Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame

 After a long career with GuideOne / Preferred Risk and the Iowa FAIR Plan, I found out that I will be inducted into the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame. It still seems a little surreal to me as I didn't see myself at that level. Apparently the people that nominated me, those that wrote letters of recommendation, and the board of directors that voted didn't agree. I am grateful for the honor.

I was blessed to have great bosses, mentors, and coworkers. So many of them have passed away but their influence is still with me and I do my best to pass it on to those that I influence.

Ron Wilson, Bob Conroy, Jack Martinez

My late wife, Carol, and my wife Debbie were always supportive and and encouraging. Success at any level would have been impossible without their love and support.

Ron Wilson, Dave Creighton Sr.

Russ Lettington, Syd Vanderlinden, Bob Conroy

Who is Jack Martinez?

“Cloud computing” or “in the cloud” are phrases that I read almost every day now that many major technology companies have embraced this as their business model.  On the surface the concept is simple: all applications and data are hosted in secure data centers and user access is over a broadband Internet connection.

When I hear about clouds I think about something I have first noticed decades ago: that most people already live in a cloud.  They go through the motions of living but it appears as if outside forces are pulling their strings. Commons symptoms include: following the crowd, keeping up with Joneses, believing that reality TV is real, lacking any substantial interest in current news unless it involves a celebrity, and a general lack of curiosity about the world around us. 

Picture in your mind a football field with thousands of people standing, sitting, and moving about the field through a low fog bank that is spreading over the field.  Now notice a handful of them showing through the mist.  These are the “John Galts” that can come into our lives if we ourselves are aware.

Running into these people can greatly enhance our lives.  I am having lunch with one of them on Friday.  His name is Jack Martinez.  And today I traded e-mails with a great thinker – Charles Carroll.  Across the hall from my office is Debbie’s office, my spouse who challenges, inspires, and teaches me so much.  Now all I need is a call from Mikey!