NAME: Greg Brandon
NEW JOB TITLE: Austin, Texas-based executive director, Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas
PREVIOUS POSITION: San Antonio, Texas-based director, property insurance and risk control engineering, Valero Energy Corp.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: A month ago, I would have said the markets are price correcting after nearly a decade of softening. Today, the COVID-19 virus may change every aspect of the short-term outlook. Over the long term, I am a big believer this industry is embedded in the DNA of the financial system and will continue to provide wonderful opportunities for professional growth and investment.
GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: My goal is to ensure the SLTX continues to be positioned as a key data and information resource for the surplus lines marketplace by continuing to improve relationships with our business partners.
CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: The majority of the challenges faced by our organization deal with communicating and providing education on state reporting requirements to our customer base.
FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: My first job out of college was as a field loss control engineering for industrial risk insurers in Houston. It was a great platform for launching a career. I got a glimpse of nearly every industrial process imaginable and a formal education on the property insurance industry.
ADVICE: Most businesses cant do anything without insuring it first. If you want in on the ground floor of most major business decisions, insurance is a great place to be.
OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: I really enjoy learning new things, and this is the best industry for that, so thats a tough question.
COLLEGE MAJOR: I graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in fire protection and safety engineering technology.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Ive been in risk management for years; this career move gives me an entirely different perspective into both the broking and insurance community. Im really looking forward to learning more.
FAVOURITE MEAL: Nothing beats a great ribeye steak, except two great ribeye steaks.
BOOK: I like to read material that challenges my perspective while improving my knowledge/awareness on a subject or issue, so I cant say I have one favorite. I just finished a series of books by Mike Busch on airplane maintenance and ownership that were very educational. I will also read anything John Mauldin writes on finance and economics.
HOBBIES: I am a student pilot working to obtain my private pilot license, so studying FAA regulations and practicing flight maneuvers consumes a great deal of my hobby time.
TV SHOW: I dont watch a lot of TV, so my local newscast probably gets the nod. Confine me to my home for a week and I will probably watch every flight training video I can find on YouTube.
ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Fly! Nothing compares to the experience of flying an aircraft. Still a student, though, so I cant have passengers. Should become even more enjoyable once I can fly with my family. I also have SIX dogs, so Saturdays usually involve an inordinate amount of fetch.
