January 2009
FEATURES
Cover Story:
20th Annual Rough Notes Marketing Agency
Of The Year candidates.

Specialty Lines:
Truckers point the way
A look at the road ahead.

Marketing:
Energized producers
Commodity pricing drives oil & gas market.

Technology:
The sound of opportunity
Handling online leads requires a different approach.

Benefits:
Providing benefits strategies
Agency counsels clients on how to keep health care costs in check.

Other Feature Stories:  
What does 2009 hold for the insuance industry?
Contingent commissions victory and continuing Fed regulation of insurance industry shape the market.

In it for the long haul
In a tough trucking market, Canal Insurance steers a steady course.

Commercial auto premiums total $28.6 billion.

“Team spirit” proves its mettle
Foresight, disaster planning and teamwork help
Iowa agency face historic flooding.

Oil & gas market turns harder after taking a 1-2 punch
‘08 windstorms and financial storm batter the Gulf Coast
energy insurance market.

Young agents excel
North Carolina wins Big “I” top honor for third consecutive year.

Re-energizing the CE experience
The PIA of Georgia teams up with The National Alliance to make continuing education work.

COLUMNS
Winning Strategies—Moving the sales process up a notch
By Larry Linne

Risk Management—Pollution exclusion minefield
By Donald S. Malecki, CPCU

Customer Service Focus—Beyond customer service
By W. L. Richárd, CIC, ARM, AAI

Benefits Business—Steady as she goes
By Len Strazewski

Public Policy Analysis & Opinion—Imprudence and roosting vultures
By Kevin P. Hennosy

Enterprise Risk Management—ERM: The big picture
By Michael J. Moody, MBA, ARM

Lessons in Leadership—The case of the screaming boss
By Robert L. Bailey

ADVERTISERS INDEX / PRODUCTS PAGE

DEPARTMENTS
Court Decisions
Readers' Feedback
Regional News
People Management
Centuries of Rough Notes
Rough Notes Staff
Reprints