(Newswire.net — March 11, 2021) —
Construction insurance continues to change, adapting to a shifting world. After 2020, there were concerns beyond climate change that impacted work sites all over the US. This has caused destruction to sites themselves in some cases, as well as delays, increased risk and shortages of supplies.
Throughout the year, job sites had to navigate pandemic concerns and risks, as well as the rising number of severe storms. The US was hit hard, with over 57,000 wildfires that burned nearly 10.3 million acres. Flooding and hurricanes were also a major source of property damage in the US, with a record of 30 named storms in the North Atlantic throughout 2020.
From natural catastrophes to illness and manmade threats, CEO Heath Ritenour’s Insurance Office of America (IOA) works to help clients anticipate and manage risk.
IOA Construction Team
IOA is continually adding to its team of strong partners to offer top-notch insurance in a myriad of industries. The IOA construction division specifically includes a growing number of professionals who possess a deep knowledge of the needs of architects and engineers (A&E). These new team members are brokers who specialize in the A&E insurance and risk management. With knowledgeable professionals on the IOA side, there is a comprehensive level of risk management from experts who understand the industry.
Construction teams have to be prepared to face the many high-risk challenges that currently exist and threaten job sites. The newest additions to the IOA A&E team are three highly skilled professionals with over 35 years of combined experience in the construction insurance field. These team players understand the needs of managing risk for land surveying, construction management, environmental concerns, architecture and engineering.
“In the current market, it’s thrilling to bring together an expert team of professionals who understand the unique needs of our clients in the A&E sector,” said IOA Chairman and CEO Heath Ritenour. “To see growth as a privately held and truly independent agency and to have the ability to deepen our relationships in this important niche is a great way to start the new year.”
All three new hires for this team were women with vast experience in the field. They will add determination and customer-centric service that is crucial for the IOA brand.
Meet The Newest Members Of The Team
Barbara Marty brings over 16 years of experience working in the insurance industry with architects and engineering professionals. She has helped them cover their job sites and assets, protecting them from liability. She offers excellent customer service as she excels in contract review, insurance placement and claims assistance.
Judy Lovelace, with more than 10 years under her belt, has experience serving design professionals all over the US. She works to get to know her clients and then offers personalized options to ensure they get the coverage they need. Lovelace is highly skilled at contract review, risk management solutions and claims assistance.
Courtnee Stevenson has spent the last several years offering clients exceptional knowledge, focus and service. She is licensed to work anywhere within the US and believes in the value of hard work. Stevenson partners with clients to understand their businesses and risks. Her goal is to provide clients with the very best policies to fully meet their needs and expectations.
Not only do these women have a lot of experience working in the construction industry, they offer the kind of service IOA expects from its producers. They all show a dedication to the client and the intense focus required to properly insure all risks. IOA handpicks team members who are going to bring this kind of unwavering work ethic and customer-first approach to the team.
“It really starts with taking time to get to know each client,” said Lovelace. “By understanding what makes my clients unique, I can then advocate for them and develop insurance options to improve their bottom line.”
Without understanding the client’s individual needs, there can be a tendency to make niche industry insurance a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s a mistake, according to Marty. Each client is going to have different challenges to consider and will choose the coverage they are willing to budget into the project.
The approach has to be “good old-fashioned customer service,” notes Stevenson. Without that deep level of individualized commitment for business owners, insurance advisors hold little value when compared to websites. “It’s that personal connection that sets providers apart,” touts Heath Ritenour on IOA’s focus on connection. Making those connections is crucial to the IOA way of doing business and offering a key value in a digital age.
“We’re excited to increase our presence in the A&E space with the addition of these three industry professionals,” said IOA Regional President John Tenuto. “The combined experience they bring is impressive, and the way they take care of their customers is unmatched.”
About Insurance Office of America
Insurance Office of America (IOA) was launched in 1988 by John Ritenour and Valli Ritenour with an innovative approach to how an insurance company should operate. John wanted to focus on hard work and client-first service that rewarded providers through unchanging deals and team comradery. IOA started with a single Florida office of 3,000 sq. ft. and has grown over the past 30+ years into a nationwide company. With over 60 branch locations, IOA has over 1,300 team members.
IOA is the 25th largest insurance agency in the US. It was ranked 11th on the “Top 100 Independent Property/Casualty Agencies” in 2020.
IOA hires experts to specialize in its niche divisions for high-quality risk management. Real-world producer experience is sought out to better serve complex client needs. The A&E team is just one of the many industry-focused branches of the company.
Heath Ritenour serves as CEO of IOA, and his leadership has followed in his father’s footsteps—he bases the IOA approach on hard work and creating relationships. Heath Ritenour believes it is crucial to choose a team you can trust in order to get to the top as a company. IOA leadership selects incoming talent for their impressive industry knowledge, ability to serve and passion to succeed.