Listen. Learn. Succeed.
The Nat Alliance NOW podcast series provides risk and insurance professionals with rich, nuanced
conversations that deepen learning and promote the successful completion of National Alliance programs.
Monthly episodes feature active industry experts and guest hosts who explore trends and tackle
challenging course content.

The Next Normal: Agency Operations Post-COVID
Join Mitch Dunford as he talks with the amazing PIA of Wisconsin team. Tune in to hear Pete Hanson, CISR, Ryan Butzke, CIC, and Brenda Steinbach share

Reducing Environmental Liabilities
The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research is pleased to introduce a new self-paced 4-hour Certified Environmental Strategist program designed to empower insurance professionals, producers, agents,

Outstanding CSR of the Year Competition Begins Now!
Join Mitch Dunford and Danielle Janecka as they talk with 2021 OCSRY National Winner, Nella Rodriguez CIC, CRM, CISR, about how to enter or nominate your favorite

Guiding You Through 2022: Update Options for Designation Holders
Tune in as host Mitch Dunford interviews President and CEO, William J. Hold, MBA, CRM, CISR, and Chief Experience Officer, Danielle Janecka about the 2022 course offerings.

Three Amazing High School Graduates Earn the CISR Designation
Mitch Dunford talks with Wilson Talent Center graduates Becca Burch, CISR, Jordan Fritz, CISR, and Tony Casali, CISR. Becca, Jordan, and Tony earned the National Alliance CISR

Insurance Marketers Eye Challenges and Opportunities
Join Mitch Dunford as he talks with Insurance Marketing & Communications Association (IMCA) board members Peter van Aartrijk, CIC, and Amy Hourigan, and Channel Harvest Research Director,

Contractors’ Series: Part 4–Property Coverage for Contractors
Part four of our Contractors Series deals with important considerations when Property Coverages are involved. Cathy Trischan and Allen Messer discuss the Builders RiskUncertainty that may be

Contractors’ Series: Part 3–Contractors and the Commercial General Liability Policy
One of the most important coverages for contractors is the Commercial General LiabilityLegal responsibility or fault. More (CGL) Policy. It’s essential for agents to understand exclusions that

Contractors’ Series: Part 2–Additional Insureds and Certificates of Insurance
Contract requirements include requirements for adding others as Additional Insureds. This can be extremely problematic depending on the edition of the form that is required. In this

Contractors’ Series: Part 1–Understanding an Insured’s Contract
Whether dealing with General Contractors or Subcontractors, insurance can be extremely complicated. From the contract to the coverage, getting it right the first time will help properly

Hispanic Heritage Month with LAAIA
On this episode of Nat Alliance NOW, Mitch Dunford is joined by guest co-host Kryzten Valerio and guests Ariel Rivera, CIC, founder and AgencyA relationship, express or

How the Insurance Industry Can Attract Diverse New Talent
The fact that the African American community is underrepresented in the Insurance Industry presents an excellent opportunity to attract new talent. Learn why the NAAIA Florida chapter

How The Insurance Industry Can Cultivate Black Talent
Tune in as host, Mitch Dunford, MBA; interviews Cameron Alford, UACRM, ARM; Darryl Coleman; and Rakeda Ervin about their personal experiences as African Americans working in the

Insurance Services Office (ISO) Homeowners 2022 Updates
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) HO 22 Updates Livestream event featured a discussion between Dustyne Bryant, CIC, CISR, MBA, Academic Director for Personal Lines, and Paul Martin,

What’s Next for Certified Insurance Service Representatives?
Updating Elements of Risk ManagementProcess of managing uncertainty of exposures that affect an organization's assets and financial statements using five steps: identification, analysis, control, financing and administration. More and Beyond On this week’s episode, Mitch Dunford discusses the recent release of the newly revised CISR Elements of Risk
Uncertainty that may be either positive or negative arising from a given set of circumstances. Common definitions also include: 1) chance or probability of loss, 2) uncertainty concerning loss, 3) possibility of a variation of outcomes from a given set of circumstances, and 4) difference between expected losses and actual losses. More ManagementProcess of managing uncertainty

ISO Homeowners 2022 Updates– Livestream
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) has finally released an updated Homeowners multi-state filing with a tentative effective date of March 2022. Who’s ready to get rid of
MEET THE HOSTS

Mitch Dunford is the Chief Marketing and Content Officer at the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. Before joining the National Alliance Mitch was CEO of Wells Media Group, Inc. Wells Media is the pubisher of Insurance Journal, Claims Journal, MyNewMarkets.com, Carrier Management Magazine and InsuraneJournal.tv. Mitch is a former police officer and Mitch and Cathy Dunford are the parents of six children.

Paul Martin is an academic director for the national Alliance where he works with Alliance faculty, agents and other industry professionals to deliver industry best education. During his career, Paul has been an adjuster, underwriter, special agent, company manager, independent agent and 20 years as an insurance educator in the state of Texas.

Bob has been a member of the National Faculty of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) since 1985 and was named as one of seven “Distinguished Faculty Members” of The National Alliance at the 45th anniversary celebration in 2014. He was named “Insurance Educator of the Year” in 1992 by the Professional Insurance Agents of Texas and was the 1992-1993 Watts Memorial Lecturer at the University of Richmond. He is the chair of the Jerry Montgomery Memorial Research Fund (JMMRF) of The National Alliance Research Academy and serves on the Academy’s Board of Directors. The JMMRF provides scholarships for college students pursuing their CIC and CRM designations through the University Associate CIC and CRM programs. These programs are currently offered at 29 colleges and universities across the United States. Bob also serves on the Board of Governors of Shriners Hospitals for Children-Texas.

Kelly Surles, CIC, CPRM, CISR, ACSR is the Corporate Account Team Lead for The National Alliance. Her prior industry experience includes Personal Lines Account Manager, Personal Lines Manager, and Private Client Account Manager for three large independent insurance agencies in Austin. She served on the board of directors for Independent Insurance Agents of Austin for seven years, including her most recent role as President before joining The National Alliance.