansion and launch of a new technology suite, we are very excited to announce the addition of Meredith to our team.

‘In direct selling, nothing is more important than our independent representatives and retail customers. Meredith’s unique experience as a sales leader at billion-dollar, direct sellers will bring invaluable perspective and excitement to our organization, product development and customer relationships.’

Meredith adds her enthusiasm; “I have been a super-fan of Jenkon for over 15 years, and a corporate client as well. Having worked with numerous software companies, I know first-hand the value of a true partnership from design to implementation and measurements. As hard as direct selling teams work to drive business forward, efforts should never be hindered by technology. I am privileged to join in Jenkon’s digital leadership of empowering direct sellers worldwide, both field and corporate.

Meredith will focus on growth strategy, designs, and processes to support Jenkon’s continued expansion. Working closely with industry partners and clients, she will bring her unique experience as a field leader to the enterprise-software marketplace in direct selling.

Customers and guests are invited to visit http://www.jenkon.com to learn more about Jenkon solutions and to request a complimentary consultation. On Facebook & LinkedIn: Jenkon Software

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Bay Street Adds Dynamic Duo to Service Retail Investors


Ekenna joins Bay Street Capital as Director of Planning. Prior to Bay Street, Ekenna spent five years in the brokerage world with Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade. He provides personalized guidance to individuals and families in the Bay Area to define and accomplish their financial goals.

Ekenna is one of the few African American advisors that has earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation. Only 1.5% of all CFP® holders are African American and of those, even fewer work for minority-owned firms. He has also earned his Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®) designation and graduated from Black Hills State University after completing 4 years of collegiate football with a BS in Finance & Economics.

Arnaldo joins Bay Street as Chief Lending Officer after serving 10 years at JPMorgan Chase. He will oversee all lending operations for homeowners and investment buyers and be responsible for maintaining Bay Street’s loan portfolio.

Arnaldo was a collegiate swimmer for the University of Brasil and studied Kinesiology and Exercise Science. After moving to the Bay Area, he attended Diablo Valley College as an English major. He is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Bay Street Capital Holdings is a minority-owned independent investment advisory firm headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. We manage portfolios with the goal of maintaining and increasing total assets and income. Although many advisors may focus on maximizing returns, we place a higher priority on managing total risk and volatility.

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Telematics Car Insurance Can Help Drivers Pay Cheaper Premiums


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“Telematics have changed the face of the car insurance industry. With their help, drivers can obtain fair insurance premiums based on their driving behavior.”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents the most important aspects of telematics car insurance and how drivers can save money.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/you-can-get-cheaper-car-insurance-with-the-help-of-telematics/

Telematics devices can provide real-time data that measure driver behavior and help insurance companies understand their risk. Data like miles clocked, acceleration & deceleration, cornering speed, etc. is collected by the telematics system. The data is used by the insurance companies to determine the risk associated with a policyholder’s driving events.

Insurance companies provide telematics devices that connect with GPS and onboard electronics to record driving behavior. Different telematics systems use different devices to record driving data. The most common devices are the following:


  • Mobile application. An app provided by the insurer uses the smartphone sensors to track driver-behavior data. The app sends data from the phone to the central server of the insurance company. These apps can monitor braking, speed, acceleration, and cornering. All major insurers provide the option to use mobile applications for tracking driving behavior.
  • Bluetooth-assisted devices. These are self-powered fixed vehicle devices that use the smartphone’s network to send data to the provider. These devices enable direct association of the trip data with the insured vehicle.
  • OBD II port. A device is plugged into the OBD II port and can transmit data such as driver behavior, speeding, mileage, etc. using the cellular network.
  • 12 V connector. Some companies offer plug and play devices that are useful for customers who may not have OBD II port connectivity. These devices can transmit driver behavior data to the smartphone over Bluetooth.
  • OEM. Some car manufacturers can equip their cars with in-built telematics functionality. OnStar by General Motors and mBrace by Mercedes are OEM installed telematics systems that come with additional functionalities.

The benefits of telematics for the policyholders are the following:

  • Cheaper premiums. Good drivers can benefit from a lower rate that accurately measures their risk factor. Insurance providers will determine the premiums based on the policyholder’s driving behavior and location rather than its lifestyle, home address, and credit score.
  • Driver feedback. Drivers can get reports and driver feedback from data generated from the telematics system. These can help drivers improve their driving and reduce the chance of an accident.
  • Connected cars. Cars that have in-built systems can access value-added services such as automatic emergency notification that dispatches emergency services to the car’s location if airbags are deployed, remote unlocking, etc.
  • Theft protection. Besides tracking a stolen vehicle, telematics can also prevent a car from starting, or they can reduce the speed of a stolen vehicle that is involved in a police chase.
  • Transparent claim process. Telematics can help insurance providers determine who is at-fault in an accident.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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