Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # TOB The Ontario Broker ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://tob.ibao.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](https://tob.ibao.org/blog/) - [Tech Check | Email Marketing Deliverability](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/tech-check-email-marketing-deliverability/) - Jeff Toth, Marketing & Communications Lead, IBAO I’ve been with the IBAO for nearly six years. During that time, I’ve been the writer and producer of IBAO’s Newsletter… - [The Who, What, Where, When and How of a Successful Brand Awareness Campaign | Marketing Minute CAA Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/the-who-what-where-when-and-how-of-a-successful-brand-awareness-campaign-marketing-minute-caa-insurance/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Insurance Marketing In our last Marketing Minute, we discussed the importance of creating brand awareness for your brokerage and how a campaign can help your business progress… - [The Last To-Do List You’ll Ever Need](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/the-last-to-do-list-youll-ever-need/) - A to-do list is among the simplest, most reliable productivity tools that exist. But there are so many different ways to track, sort and achieve to-dos. The popularity of Bullet Journals over the past few years demonstrates the appetite for new approaches of keeping track of things, however many of the tools have been critiqued for - [Staff Spotlight | Sarah](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/staff-spotlight-sarah/) - Vidhya Gopinathan, Exams Enrollment Specialist In our first Staff Spotlight of 2023, we’re excited to highlight Vidhya Gopinathan. Vidhya joined IBAO in November 2021 as an Enrollment Coordinator. She has since moved… - [Lead By Example](https://tob.ibao.org/cover-story/lead-by-example/) - Brent Stefan, McFarlan Rowlands — Community Leader Known in the industry as a Partner and Branch Manager at McFarlan Rowlands Brent Stefan’s career spans far beyond the world of insurance. In his… - [Insuring the Sunshine State from the Great White North](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/insuring-the-sunshine-state-from-the-great-white-north/) - July 21, 2025 With Lee Burke—President, Burke Bogart & Brownell Chances are, you or someone you know is a snowbird. There’s nothing more enjoyable than soaking up the sun down south during Canada’s colder seasons. But Florida’s hurricanes, floods and volatile insurance market can pose major challenges for Canadians who own property there—and for Ontario - [Contractor Fraud in CAT Events: What Brokers Need to Know](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/contractor-fraud-in-cat-events-what-brokers-need-to-know/) - March 10, 2025 With Betty Ng — Director, Ontario & Investigation Coordination Support Services, Équité Association It’s Fraud Prevention Month—a time to raise awareness about fraud risks and promote best practices for safeguarding personal and financial information. Betty Ng, Director of Ontario & Investigation Coordination Support Services at Équité Association, a not-for-profit working to eradicate It’s Fraud Prevention Month—a time to raise awareness about fraud risks and promote best practices for safeguarding personal and financial information - [The State of Ontario Insurance Programs](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-state-of-ontario-insurance-programs/) - February 21, 2025 John McNeil — Associate Dean, Program Coordinator & Professor, Humber Polytechnic The Canadian government’s recent policies regarding international students have impacted post-secondary institutions and industries reliant on global talent. The insurance sector is one of them. The combination of reduced international study permits and adjustments to post-graduate work opportunities has created challenges - [Evaluating Creative in Seven Easy Steps](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/evaluating-creative-in-seven-easy-steps/) - February 19, 2025 Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Marketing, CAA Insurance Company The business of marketing your brokerage has many facets. Brand, lead generation, client retention, community engagement—the list goes on. One of the most fun parts of marketing can be that first look at the creative you’ll be placing. How have you been evaluating that creative and - [Taylor Swift Insurance: Preparing Your Clients for Mega Concert Opportunities](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/taylor-swift-insurance-preparing-your-clients-for-mega-concert-opportunities/) - Feb 11, 2025 Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour took the world by storm last year, leaving behind a significant economic impact. Following her final Canadian shows, estimates suggest the tour generated $282 million for Toronto and $157 million for Vancouver. Large-scale events play a significant impact within local economies, driving surges in demand for lodging and - [Broker Roundtable | How Brokerages Tackled 2024 and are Leaning Into 2025](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/broker-roundtable-how-brokerages-tackled-2024-and-are-leaning-into-2025/) - Ontario brokerages are large and small, rural and urban, general and specialized. The diversity is what we love most about our membership. Their experiences vary just as much as their businesses. Leaders of two Ontario brokerages share their takes on the past year, how they’ve adapted to the changes they’ve seen and what they’re doing to prepare for the challenges and opportunities 2025 brings. - [How to Implement a Marketing Plan Without a Marketing Department](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/how-to-implement-a-marketing-plan-without-a-marketing-department/) - January 8, 2025 Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Marketing, CAA Insurance Company One of the most common questions I hear from brokers is “How can I do marketing without hiring a full-time employee to manage it?” It’s a great question. Marketing is essential to growing your business, and executing a marketing plan can easily be a full-time job - [6 Basic Steps of Project Management](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/6-basic-steps-of-project-management/) - January 3, 2025 Leading projects requires an adaptive approach based on the team, the budget, the timeline and one hundred other factors. However, there are basic steps that’ll apply in most cases and you can graft onto managing a project of any size. 1. Define Scope and Objectives Start by identifying the overarching goal of - [Making Our Space a Modern Place](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/making-our-space-a-modern-place/) - Gabriela Bejarano—Office Manager & Special Projects, IBAO In 2025, IBAO’s office space will undergo a major renovation to better reflect the changes and growth we’ve seen as an organization and as a team… - [Getting Involved to Build Community](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/getting-involved-to-build-community/) - With Katie Grieve, President—Windsor Essex County Insurance Brokers Association As the President of WECIBA, Katie led her Affiliate to its first Awards of Excellence win. She values community engagement and thinks if you haven’t gotten involved yet, you should… - [We Define Our Future, Together](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/we-define-our-future-together/) - Dario Battista, IBAO President Getting involved with charitable organizations, local communities or your profession presents incredible opportunity to learn... - [A Whole New Digital World: Mitigating Cyber Risk in 2024](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/a-whole-new-digital-world-mitigating-cyber-risk-in-2024/) - Michael Trendler—Managing Director of Specialty Insurance, Travelers Canada How many of us check our phones first thing in the morning and do a final social media or email scroll at night?… - [An Insider’s Look at Exams](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/an-insiders-look-at-exams/) - Michael Mizerak—Exams Coordinator, IBAO During pandemic times, IBAO took on the daunting task of administering RIBO’s licensing exams… - [The Commercial Market’s Changing Opportunity](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-commercial-markets-changing-opportunity/) - Susan Williams-Bonet—VP, Ontario Region, Wawanesa The Canadian commercial insurance market is undergoing a multifaceted transformation. Rapid technology adoption… - [Hiring Non-Insurance Roles](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/hiring-non-insurance-roles/) - November 25, 2024 Hiring is an important process at any organization. At brokerages, you often start by adding more underwriters, sales roles and professionals with backgrounds in claims. As you evolve, you hire non-insurance roles like marketers and coders. These roles are essential in helping drive innovation, enhancing customer experience and improving operational efficiency. If - [Marketing Minute | It Pays to Know Paid Media](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/marketing-minute-it-pays-to-know-paid-media/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Marketing, CAA Insurance Company Adding paid mass media to your campaign can be a great way for your brokerage to reach your target audience… - [Threat to Opportunity: Driving Growth in Ontario](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/threat-to-opportunity-driving-growth-in-ontario/) - Peter Janzen—Senior Vice President, Ontario and National Distribution Teams, Intact Insurance It’s an interesting time in the Ontario insurance market. We’re recovering from severe flooding in the southern part of the province… - [With a Little Help From My Friends](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends/) - With Rorie McIntosh—President, McCAM Insurance Brokers McCAM Insurance has a proud history stretching back to 1913. But President Rorie McIntosh thought things could be going better… - [The Benefit of Tackling Quick Tasks](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/the-benefit-of-tackling-quick-tasks/) - November 18, 2024 According to Gallup polling, global employee stress levels declined in 2023 from 44% to 41%. This is the first reduction in reported daily stress post-pandemic, but it’s still up compared to those pre-pandemic times. There’s something simple we can do to cut down on our daily stress—and it’s basically something we have - [Reclaiming Client Experience](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/reclaiming-client-experience/) - Dave Bertolin—Managing Director & Principal Broker, Brokers Trust Insurance Group & Steven Cameron—Head of Claims Services, Brokers Trust Insurance Group In 2015, Brokers Trust noticed an uptick in the number of complaints from clients specifically generated by the claims process. After brainstorming solutions… - [Redefining Travel Coverage](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/redefining-travel-coverage/) - Kyle Sparkman—Chief Sales Officer, Allianz Global Assistance Canadians are vacationers. They’re known to escape the cold during the winter months, frequently visit their neighbours to the south and explore countries around the world… - [Canada’s Looming Federal Election](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/canadas-looming-federal-election/) - Christian Von Donat—VP, Government Relations & Strategy, Impact Public Relations It feels like it’s been on the horizon for two years now. Since Pierre Poilievre became leader of the Conservative Party in September 2022… - [Broker Roundtable | Marketing Mix](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/broker-roundtable-marketing-mix/) - Claude Miron—Partner & Account Executive, Scrivens Insurance and Financial Services & Whitney Davies—Corporate Brand Manager, Youngs Insurance Brokers There’s no one way to market a brokerage. Client demographics, goals, budgets and capabilities all play a role in figuring out the best strategy… - [Adapting to the New Regulatory Reality](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/adapting-to-the-new-regulatory-reality/) - Colin Simpson—CEO, IBAO It’s no secret that in 2024, Ontario Brokers have felt the impact of regulatory change. Brokers have always existed in a regulated environment, but there are distinct differences we’re seeing today... - [6 Tips | Packing Hacks](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/6-tips-packing-hacks/) - October 21, 2024 Brokers and insurance professionals from across the country will be traveling to Toronto to attend IBAOcon again this year. Wherever you’re coming from, our six tips will make your trip wrinkle free. 1. Heavy Bottom Shoes, jeans and toiletries should be packed near the end where your suitcase’s wheels are, working your - [Change is here to stay. And so are Brokers.](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/change-is-here-to-stay-and-so-are-brokers/) - Dario Battista, IBAO President Three decades ago when I first stepped into the insurance industry, it was a world of paper files, fax machines and underwriting manuals.… - [The Case for Optimism Around Ontario Auto Reform](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-case-for-optimism-around-ontario-auto-reform/) - Brett Boadway—COO, IBAO On July 26, 2024, the Ontario Government published proposed amendments to Ontario’s Insurance Act impacting our auto insurance product… - [In Convo with Amber Mac](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/in-convo-with-amber-mac/) - Norah Black, VP Marketing & Communications, IBAO Amber Mac is a tech and innovation expert, author and Co-Host of The Feed on SiriusXM. She’s a business host for Fast Company, CNN, Bloomberg, CBS, BNN, CBC, Global News and CTV. Amber joins us at IBAOcon this year to share her passion for digital innovation in all forms… - [The Role of Customer Service in Brokerages](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-role-of-customer-service-in-brokerages/) - Beth Feagan—Owner and Broker, MacEwan & Feagan Insurance Brokers & David Elliott—President, Sutherland Elliott Insurance Brokers As a client-facing industry, customer service plays a big role in the daily work of insurance brokers… - [Recognizing Excellence](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/recognizing-excellence/) - Every year we recognize top achievement in Ontario’s Broker channel with our Awards of Excellence program. - [Entrepreneurial Journey | Dunning Currie Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/entrepreneurial-journey-dunning-currie-insurance/) - With Jill Dunning—Managing Partner, Dunning Currie Insurance Throughout my career, I’ve wanted to provide exceptional service to clients and maintain a higher standard of responsiveness, transparency and correspondence… - [The Solution to Regulatory Pressure](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-solution-to-regulatory-pressure/) - Brett Boadway—COO, IBAO IBAO was recently asked to participate in an industry panel on today’s political, social and economic dynamics… - [Challenging Status Quo](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/challenging-status-quo/) - With Nick Kidd—CEO & Co-Founder, Quotey I love the insurance world and the people in it. But I’ve become increasingly frustrated with the hurdles and pain points involved in the simplest client interactions… - [Good (But Complicated) News for Brokers](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/good-but-complicated-news-for-brokers/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO Each quarter, IBAO commissions a market share report from MSA Research. These are our findings from Q4 2023, which breaks down market share... - [Branching Out](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/branching-out/) - With Helen Zong—Director, Broker Team, North York Branch The process of setting up a brokerage or a new branch entails a lot of challenges that’ll be new for someone who’s previously only ever worked for others… - [Signaling Availability | Are Markets Softening?](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/signaling-availability-are-markets-softening/) - October 2, 2024 An informal broker survey on market availability today Higher premiums. Stricter underwriting standards. Reduced coverage options. These are all characteristics of a hard insurance market. Hard markets aren’t unique to our industry—it’s a cycle. At some points in time, markets soften. At others, like in recent years, they harden. This seems especially - [Women in the Workplace | Stephanie Tanner](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/women-in-the-workplace-stephanie-tanner/) - Featuring Stephanie Tanner—Chief Administrative Officer, Tanner Insurance After my first year of university, I spent my summer working in our Support Department reviewing and mailing documents. After that summer I realized how much I liked it… - [Broker Roundtable | Internal Training & Development](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/broker-roundtable-internal-training-development/) - Joanna (Philpott) Mendonca—President, Staebler Insurance & Rebecca Reed—Director of Operations, Personal & Group Insurance, McFarlan Rowlands As the insurance industry evolves, investing in internal training has become a cornerstone for cultivating talent and fostering career advancement… - [6 Tips | Managing Your Inbox](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/6-tips-managing-your-inbox/) - October 3, 2024 For many of us, our inbox dictates our day. But emails are so ubiquitous that it can be very difficult to sift through and prioritize the volume we receive daily. Email programs aren’t designed to serve as To Do lists. But with a little set up and consistency, you can reduce clutter, - [Marketing Minute | 5 Common Marketing Tactics and How to Get the Most From Them](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/marketing-minute-5-common-marketing-tactics-and-how-to-get-the-most-from-them/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Marketing, CAA Insurance Company When you spend time and money on marketing, it’s only natural to want to know it’s working… - [Marketing Minute | Bringing Your Unique Selling Proposition to Life](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/bringing-your-unique-selling-proposition-to-life/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Marketing, CAA Insurance Company In today’s competitive insurance sector, it’s essential to have something that differentiates you… - [Pre-Empting Acquisition Anxiety](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/pre-empting-acquisition-anxiety/) - Stuart Ducoffe, Founder, e2r An employee has devoted twenty years of their life to the company. During that time, they’ve worn the company golf shirt to every event, promoted the company over its competition… - [The Perfect Score](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-perfect-score/) - With Becky Moore—Broker, MacEwan & Feagan Insurance Brokers A first of its kind! At IBAO, we monitor licensing exam scores to look for trends and better understand grades and scoring. Recently we ran into a whopping 100% on RIBO’s L3 Management Exam… - [Using AI to Accel at Excel](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/using-ai-to-accel-at-excel/) - September 18, 2024 Are you bored of tedious spreadsheet tasks? Does anyone say no to this question? Macros might be just the thing you’re looking for. They allow users to automate repetitive tasks in Excel like data cleaning, generating reports, formatting and calculations. By leveraging ChatGPT, you can set up macros and automate those tedious - [The Power of Feedback](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/the-power-of-feedback/) - Jeff Toth—Marketing & Communications Lead, IBAO In a previous life, I used to be a professional stand-up comedian. Though marketing and communications seem quite different, my experience in comedy… - [Expanding the Foundation](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/expanding-the-foundation/) - Simon Liang—Education Program Lead, IBAO Our education team often gets suggestions for new courses to develop. Over the years, we’ve gathered plenty of ideas waiting to be explored… - [Becoming a Leader in Cyber Security](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/becoming-a-leader-in-cyber-security/) - Ian Evans—President & CEO, E-Tech As the digital world continues to expand, the significance of cyber security has never been more paramount. In 2024, cyber threats are more sophisticated and damaging than ever before… - [Broker Roundtable | 2023 Perspective](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/broker-roundtable-2023-perspective/) - Christy Silvestri—President & CEO, QuickFacts & Sherif Gemayel—CEO, Trufla - [Going National With Provincial Broker Associations](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/going-national-with-provincial-broker-associations/) - More and more brokers are expanding their reach across the country. So we brought together the leaders and supporters of our provincial broker associations to share the unique features of their province’s industry, regulatory changes and key info brokers should know if you’re contemplating expanding your license. While much of the day-to-day work from province - [Teaming Up With McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokerage of the Year](https://tob.ibao.org/cover-story/teaming-up-with-mcfarlan-rowlands-insurance-brokerage-of-the-year/) - By Norah Black, VP Marketing & Communications, IBAO | Photos by Jason Gordon “It was my first week, literally my first day at McFarlan when I knew I found my fit.”.… By Norah Black, VP Marketing & Communications, IBAO | Photos by Jason Gordon “It was my first week, literally my first day at McFarlan when I knew I found my fit.” Christa O’Neil is Chief Operations Officer at McFarlan Rowlands. She’s spent most of her career with the brokerage, quickly moving up the ranks after - [Fostering Talent With BrokerUnion Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/cover-story/fostering-talent-with-brokerunion-insurance/) - By Norah Black, VP Marketing & Communications, IBAO | Photos by Jason Gordon “We started a brokerage, we pulled together great people, we created a culture of welcoming new talent. That's what BrokerUnion is about.”… - [Digital Working With Quandri](https://tob.ibao.org/cover-story/digital-working-with-quandri/) - By Norah Black, VP Marketing & Communications, IBAO - [Protecting Yourself from Misinformation in the Age of AI](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/protecting-yourself-from-misinformation-in-the-age-of-ai/) - With the proliferation of AI technologies shaping the information we consume, it’s more... - [Broker Roundtable | OPCF 49](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/broker-roundtable-opcf-49/) - Rose Cavaliere—Operations Manager, Dawson & Keenan Insurance & Reigen Wingfield—Director, Commercial Lines, Moller Insurance - [Broker Roundtable | Navigating AI & Automation](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/broker-roundtable-navigating-ai-automation/) - With Bruce Mackay—President, Mackay Insurance, Sarah Van Allen—Co-owner, Van Allen Insurance & Scott Maskell—President, Erion Insurance To say we’re in an era of accelerating change is somehow both cliché and not stating things strongly enough.… - [Brokerage Compliance: Where Do We Start?](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/brokerage-compliance-where-do-we-start/) - Pamela Derksen—Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, NFP Canada Managing a brokerage keeps you busy—between ensuring your team is engaged, growing your top line… - [Brokerage Rebrand | Redefining the Digital Brokerage Experience](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/brokerage-rebrand-redefining-the-digital-brokerage-experience/) - With Dan Reith—Principal Broker, Property & Casualty, Reith & Associates Last year, leadership at Reith & Associates decided to undergo a complete redesign of their website. The new site went on to win recognition... - [Marketing Minute | How Do I Know if My Marketing is Working?](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/marketing-minute-how-do-i-know-if-my-marketing-is-working/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Marketing, CAA Insurance Company When you spend time and money on marketing, it’s only natural to want to know it’s working… - [From Concept to Creation: My Creative Process Journey](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/from-concept-to-creation/) - Samantha Chang—Marketing Manager, IBAO Part of my role at IBAO is to ensure that every visual element aligns with our brand’s identity and resonates with our strategic direction… - [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: Small Steps for Big Impact](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-small-steps-for-big-impact/) - Jaimie Mulder—Senior Client Manager, Mid Market, and Chair, NFP – Canada Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee Elevating diversity, fostering equity for all, and advancing inclusion are critical to an organization’s growth and success… - [My Journey Into Commercial Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/my-journey-into-commercial-insurance/) - Brandon P. Tyrrell—Commercial Lines Marketer, KRGinsure Last year, after working for almost four years in Operations at Amazon, I started exploring new industries to see how I could leverage my transferable skills… - [Going BIG on AI Solutions](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/going-big-on-ai-solutions/) - Stephen Billyard—CEO and Principal Broker, Billyard Insurance Group In an age where technology is rapidly evolving, the insurance industry isn’t immune to the increasing demands of data-driven solutions and the need for improved efficiency and accuracy… - [Broker Decathlon](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/broker-decathlon/) - With the Olympics just around the corner, the world’s best athletes will be gathering in Paris to test their abilities against one another… - [Explaining Water Risk](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/explaining-water-risk/) - Suchinder Singh—Vice President, Personal Lines, Intact Insurance Sewer back-up and water and sewer line coverage, as well as the routine water damage caused by overflowing bathtubs, leaking pipes and cracked toilets… - [6 Ways to Speed Up Your Progress](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-ways-to-speed-up-your-progress/) - It’s been said that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill (often misattributed to Malcom Gladwell).… - [Meet the Team: Introducing New YBC Leaders](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/meet-the-team-introducing-new-ybc-leaders/) - Every year we welcome a few new faces to our Young Brokers Council—a group of dynamic insurance professionals who help drive industry initiatives… - [The Evolving Role of Gender in Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/the-evolving-role-of-gender-in-insurance/) - There’s an ongoing discussion on gender identity within society and a related discussion within our industry, specifically as it relates to auto insurance rating… - [How Corporate Culture Drives Customer Experience](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/how-corporate-culture-drives-customer-experience/) - Jennifer Ronca—Senior VP of Operations, Unica Insurance In the insurance industry, particularly during hard market cycles, the blend of a positive attitude and expert know-how distinguishes exceptional service from mediocre… - [Finding Your Impact Through Education](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/finding-your-impact-through-education/) - Stephanie Iacono—Broker Education Rep, SGI CANADA Whether you’re seasoned, new or in that mid sweet spot in your career, we can all relate to the challenge of navigating an increasingly fast-pasted, ever-changing industry - [Leveraging Demographics | Segs & The City ](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/leveraging-demographics-segs-the-city/) - In the last issue we shared the first of our demographic profiles, designed to help you leverage Consumer Data Reports..… - [Brokerage Rebrand | Jones Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/brokerage-rebrand-jones-insurance/) - With Jeff Jones, President Jones Insurance In the evolving business landscape, adaptation is key to longevity. - [Building Solutions for Commercial Auto Clients](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/building-solutions-for-commercial-auto-clients/) - With Derrick MacDonald—Insurance Broker & Driver Verified Founder Frustrated with the insurance challenges for his commercial auto clients, this broker decided to build solutions. - [Bridging the Gaps in New Canadians’ Insurance Literacy](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/bridging-the-gaps-in-new-canadians-insurance-literacy/) - March 25, 2024 Sarah Montalba—Marketing & Administration Coordinator, IBAO In a dynamic and culturally diverse province like Ontario, there’s a need to address the challenges newcomers face in understanding the intricacies of Personal Lines insurance. New Canadians can find themselves struggling to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of obtaining insurance—language barriers, a lack of accessible information - [Self-Care Routines for Top Performers](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/self-care-routines-for-top-performers/) - With Susan Hobson, High Performance Coach, Elite Performance No matter what field you’re in, the rule is: the more successful you are, the more self-care you need..… - [What HUB International Learned from 900 Business Leaders](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/what-hub-international-learned-from-900-business-leaders/) - With Matthew Studley, MBA, CFA, Executive Vice President, Complex Risk Unit, Hub International HUB International is the biggest brokerage in Canada. From that unique vantage point they’ve published The HUB 2024 Outlook… - [Put Failed Resolutions Behind You](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/put-failed-resolutions-behind-you/) - Jeff Toth, Marketing & Communications Lead, IBAO At this point in the year, most people’s New Year’s resolutions have failed. But don’t worry… - [Entrepreneurial Journey | Advantage Insurance Brokers](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/entrepreneurial-journey-advantage-insurance-brokers/) - With Chris Stark—Senior Insurance Executive, Advantage Insurance Brokers I genuinely love sales, and selling insurance is a tough grind. Either the market is soft and there’s no incentive… - [Rising Talent | Helen Zong—BrokerTeam Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/rising-talent-helen-zong-brokerteam-insurance/) - Helen began her insurance career at BrokerTeam Insurance in 2012. In 2020, she became a Branch Director when she opened the BrokerTeam North York Branch... - [Affiliate | Windsor Essex County Insurance Brokers Association](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/affiliate-windsor-essex-county-insurance-brokers-association/) - WECIBA is a well-established Affiliate with a reputation for providing high quality events and networking opportunities... - [Initiative | Jaimie Mulder — NFP Canada](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/initiative-jaimie-mulder-nfp-canada/) - Jaimie is the Chair of NFP Canada’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee... - [AI Hacks: Minutes from the Future](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/ai-hacks-minutes-from-the-future/) - One thing about having an office job (even if you work from home) is that no matter what the nature of your office job is, part of what you… - [Brokerage Rebrand: PetleyHare Insurance Brokers](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/brokerage-rebrand-petleyhare-insurance-brokers/) - With Adam Hare—President, PetleyHare Insurance Broker PetleyHare, a multi-generation brokerage in Oshawa, recently rebranded its organization… - [Digital Transformation is Well Underway](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/digital-transformation-is-well-underway/) - Michael Turcsanyi—CEO, Goose Digital It’s all around us. Digital transformation in the insurance industry is roaring. Companies like Deloitte and The Milken Institute are tracking close to $15B of investment in over 1,500 InsurTech players. They also report that at least 48 insurance carriers have dedicated innovation departments. The promise of it all? A complete, - [Large Brokerage | Brokers Trust Insurance Group](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/large-brokerage-brokers-trust-insurance-group/) - Brokers Trust Insurance Group was founded in 1963. They’re headquartered in Vaughan… - [Small Brokerage | McCAM Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/small-brokerage-mccam-insurance/) - McCAM Insurance was founded in 1913 and is headquartered in Oshawa, with staff across… - [Driving Change in Ontario](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/driving-change-in-ontario-2/) - Last month the Ontario Government released its 2024 Budget. A headline-grabbing feature of the … - [Uncovering Your Unique Selling Proposition](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/uncovering-your-unique-selling-proposition/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Insurance Marketing Have you ever thought about what makes your brokerage different from those you’re competing with?… - [Women in the Workplace | Melissa Bajwa](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/women-in-the-workplace-melissa-bajwa/) - Featuring Melissa Bajwa—Vice President, Compliance and Broker Network Operations, PROLINK Insurance After graduating from university, I started as an Insurance Advisor at TD Meloche Monnex with zero experience… - [Broker Roundtable | From Brokerage to Tech Startup](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/from-brokerage-to-tech-startup/) - Christy Silvestri—President & CEO, QuickFacts & Sherif Gemayel—CEO, Trufla - [Leveraging Demographics—The Family Mode Segment](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/leveraging-demographics-the-family-mode-segment/) - When people cite the quote “data is the new oil” they usually mean that data is now the most valuable commodity, but that’s not what that quote originally meant… - [Veteran’s Mentorship Program](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/veterans-mentorship-program/) - Gabriela Bejarano—Office Manager & Special Projects As part of IBAO’s ongoing recruitment efforts, we’ve expanded our mentorship program to assist Canadian military members… - [Talent vs. Work: How a Digital Workforce Props Up Talent](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/talent-vs-work-how-a-digital-workforce-props-up-talent/) - Curtis Samoy, Founder, Clementine Tech Talent A blanket term we use in the business world to describe people who work. But really the two couldn’t be more different, and in other worlds,… - [Growing Towards Greatness](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/growing-towards-greatness/) - Jeremiah Brown, Olympian, Author & Speaker When I was a newcomer to rowing, I joined the defending Olympic championship team. The group was reeling from a poor showing at the 2010 World… - [IBAO: A Source of Market Intelligence](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/ibao-a-source-of-market-intelligence/) - Brett Boadway—COO, IBAO Employees are an organization’s greatest asset, representing a significant (if not the largest) investment it will make… - [The Current and Future Impact of the CCIPA](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-current-and-future-impact-of-the-ccipa/) - With Jennifer Lau—President, CCIPA The Canadian Chinese Insurance Professionals Association (CCIPA) has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1988… - [Leveraging Compensation Survey Data](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/leveraging-compensation-survey-data/) - Darcy Clark—Senior Principal, Normandin Beaudry Employees are an organization’s greatest asset, representing a significant (if not the largest) investment it will make… - [The Man, the Myth: Lyall Bell](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-man-the-myth-lyall-bell/) - Kevin O’Hare, Education Manager & Lead Instructional Designer, IBAO Lyall Bell has been with the IBAO since 2008. In his 33 years of teaching, he has taught over 25,000 people. He is… - [Tech Check: Improving Your Digital Hygiene](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/tech-check-improving-your-digital-hygiene/) - If your desk is an absolute disaster, you might hear about it from a coworker or even your boss. But, unless you’ve screen-shared your desktop during a Zoom call or a PowerPoint presentation, people may not know the secret shame of your digital clutter. Digital clutter is just as bad for your productivity—and sanity—as physical - [5 Apps To Be a Better Leader](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/5-apps-to-be-a-better-leader/) - Monday.com Monday.com enables leaders to paint a big picture for the team to see all the tasks that need to be accomplished. The platform allows for easy communication and collaboration and keeps leaders in touch with their team members. MapMyFitness A healthy lifestyle is known to improve your work habits and increase productivity. MapMyFitness allows - [Advocacy in Action: AutoPlus Reports](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/advocacy-in-action-autoplus-reports/) - With Joseph Carnevale—IBAO President IBAO’s advocacy work with the government and regulators might be more publicized, but there’s crucial work to be done within the industry that only the IBAO is positioned to do. In February, CGI notified us about impending changes they were making to their process for ordering AutoPlus reports. This was in - [Lessons Learned After a Year in a Pandemic](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/lessons-learned-after-a-year-in-a-pandemic/) - March 11th marked one year since the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. One full year isolating from friends and loved ones. Twelve months working remotely or potentially unemployed. Three hundred and sixty-five days of social distancing, modified routines and life as we know it altered completely. This milestone is an opportunity to - [Pandemic Anniversary l The Mutual Perspective](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/pandemic-anniversary-l-the-mutual-perspective/) - With John Taylor—President, Ontario Mutual Insurance Association As we passed the first anniversary of the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic, I heard many people say that, despite having shut down so much of our lives and pausing so many activities, time has moved along more quickly than we could have imagined. I certainly find myself - [Much Has Changed](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/much-has-changed/) - FEATURING JOEL BERGERON President BMT Insurance & Financial Services KELLY THOMPSON President SurNet Insurance Group KRISTEN HA Director of Operations Trigon Insurance Brokers It’s interesting to look back on the moment when news of Covid-19 was first announced and visualize where you were, who you were with and how naive we were to think it - [I Miss Concerts](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/i-miss-concerts/) - I Miss Concerts Norah Black—Director, Marketing & Communication, IBAO The Mod Club closed its doors in November. Home of The Weeknd’s first live show, the College Street concert venue gave me an embarrassing story I still tell this many years later—the time I was so adamant in arriving fashionably late to a Bedouin Soundclash show, - [Broker Market Share Holds in 2020](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/broker-market-share-holds-in-2020/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO And now for some good news. The dust certainly hasn’t settled on Covid-19 from a healthcare or economic perspective. But hindsight on broker perseverance thus far, after a year full of challenges, could be the silver lining you’re looking for. Once again, Ontario’s broker channel proved its resiliency and held - [One Year In—An MGA Perspective](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/one-year-in-an-mga-perspective/) - One Year In l An MGA Perspective George Longo—President & CEO, Towerhill Excess Underwriting As we enter year two of the pandemic, we’ve shifted from survival mode to accepting the new realities of the professional workplace. A reflection on what has and what hasn’t worked is required to determine the best course forward. Although the - [Interesting Niches | Brewery Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/interesting-niches-brewery-insurance/) - With Christina Martin—Vice President, KRGinsure Ontario has a robust culture of microbreweries, many of which had to quickly pivot to survive during the pandemic. Toronto-based KRGinsure has a large Hospitality portfolio that includes many of these breweries. They shared some of the issues facing breweries and what brokers are doing to help. WHAT ARE SOME - [My Covid Experience](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/my-covid-experience/) - Jeff Toth—Marketing & Communications Specialist, IBAO On Sunday evenings I have a regular online get together with friends. We gather to watch mini-series while live chatting, either talking over the show or poking at it depending on how good or bad it is—Good Lord Bird has been the highlight so far. It usually wraps up - [A Day in the Life](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/a-day-in-the-life-2/) - Amanda Pultz—Sales Representative, Petley-Hare Insurance Brokers Before becoming a broker, Amanda’s background was in the hospitality industry, working at various hotels in different roles. A self-proclaimed people person, Amanda has always enjoyed working with people, regardless of the industry. “As life changed and I decided to start a family, it became more difficult to work - [Celebrating 2020 IBAO Community Leaders](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/celebrating-2020-ibao-community-leaders/) - Celebrating 2020 IBAO Community Leaders Illustration by Madison van Rijn We’re continuing our Community Leadership Award Spotlight throughout the year, featuring Ontario Brokers who went above and beyond for their community last year. BRUCE MACKAY Mackay Insurance Brokers Bruce is a humble, hard-working and caring leader in both his personal and professional life. He’s well-respected - [Out in the Cold](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/out-in-the-cold/) - With John Thorpe President, Utter Morris Insurance Brokers With all the fundraising around pandemic-related causes, it can be easy to mentally set aside the issues that persisted beforehand. But ongoing issues, like homelessness, need our attention more than ever. As a result of the pandemic there are far more people facing an economic crisis that - [Third Quarter Ransomware Attacks Surged](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/third-quarter-ransomware-attacks-surged/) - Spencer Heaton—A&S System Consultants The numbers are in for 2020, and they show we’re losing the war on cybercrime. According to multiple reports, ransomware attacks rose in Canada and around the world in the third quarter last year. SonicWALL, a Cybersecurity firm, found that although overall malware volumes started to decline in Q3 and again - [Pet Corner](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/pet-corner-2/) - MACGREGOR, MURPHY & DOZER Suzanne Pountney Ontario West Insurance Brokers SAMMY Erin Hough McDougall Insurance TANA Tahnee Malazdrewicz IBAO STUBBY Kristine Major MLS Insurance Brokers THEO AKA MR. WORLDWIDE & KALI Alyssa Taksas & Geoff Keyes Keyes Real Estate & Insurance Ltd. ROMEO Gabriela Bejarano IBAO PENNY Ashley Geldhof Utter Morris Insurance Brokers NOVA Sophie - [What's on Social](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/whats-on-social-2/) - View this post on Instagram A post shared by Henderson Yost Insurance (@hendersonyostinsurance) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Morison Insurance (@morisoninsurance.ca) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Van Allen Insurance Inc. (@vanalleninsurance) View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Standard Insurance (@thestandardinsurance) View this post - [Maintaining Vacant Commercial Property](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/maintaining-vacant-commercial-property/) - Jason Ostapeic—Senior Risk Control, Commercial Insurance, Unica T In these unprecedented times, lockdowns and self-isolation requirements are resulting in job sites being shut down and employees working from home wherever possible. Many of these shutdowns mean commercial buildings and construction sites sit idle for extended periods of time and could be subject to property and - [DIY Chartcuterie Boards](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/diy-charcuterie-boards/) - DIY Chartcuterie Boards Guest Contributor Deema Elshourfa Insurance Defence Lawyer, Evangelista Barristers & Solicitors @deema_eats Charcuterie boards have always been popular, but social media has upped the ante. From elaborate designs to fun themes, people are exploring all the options a board can present. It may seem as simple as putting delicious food on a - [5 Apps You May Not Have Heard Of](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/5-apps-you-may-not-have-heard-of/) - NEXTDOOR CANADA This app has never been more relevant. Supporting local has become crucial in keeping businesses and individuals within our communities going. Get updates on public services, exchange recommendations, borrow an item from your neighbour or sell items that have been collecting dust in your closet, instantly. BE MY EYES A global community that - [LIBA Supports 2020 Subiness Cares Food Drive](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/liba-supports-2020-subiness-cares-food-drive/) - The Business Cares Food Drive in London, Ontario has been rallying local businesses and associations to support their Food Bank for over 20 years and was campaigning to make 2020 their biggest year yet. The London Insurance Brokers Association (LIBA) recognized this and knew it was an opportunity to help the community they love. “LIBA - [Pet Corner](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/pet-corner/) - CLARK Brooke Martens Zensurance TEDDY & DAISY Danikka Frey Medallion Group Insurance PHOENIX AKA. MR. FEENIE Sheri Orvis Sutherland Insurance NINJA King Yee Jr. J.B. Kelly Waterway Insurance NEWMAN Dan Cook McDougall Insurance NALA BEAN AKA. BOSS DOG Jennie Hope J.B. Kelly Waterway Insurance Brokers MURPHY & VEGAS Suzanne Pountney & Traci Boland Ontario West - [Marketing Minute | You’ve Launched Your Social Media… Now What?](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/marketing-minute-youve-launched-your-social-media-now-what/) - Brent Closs—AVP Marketing, CAA Club Group Perhaps you’ve launched your social media strategy by posting a few thought pieces or calls to action, and you’re waiting for that magic to happen. You see the odd like, and a few people start to follow you. But the real magic won’t happen until you start truly engaging - [What's on Social](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/whats-on-social/) - View this post on Instagram A post shared by BrokerLink (@brokerlinkca) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ontario West Insurance Brokers (@ontariowestinsurancebrokers) View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Standard Insurance (@thestandardinsurance) View this post on Instagram A post shared by McDougall Insurance (@mcdougall_insurance) View this post on Instagram - [Staff Spotlight | Samantha](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/staff-spotlight-samantha/) - What I like most about what I do is being able to express myself creatively and then seeing that creativity come to life. Samantha Chang is the mastermind behind all the beautiful designs at the IBAO, including this magazine. You name it, she’s designed it. But she didn’t start her career that way, nor did - [Microsoft Doesn’t Have Your Back. Sorry.](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/microsoft-doesnt-have-your-back-sorry/) - Spencer Heaton—A&S System Consultants This past year, many businesses, including brokerages, have been forced to move to remote workforce models. This migration and change in network infrastructure hasn’t come without risk. To aid their businesses with this change, brokers are adopting a cloud-based data access and storage philosophy. Many are using Microsoft 365 products and - [We Wrote the Book On It](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/we-wrote-the-book-on-it/) - Kevin O’Hare—Education Supervisor & Instructional Designer, IBAO In 2019 we took up the project of rebuilding the licensing course we’d been running from the ground up. Yes, RIBO maintains the keys to the gates and identifies who can and can’t pass through, but how individuals get to that gate is up to us. Broker Launchpad - [The Commonwell’s G.R.A.D Program](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-commonwells-g-r-a-d-program/) - Julie Yandt—Director of Human Resources, The Commonwell Cassidy Allison—Marketing and Member Insights Specialist, The Commonwell Programs for new graduates have long served as a valuable avenue for businesses to cultivate talent from within. This arrangement offers significant benefits to all parties involved—associates can apply their newly acquired skills in real-world scenarios, while employers, if strategically - [Repositioning for Growth](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/repositioning-for-growth/) - Chris Weston—Regional VP Business Development and Broker Financial Solutions There is no question most of us wish we could flip a switch to return to a normal world as quickly as it was… - [Crystal Ball: 2024 Predictions](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/crystal-ball-2024-predictions/) - Brett Boadway—COO, IBAO No one likes being wrong on predictions, so why do we put them in writing for later scrutiny?… - [6 Hobbies You Can Try on the Cheap](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-hobbies-you-can-try-on-the-cheap/) - Instead of punishing yourself with a New Year’s Resolution based on depriving yourself, resolve to add a little variety to your life by trying something new. Birdwatching With a $50 pair of binoculars you can start interacting with nature in a whole new way. Identify and log birds with the Audubon Society’s free app. If - [Meet Esra: Guiding Your Career Path at the IBAO](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/meet-esra-guiding-your-career-path-at-the-ibao/) - Esra Akbulut, IBAO Enrollment Coordinator Esra is the Enrollment Coordinator for IBAO’s Education Team. She handles registrations and provides assistance with course inquiries… - [Cloning Your Ideal Customer to Grow Your Brokerage | Marketing Minute CAA Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/cloning-your-ideal-customer-to-grow-your-brokerage-marketing-minute-caa-insurance/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Insurance Marketing Any marketing campaign’s success relies on knowing who your ideal customer is. If you’re not talking to the right person about what matters… - [Our Broker Masterclass](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/our-broker-masterclass/) - Our newest eLearning offering, Fireside Chat, is a Masterclass-style course that bottles the experiential knowledge of six expert brokers. Each broker shares key lessons and insights they’ve learned over the years — what helped them overcome challenges and seize opportunities. Learn how to leverage specialization, lean in when it matters and make the right decisions - [The NextGen of Brokers](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-nextgen-of-brokers/) - Giovanna Costa Fazari—YBC Team Leader, Toronto/York/Peel In October, IBAOcon’23 hosted the NextGen Talent Expo. The event was geared towards students enrolled in college insurance programs and hosted over 125 students… - [The Natural Answer to the Growing Risks of Climate Change](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-natural-answer-to-the-growing-risks-of-climate-change/) - Dr. Rhonda L. McDougal—National Director of Business Development & Nature Force Strategic Lead, Ducks Unlimited Canada - [No Swearing Please](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/no-swearing-please/) - Theresa Wicks—Sales Manager, Mitch Insurance This October, I had the privilege of leading a workshop at IBAOcon’23 focused on empowering frontline insurance brokers to protect themselves against rude and abusive client behaviour… - [Commercial Lines: The Time to Grow is Now](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/commercial-lines-the-time-to-grow-is-now/) - Nick Frattaroli—Vice President, Commercial Lines, Intact Insurance, Ontario As others debate whether we’re in a hard market, firm market or stabilizing market, at Intact we’re asking a different question… - [Women in the Workplace](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/women-in-the-workplace/) - Featuring Kelly Thompson—President, SurNet Insurance Group I think being an insurance broker was always in my future, but it took some time to figure that out… - [How to Host for Dietary Restrictions](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/how-to-host-for-dietary-restrictions/) - Nothing represents the holiday season quite like filling your home with family, friends and food. But the holiday feasts can become more challenging to plan when your guests have dietary restrictions. By offering a variety of appetizers and entrees that cater to specific dietary needs, you can ensure an inclusive and enjoyable dining experience for - [True Productivity](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/true-productivity/) - There are so many techniques, apps and systems purported to turn us into our most efficient selves. If you’ve found one that works for you, that’s great. But most of them won’t work for most people. To-do lists are definitely better than not having a system in place, but people need to individually discover which - [Responding to Severe Weather](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/responding-to-severe-weather/) - Gavin Mascarenhas—Vice President, Claim, Travelers Canada Severe weather events are a time of worry and stress for those who live and work in the path of these storms… - [Taking a Holiday from the Holidays](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/taking-a-holiday-from-the-holidays/) - Anonymous: The holiday season is always a stressful time for me, and this year the anxiety seems worse. I’m dreading Christmas. I’m also feeling anxious about the New Year and the workload that comes with it. How can I get through December without melting down? Suggestion: The holiday season is stressful for many people. As - [Before You Leap](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/before-you-leap/) - Aly Kanji—CEO, InsureLine My nighttime ritual has always included scribbling down goals and ideas in my notepad. Call me old-school, but there's just something powerful about writing out the actual words… - [IBAO Takes the National Stage](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/ibao-takes-the-national-stage/) - With so many moving parts between the Federal and Provincial governments and insurance regulators, it’s important to keep communication channels open across all stakeholders. So last month, IBAO hosted a National Advocacy Day in Ottawa for the first time. Six brokers had 20 Meetings with MPs, including a private meeting with Pierre Poilievre, the Leader - [Leaning into Agility](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/leaning-into-agility/) - With Walid Hejazi—Professor of Economic Analysis & Policy, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto “The fourth industrial revolution has resulted in enormous amounts of data being made available,”… - [Threads: To Join or Not to Join?](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/threads-to-join-or-not-to-join/) - The latest social media entrant causing waves is Meta’s Threads. Launched in early July, Threads is a smartphone-exclusive microblogging app that Meta has positioned as Twitter’s competitor. The app’s rapid growth is hard to ignore. Within its first five days, over 100 million users downloaded the app to check out this new social media platform. - [TOB Goes Paperless](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/tob-goes-paperless/) - Norah Black—Director, Marketing & Communications, IBAO - [Accelerating Professional Growth](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/accelerating-professional-growth/) - If doing your job the way you’d normally do it isn’t getting you to where you’d like be professionally, it’s time to do something else. Manifest It Ask yourself, what are my career goals? Sit down and take the time to sketch out what want to do. Write down what you’re doing to take steps - [How to Stay Motivated](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/how-to-stay-motivated/) - On these cold, dreary days, it’s not unusual to feel a bit—meh. But we all have a bunch of work we need to get done, so we must find ways to keep our motivation up in the face of the doldrums of winter. Thankfully, scientists have studied motivation and have found some best practices that - [Celebrating the IBAC Bipper](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/celebrating-the-ibac-bipper/) - Linda Dolan, President Insurance Brokers Association of Canada 2023 marks the 35th anniversary of the Bipper, IBAC’s iconic logo, and that’s something to celebrate! When I travel across the country as IBAC’s… - [A Brokers Guide to Hiring International Students](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/a-brokers-guide-to-hiring-international-students/) - Are you a hiring manager in an insurance brokerage? Did you know that many individuals graduating from college programs in insurance management are international students? Gain traction in hiring this industry’s up-and-coming talent by understanding what this group is looking for planning their career. International Students are well represented within College Insurance Programs Most of the - [Convert to Discomfort](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/convert-to-discomfort/) - Trying new things and learning are almost always framed as a purely good thing, but here’s a dirty secret—sometimes it sucks. Think back to when you were a kid. Everyone had the experience of being called upon to do something—like answer a math problem or read aloud—not getting it right and feeling pretty embarrassed. It’s - [The Quest for Excellence](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/the-quest-for-excellence/) - In the quest for success and fulfilment in both our personal and professional lives, we can occasionally find inspiration from unpredicted sources—for me, that’s my journey into Muay Thai. This combat sport is often referred to as The Art of Eight Limbs because it makes use of eight points of contact—punches, elbows, knees and kicks. The - [Bring On Focus Mode](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/bring-on-focus-mode/) - Limiting screen time can be a challenge, especially when we’re using the same mobile device during the day. The pandemic only exasperated this by forcing so much more of our communications to be funneled through our devices. The boundaries between our work life and personal life dissolved and have yet to fully solidify again. Focus - [Setting the Stage at My First Young Brokers Conference](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/setting-the-stage-at-my-first-young-brokers-conference/) - Sarah Montalba, Administration Coordinator, IBAO This year, I was given the opportunity to attend the Young Brokers Conference alongside our Marketing team… - [Using Classics as a Springboard](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/using-classics-as-a-springboard/) - Guest Contributor Deema Elshourfa Insurance Defence Lawyer, Evangelista Barristers & Solicitors @deema_eats Classics are a classic for a reason—they’re reliable, tried, tested and true. But every now and then, it's good to… - [Conservation Authorities Important Role in Ontario](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/conservation-authorities-important-role-in-ontario/) - Jo-Anne Rzadki, Manager of Business Development and Partnerships at Conservation Ontario Flooding has been the leading cause of public emergency in Ontario and conservation authorities are the first line of defense in… - [Introducing Suzanne Pountney, IBAO’s New President](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/introducing-suzanne-pountney-ibaos-new-president/) - By Erin Kruk, Marketing & Communications, IBAO | Photos by Jason Gordon Get to know IBAO’s 78th President and the sixth woman in IBAO’s history to hold the position… - [Ontario Broker Market Share Where We Sit in 2023](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/ontario-broker-market-share-where-we-sit-in-2023/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO It’s that time of year again when insurer financial statements are released and collected by MSA Research to assess market share by distribution type… - [A Guide to Employment Termination](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/a-guide-to-employment-termination/) - Stuart Ducoffe, Founder, e2r Employment terminations are among the most difficult events brokers and employees must deal with as part of the overall employment relationship… - [Anyone Can Write and Everyone Can Write Better](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/anyone-can-write-and-everyone-can-write-better/) - Jeff Toth, Marketing & Communications Lead, IBAO My role at the IBAO is mostly writing. My role within this magazine is no exception, but… - [Three Steps to Reduce Workplace Anxiety](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/three-steps-to-reduce-workplace-anxiety/) - With tight deadlines, a pile of paperwork and emails coming in faster than they can be answered, many people are familiar with the day-to-day stressors of working in an office. Anxiety in the workplace is a growing issue. Luckily, there are some simple things that can be done to make your office a safe place - [Blending Customer Service With Tech](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/blending-customer-service-with-tech/) - Aslam Baksh, Manager, Personal Insurance, Aaxel Insurance Brokers, Sarah Macklin, Account Manager, Personal Lines, Paisley Partners, Tegan Lynch, Personal Lines Account Manager, McDougall Insurance & Financial - [Giving Digital Interactions the Human Touch](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/giving-digital-interactions-the-human-touch/) - With Professor David Soberman, Canadian National Chair in Strategic Marketing, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto It’s no secret that business of all stripes has been moving online—it’s only sped up in recent years… - [Delivering Customer Service through Claims](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/delivering-customer-service-through-claims/) - Doug Cyr, Regional Vice President of Claims, Unica Insurance Brokers often work as a middleman between clients and insurance carriers. They help their clients through the claims process… - [Improving Internal Communications](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/improving-internal-communications/) - When you think about business communications, you’re probably thinking about external communications—dealing with clients and potential clients. However, a company’s internal communications are just as crucial to business, but are often left to be figured out along the way. Gallagher’s 2022/23 State of the Sector report extracts insights from over 2,000 communication and HR leaders - [Fast Track With Thomas Wright—IBAO Future Leader](https://tob.ibao.org/cover-story/fast-track-with-thomas-wright-ibao-future-leader/) - By Norah Black, VP Marketing & Communications, IBAO | Photos by Jason Gordon It all started selling life insurance door-to-door in a rundown part of Hamilton.… - [Sustainability at the Core: Transforming the Insurance Industry for a Better Future](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/sustainability-at-the-core-transforming-the-insurance-industry-for-a-better-future/) - Sustainable insurance is a forward-thinking method that incorporates environmental, social, and governance factors into all aspects of the insurance value chain. The goal is to cut risk, create innovative solutions, enhance business results, and contribute to our environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) sustainability. The insurance industry is well-acquainted with sustainability issues. As the economy’s - [The History of Workplace Technology](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-history-of-workplace-technology/) - Prof. Dimitry Anastakis, the Rotman School of Management and the Department of History University of Toronto Businesses are often told they should be trying to innovate, but today what that word… - [Through The Crystal Ball—Predictions for 2023](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/through-the-crystal-ball-predictions-for-2023/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO In what is becoming an annual tradition in this magazine, I'm once again documenting my predictions for the coming year. IBAO has the unique ability to see… - [College Day and Job Fair Makes a Return at 2022 IBAO Convention](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/college-day-and-job-fair-makes-a-return-at-2022-ibao-convention/) - While our Annual IBAO Convention was underway in October, we focused our attention on the future of the industry by hosting a College Day and Job Fair at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto. This allowed companies across our province to talk to students interested in the industry and gave the next generation of talent an - [Ontario Brokers Donate $110K to Support Ontario Nurses](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/ontario-brokers-donate-110k-to-support-ontario-nurses/) - It’s the season of giving and brokers across Ontario did just that with a donation of $110K to the Registered Nurses’ Foundation of Ontario (RNFOO). RNFOO was chosen as the official charity of the IBAO’s 2022 Annual Convention in October, where the funds were raised. The foundation, who is known for providing scholarships, grants and - [100 Years with Tanner Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/100-years-with-tanner-insurance/) - Steven Tanner, President, Tanner Insurance Tanner Insurance was founded in 1922. From their first location in Vars, Ontario, they’ve enjoyed steady growth and have become recognized as one of the leading… - [The State of Technology in the Insurance Industry](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-state-of-technology-in-the-insurance-industry/) - Mark Morissette, CEO of Foxquilt Lance Miller, CEO of Surex Insurance What are some interesting… - [Acquisition Marketing in Action | Marketing Minute CAA Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/acquisition-marketing-in-action-marketing-minute-caa-insurance/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Insurance Marketing In our last edition of the Marketing Minute, we reviewed the concept of a marketing funnel and how it’s used to segment customers through their purchasing stages… - [Women in the Workplace | Joanna Mendonca](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/women-in-the-workplace-joanna-mendonca/) - Joanna Mendonca, President, Staebler Insurance Please tell us about yourself, your company and your career in insurance. I’m incredibly proud and fortunate to be part of the third generation of my… - [Ask an Expert: What A.I. Can Tell Brokers About their Clients](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/ask-an-expert-what-a-i-can-tell-brokers-about-their-clients/) - Erin Kelly, President & CEO, Advanced Symbolics Inc. Recent innovations in market research and engagement make it easier for businesses in every industry to measure customer sentiment in real-time and even test… - [Innovation in Insurance: How Brokers and Insurers Solve Customer Problems](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/innovation-in-insurance-how-brokers-and-insurers-solve-customer-problems/) - Danny Da Costa, SVP, Ontario Division Intact Insurance Innovation and insurance are not two words that most people associate with each other. It’s time to change that. Customers want the people they… - [The 3 Cs of Uninsurability: How to Manage and Mitigate Risk Effectively](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-3-cs-of-uninsurability-how-to-manage-and-mitigate-risk-effectively/) - Matthew Studley CFA, SVP Complex Risk Unit HUB International Cryptocurrency is all over the news these days, but the risk is high with the recent downturn creating a so-called crypto winter. Cryptocurrency… - [A Hidden Gem: How to Sell the Insurance Industry to New Talent](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/a-hidden-gem-how-to-sell-the-insurance-industry-to-new-talent/) - Debbie Coull-Cicchini, Executive Vice President, Intact Insurance The best advice I received from my mom was to, do what you love. When I speak at non-insurance events, and I say that I’ve… - [YBC Returns to Niagara with a Splash](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/ybc-returns-to-niagara-with-a-splash/) - We recently wrapped up our 17th annual Young Brokers Conference and our first in-person event since 2019. Young brokers from across the province gathered in Niagara Falls to network, meet their peers, sharpen their skills and hear from some of the industry’s top executives. Since this was our first in-person event since 2019, we focused - [5 Apps for Talent To Succeed In a New Role](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/5-apps-for-talent-to-succeed-in-a-new-role/) - Feedly Feedly allows you to track insights across the web without having to read everything. You tell Leo, Feedly’s AI engine, what’s important to you and he flags the important insights from everywhere, including news sites, blogs, Twitter, and newsletters. It simplifies how you read important news. It saves you time by reading your feeds - [7 Insights on Talent in the Broker Channel](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/7-insights-on-talent-in-the-broker-channel/) - Brett Boadway, Chief Operating Officer, IBAO We’ve made recruitment to the broker channel a high priority and a component of our strategic plan. As a result of this focus, we continue to… - [Hiring the Perfect Internal Marketing Resource | Marketing Minute CAA Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/hiring-the-perfect-internal-marketing-resource/) - Brent Closs, AVP Marketing, CAA Club Group In recent Marketing Minutes, we’ve discussed how to leverage your brand in your recruitment and talent retention efforts. But what if you’re looking to… - [Gearing Up for the New Term](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/gearing-up-for-the-new-term/) - Christian von Donat, VP, Government Relations and Strategy, Impact Public Affairs This past June, Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative Party won a second consecutive majority government from the voters of Ontario. Building… - [Navigating a Dynamic Workplace](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/navigating-a-dynamic-workplace/) - Miki Paczek, Director of Sales & Distribution The Commonwell Trying to figure out the new normal for your team is a complex topic. Companies large and small are wrestling with what the… - [The Talent Pipeline | Centennial College](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-talent-pipeline-centennial-college/) - Richard Karim from Centennial College IBAO has partnered with six Ontario College Insurance Management Programs to help bring new talent to the broker channel. We spoke with Richard Karim from Centennial… - [Summer is Calling!](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/summer-is-calling/) - Guest Contributor Deema Elshourfa Insurance Defence Lawyer, Evangelista Barristers & Solicitors @deema_eats Whether you've been enjoying the hot weather or you've been hiding at home with the AC, the one thing we… - [6 Questions to Ask Yourself to Maximize Job Satisfaction](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-questions-to-ask-yourself-to-maximize-job-satisfaction/) - Do I enjoy what I’m doing? It’s fairly obvious, but it’s worthwhile to regularly check in with yourself that you’re still enjoying your role. If there’s something that could be changed to make it better—have you asked if this change is possible? Without voicing what you’d like to get from your job, your higher-ups will - [Who Gets to Play?](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/who-gets-to-play/) - Aly Kanji, CEO & President, InsureLine, and IBABC Past President I was a recent participant at IBAC’s Hill Day in Ottawa. Hill Day is one day a year when insurance brokers from… - [Women in the Workplace | Joyce Usher‑Mesiano](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/women-in-the-workplace-joyce-usher‑mesiano/) - Joyce Usher-Mesiano, VP Business Development Eastern Canada, Westland I began my insurance career over 30 years ago as a commercial underwriter and field representative at Continental Insurance and Gan Insurance. I… - [The HR Perspective on the Broker Channel](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-hr-perspective-on-the-broker-channel/) - Sarah Gillis, Human Resources Manager McDougall Insurance As one of the largest brokerages in Ontario, McDougall does a lot of hiring. So much so, that they have a special team dedicated… - [Career Planning and Defining Your Career Goals](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/career-planning-and-defining-your-career-goals/) - To plot your career goals as an insurance broker in Ontario, it’s important to understand your options. First, you’ll want to determine where you’re at in your career using the breakdown below, set some relevant goals and record an action plan to achieve them. Some career goals could include: learn a new technical skill; improve - [How to Attract and Retain Talent During the Labour Shortage](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/how-to-attract-and-retain-talent-during-the-labour-shortage/) - Manny Campione, Principal and Market Leader, Compensation and Performance, Normandin Beaudry Clara Pochard, Associate Consultant, Compensation, Normandin Beaudry Canada’s unemployment rate hit a new record low of 4.9% in June 2022, exacerbating the labour… - [The MGA Bridge](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/the-mga-bridge/) - Marykate Townsend, CMGA, CAIB, CAMGA President The commercial insurance and specialty market have been changing fast over the last few years, with significant changes still on the horizon. The hard market and… - [From Yes To Success](https://tob.ibao.org/cover-story/from-yes-to-success/) - Sam Jazayeri, PrimeService Insurance—Future Leader “Start with a Yes and see where that takes you.” - Tina Fey This simple mantra is one Sam Jazayeri has lived by and now fiercely applies… - [Bridging the Gap](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/bridging-the-gap/) - Viet Vu, Manager of Economic Research, Brookfield Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship For the past decade, the business world has been concerned about The Talent Gap. The idea underpinning this phenomenon… - [Perspectives on the State of Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/perspectives-on-the-state-of-insurance/) - Richard Zehr, VP Of Operations, Zehr Insurance Thomas Thompson, Co-op Student, Zehr Insurance Asif Neaz, Client Solutions Associate, Gallagher Sara Runnalls, VP of Operations & Client Solutions, Gallagher The insurance industry is… - [Set Yourself Up for that Promotion](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/set-yourself-up-for-that-promotion/) - Warren Weeks, Business Coach & Entrepreneur You work hard, you’re a team player and a sharp dresser. You have big career aspirations and the work ethic to match. Congrats! But, contrary to… - [Leadership is Creating New Opportunities](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/leadership-is-creating-new-opportunities/) - Pam Albert—Consultant & Executive Coach Joel Burgess—Studio Director, Capybara Games There are countless books, articles, podcasts, seminars, and every other format you can think of, offering advice on being an effective leader—there’s practically… - [Part of the Solution](https://tob.ibao.org/vol-22-issue-1-mar-2022/part-of-the-solution/) - TREVOR WILL INEVITABLY BECOME A POLITICIAN. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST. His accomplishments, advocacy and eloquence won him IBAO’s Diversity Leader Award of Excellence, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving. Trevor’s dedication to all things diversity, equity and inclusion highlights his activism and belief that as the world changes, the insurance industry needs - [Making It Possible](https://tob.ibao.org/vol-22-issue-2-may-2022/making-it-possible/) - The broker landscape across Ontario is filled with some of the best, most sophisticated brokerages in Canada and with that it’s a tall feat to set yourself apart from the crowd. In recent years, Ontario brokers have also had to adopt new practices, raising both their service levels and business acumen to a new standard. - [9 Things I Learned Working Remotely in Central America](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/9-things-i-learned-working-remotely-in-central-america/) - Ashley Holmes, VP, Petley Hare The longest trip my family ever went on was the month we spent away on my maternity leave and we were hooked. From that point forward, I… - [The Talent Pipeline | Seneca College](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-talent-pipeline-seneca-college/) - Prof. Jeff Shnier, Seneca College IBAO has partnered with six Ontario College Insurance Management Programs to help bring new talent to the broker channel. We spoke with Jeff Shnier from Seneca… - [Training Like the Pros](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/training-like-the-pros/) - Simon Liang, Education Program Specialist, IBAO During my first year with IBAO in the education department, I witnessed hundreds of students go through our classes, take their licensing exam, and begin their… - [Goin’ to the Cottage](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/using-your-brand-to-recruit-talent-part-2-2/) - Gavin Brown-Jowett—VP, Personal Lines and Underwriting Transformation, Gore Mutual Insurance Company In recent years, we have seen individuals make significant lifestyle changes and purchase a seasonal property for personal use and/or investment… - [Interesting Niches | Golf Courses](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/interesting-niches-golf-courses/) - With Ashley Chinner – SVP & Director of Golf, Signature Risk Signature Risk Partners Inc. is an MGA that creates and markets custom insurance programs for professionally managed groups and individual organizations. … - [Women in the Workplace | Brenda Koeslag](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/women-in-the-workplace-brenda-koeslag/) - Brenda Koeslag, Prolink Ethics Constant learning and a positive attitude have been the key pillars of Brenda Koeslag’s successful insurance career. Brenda celebrated her 50th year anniversary in the insurance… - [Neurodivergent Talent: Have You Been Missing Out?](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/neurodivergent-talent-have-you-been-missing-out/) - Ravi Thavanayagapathy—Business Process Coordinator, IBAO With Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) becoming more of a specialized field, it will become imperative that DEI practitioners address all forms of diversity, including neurodivergent people.… - [Managing a Commercial Team](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/managing-a-commercial-team/) - Mark Rouleau, Western Financial Group Since joining Western Financial Group in 2019 as the Chief Strategy Officer, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing the brokerage side of our industry. A thirty plus… - [Using Your Brand to Recruit Talent Part 2](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/using-your-brand-to-recruit-talent-part-2/) - Brent Closs, AVP Marketing, CAA Club Group In our last Marketing Minute, we discussed the importance of aligning your internal and external brand to create an internal culture that connects with… - [Mac Attack!](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/mac-attack/) - I hope you’ve updated your Macbook recently. Earlier this year, news broke that the company had become aware of two zero-day vulnerabilities affecting Macs, iPhones and iPads. For those unfamiliar with the term zero-day vulnerability, this is a weakness that’s discovered in a piece of software that’s already operating in the wild and the developer - [Ask the Expert: In-Person Events](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/ask-the-expert-in-person-events/) - Dana Zita, President, aNd Logistix A conference management company that has worked with IBAO on their annual Convention, as well as other events, since 2016. With over 29 years… - [Cultivating The Next Generation How To Support Youth Mental Health](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/cultivating-the-next-generation-how-to-support-youth-mental-health/) - Emma Higgins, National Communications Officer, CMHA National As we continue to navigate year three of COVID-19, it’s no surprise that many of us are experiencing pandemic fatigue and a negative shift… - [6 Tips to Quit Procrastinating](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-tips-to-quit-procrastinating/) - Almost everyone is guilty of procrastinating sometimes, but for some segment of people procrastination can be a real problem, preventing them from achieving their full potential. For them, it might not seem like there’s another way to do things. If this is you, there’s good news—you can take steps to make progress and stop procrastinating - [Considerations for Leading a Hybrid Team](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/considerations-for-leading-a-hybrid-team/) - In the space of two years most offices went from 100% in-person work to 100% remote, but now many offices exist in some middle ground between the two. With hybrid work being a fairly new model to most workplaces, there’s still some ambiguity around how to best work with this new mixed set-up. Hassan Osman manages - [Getting On the Algo-Rhythm](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/getting-on-the-algo-rhythm/) - Bob Tisdale—Former CEO, Pembridge Insurance Since retiring a year ago last August, I’ve had an opportunity to review many of the trade publications I collected during my 40-year career with Pembridge. Some… - [Robotic Process Automation—The Next Step in BrokerTech Pricing That Meets Customer Behaviours and Market Demands](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/robotic-process-automation-the-next-step-in-brokertech-pricing-that-meets-customer-behaviours-and-market-demands/) - Science fiction has speculated about robot workers joining the workforce for decades. While brokerages have been using chatbots for years, a new breed of robots are helping brokerages take the next step towards that promised future. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a form of software automation that automates processes by simulating a person working—software robots - [6 Tips for Better Graphic Design](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-tips-for-better-graphic-design/) - If you’re putting together graphics for social media posts or other assets, it’s usually best to use a designer. But with the ubiquity of design skillsets and the user-friendliness of tools like Canva, it’s now possible to generate great looking graphics in-house. By sticking to some basic design principles, you can up your brokerage’s design - [5 Apps for the Digital Marketer](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/5-apps-for-the-digital-marketer/) - SoAmpli An app that encourages co-workers to be advocates of their business by accessing social content to share on social media. Users can schedule company content posts on their personal profiles and see what their peers are sharing. Increase your network and influence all with a little help from your brand’s biggest advocates. Planoly A - [Rebalancing Yourself in a Shifting World](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/rebalancing-yourself-in-a-shifting-world/) - Stress can affect us in many different ways. In recent times, our lives have been more uncertain and varied, we’ve had increased workloads and the world continues to cope with a novel virus. These factors, combined with our regular everyday stressors, can wear us down. “Chronic work-related stress impacts our body’s ability to maintain balance - [Spring’s Coming](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/springs-coming/) - Guest Contributor Deema Elshourfa Insurance Defence Lawyer, Evangelista Barristers & Solicitors @deema_eats We’ve made it through another winter and are seeing the bright rays of spring. One of the best things about… - [Rest Insured With Ontario Brokers](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/rest-insured-with-ontario-brokers/) - Norah Black—VP, Marketing & Communications, IBAO Insurance is such an interesting service to promote. People require the coverage for some of the biggest assets in their life, but generally have no interest… - [Teach Them Where They Are](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/teach-them-where-they-are/) - Kevin O’Hare, IBAO Education Manager & Lead Instructional Designer The way we deliver education has changed. It’s had to. But recent challenges have given rise to new solutions. The latest of… - [Hot Tips: Getting Employees RIBO Licensed](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/hot-tips-getting-employees-ribo-licensed/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO 2021 presented many changes to the RIBO licensing process. Between the pandemic forcing things to go online to IBAO stepping in to handle exam administration and coordination,… - [The Talent Pipeline | Fanshawe College](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-talent-pipeline-fanshawe-college/) - Cyndi Hornby, Coordinator, Insurance Programs Fanshawe College Mohawk’s Insurance program started in the early 1970s and is the longest running insurance program in Ontario. It’s a four-semester, two-year program and co-op… - [Cutting Through the Noise](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/cutting-through-the-noise/) - In the era of social media, our data has become a more valuable commodity than oil. And the primary way media companies capture our data is by hijacking our attention. In an environment where the all-time largest companies in the world are in an escalating competition to grab our focus, it can be beyond challenging - [2022 Marketing Trends: All About Video](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/2022-marketing-trends-all-about-video/) - Robyn Croll—VP, Customer Insights, Goose Digital INSURANCE IS A RELATIONSHIP BUSINESS. As a broker, you’ve likely heard and made this statement many times. But with digital channels increasingly impacting the entire buying… - [Ask An Expert: Videography](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/ask-an-expert-videography/) - Jon Hyatt, KM4 Productions Jon is a filmmaker, content producer and cinematographer. He’s created content for organizations, artists and not-for-profits of all sizes. His feature film work has been distributed throughout… - [Marketing Minute - CAA Insurance| Using your Brand to Recruit and Retain Talent](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/using-your-brand-to-recruit-and-retain-talent/) - Brent Closs—AVP Marketing, CAA Club Group The insurance industry faces a mutual challenge—retaining great talent and recruiting new talent. So what can a brokerage do to stand out? It begins with your… - [Climate Proofing Our Future](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/climate-proofing-our-future/) - If you were looking for one headline to sum up the impact of climate change on Canada’s and the world’s infrastructure, you could do worse than this one from a December issue of the Toronto Star: “Climate change will cost us billions—and then it will get even worse.” It’s a harsh line, but the trend - [We Are All Different, But We Are All Data](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/we-are-all-different-but-we-are-all-data/) - When it comes to being effective at maximizing profits, many companies will establish goals, gather data and evaluate change over time. Sociologists Elizabeth Hirsh and Donald Tomaskovic-Devey suggest that companies should tackle diversity initiatives in the exact same manner. Data collection is crucial for gaining insight into your workforce and identifying gaps that could reveal - [Women in the Workplace—Featuring Janet Peddigrew, President, Cowan Insurance Group](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/women-in-the-workplace-featuring-janet-peddigreww-president-cowan-insurance-group/) - Highlighting high level females in Ontario’s broker channel, who better to kick off our series than Cowan President Janet Peddigrew? Joining the brokerage in June 2019, Janet leads a team of 500 people and looks for balance between personal and professional. With a successful and inspiring career in her pocket, there’s a lot to learn - [Something’s Phishy—How to Protect Your Company From Sophisticated Email Scams](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/somethings-phishy-how-to-protect-your-company-from-sophisticated-email-scams/) - Phishing attempts rose in Canada in 2021, and the attackers behind them are becoming savvier and more convincing as time passes. While we have all received spam over the years, phishing is a sophisticated and targeted message that can easily fool even the most savvy user. These messages can appear to be from known members - [IBAO on the Election Trail](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/ibao-on-the-election-trail/) - Thomas Gendron, Impact Public Affairs Impact Public Affairs works alongside IBAO leadership, as their Government Relations partner, to connect Ontario’s insurance broker network with their MPP candidates across the province to highlight… - [Our Climate Present](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/our-climate-present/) - Dr. Gordon McBean, Professor Emeritus, Western University Research Chair, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction Over many decades, climate change has evolved from being a topic of scientific interest to becoming a policy… - [Building a Winning Team](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/building-a-winning-team/) - Jennifer Ménard-Shand, Founder & CEO, Staff Shop Jennifer is a First Nations Ojibwe and French Canadian female entrepreneur who founded Staff Shop Inc.—an award-winning, full-service, certified-diverse staffing and essential resources firm… - [Marketing Techniques—The Timeless Kind](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/marketing-techniques-the-timeless-kind/) - Brad Herd—Professor & Program Coordinator, Advertising Media Management & Marketing Management Graduate Programs, Humber College - David Soberman—Marketing Professor, University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management & Canadian National Chair, Strategic Marketing In the constant arms race for attention... - [Broker Market Share in Ontario—Where We Lead](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/broker-market-share-in-ontario-where-we-lead/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO Understanding the impacts of the pandemic on our industry is always a topic guaranteed to pique member curiosity. Certainly, the past two years could have been times… - [Transforming the Insurance Industry Through Leadership](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/transforming-the-insurance-industry-through-leadership/) - Stephen Billyard—President, Billyard Insurance Group Sukhdeep Kang—CEO, Armour Insurance Rishi Jaitley—President, My Insurance Broker With good leadership, you can create a vision and can motivate those around you to make it a… - [Cancelling Insurance and Vacating Property Advice](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/cancelling-insurance-and-vacating-property-advice/) - Robbin Botnick, Chief Operating Officer Excess Underwriting In the third year of this pandemic, it may be possible to see a horizon where life returns to something resembling normal. But for… - [Building Community Connections with Digital Marketing](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/building-community-connections-with-digital-marketing/) - Alyssa Therkildson, Communications Manager, McFarlan Rowlands Janine White, VP Digital Solutions, BrokerLink As industry trends change, so do the products we sell, leaving opportunities to innovate and reinvent. This is where marketing… - [The Future of Fair Auto in Ontario](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-future-of-fair-auto-in-ontario/) - The Ontario auto industry has had to continuously adapt to the realities of the pandemic. When lockdowns began, workers across the province gave up their commutes to work from home, drastically decreasing the number of drivers on the roads. In response, the Ontario government worked with auto insurance companies to offer rebates to reduce premiums - [Interesting Niches | Pharmacies](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/interesting-niches-pharmacies/) - Lindsay Trimble—McCaslin Horne Insurance Brokers McCaslin Horne is a family run brokerage pursuing the pharmacy market in Ontario and across Canada. They offer retail pharmacy store insurance, professional liability and life… - [The Creative Process](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/the-creative-process/) - Overcoming the challenges presented by the pandemic has required no small degree of creativity. Businesses have had to pivot their business models, come up with new marketing strategies and rework their image to stay relevant and competitive. Unfortunately, many people dismiss their own capacity for creativity, saying things like I’m not a creative type. The - [The Talent Pipeline | Mohawk College](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-talent-pipeline-mohawk-college/) - Jorge Bettencourt—Coordinator & Professor, Insurance Program, Mohawk College Mohawk’s Insurance program started in the early 1970s and is the longest running insurance program in Ontario. It’s a four-semester, two-year program and… - [Making Your Priorities a Priority](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/making-your-priorities-a-priority/) - Dr. Susan Biali Haas—Burnout Prevention, Stress Management & Resilience Expert Earlier this year we launched a Keynote Speaker Series featuring today’s top thought leaders across different categories—Mental Health & Wellness; Marketing,… - [2022 Crystal Ball Predictions & How IBAO Will Respond](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/2022-crystal-ball-predictions-how-ibao-will-respond/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO In 2022, the entire insurance industry will be on its toes as the pace of change continues to accelerate. Certainly, IBAO isn’t immune—we’ll be picking up the… - [6 Benefits of Change](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-benefits-of-change/) - Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “the only constant in life is change.” He also said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice. For it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” Seemingly, Heraclitus could’ve also used some change between his observations, but both points still stand. Change never stops. We’ve probably - [The Meaning of Giving Back](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-meaning-of-giving-back/) - Jennifer Oegema—President, ONA To celebrate a milestone anniversary, ONA (Oegema, Nicholson & Associates) made a donation to the Ottawa Food Bank to stock 60 fridges for families in need. ONA President Jennifer… - [Pricing That Meets Customer Behaviours and Market Demands](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/pricing-that-meets-customer-behaviours-and-market-demands/) - Deb Upton—VP, Pricing & Actuarial, Gore Mutual Throughout the insurance industry, it’s no secret that competitive pricing is a prerequisite for new customer generation. Now more than ever, the efficiency and accuracy… - [Transforming Change Into Opportunity](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/transforming-change-into-opportunity/) - CAROLE COAD Commercial Account Executive & Commercial Lines Manager, Ron Johnston Insurance JEFF KIDD Manager, Business Development Programmed Insurance Brokers MUQIT AZIZ President BrokerUnion Insurance If there was ever a time… - [Advocacy in Action | Credit Unions](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/advocacy-in-action-credit-unions/) - Colin Simpson, IBAO CEO The question of whether credit unions should be allowed to sell general P&C insurance products has cropped up regularly in the past decade. A few years ago,… - [Finding Connection Through Our Connections](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/finding-connection-through-our-connections/) - Dr. Wendy Craig, Queen’s University Psychology Professor heard the roar of a crowd coming up from the streets, she knew it might be related to homecoming parties. What she didn’t realize… - [Growing Through Culture With KASE Insurance, Brokerage of the Year](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/growing-through-culture-with-kase-insurance-brokerage-of-the-year/) - Norah Black—VP, Marketing & Communications, IBAO FEATURING Arian Ebrahimi—Managing Partner, KASE Insurance Stanislav Kojokin—Managing Partner, KASE Insurance Alexandra Enman—Talent & Culture Manager, KASE Insurance Aneeza Ahmad—Client Success Manager, KASE Insurance I first… - [Our Biggest Challenge and Greatest Opportunity](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/our-biggest-challenge-and-greatest-opportunity/) - ANNE-MARIE PHAM Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) WENDY CUKIER Founder & Director, Diversity Institute, Ryerson University Last year the pandemic had us stuck at home when the murder… - [Mental Health Matters](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/mental-health-matters/) - It’s been over a year since most Canadians were told they should go home and stay home. Those who could, nervously retreated from the pandemic and the world. In the weeks and months that followed, there was no shortage of reasons to feel anxious—changed routines, lost jobs and isolation were all part of the new - [Community Strong](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/community-strong/) - Lynn Uildersma—AP Insurance Brokers, IBAH Past President & Miranda Hirte—BFL Canada, IBAH Vice President IBAH’S WON AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR A… - [What’s Your Brand Archetype?](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/whats-your-brand-archetype/) - Brent Closs—AVP Marketing, CAA Club Group When you think of big brands like Apple, Google and Walmart, each probably evokes a reaction, even sub-consciously. Why is this? Large, successful brands know that… - [Marketing Minute | You’re an Insurance Expert… Time to Share the Love](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/3428/) - Brent Closs – AVP Marketing, CAA Club Group In our last Marketing Minute, I shared tips on three important elements of a successful social media strategy: creating great content, curating others’ content and advocating for businesses and causes you value. But in order to make the most of your social activity, I suggest you go - [Full–Court Press IBAO Education During the Pandemic](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/full-court-press-ibao-education-during-the-pandemic/) - Kevin O’Hare—Education Supervisor & Instructional Designer, IBAO From March 2020 until now, no two weeks have been the same. For a year it seems issues are cropping up from all angles and… - [Research Rabbit Holes | Tightly Coupled Systems](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/research-rabbit-holes-tightly-coupled-systems/) - We all remember the toilet paper shortage from the early days of the pandemic. Many were quick to blame it on hoarding, but as journalist Will Oremus explained in his viral article What Everyone’s Getting Wrong About the Toilet Paper Shortage, the truth was more complex. In a self-fulfilling prophecy, reporting on the shortage drove - [Staff Spotlight | Norah](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/staff-spotlight-norah/) - We’ve been able to show the value and impact a successful brand and active voice can have on creating an engaged membership. Since we’re featuring Marketing & Communications Director Norah Black in this issue, it’s only fitting we do things a little differently. It’d be remiss not to highlight the evolution of IBAO’s Marketing Department - [Embracing Disruption with Shawn Kanungo](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/embracing-disruption-with-shawn-kanungo/) - Earlier this year we launched a Keynote Speaker Series featuring 15 of today’s top thought leaders across three different categories—Mental Health & Wellness; Marketing, Innovation & Disruption; and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. We’ll be chatting with a few of these speakers on the themes of our magazine, relating back to brokers and Ontario’s broker channel. - [5 Apps Created During Lockdown](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/5-apps-created-during-lockdown/) - DOLBY ON Transform your phone into your very own recording studio by recording audio, video and music with the quality and customization of Dolby sound. You can livestream directly and there’s even a Google TalkBack feature that helps visually impaired individuals interact with the app. ZENKIT TO DO Fans of the app Wunderlist (now discontinued) - [6 Ways to Make Your Home More Calming](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-ways-to-make-your-home-more-calming/) - We’ve been stuck at home for over a year and it might be a while until that’s no longer the case. Making your space as soothing as possible can help you ride out the last long stretch of this ordeal in comfort. IT’S GOTTA GO Research has shown that clutter can cause stress and impede - [Fattoush Salad Seasoned with Memories of Mom](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/fattoush-salad-seasoned-with-memories-of-mom/) - Guest Contributor Deema Elshourfa Insurance Defence Lawyer, Evangelista Barristers & Solicitors @deema_eats Over the past year, we’ve faced a lot of trials and tribulations. Chief among them has been our inability to… - [Creating Career Opportunities, Virtually](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/creating-career-opportunities-virtually/) - Looking for a job after graduating college or university can be daunting. Add in all the Covid restrictions and it seems impossible to get your foot in the door. Ontario Brokers faced similar difficulties hiring new employees. Earlier this year we saw the opportunity to connect students and brokers without actually bringing them together. We - [The Next Evolution of the Workforce](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-next-evolution-of-the-workforce/) - Before the pandemic, work was a place. A physical building you commuted to, a desk where you answered emails and boardrooms where you met with coworkers. A year later, the concept of work has shifted. For many, to virtual tasks and gatherings that can be done from anywhere with an internet connection. This new remote - [Research Rabbit Holes | Real-World User Experience](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/research-rabbit-holes-real-world-user-experience/) - When we think about creating experiences for clients, it’s important to consider not just what they say, but to examine the ways they interact with our organizations. In the world of software, it’s commonplace to have a dedicated User Experience (UX) Designer to study how people interact with the systems built for them—this same technique - [Staff Spotlight | Simon](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/staff-spotlight-simon/) - Whether it’s the courses we offer or the instructors we onboard, we’re always looking to improve and become more efficient. Like most IBAO staff, Simon had quite a career journey before landing his current role at the association. “I went to school at the University of Toronto to pursue a business degree. Throughout my studies - [Social Media - Bringing it All Home](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/social-media-bringing-it-all-home/) - Brent Closs—AVP Marketing, CAA Club Groupa In the last few editions of our Marketing Minute, I’ve delved into a number of strategies that can support your social media efforts and gain momentum,… - [Being Intentional is More Important Than You Think](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/being-intentional-is-more-important-than-you-think/) - Earlier this year we launched a Keynote Speaker Series featuring today’s top thought leaders across different categories—Mental Health & Wellness; Marketing, Innovation & Disruption; and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. We’ve been chatting with a few of them on the themes of our magazine. Here’s an excerpt from our discussion with Ron Tite—speaker, author and CEO. - [Getting Good at the New Game](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/getting-good-at-the-new-game/) - With Young Broker of the Year, Adam Mitchell Norah Black—Director, Marketing & Communications, IBAO Photo By Andreas Trauttmansdorff You may be rolling your eyes at yet another article on Adam Mitchell. I’m… - [Research Rabbit Holes | Black Swan Events](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/research-rabbit-holes-black-swan-events/) - Though many have become familiar with the term in the past couple decades, Black Swan dates back to the second century, when it had a very different meaning. At the time it was believed that black swans didn’t exist, and the Roman poet Juvenal used it as a metaphor for something that was impossible. This - [Humber’s Partnership with IBAO: Erasing the Stigma](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/humbers-partnership-with-ibao-erasing-the-stigma/) - John McNeil—Program Coordinator, Insurance Management Program, Humber College We start each year in Humber’s Insurance Management Program by asking students a series of questions to see where their head’s at in respect… - [Interesting Niches | Tech Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/interesting-niches-tech-insurance/) - Eddie Rodriguez—Tech Insurance Specialist Tech Insurance Ontario is the Technology & Cyber Insurance division of Marhen Insurance Brokers. The boutique brokerage focuses on serving clients with specialized insurance… - [Reevaluating & Resetting Equality, Diversity & Inclusion](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/reevaluating-resetting-equality-diversity-inclusion/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO Looking across IBAO’s messaging of who we are, you’ll find long standing statements like “representing Ontario consumers”, “direct connection to Ontario consumers” and “uniquely positioned to represent… - [Advocacy in Action | Bill 118](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/advocacy-in-action-bill-118/) - In December, Bill 118 received Royal Assent, passing into law. The bill, with the objective of improving the affordability of insurance for snow removal companies and their customers, had been championed by the IBAO. There are lessons to be taken from this legislative success and the effect that it had in this case. GETTING SNOWED - [6 Tips to Support Small Business](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-tips-to-support-small-business/) - SHOW SOME LOVE One of the best things you can do to help a business you want to support is take the time to write a review on Yelp, Facebook or Google. If you want to give them an extra boost, post about them on social media—it’s free and it’s something we’re willing to do - [The Giving Mindset](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-giving-mindset/) - Lindsay Marshall—Vice President Brand & Communications Youngs Insurance Brokers HOW DID YOUR #GIVEBACKONTARIO INITIATIVE START? At Youngs Insurance, giving back is a significant part of our legacy. Because of this, I… - [Broker to the Government of Canada](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/broker-to-the-government-of-canada/) - Richard Massie—President & Principal Broker, Halpenny Halpenny is a nationally-licensed, independent brokerage founded in Westboro, Ottawa in 1912, that has clients across Canada. That national reach no doubt contributed to Halpenny’s… - [Keeping Small Business Insured During the Pandemic](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/keeping-small-business-insured-during-the-pandemic/) - FEATURING LOLITA WONG Senior Vice President, Begin Insurance GAVIN RAJANIA Managing Partner, Billyard Insurance Group While most businesses have been impacted due to the pandemic, it’s the smaller businesses feeling the greatest… - [The State of Ontario Small Business](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-state-of-ontario-small-business/) - For nearly a year, small businesses have faced unprecedented challenges—many being shut down or working in a reduced capacity. But despite these difficulties, a majority have persevered. With vaccination already underway, there’s hope of some kind of normalcy in the near future, and for those that have survived this long, it’s a matter of holding - [Looking Ahead at Commercial Insurance Markets](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/looking-ahead-at-commercial-insurance-markets/) - Kim Donaldson VP Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada Ontario’s P&C Insurance industry is facing a major challenge: how can it help businesses navigate the difficult commercial insurance market that the COVID pandemic’s… - [A Day in the Life](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/a-day-in-the-life/) - Crissy McKay—Personal Lines Insurance Broker Jones & Associates Crissy’s parents worked in insurance. She got her start in the industry at age 10, stuffing envelopes on Wednesdays after school. She worked her… - [Challenge Accepted](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/challenge-accepted/) - DAVID ELLIOTT—President, Elliott Insurance Services GERRY DE LAURO—President, Personal Insurance, HUB International MICHELLE MCBETH—President, Birkett–Hassard Insurance Brokers The world as we knew it in February is a far different world than the one we find ourselves in today. No one could’ve predicted how quickly we’d need to evolve and adapt to working from our dining room - [Government Perspective on the Pandemic](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/government-perspective-on-the-pandemic/) - With MPP Stan Cho, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance Throughout the current crisis we’ve been working closely with our contacts at the Ontario Government, including MPP Stan Cho, who represents Willowdale in North York. His role as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance gives him a seat at the table during some - [Breaking Down Barriers to Succeed During COVID](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/breaking-down-barriers-to-succeed-during-covid/) - Scrolling through LinkedIn recently, I came across something I’d never seen before—a drive-through brokerage. Nestled in the prairies of Regina, Saskatchewan, Knight Archer Insurance saw a hole (literally) in the market that needed to be filled. Speaking with President & CEO Tracy Archer on a cold, rainy day in Toronto and an exceptionally warm day - [Opportunity Out of Chaos](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/opportunity-out-of-chaos/) - The pandemic has been a never–ending challenge in the way we work. Every procedure, every solution, every assumption—all need to be rethought. But that doesn’t mean the process can’t be rewarding and maybe even a little… fun? Zac Sutherland, Vice President of Sutherland Insurance, created a simple way for brokers to collaborate to overcome some of - [What it Means to be Empowered](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/what-it-means-to-be-empowered/) - Joseph Carnevale, IBAO President First things first—I’m incredibly proud of the broker channel’s response to this pandemic. We stepped up to the plate to deliver valuable insight and support to Ontario consumers. We joined forces to find solutions and share resources with our clients, neighbours and communities. And we demonstrated that we can do more to lead ongoing change in this industry. - [The Power of Resilience](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/more-cyber-threats-more-awareness/) - Tom Reikman, Senior VP & Chief Distribution Officer Economical Insurance Nearing 150 years as a Canadian business, Economical Insurance has helped customers through challenges and catastrophes with the steadfast support of broker partners and employees. This history has built resilience in the face of change and continues to support the commitment we’ve made as a diligent corporate citizen. Over the last few years, we’ve undertaken - [Coordinating an Industry Response to the Pandemic](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/coordinating-an-industry-response-to-the-pandemic/) - With Don Forgeron, President & CEO, Insurance Bureau of Canada With a membership representing 90% of Canada’s P&C insurance market, Insurance Bureau of Canada works with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC President & CEO Don Forgeron shares what the past few months have been - [Brokers #SupportLocal](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/brokers-supportlocal/) - Businesses across the province are feeling the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Reports of businesses shutting their doors permanently are all too common. As an integral part of their communities, brokerages have been doing their part to support local and assist neighbours in need. Many brokerages have been ordering meals for employees to give local - [A View of the Pandemic’s Impact on Brokerage Valuation](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/a-view-of-the-pandemics-impact-on-brokerage-valuation/) - With Colin Clahane, National Director, Insurance Initiatives Lead, BMO Bank of Montreal The COVID crisis is impacting all aspects of business—financing, staffing, technology, customer interaction and engagement. You name it, there’s an impact. M&A activity and succession planning are no different. But while some speculate that the crisis will lead to dramatic asset devaluation, others suggest - [Insurance Going Paperless](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/insurance-going-paperless/) - Monica Dale, IBAO President–Elect The response to many of the workflow challenges presented by the pandemic has been to lean heavily on technology. Developments that were already planned have been fast tracked, sometimes deployed within timeframes beyond expectations before the pandemic struck. In Ontario we’re seeing a strong move by some insurance companies to go paperless. Though previous - [Staff Spotlight | Jeff](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/staff-spotlight-jeff/) - “When I saw that a portion of this job would be working on a magazine I thought, this is exactly the role I was looking for, and I was lucky enough to get it.” You may know him as the man behind the camera or our regular communications, Jeff Toth plays a big role at - [Building Your Go-Forward Response](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/building-your-go-forward-response/) - Dave Smiley, Chief Operating Officer, Unica Insurance It’s during challenging times like these that we have to think creatively to attract new customers. It’s the opportunity to reflect on current portfolios and the markets we’ve traditionally targeted. Brokers who are historically proactive and used to a sales-oriented culture—going after business versus waiting for the phone - [How Brokers Never Stopped Being Essential](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/how-brokers-never-stopped-being-essential/) - Graham Haigh, VP Broker Distribution, Wawanesa Insurance It’s remarkable what this industry has achieved in the past few months. This is especially true given the pace of change, where no two days have seemed the same. When the declaration of emergency was initially announced in Ontario, the first step for insurers and brokers was to adapt to social distancing guidelines and keep people safe. - [Honouring the Past, Insuring the Future](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/honouring-the-past-insuring-the-future/) - As challenging as 2020 has been, and continues to be, there are great things happening across the insurance industry and many reasons to celebrate. One of those reasons: SGI is celebrating its 75th Anniversary by paying homage to how far they’ve come as an organization and celebrating the brokers who will help carry them forward. - [5 Apps to Help You Stay Connected ](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/5-apps-to-help-you-stay-connected/) - MARCO POLO With this app that bills itself as a video walkie talkie, you can send instant video messages to your contacts. Rather than talking in real time, you take turns leaving videos for one another. NETFLIX PARTY Simultaneously stream a Netflix pick with friends and family from the comfort of your own home and discuss - [Securing Your Newly Remote Workforce](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/securing-your-newly-remote-workforce/) - Spencer Heaton, A&S System Consultants Although working from home has been growing in popularity over the last few years, no one could have predicted that our entire employee base would become a remote workforce. This creates a risk for brokerage business—you no longer control what devices access private and critical business data. How can you - [A Moment in Time](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/a-moment-in-time/) - Brett Boadway, Chief Operating Officer, IBAO No doubt 2020 will be a marquee moment in broker history, a marquee moment for our various communities and for the world at large. When IBAO turns 200, I imagine (and hope) the leaders of our association will look back for a true account of this moment in time. Nothing else captures the day–to–day life of Ontario’s broker community like a magazine does. So, this one’s for - [6 Ways to Practice Gratitude](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-ways-to-practice-gratitude/) - At the end of your day, write down three things you’re thankful for. If you’re struggling just jot down a few things that made you smile that day. Maybe your first attempt at banana bread tasted awful but it looked great on Instagram, which still counts as a win. MAKE A LIST At the end of your day, write down three things you’re thankful - [IBAO Mentorship Program Connects Brokers with Rising Talent](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/ibao-mentorship-program-connects-brokers-with-rising-talent/) - Earlier this year we launched our mentorship program connecting Humber College students in the Insurance Management Program with brokers across Ontario. We announced the partnership on LinkedIn, which resulted in a waiting list. Mentor/mentee relationships were formed based on what line of insurance students were interested in and where students would be located after graduation. - [Reshaping the Future of Ontario's Broker Channel](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/reshaping-the-future-of-ontarios-broker-channel/) - With IBAO CEO Colin Simpson “In the initial stages, when news about the virus was picking up, I was brought back to SARS and some of the challenges, which seemed drastic at the time. Mid to end of February it became pretty evident something was evolving beyond SARS. But the extent of the impact took - [The Need for Cancer Research Never Stops ](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/the-need-for-cancer-research-never-stops/) - REBECCA O’BRIEN—Executive Director, WICC Ontario MARILYN HORRICK—Co–Chair, WICC Ontario “Seeing the connection between WICC fundraising and cancer research in action is an incredible opportunity and we’re thrilled we could share it with our sponsors.” In light of the current pandemic, traditional events and fundraising initiatives must change, at least for the time being. The WICC Ontario team has - [Business Blind Spots | The Dunning–Kruger Effect](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/business-blind-spots-the-dunning-kruger-effect/) - Jeff Toth, Marketing & Communications Specialist, IBAO The current situation has thrown almost everything into a state of uncertainty. Everyone has opinions and hypotheses about the virus, what we should do and what will happen next. With all the information floating around, it can be difficult to know whose information to trust—especially when our intuitions - [The 100 Club: McCAM Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/the-100-club-mccam-insurance/) - With Rorie McIntosh, President, McCAM Insurance CELEBRATING BROKERAGES WHO’VE BEEN WITH US FOR A CENTURY WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT MCCAM? We’re based out of Oshawa, ON. We’ve always been in the City of Oshawa, and in fact we’ve been here longer than the city itself—Oshawa became a city in 1924. McCAM Insurance started out as McMurty Insurance. In the first 25 years we were - [Paying It Forward](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/paying-it-forward/) - With Tim Shauf, President & CEO, The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group “As a mutual insurance company, we’re rooted in our communities and we believe this unprecedented time calls for unprecedented and innovative measures.” In their response to the current crisis, The Commonwell took a community–centered approach. In their Pay It Forward campaign, they’re issuing $100 to each of their - [Interesting Niches l Unions](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/interesting-niches-l-unions/) - With Roger Chen, VP Marketing & Communications, Breckles Group of Companies The Breckles Group of Companies includes a strategic brokerage called CLIS Inc., which stands for Canadian Labour Insurance Services, a national brokerage staffed by unionized employees that provides group home and auto insurance to union members. HOW MUCH OF YOUR BOOK IS UNION CLIENTS? Ninety five percent of our business at - [Virtual Insurance Event | Broker Connect](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/virtual-insurance-event-broker-connect/) - Insurance Business Canada hosted its first virtual event for Canada’s insurance industry in May. Over 300 insurance professionals participated in a keynote and round table sessions, virtual tradeshow and live networking events throughout the afternoon. As media sponsor, IBAO supported and promoted the event, encouraging Ontario Brokers to check out the platform and connect with the broader industry. Thanks to Insurance Business Canada - [We're There When You Need Us](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/were-there-when-you-need-us/) - Heather Masterson—President & CEO, Travelers Canada At the start of every new year, our entire Travelers Canada team comes together to talk about our business and priorities for the year ahead. These town hall meetings not only keep us connected to each other, they keep us connected to our vision: to be the undeniable choice - [More Cyber Threats, More Awareness](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/more-cyber-threats-more-awareness-2/) - With Philomena Comerford, President & CEO, Baird MacGregor Insurance Brokers LP The pandemic has changed how we live—the way we work, interact, shop, and spend our free time—by moving as much of that activity online as possible. The cyber risks presented by these changes aren’t new, but their necessary solutions will take a significant amount of effort and careful consideration. Philomena Comerford, President & CEO of Baird - [8 Pillars for a Well-Rounded Social Media Strategy](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/8-pillars-for-a-well-rounded-social-media-strategy/) - Brent Closs—AVP Marketing, CAA Club Group Creating a social media strategy starts with thinking about your organic versus paid social media activities. If you’re like me, your efforts can become a by-the-seat-of-your-pants activity—responding to requests, intermittently posting content and promoting your business to hopefully drive sales growth. But a solid social media strategy is purposeful, - [Business Blind Spots l Zoom Fatigue](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/business-blind-spots-l-zoom-fatigue/) - Jeff Toth—Marketing & Communications Specialist, IBAO The modern workplace will likely be in a state of flux for some time, with certain businesses open, some working from home and some doing a mix of the two. That means more remote work and many more video meetings. While the technology has allowed us to stay connected, - [Interesting Niches l Winery Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/interesting-niches-l-winery-insurance/) - With Jeff Ives, President—Ives Insurance Brokers Ives Insurance is a second-generation brokerage that’s been operating in Essex since 1966. They’ve since expanded to six locations and have a number of specialty offerings including transportation, construction, hospitality, marina, manufacturing and wineries. TELL US ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS SPECIALTY. Our winery clientele is relatively focused in - [Pivoting to Virtual Learning and What’s to Come](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/pivoting-to-virtual-learning-and-whats-to-come/) - Erin Hough—Membership Coordinator, IBAO When the global pandemic struck, alongside every other business, we had to make some quick changes to ensure we maintained safe and effective training for hopeful brokers joining the industry. Pre pandemic, our most popular course for preparing to write RIBO’s licensing exam was our Two-Week Prep Course, which was offered - [Staff Spotlight | Lena](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/staff-spotlight-lena/) - From the moment I walked in it was an extremely welcoming atmosphere. Lena joined the IBAO in September last year, serving as the Accounts Receivable/Payable Coordinator, though her journey here began when she migrated to Canada from Guyana in 1995. While job hunting upon arriving in Canada, the majority of jobs she was referred to - [The 100 Club](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/the-100-club/) - Celebrating Brokerages Who’ve Been With Us for a Century DAWSON & KEENAN We’ve evolved over the years by expanding our presence within our region, but our biggest evolution has been the use of technology which has allowed us to become more results-focused and has enhanced our ability to serve our clients without eroding our strong - [Crisis Breeds Innovation](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/crisis-breeds-innovation/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO We quickly moved to a virtual classroom solution using Zoom. While this provided an acceptable solution on day one, we knew we could do better. The term essential service took on a whole new meaning during the pandemic. For each of our businesses, we had to assess which of our - [The Technology Fallacy and Acute Disruption](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/the-technology-fallacy-and-acute-disruption/) - Stephanie Wei—Manager, Industry Relations & Education, CSIO Before the pandemic, we were thrilled that Boston College Professor and author Dr. Gerald Kane would be speaking at our 2020 Members’ Meeting to share the findings in his book, The Technology Fallacy: How People Are the Real Key to Digital Transformation. Then everything changed. Our annual CSIO - [Our Culture of Innovation](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/our-culture-of-innovation/) - Heather Masterson—President & CEO, Travelers Canada Technology is changing the way the world does business. Today, everyone expects online experiences, seamless communication channels and anytime access to tools and data. Our traditional business models are being challenged by emerging technologies, new competitors and changing customer needs. As customer expectations continue to be shaped by their - [#WeShowUp](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/weshowup/) - This year brokers have persevered through challenges both professionally and in some cases perhaps personally. We all have to some degree. But the value brokers provide their clients has been brought to the forefront, with insurance now part of mainstream conversation and consumers needing expert advice en masse like no other time. It’s this spotlight - [Highlighting Achievement Across Ontario’s Broker Channel](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/highlighting-achievement-across-ontarios-broker-channel/) - It’s an understatement to say things have looked and felt different this year. Many things have been cancelled or postponed, including our planned celebration of turning 100 years old as an association, which we like to now think of as a two-year birthday. One thing we felt shouldn’t be postponed is our annual Awards of - [Developing the Talent Pipeline](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/developing-the-talent-pipeline/) - Christy Silvestri—President & CEO, QuickFacts & Sherif Gemayel—CEO, Trufla - [IBAO Convention Goes Virtual](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/ibao-convention-goes-virtual/) - Christy Silvestri—President & CEO, QuickFacts & Sherif Gemayel—CEO, Trufla - [Extended Summer | Blended Frozen Drinks](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/3831/) - Kim Donaldson—Vice President, Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada - [5 Apps That Reduce Paper](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/5-apps-that-reduce-paper/) - Kim Donaldson—Vice President, Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada - [Living Productively](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/living-productively/) - Intimidated by a deadline? Swamped with meetings? Ordering too much take-out? Whatever is making you feel less productive, tackling it might require looking outside the boundaries of your workday. It can be easy to focus solely on work when we think of productivity, but applying a more holistic approach to your routine can increase your - [The Path to Creating Change](https://tob.ibao.org/cover-story/the-path-to-creating-change/) - Sheldon D. Williams, Nacora International Insurance Brokers–Diversity Leader of the Year By Erin Kruk, Interim VP, Marketing & Communications, IBAO Photos by Jason Gordon Sheldon Williams has been called inspiring, a… - [IBAO’s Strategic Plan: Confronting Our Future](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/ibaos-strategic-plan-confronting-our-future/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO The new year marked the start of another three-year cycle and a new strategic plan for IBAO with new and approved priorities for you—our members. The IBAO… - [Women in the Workplace | Dorothy Renzi](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/women-in-the-workplace-dorothy-renzi/) - Dorothy Renzi, Masters Insurance Tell us about yourself, your company and your career in insurance. I work at Masters Insurance as a Commercial Lines Manager. I manage a team of… - [Staebler Insurance—150 Years](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/staebler-insurance-150-years/) - How is the brokerage celebrating? Are you doing any client or charitable initiatives? Our Staebler 150 Committee has a full year of celebrations… - [Why Brand Awareness is Critical for Customer Acquisition | Marketing Minute CAA Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/why-brand-awareness-is-critical-for-customer-acquisition-marketing-minute-caa-insurance/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Insurance Marketing Last year we discussed planning and executing an acquisition marketing campaign. An acquisition campaign targets individuals who are already aware of your brand and believe in your… - [Level Up Your Leadership](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/level-up-your-leadership/) - IBAO’s new course is ready to prepare you for the RIBO L2 Management Exams It’s a myth that only people that want to own a brokerage should get their Level 2 (L2) license. In today’s industry, this simply isn’t the case and we’re on a mission to bust this outdated way of thinking. If you’re - [Providing Exceptional Experiences](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/providing-exceptional-experiences/) - Andrew Voroney, EVP & COO, SGI Canada From climate change to corporate transformation to recruitment, the insurance industry is no stranger to challenge or change. But, where others see challenges, Andrew Voroney,… - [6 Ways to Harness Your Humanity](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-ways-to-harness-your-humanity/) - In the era of AI, one advantage that human employees will always have is their humanity. By leaning on what make you uniquely human, you’ll make yourself irreplaceable. 1. Make People Feel Heard By practicing active listening, you can make people feel validated. Pay attention, wait for them to finish and paraphrase the speaker’s points - [The DASH Report](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-dash-report/) - Lisa Teggart, Partner 3Tree Have you heard the news? The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is offering a new report to the industry called the Driver Automobile Search History (DASH). This report… - [Flooding and Natural Disaster Management: Tackling the Insurance Gap](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/flooding-and-natural-disaster-management-tackling-the-insurance-gap/) - Thomas Gendron, Director, Government Relations & Strategy Impact Public Affairs Natural disasters are a significant problem for many regions of Ontario, and the frequency of occurrences is increasing year over year. Last… - [Troubleshooting: The Art of Locating and Mending Problems](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/troubleshooting-the-art-of-locating-and-mending-problems/) - Richard Leung, Business Process Coordinator IBAO Let’s face it, we all have a love-hate relationship with troubleshooting. Yet, it is one of those chores we all must tackle in our daily lives.… - [Peter Lee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/peter-lee-on-diversity-equity-inclusion/) - Peter Lee sits on the DEI Committee at the IBAO he’s a Director for the Canadian Chinese Insurance Professional Association (CCIPA) and the Branch Manager of Chat Insurance Services, Steeles Branch in… - [Humber College Graduates Choosing the Broker Channel](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/humber-college-graduates-choosing-the-broker-channel/) - John McNeil, Program Coordinator, Insurance Management, Humber College The independent broker channel hired 60.7% of the graduates in Humber College’s Insurance Management Program over the past two years… - [Staff Spotlight | Vidyha](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/staff-spotlight-vidyha/) - Vidhya Gopinathan, Exams Enrollment Specialist In our first Staff Spotlight of 2023, we’re excited to highlight Vidhya Gopinathan. Vidhya joined IBAO in November 2021 as an Enrollment Coordinator. She has since moved… - [Broker Roundtable: Up-and-Coming Brokers](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/broker-roundtable-up-and-coming-brokers/) - Sam Off, Client Director, Transportation Department, NFP Josephine Beintema, Office Manager & Insurance Broker, Kettlewell Insurance Dave Sproule, Principal Broker, Insurance Insight Inc. What inspired you to pursue a career in insurance?… - [The Strength in Numbers](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-strength-in-numbers/) - Jeff Jones, President, Jones Insurance Casandra Haas, CEO, Haas Insurance Group The broker channel has a unique disposition within the world of business. Because brokerages compete primarily with direct sales by insurers,… - [What Board Game Design Can Tell Us about Business and Creativity](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/what-board-game-design-can-tell-us-about-business-and-creativity/) - With Daryl Andrews, Board Game Designer Daryl is a full-time board game designer based out of Waterloo. He has published over 30 strategy board games, plus numerous expansions, with an additional 10… - [What’s Driving M&A](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/whats-driving-ma/) - Colin Simpson, CEO, IBAO Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity continues at a swift pace across the insurance industry, most evidently in the Canadian Broker Market… - [Recommendations](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/recommendations/) - Savagegeese Car Reviews Colin Marshall Vice President, Will Marshall Insurance Brokers I started watching car review programs and got into this guy Savagegeese, a YouTuber. He’s somewhat underground, so he reviews cars as they become available. He’ll make fun of a 20-year-old sports car because the old interiors are awful, but he’ll admire the engineering - [6 Ways to Spark Innovative Thinking](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-ways-to-spark-innovative-thinking/) - The pandemic has proven that we have a lot of capacity for problem solving and adapting to change—we probably had more capacity pre crisis than we were fully utilizing. So rather than waiting to respond to the next challenge, actively place yourself in the right mindset to spark innovative thinking. PROACTIVELY SEEK OUT PROBLEMS AND - [The Time is Right for Auto Insurance Modernization](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-time-is-right-for-auto-insurance-modernization/) - Kim Donaldson—Vice President, Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada - [22 Questions With Comedian James Cunningham, Awards of Excellence MC](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/22-questions-with-comedian-james-cunningham-awards-of-excellence-mc/) - James Cunningham, Awards of Excellence MC James, tell us who are you in three words or less? 1) Bald 2) Funny 3) Guy … - [The Rise of National Brokerages](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/the-rise-of-national-brokerages/) - Mark Wiens, Head of Commercial Lines, Canada, NFP, Melanie Muise, President, Personal Lines and Travel, Navacord & Don Stanton, Sr. Vice President, McDougall Insurance Brokers - [Perfect is the Enemy of Good Mental Health](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/perfect-is-the-enemy-of-good-mental-health/) - Anonymous: My to-do list is so long every day at work, and I’m not getting through it. Sometimes I rush things, so I worry about making mistakes. But if I do things well, I worry about missing deadlines and causing problems for my coworkers. How can I handle this stress? Suggestions: In our fast-paced world, - [Let’s Help Small Businesses Succeed](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/lets-help-small-businesses-succeed/) - Susan Williams-Bonet—Vice President, Ontario, Wawanesa You can’t go too far these days without encountering someone who has a story about car theft… - [No Checks Please](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/no-checks-please/) - John Knotek—CEO, ClearPay The insurance industry is accustomed to responding to unforeseen events and crisis with poise and diligence. The last few months working through COVID is no exception. Carriers and brokers alike responded to best meet the needs of their mutual customer base. Despite being declared an essential service, many in the industry responded - [Our Golden Opportunity](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/our-golden-opportunity/) - Debbie Coull-Cicchini—Executive VP, Ontario, Western & Atlantic Canada, Intact Insurance We know Canadians are among the most digitally engaged, a trend that’s steadily on the rise due to Covid-19. The pandemic has nudged even the most reluctant people towards digital tools, and these new habits are sticking. In fact, digital adoption rates are expected to - [Echelon’s Specialty](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/echelons-specialty/) - With Robin Joshua—President, Echelon Insurance In May 2019 Echelon brought their broker-focused approach to insurance and their specialized underwriting expertise to the CAA Club Group (CCG) family. Echelon’s goal to keep individuals with unique risks safe by offering tailored insurance options resonated with CCG and their purpose. With CCG’s support, Echelon is strengthening their identity - [Digital Transformation is Well Underway](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/digital-transformation-is-well-underway-2/) - Christy Silvestri—President & CEO, QuickFacts & Sherif Gemayel—CEO, Trufla - [Staff Spotlight | Richard](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/staff-spotlight-richard/) - Richard Leung—IBAO Business Process Coordinator Richard Leung is the Business Process Coordinator at IBAO, a key role supporting the Operations team… - [Creating a Data-Driven Culture](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/creating-a-data-driven-culture/) - With Walid Hejazi—Professor of Economic Analysis & Policy, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto “The fourth industrial revolution has resulted in enormous amounts of data being made available,”… - [Adapting & Evolving During a Pandemic](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/adapting-evolving-during-a-pandemic/) - Christy Silvestri—President & CEO, QuickFacts & Sherif Gemayel—CEO, Trufla - [Insurance is Going Paperless](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/insurance-is-going-paperless/) - With IBAO President Joseph Carnevale I’ve said it a lot, and I’ll say it again. I’ll keep saying it, this year especially, over and over. Insurance brokers are problem solvers by their very nature. Assessing our client’s needs, risks and exposures to bring solutions to the table is what we do every day. This is - [The Looming Changes to DCPD](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-looming-changes-to-dcpd/) - Starting in the New Year, Ontario’s new auto endorsement, OPCF 49 Agreement Not to Recover for Loss or Damage from an Automobile Collision, will allow drivers to opt out of Direct Compensation for Property Damage (DCPD) coverage. While this change could in theory generate savings for consumers, it can come at the expense of their - [Goodbye Tedium, Hello Efficiency](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/goodbye-tedium-hello-efficiency/) - Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your inbox. Or, if you’re tired of spending precious hours scheduling meetings and coordinating calendars. Wish you could spend less time on mundane tasks and more on meaningful work? Well my friend, it’s time to consider the amazing world of automation. Automation is the use of - [Grand Theft Auto: Ontario](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/grand-theft-auto-ontario/) - Colin Simpson—CEO, IBAO You can’t go too far these days without encountering someone who has a story about car theft. I’ve had two cars stolen over the last couple of decades… - [Unlocking the Power of DEI Data](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/unlocking-the-power-of-dei-data/) - In the world of business, you’re likely used to looking at numbers to help you make decisions. Data is used to guide company decisions, goals and strategies on a daily basis. You study the numbers to improve operations, expand offerings and connect with your customers, but when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) - [Get Better Results By Getting Better at Conversations](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/get-better-results-by-getting-better-at-conversations/) - Misha Glouberman—Communications Expert & Problem Untangler, Featured Speaker, IBAOcon’23 Being better at conversations can have huge influences on what matters most for your company… - [Using Tech to Brainstorm](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/using-tech-to-brainstorm/) - Brainstorming is an essential component of collaboration and innovation within a team. However, organizing, analyzing and prioritizing the ideas generated during brainstorming sessions can take time. This is where technology and data come in. On the surface, it may seem that data and collaboration don’t belong together. After all, collaboration is about connecting people to - [IBAO Education—A New Direction](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/ibao-education-a-new-direction/) - Simon Liang—Education Program Lead, IBAO Obtaining your license is the initial challenge in becoming a broker. Subsequently, it demands significant effort to acquire the technical knowledge… - [Sitting on a Treasure Trove of Data | Marketing Minute CAA Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/sitting-on-a-treasure-trove-of-data-marketing-minute-caa-insurance/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Insurance Marketing Our entire business is derived from the use of data. Products are created because data identifies gaps in the market… - [Risk Management Preparedness: Why Incident Report Forms Matter](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/risk-management-preparedness-why-incident-report-forms-matter/) - Everett McCallum—Manager, Technical Risk Services, Echelon Insurance Commercial businesses of all scopes are constantly subjected to various premise liability exposures… - [Connecting the Community](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/connecting-the-community/) - We’re finding Ontario brokerages all have their own unique ways of helping small businesses in their communities. In this spotlight, learn how BrokerTeam Insurance, 2017 Brokerage of the Year, launched a simple but effective campaign to boost their clients’ profiles. CAN YOU SHARE BROKERTEAM’S CURRENT SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN? As a connector in our community, - [Women in the Workplace | Celyeste Power](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/women-in-the-workplace-celyeste-power/) - Featuring Celyeste Power, Insurance Bureau of Canada President & CEO - [Pathway to Future You](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/pathway-to-future-you/) - Aneeza Ahmad—Marketing Manager, KASE Insurance In June I had the privilege of taking IBAO’s new Principal Pathway course—their reimagined prep course for RIBO’s Level 2 Unrestricted Management Exam. The instructor was fantastic, I loved being in the classroom, being able to interact and ask questions. What I loved even more was what I learned about - [Taking the Insurance Market’s Temperature, Province by Province](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/taking-the-insurance-markets-temperature-province-by-province/) - Brett Boadway—Chief Operating Officer, IBAO While it’s true that the Canadian P&C insurance industry is growing more concentrated, it’s important to apply the broader perspective… - [Combatting Car Theft in Ontario with Prevention, Education and Nanotechnology](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/combatting-car-theft-in-ontario-with-prevention-education-and-nanotechnology/) - Danny Da Costa, Senior Vice President, Ontario Division, Intact Insurance Car theft increased by 48.3% in Ontario between 2022 and 2021. Équité Association recently reported that car theft costs Canadians over a billion dollars a year… - [Existing and Emerging Issues Across the Nation](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/existing-and-emerging-issues-across-the-nation/) - Colin Simpson, CEO, IBAO As I write this article, many areas in Canada as well as Europe and around the world are dealing with natural disasters… - [Find Work-Life Balance with a Daycation](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/find-work-life-balance-with-a-daycation/) - Anonymous: I love my job, but lately I’ve been feeling overwhelmed. Every time a new meeting is added to my calendar or something new is added to my to do list, I feel the stress climbing. How can I stop feeling so stressed at work? 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We wanted to create buzz around the broker community, while enlightening the public about insurance brokers in a light-hearted way. Not a one-time promotion, but an ongoing, regular, ownable, attention-grabbing platform that allowed - [The Greatest Challenge](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/the-greatest-challenge/) - Clara Hughes, Olympian and Mental Health Advocate You’ve been a true leader in the mental health world—sharing your experience about battling depression and doing it as a decorated Olympic athlete and woman.… - [IBAO Goes West](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/ibao-goes-west/) - Jeff Toth, Marketing & Communications Lead, IBAO I got my job at IBAO a year after moving to Toronto from Calgary, where I’d lived most of my adult life… - [It’s Time to Forget Multitasking](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/its-time-to-forget-multitasking/) - You’re sitting at your desk answering emails, answering phone calls, working on a report and eating a snack to keep yourself motivated. While you’re juggling multiple tasks and getting things done, you may not be boosting your productivity. Many of us have fallen into this trap—believing that multitasking is the key to accomplishing more in - [6 Ways to Support Canadian Artists](https://tob.ibao.org/lifestyle/6-ways-to-support-canadian-artists/) - Making it as an artist is famously tough. In a small market like Canada, it’s even tougher. But we produce world class artists in every medium. These are simple ways you can give your time, money and attention to Canadian artists of many kinds. 1. True North Animation, Strong and Free Though it’s not a - [The ABCs of Acquisition Marketing | Marketing Minute CAA Insurance](https://tob.ibao.org/departments/the-abcs-of-acquisition-marketing-marketing-minute-caa-insurance/) - Pierre Bourdeau—Director P&C Insurance Marketing Your marketing campaigns can include many tactics—digital, social media, direct mail, billboards, and the list goes on. Each comes with its own effect and result. No matter… - [Women in the Workplace | Jenny Desroches](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/women-in-the-workplace-jenny-desroches/) - Jenny Desroches—Senior Director of Operations, Tanner Insurance Please tell us about yourself, your company and your career in insurance. I’ve lived and worked in Ottawa my whole life. I currently work… - [One Year In—CABIP](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/one-year-in-cabip/) - Ingrid Wilson, Director, Governance & Audit, CABIP The vision for Canadian Association of Black Insurance Professionals (CABIP) started when Sheldon Williams, Chair & Co-Founder and Karen Rowe were discussing the elephant in… - [A Little White Noise Goes a Long Way](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/a-little-white-noise-goes-a-long-way/) - Norah Black—VP, Marketing & Communications, IBAO I’m halfway through maternity leave. In April, we welcomed our daughter Kylah to the world which, needless to say, has kicked my learning and growth into… - [Canada One Step Closer to National Flood Insurance Program](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/canada-one-step-closer-to-national-flood-insurance-program/) - Arthur Lofsky, Director, Government Relations and Climate Adaptation Lead, Ontario, IBC So far in 2022, Ontario has faced its share of Canada’s severe weather events, with four major storms causing damage to… - [A Century with McLean & Dickey](https://tob.ibao.org/whats-new/a-century-with-mclean-dickey/) - Danielle Tisi, President, McLean & Dickey McLean & Dickey has been serving Orilla since 1922, making this their 100th anniversary. As an IBAO Member from the start, they’re also celebrating 100… - [Supporting Our Brokers Through Loss Prevention Content](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/supporting-our-brokers-through-loss-prevention-content/) - Everett McCallum, Senior Loss Prevention Specialist, Echelon Insurance At Echelon, we believe in a proactive approach to loss prevention. As a leading specialty insurer, we know it’s important for us to be… - [Going Paperless](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/going-paperless/) - Steve Gugler & Lisa Teggert, Partners at 3Tree At the beginning of the pandemic, working online became a necessity for many in the insurance industry. Vendors needed to work with industry professionals… - [Innovation Starts With Information](https://tob.ibao.org/cover-story/innovation-starts-with-information/) - Joseph D’Souza, ProNavigator—Innovation of the Year When Joseph D’Souza picked up the phone to call his insurance carrier in 2016, he thought it would be a quick five-minute call. He had a… - [Associations Must Grow Too](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/associations-must-grow-too/) - Brett Boadway, Chief Operating Officer, IBAO Our growth themed issue comes just in time for our 2022 IBAO Convention. It’s the first time we’ve gathered in person, at large, since October 2019.… - [Brokerage Growth—Perspective from Two Leaders in the Industry](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/brokerage-growth-perspective-from-two-leaders-in-the-industry/) - Melanie Muise—COO, Navacord Chris Coniglio—COO, Highcourt Breckles Group Tell us about yourself and your brokerage. MM: I’m about to celebrate my three-year anniversary with Navacord, one of Canada’s fastest growing multi-line brokerages.… - [Signs of Growth](https://tob.ibao.org/industry-and-markets/signs-of-growth/) - Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy—Ontario Finance Minister & MPP Dr. Eric Kam—Associate Professor of Economics, Toronto Metropolitan University Having gone through a global event that’s unprecedented in our lifetimes, we’re still feeling many lingering, unpredictable… - [Challenge Your Status Quo](https://tob.ibao.org/columns/challenge-your-status-quo/) - Simon Liang, Education Program Specialist, IBAO It might seem like a stupid question, but why do you do the things you do, the way you do? 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