Uncategorized

A New Attack Is Targeting Microsoft Teams By: Lamar Garrett | Redbird Security Attackers are finding ways to exploit gaps, and they have moved from email to Microsoft Teams. A new attack, identified just last week, called SynkLoader, is distributed through Teams. It starts with a message from what looks like IT, asking you to…

What Makes Clients Stay with Their Insurance Agency? Winning a new client is an accomplishment. Keeping that client is what builds a successful agency. It’s easy to assume clients stay because of price, but that’s rarely the whole story. Most people expect competitive pricing. What they remember is how an agency responds when they have…

Severe Weather Hits: Is Your Team Ready? Brought to You By:    Spring and summer bring busy days for many businesses. But they also bring peak storm season: tornado warnings, high winds, flash flooding, and a whole gamut of weather that develops quickly and without much notice.  As a businessowner, you can’t control the weather,…

Create Optimism: Turning Market Challenges into Sales and Service Opportunities “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ~Winston Churchill For insurance professionals, optimism is not wishful thinking—it is a practical discipline. Today’s clients are navigating affordability concerns, coverage questions, climate-related risk, claims frustration, and a rapidly…

Get to Know: PIA Director Ryan Bedroske Ryan Bedroske of MacGillis Insurance Agency in Fredonia sits on the PIA Board of Directors and is also serving as PIA’s Treasurer. Before he found the insurance industry, he worked as a sales professional for thirteen years and provided professional development for other aspiring sales professionals. Outside of…

Five Common Causes of Workplace Injuries Workplace injuries can happen in any industry, from offices and retail stores to manufacturing floors and construction sites. Many are preventable with awareness and the right precautions. Understanding the most common causes is a critical first step toward protecting employees’ health and reducing lost time. Below are five of…

Badger Mutual Names Director of Strategic Growth: Shane Paltzer MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Badger Mutual Insurance Company has named Shane Paltzer as Director of Strategic Growth, adding an accomplished insurance executive to its leadership team as the company enters its next phase of growth and advances its long-term strategy for commercial expansion and innovation. Paltzer brings…

Be Prepared For Carrier Cybersecurity Audits By Lamar Garrett, Redbird Security There is a conversation starting to happen between carriers and their appointed agencies that most agencies don’t know is coming. It is not a renewal discussion. It is not a market access negotiation. It is a cybersecurity audit. The agencies that are not prepared…

AI Chatbots in Insurance Agencies: Where Efficiency Ends and Exposure Begins AI chatbots are quickly becoming part of the modern insurance agency. From answering routine customer questions to assisting with internal workflows, these tools offer a practical way to help improve responsiveness and streamline operations. Used thoughtfully, they can enhance the client experience and allow agency…

Get to Know: PIA Director April Tarras April Tarras of Advantage Insurance Agency in Plymouth has been serving as a Director on the PIA Board since 2023. During her career, she has served in many capacities, both as a carrier representative and now as an agency owner. April’s involvement with PIA is deeply-rooted, with her…