Change is on the horizon at PC360

It has been such a privilege for me to serve as the editor-in-chief of Claims magazine for the  past nine years. I find the insurance industry absolutely fascinating, and my position as an editor for both Claims and PropertyCasualty360.com has afforded me the opportunity to see the industry from a perspective that many cannot.

I’ve watched the evolution of what we now call insurtech; I’ve seen the advent of emerging risks like the sharing economy, cannabis and the pandemic; I’ve learned about insurance fraud, subrogation and artificial intelligence; I’ve covered far more hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires than most reporters; and I have met some of the most amazing people in this industry.

It is easy for folks to take potshots at the industry, and while some may be accurate, those who work in insurance do so because they really do want to help policyholders. Yes, there are individuals who try to take advantage of situations for various reasons, but money is usually the impetus behind their actions. And, while insurers aren’t perfect, I wouldn’t want to live in a world without insurance.

Here are a few parting thoughts to keep in mind:

1. What you do matters every day to people you don’t know and may never meet in person. Continue to do good work.
2. You see people at the worst times in their lives — you give them hope whether you realize it or not. Never underestimate the importance of your words.
3. Your work is hard and your days are long. Don’t forget to take care of yourselves and enjoy the simple pleasures in life — they don’t cost much but the payback is immeasurable.
4. Insurance touches every area of life. The risks will change and the insurance process itself will evolve, but the need for insurance will never go away.
5. In a world where change is the only constant, honesty, integrity and ethics still matter. Don’t let anyone tell you they’re out of style.

My colleague, Brittney Meredith-Miller will be taking over as the editor of Claims magazine. She is a brilliant writer and reporter, so reach out to her with ideas or suggestions and help her learn more about the claims industry.

Elana Jefferson will become the editor-in-chief of PropertyCasualty360.com and will lead our team going forward. Her knowledge of the industry is based on almost a decade of covering insurance.

Steve Hallo is our managing editor for PropertyCasualty360.com and will continue to lead our flagship news outlet. Feel free to pitch story ideas to Steve or other members of the team.

Thank you for all you have taught me, for the friendships that have developed and for allowing me to tell your stories. I’ll still be around the industry and I hope to see you at some industry events.

Opinions expressed are the author’s.

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