Special Section sponsored by TMPAA

Casualty & Surety, Inc.

Key programs administered include, among others: mining, assisted living facilities, medical malpractice, construction, and inland marine

Casualty & Surety, Inc. (CSI), formed in October 1999, is an independent wholesale brokerage firm headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. CSI provides program administration, managing general agency, and wholesale brokerage services to retail and wholesale agency clients nationwide.

Among CSI’s wide variety of program business areas are mining, health services, commercial auto/trucking, bonds of all types, construction, pollution, medical malpractice, product liability, property, contract binding, umbrella, and inland marine. CSI currently represents 44 different carriers in the property/casualty business market, and contracts more than 3,000 retail agents.

Although relatively young in years, CSI’s leadership has multiple decades of insurance experience. President Jim Godfrey began his career in 1977 at an agency specializing in mining. He has written mining business ever since. Joining him as key CSI strategists are Rob Roberts and Lamar Andrews, both executive vice presidents, and Greg Roberson, the chief financial officer. Add in a very competent support staff and it’s clear why CSI is widely recognized within the property/casualty and professional liability fields.

CSI continually nurtures three distinct proficiencies:

1. Underwriting, where profits are critical to sustaining long-term relationships with insurance and reinsurance partners. That, in turn, enables CSI to attract and maintain superior clientele and employees for extensive periods of time.

2. Marketing, where the alignment of resources with insurance buyers’ decision-making criteria is a continuing process that draws clients to CSI by focusing on innovative products at the right price.

3. Service, where providing superior service to clients allows CSI to gain acceptance in the excess & surplus lines marketplace.

“These concepts are the core of our company philosophy,” said Godfrey. “We are well aware of the challenges that confront a wholesale brokerage firm like ours. And with the unpredictability of the standard markets, we constantly look to improve our position in the specialized program field. Our national mining program is very solid. We recently developed a comprehensive assisted living facility program with PL and GL, as well as property coverages that we feel will successfully address the unique needs of this industry group.

“But in the end,” continued Godfrey, “maintaining strong relationships is the key to mutual success. To insure this, we strive daily to properly service our agents. By adding the newest tech-nologies available to us, we can address the timely solutions that are critical elements in our industry. If we don’t somebody else will.”

As a founding member of the Target Markets Program Administrators Association, CSI recognizes the importance of the networking opportunities that the association delivers to program managers. Roberts says, “I have seen first hand what the significance of being a long time member has meant to our growth at CSI. We remain committed because we believe this organization is dedicated to the success of program business.

“In summary, Casualty & Surety’s ability to form effective partnerships with our clients, with other industry professionals, and with the carriers underwriting the risks is our most significant advantage. These elements will allow CSI to maintain controlled growth in the future.”

For more information, contact CSI’s Birmingham headquarters at (205) 995-0713. *