I heard my familys story echoed in Mr. Sotosmy dad left Poland before the Nazi invasion. But while both made peace with their new home, raising a family and succeeding in business, my dad never seemed to look back. Mr. Soto, on the other hand, while a proud American, never gave up on reclaiming his heritage.

It is now a marathon race between Fidel Castro and me, he says in his Black Bean Soup speech–a compelling tale Ive encouraged him to try to get published in some national consumer magazine. Fidel is 80 and sick, while Im 57. I dont smoke; Im trying to drink with moderation. My wife, Patty, has put me on a diet. So with a little luck Ill be able to outlast him and outlive him, and I do plan to go back.

The United States has always catered to those with an entrepreneurial spirit, but being an immigrant striving to excel in a foreign country adds fuel to the fire. Being an independent agent lends itself to that personaliving by your wits, setting yourself apart as unique, and, above all, driven to compete.

Mr. Soto encompasses all those characteristics, which is what makes him such a wise choice to lead the nations largest producer association. And as youll see by his interview in this week's NU, hes also not afraid to take controversial stands (in this case, on disaster insurance and regulation of the industry) if he believes it will help his agency constituents–and, most importantly, his customers.

Still, Mr. Soto–who traces his family history to the earliest permanent Spanish settlement on Cuba in 1513dreams of returning to his birthplace. He is not easily discouraged, even after learning his boyhood home was later used as a place of interrogation, intimidation, torture and, in some cases, perhaps even execution by the Cuban government.

He remains eager to make his pilgrimage to Havana once President Castro is history, should that trigger a democratic reform in Cubas totalitarian government.

Will I turn my back on the United States? Of course not. I am an American. I have been here for 47 years. I love this country with every fiber in my body, he says. But I can see us having a second home, not unlike those of you that have beach houses, or places in the mountains. Remember, its only 30 minutes from Miami to Havana. And so I truly look forward to the day each of you can come and visit us in a free Cuba.

I hope Mr. Sotos life comes full circle, and we one day share a Cuba Libre at an IIABA annual conference in Havana.

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Mr. Soto will take part in what promises to be a provocative Insurance Town Hall meeting on April 27 as part of the Big I Legislative Conference and Convention in Washington.

Joining him in the discussionmoderated by IIABA CEO Bob Rusbuldtwill be the industry's “old friend,” J. Robert Hunter, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America; Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., a former insurance commissioner and ex-president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Roger Sevigny, insurance commissioner of New Hampshire and vice president of the NAIC; and Tom Van Berkel, chairman, president and CEO of The Main Street America Group.

I'll be on hand and will blog from the conference.