The financial reporting data we provide on property insurers also came in a strong favorite, as member agents frequently must make qualitative assessments about these markets for their clients. Many agencies, especially smaller ones, appreciate access to the various FAIA Member Services insurance markets that can sometimes be difficult to obtain.

Q. Your predecessor, Bill Gunter, advocated for wider participation in social networks such as blogs and other media. He envisioned social networking communities based on a governance structure, and pushed for their use to become FAIA's preferred method of learning and communicating with members. How far has this progressed over the past year?

A. It's moved along faster than I can keep pace. And I know if I can't keep up with it, Bill Gunter couldn't possibly! Seriously, under the terrific leadership of both Bill and Kirk Ball, who served as chairman before him, FAIA has done some amazing things to connect better with our membership. It's such a difficult challenge because you have to accommodate the younger generation and old guys like me, who get their information so differently. That has made us create more outlets, including the use of social media, to reach a wider audience of agents. While progress has been made, it will always be a work in progress.

Q. Do you see signs that the collecting of dues has become more fair and trackable as the result of any recent changes?

A. We really have postponed any dues modification until the Trusted Choice component is added in September 2011.

Q. What does FAIA see as critical to professionals who fit the age and experience parameters of your Young Agents Council? What does today's landscape look like for early careerists in insurance, and what is the main responsibility the association must meet on their behalf?

A. Young agents are busy people, and they are often the “hunters” in their agencies. Thus, we have to be mindful of their time while providing leadership training, networking opportunities, and a larger view of the industry. Hopefully, these shared experiences will witness to many of them what an asset we have in FAIA, and they will feel a desire to serve.

Q. Current CFO Alex Sink received FAIA's endorsement for governor early on, and the group recently endorsed Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) as CFO. If your candidates assume these new positions, what changes could they make that would directly impact Florida's property market?

A. Both of these candidates have business backgrounds that continue to serve them well in political office. We believe they have a good understanding of the real problems plaguing Florida's private property insurance market. If elected, we look forward to working with both of them to remake private property insurance as Florida's market of first resort.

Q. Share FAIA leadership's thinking on the evolution — from the Gov. Jeb Bush years to the present — of the office of insurance regulation (OIR), and current commissioner Kevin McCarty. Where is that fine line that state agencies must walk to protect policyholders from political pressure, threatening economics, disaster repercussions, and sometimes uninformed public opinion?

A. It does not appear that the cabinet reformation that took effect in 2003 has made the commissioner's office less susceptible to political influence. What has been allowed to happen to our property insurance market during a four-year period of no hurricane activity says it all. The fragile state of the marketplace as we head into this year's hurricane season could result in an economic disaster for Florida at a time when we can least afford it. Political influence from the governor's office has caused the OIR to suppress rates, but that can only go on for so long. Now, we are left with an expanding residual market, fewer company choices, and consumer sticker shock as rates begin to rise dramatically. Wherever the “fine line” is, I believe we crossed it.

Q. The theme for the 2011 FAIA convention is “Road to Recovery.” That has an optimistic ring. Are you hoping to serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy?

A. We feel that “the glass is half full” approach is the only way we can pull ourselves out of this pit. No one really knows when the road to recovery is officially going to start, but why not right now? Restoring the private property market, providing agents with better tools to compete on the Internet, and promoting Trusted Choice are all things that will help Florida's independent agents turn the corner.

Q. Cite for us some of the major problems agents face today. An article in Florida Underwriter last month by Rick Stark — president of Stark & Associates in Pembroke Pines — discussed the medical loss ratio component of federal health-care reform and the fear that commissions could “plummet.” What can your association do to mitigate this bleak prediction for your members, and what special education packages are you considering to keep them at least level with the changes?

A. We are very concerned about the remuneration rate for agents who sell health insurance. Currently, the action is really occurring at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the National Conference of Insurance Legislators levels to refine the definition of the medical loss ratio. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America and other groups are trying to ensure that agent commissions are not swallowed up by a definition that shortchanges consumer service. As implementation progresses and begins to occur more at the state level, FAIA will be on the front line defending agents' interests and providing them with needed training.

Q. When you reflect on the Florida industry as a whole, what would you choose as one of the pivotal successes and the biggest challenge yet unmet?

A. As an industry, I feel we have overcome so much. Our desire to move in the right direction has to be one of the most impressive qualities of independent agents. The biggest unmet challenge is getting Citizens Property Insurance Corp. back to its original purpose as a market of last resort.

Q. Talk a bit about your own career and your partnership with Thomas Webb, with whom you founded south Florida's Coastal Insurance Group in 1979.

A. Looking back, one thing that jumps out is how things have changed. A big reason for this was Hurricane Andrew, a storm that completely changed everything.

Like most industries in South Florida, ours was hit very hard by the housing crash, along with company insolvencies in recent years. Things have been challenging for agencies statewide. As an industry we battled back from Andrew just as we will from the current difficulties we are facing. A quote I like to use is, “Florida's independent agents are similar to Florida's palm trees: We will bend, but we seldom break.”

Our agency partnership has grown with the addition of our sons Paul, Doug, Tommy, and Bryan. I try to remind them that this business is cyclical and we will be back. Keep your head up, work hard and do the very best for your customers, and things will work out.