October 2008
FEATURES
Cover Story:
The next generation comes home
Third generation expands this Vermont agency toward
regional agency status.

Specialty Lines:
A different sort of soft market
Professional liability market segments have unique reactions
to market conditions.

Marketing:
Protecting clients' live assets
New program covers the substantial values of trees, shrubs and plants.

Technology:
A company of firsts
Computers by Design offers a document management solution
to agencies of all sizes.

Benefits:
On the cutting edge
Agency moves from accommodating clients in benefits to
leading them in health plan design.

Other Feature Stories:  
ART market: Stability in a sea of financial woes
Insurance-linked secruitizations gain favor.

Making buildings safer
With support from insurers and reinsurers, Institute for Business & Home Safety plans to build testing facility.

Community Service Award for independent agents
The Rough Notes Company seeks to recognize "silent heroes".

The war for talent
As Baby Boomers, retire, who will take their place?.

Captives & the reinsurance market
From strange bedfellows to comfortable partners.

Program market continues to grow
Guy Carpenter survey examines trends.

Leading the way in health care liability
CNA HealthPro uses hyper-specialization strategy to serve
a diverse and changing market.

Taking the guesswork out of hiring
Insurance Hiring Systems offers a systematized approach
to finding the right person for the job.

Real estate-related classes generate 64% of E&O premiums

The natural
Rux Bentley moves from young agent group to
association president.

SPECIAL SECTION
21st Annual PLUS International Conference Special Section
Crime, politics and more—Lively general line-up for PLUS attendees supplements traditional educational tracks

Looking at the new year—Incoming PLUS president anticipates challenges and opportunities

Bringing PLUS initiatives to fruition

PLUS curriculum complete—23 modules expand educational options

Giving back—PLUS Foundation chooses children's hospital as annual charity

Deciphering wage and hour law—Panel discusses areas of growing concern

COLUMNS
Winning Strategies—Leadership keys that will transform your agency
By Larry Linne

Customer Service Focus—Don't be afraid to change
By Lynn DellaCroce, CIC, CISR, CPIW

Beyond Insurance—Work/life balance … Your tightrope to a rewarding career
By Scott Addis

Benefits Business—Say what? Positive trends in health plan costs?
By Len Strazewski

Risk Management—Speaking the same language
By Donald S. Malecki, CPCU

Risk Managers' Forum—Responding to reports of sexual harassment
By Steve Carter, JD, CSRM, ARM, CRM

Enterprise Risk Management—The heat is on
By Michael J. Moody, MBA, ARM

Public Policy Analysis & Opinion—Remain calm—all is well
By Kevin P. Hennosy

Strengthening the Front Line—Status quo not an option
By Emily Huling, CIC, CMC

DEPARTMENTS
Court Decisions
PF&M at a Glance
People Management
Centuries of Rough Notes
Rough Notes Staff
Reprints

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