Getting Together Is Golden

The Golden State NetVU Chapter held its first-ever regional education meeting earlier this year in Irvine, California, drawing 75 insurance professionals from 33 agencies and eight vendor and carrier Partners. Marty Fox is CFO of Clovis Insurance Agency in Clovis, California, and Chapter chair, and although he’s too modest to admit it, he earned his stripes for spearheading this one. We sat down with Marty to talk about the meeting and what participants took away from it.

Q: First of all, tell us a bit about your history with NetVU.
A: Our agency started in 1986 as part of the Gemini Users Group, and we’ve been with NetVU since it was founded. 

Q: This was the first face-to-face regional educational meeting of the newly formed Golden State Chapter?
A: Yes, it was. This is the first time NetVU members from throughout the state have gathered in one place. Before this, the state was separated into four Chapters, then they were merged into one. We got to talking and agreed that while webinars are good, there’s nothing like being together in the same room.

Q: So you put together a meeting. Was that challenging?
A: I wouldn’t say ‘challenging.’ It was fun! When people started pitching in, we started to realize that this thing was really going to happen. There was a lot of passion for education, and it fueled us. Janet Schoenfeld, the Chapter coordinator for the Western region, worked closely with Lauren Crosby at NetVU to figure out all the details around accommodations and logistics. So many people stepped up that it was a pleasure bringing the idea to reality.

Q: What did you hope people would get out of the meeting?
A: To bring education to life and to network face to face. We hoped everyone would walk away with tips and tricks to help them use their Vertafore systems to the max. Ultimately we think more folks realized they’re getting the return on their investment because they’re learning to use the system to its full potential.

Q: Did people get that?
A: Absolutely. We talk about going to war with the direct writers. With that kind of fire and determination, you can’t help but walk out of the meeting rejuvenated and energized because you realize you’re sitting on a tool that can propel you toward success.

Q: You said something about insurance being like landscaping. Tell us what you mean.
A: Well, I’m also a licensed landscape contractor. While I haven’t actively been in the business for years, I like to compare our Vertafore system to a shovel. Give an employee a shovel and tell them to move some dirt. You come back and see only a bit of the dirt has been shifted around. Then you realize they’re trying to move the dirt with the handle. But, if you tell them to turn it around and use the head of the shovel, the change is transformational and the growth can be exponential. 

Q: Was there a lot of shoveling going on in the meetings?
A: Well, yeah (laughs). But not the kind you’re thinking of! Metaphorically speaking, folks were learning that a few quick keystrokes could save them several minutes every hour. Or, they were sharing how to more effectively use a button to connect them directly with the carrier’s system, so they could talk to the customer while the computer is doing the heavy lifting. 

Q: Talking to the customer. Imagine that!
A: Exactly. That’s why we’re here, to help people. The technology shouldn’t get in our way; it should make us more effective.  

Q: All of this is pretty impressive for your first time out. What will your Chapter do for an encore?
A: (laughs) Hard to say right now. But I can tell you we’ve all been in touch since then, and I know of more than a few members with some great ideas. Vertafore keeps coming out with enhancements, so we have to keep up!

Special thanks to the following people for making the Golden State education meeting a success:

Martin Fox, President
Brian Morrison, CIC, CISR, CPSR, Vice President/Education Program Chair
Norm Meister, Secretary/Treasurer
Janet Schoenfeld, CISR, Planning Committee/Education Program Chair
Kelli Robertson, CISR, Marketing and Communications Manager
Kevin Dickmann, President Ex-Officio