Nat Alliance NOW Risk & Insurance Podcast Series

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Meet the Alliance: Beth Benhart.

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Matthew K. Cashion, Jr., CIC, CRM (Matt), born and raised in Little Rock, was enrolled in the seventh grade at Pulaski Academy upon its inception by his parents. Before graduating in 1977, he attended Boys State and served as state president of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). His next phase of life found him following in the footsteps of his next older brother, Ted, graduating from Westminster College in Fulton, MO in 1981 with degrees in Economics & Business Administration and Accounting, and a fiancee, Susan Pippin. While at Westminster, he served as a member of the college’s prestigious Skulls of Seven Society and is a Sigma Chi. After graduation, he joined the family agency alongside both brothers, Benson and Ted, and his father, Knight, and marrying his college sweetheart in the spring of 1982.

Education and industry involvement was instilled in the agency fiber by Knight and continues as part of its DNA today. Soon after joining the agency, his father sent him to the Reliance Insurance Company’s Agent Surety School in 1983. In 1986, Matt received his Certified Insurance Counselor Designation and completed the requirements for his Certified Risk Manager designation in 2004. Additionally, Knight gave him the opportunity to attend surety industry association meetings, where he found his business passion. With mentors from all over the country

providing wind in his sails, Matt volunteered his way through the ranks of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), serving as a Regional Vice-President, Board Member, various committee memberships and chairmanships, and in 2003-2004 he served as the youngest national president.

His lane through NASBP was via education. Attending its Level 2 surety school in 1986, he discovered a second passion; teaching. Returning to the association’s school two years later, Matt was recently honored as the longest tenured instructor for NASBP clocking in 35 years of volunteer service to thousands of students from every state in the union as well as seven foreign countries. Further participation has included curriculum development and review of all levels of the association’s educational offerings on contract surety, text editing of The Basic Bond Book, curriculum review for The Institutes’ AFSB designation as well as recording select course introduction videos.

Having just completed another term as chair of NASBP’s Professional Development Committee, Matt is currently serving as co-chair of the Annual Meeting Program committee for a record sixth time.

NASBP honored Matt with the President’s Award in 2004, the John J. “Jack” Curtin Presidents Award for Distinguished Service in Surety Education in 2009, the Bruce T. Wallace Award for Career Contributions in 2013 (its highest award), and the John J. “Jack” Curtin Award again in 2023, becoming the only two time recipient.

Matt also followed the leadership example set by his business partner, Jim Allbritton, serving as president of The Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas (Big I - Arkansas) in 2015-2016. In 2021, Big I honored Matt with its highest award, the Allan Kennedy Memorial Award.

An unintended consequence of volunteer service to various construction trade associations over the years has resulted in awards from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas (ABC) (2020 - Phillip Joiner Award for leadership) and Associated General Contractors of Arkansas (AGC) (2011 - Distinguished Service Award; 2021 - President’s Award). After having served as a founding member of National AGC’s Surety Industry Advisory Council and acting as its Outreach and Education Task Force Chair in 2001, AGC inducted Matt into its Consulting Contractors Council of America in 2009.

Further involvement has included presentations and speaking opportunities all over the country to various groups ranging from the AICPA, the National Home Builders Association, local surety associations, trade associations (AGC, ABC, ASA, NAWIC), universities, engineers, and as a convention keynote speaker in Puerto Rico.

Outside of the industry, Matt has offered his time to a variety of civic organizations including Pulaski Academy, Alzheimer’s Arkansas Programs and Services, the Metropolitan YMCA, and the Heflin Youth Foundation. Additionally, he has received gubernatorial appointments to the Information Network of Arkansas and the Contractors Licensing Board, where he has served as Chair.

Combining his passion for teaching and his greatest blessing, Matt and his wife have co-led various small groups at their church for over 30 years, most recently post college single adults. Pushing the comfort zone limits, he even became an ordained minister during the pandemic in order to perform a requested wedding service for a couple that had met in the class.

His most recent passion and greatest joys are found in spending time with his six amazing grandchildren. His daughter Rachel and her husband Dr. David Rainwater, have three wonderful girls. His son, Matthew K. Cashion, III (Tripp) and his wife Kara, have two amazing girls and his only grandson (Matthew K. Cashion, IV aka Knight).

Learn more about the FSU Intercollegiate Insurance Sales Challenge: https://business.fsu.edu/departments/rmi/dr-hold-program/events/insurance-sales-challenge

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Richard Clarke, CIC, CPCU, RPLU

Dick Clarke is a veteran of the property/liability insurance industry, having worked as underwriter, broker and consultant through hard and soft market cycles. He was formerly Senior Vice President with the regional brokerage, J. Smith Lanier & Co. headquartered in Georgia, having retired late in 2016.

He publishes articles and teaches on a variety of executive liability, cyber and E&O subjects, and functions as an expert witness, a consultant to buyers of commercial insurance, and to insurance companies concerning product development. He is a teacher in CE programs for several professional insurance organizations. His books are listed for purchase on Amazon.com, with the most recent, Executive Liability Insurance: From the Basics to an Advanced Approach having entered its fifth edition in 2012. (This work is currently being updated, with a revised, sixth edition available late in 2019.) Additionally, this book was translated into Japanese for the Risk Management community in Japan, in 2013. Clarke provided content and editing for The National Alliance's on-line course on Directors and Officers Liability insurance (2015 to present), and was an original recipient of the CPCU Society's "Distinguished Instructor in Insurance" award, in 1996.

He holds several professional designations.

As a pioneer in innovative marketing, Peter has brought unique approaches to an industry that can be considered mundane. With a fresh perspective, he has started an insurance-focused marketing communications company, a successful podcast, spearheaded on-the-fly interviews at industry events, and constantly challenges his clients to think outside the box.

Peter's dedication to excellence is evident as he shares how he earned the CIC Designation to better understand the industry and write better content for his clients. This showcases his conviction towards continuously improving his craft, ultimately leading him to leverage his CIC knowledge to target his client's marketing efforts better.

Join us as Peter shares his inspiring journey as a marketing communications leader and how a mindset of continuous learning has made him a true difference maker in the industry.

Are you an Insurance Marketer looking to understand the industry better?The Introduction to Insurance for Marketers course explores the fundamentals of the insurance industry through a marketing lens and examines key terminologyto effectively market to consumers, businesses, and agencies.

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Join Nat Alliance NOW Host, Mitch Dunford, as he discusses the exciting developments and innovations rolling out in 2024, with President & CEO William Hold, MBA, CRM, CISR, and Chief Experience Officer Danielle Janecka. The trio discusses Exclusive Update Options for Dues-Paid Designees, New Dynamics of Service Self-Paced Series, the new Learning Portal, the Community Social Platform, and advice to designees on maintaining annual update requirements. Tune in to this enlightening podcast episode and discover how the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research is embracing innovation and change in 2024. Its going to be a GREAT year.

Jake Holehouse | President and CEO of HH Insurance Group

JakeHolehouseis the President of HH Insurance in St. Petersburg, FL. He founded HH Insurance with his father, RonHolehouse, in June 2018 and they have experienced rapid growth since the agency has opened.Jakegrew up in the insurance industry working for his father’s agency throughout high school,HolehouseInsurance in St. Petersburg, FL. After graduating from Florida State University,Jakeworked for American Strategic Insurance (ASI) as a national account manager, specializing in the national home builder accounts. Following ASI, he decided to work alongside his father again atHolehouseInsurance. They grew the business at an astronomical rate, eventually selling the agency to Regions Insurance, an affiliate of Regions Financial Corporation. Following Regions Insurance,Jakeworked at Heritage Insurance Holdings as an Executive Vice President of Business Development and assisted in product expansion from 3 states to 13 states. Seeing the opportunity of opening a new independent agency,Jakeopened HH Insurance in June 2018. HH Insurance has rapidly grown in 5 years from 3 team members to a team of over 45 and continues to win multiple service and sales awards. InJake’s time at Florida State University, he earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in Risk Management and Insurance.Jakesits as an advisor to the risk management and insurance program at Florida State University, as well as multiple local community service positions.

SambaSafety Report: From Perception to Practice:An Insight into InsurerData Strategies and Sentiments

John Barbagallo, former President of Commercial Lines at Progressive, brings 40 years of insurance experience to SambaSafety. As a Strategic Advisor, he specializes in leveraging technology and data to drive profitable growth, enhance decision-making, and foster continuous process improvement within the insurance industry. He has played a crucial role in pioneering advancements with telematics that helped capture market-leading positions in Commercial Auto.

Join the Head of Faculty & Academic Development, Jay Williams, CIC, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, AIP, AAI, ACSR as he hosts special guests from Utica National Insurance Group: Tabitha DeGirolano, Errors & Omissions Risk Management Specialist, and Mark R. Angelucci, Senior Vice President and Insurance Agents Errors & Omissions Segment Leader. In this episode, the trio emphasizes the critical role of ongoing education for insurance agents, noting how crucial it is for agents to stay informed on coverages and effectively manage their operations. Utica National Insurance Group is dedicated to supporting agents throughout the claims process by providing tailored resources and education opportunities, aligning with their strategy for client claims management. Agents can access Utica National's E&O program through their local independent agent association, such as the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents or the Independent Agents and Brokers of America State Association. These associations serve as the exclusive distribution source for Utica National Insurance Group's E&O program. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the unique offerings of Utica National's E&O program. Agents will learn how they can benefit from direct access to underwriters and risk management specialists, comprehensive resources, and personalized support throughout the claims process. The National Alliance remains dedicated to empowering insurance professionals to achieve success in their careers by providing resources like this.