Special Section sponsored by TMPAA

CIC Insurance Brokers, LLC

Key programs administered: staffing industry—primarily temporary staffing and employee leasing operations

Focusing its program administration efforts directly on the nation’s staffing industry, CIC Insurance Brokers, LLC, of Abilene, Texas, has developed a well regarded reputation for its expertise as an innovator and organizer.

C.T. Kelly, CIC’s long-time president, founded the company back in 1974. He immediately recognized that operating as a program specialist who zeros in on specific business categories—instead of serving as a general business wholesaler—would help fill a sizable void in the insurance industry. In short order, Kelly became nationally recognized for his specialty program work with America’s staffing industry.

“Our major focus is, and always has been, on that portion of staffing that centers on ‘temps’ [temporary employees] and on leased employee operations,” explains Kelly. “Our coverage packages for staffing enterprises include property, general liability, employee dishonesty bonds, and errors and omissions. Umbrella coverages are also available from CIC.”

Kelly offers this example of handling employee leasing matters, “Leasing is really something of a complicated arrangement. For instance, take a company that wants to eliminate or significantly reduce paperwork, or maybe wants to redirect its operational strengths to other areas by removing employees from the full-time payroll. The company could then arrange to ‘lease back’ those same employees from a staffing organization, which might offer them even better benefits.”

Having met with gratifying success as a staffing program administrator over the years—and well aware of the insurance industry’s need for such a niche-related specialty—Kelly was pleased to learn of the Target Markets Program Administrators Association’s (TMPAA) formation in 2001.

“I knew from my own experience in working within a particular niche that, clearly, the time had come for such an association. TMPAA constantly achieves its goal—informing program professionals of up-to-the-minute happenings within the program marketplace. No other insurance association does that,” said Kelly.

Kelly has served multiple terms on the TMPAA’s board of directors, and is one of the association’s leading advocates who routinely encourages agents and brokers, and members from the carrier side of the business, to share program information with each other. “Networking is key to building success,” he says. “For MGAs, for carriers, for everyone connected with program administration.”

Since 1974, CIC has concentrated its attention on basically the same market—staffing. In addition to C.T. Kelly’s leadership, many of the same employees have been integral parts of CIC’s staffing program for several years. Among the veteran professionals with lengthy CIC tenures is Marketing Vice President Shelby Krider. Recently, several newcomers have been added to the expanding staff. They’ve joined the underwriting team which includes Sage Maroney, Marcie Hughes, Sarah Grosbeck, Sandra Hallmark, Kathy Huston, Mike Watson, Michelle Snyder, and Linda Sherman. Another significant factor in the company’s growth and stature within the industry is its recent affiliation with the North American Group of Oklahoma City.

Whether the subject is staffing…or perhaps questions, comments or concerns about program administration matters, C.T. Kelly encourages TMPAA members and other readers of this special annual Rough Notes Target Markets section, to contact him at ctkelly@cicins.com or by phone at (325) 673-8000.

“Target Markets is about networking and the sharing of ideas for the purpose of open discussion,” exclaims Kelly. “I firmly endorse that proposition.” *