Board Spotlight: Jason Cloar

 

Following my college graduation, I embarked on a stint in minor-league baseball with the Montreal Expos, unsure of my long-term career path. At that time, insurance wasn't on my radar, prompting me to pursue further education. I completed an MBA with a focus on finance and management in 2006, a period when real estate was a hot topic, and everyone wanted in, myself included. However, as the real estate market encountered challenges, I began exploring alternative career paths. Hailing from Ormond Beach, near Daytona Beach, I was acquainted with Brown & Brown Insurance through friends who spoke highly of their experiences. Upon investigating further, I found the company's culture to be consistent with my own philosophies and values. Moreover, recognizing ample opportunities within the industry, I joined Brown & Brown's Ft. Lauderdale office. Seventeen years later, I remain committed to this path.  

  

   

Michael Keeby, Senior Vice President of the Retail Division at Brown & Brown, is the central figure who has significantly shaped my career. Our paths first crossed in 2011 when I relocated from Ft. Lauderdale to West Palm Beach to assume a sales leadership role. Over subsequent years, I developed a deeper rapport with him. He played a pivotal role in the opportunities presented to me throughout my career and has consistently offered invaluable guidance and support. Perhaps the most impactful lesson I learned from him is the significance of crafting a compelling vision when leading a team. This insight has been instrumental in driving the success of our endeavors, particularly following the merger of our Ft. Myers and Naples locations in 2017.   

  

   

My advice to young agents is to develop a process and avoid taking shortcuts. While this profession has a lot to offer, success hinges on your ability to understand the products you sell and your commitment to the grind. The first 3-5 years in the field will be very tough. I recommend identifying someone in your organization who has honed a proven process for pipeline development and emulating their approach. Establishing a systematic framework will confer a distinct advantage over peers who lack discipline or fail to focus on effectively communicating their agency's value proposition to clients. It’s a heavy lift initially, but at the end of the day, the rewards are significant.  

  

 

My decision to serve as a Board member stems from a passion for our industry. I firmly believe that the Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA) plays a pivotal role in advancing the interests of independent agents across the state, particularly amidst our sector's formidable challenges. Witnessing the strides made by FAIA in advocacy and support for agents has been inspiring. Serving on the Board has provided me with invaluable insights into the association's influence on shaping industry perceptions and facilitating essential resources for agencies. If you're in this business and you're passionate about it, it's important to embrace those organizations that are there trying to help us help ourselves and our clients. Whether it’s passing legislation, providing education, or helping to get market access, you think about everything an agency needs and see that FAIA is there to provide that support system.  

  

   

Disciplined. I’m willing to put in the work, especially when it’s a more challenging project. I’ve never backed down from the heavy lift. What helps me succeed as I gain more responsibility and become busier is exercising discipline and having a methodical process for prioritizing tasks.  

  

 

I’m not as serious as I look. People often think I’m too serious if I’m not smiling because my face apparently has a very focused, serious appearance. I’m learning to smile more and tell people that while I may not look happy, I’m smiling on the inside.  

  

 

It would be the people that I have had the pleasure of mentoring and developing along the way, especially in the last seven years in Southwest Florida. We've had several people with no experience join our team, some right out of college, and six or seven years later, they are wildly successful. And I’m most proud of the impact I’ve had on them. If you're developing good people and teaching them how to achieve success and results, then, in turn, the office experiences success and results. We've been the beneficiaries of a growing office, but it all started with finding the right people and teaching them how to be successful.  

  

   

Our line of work is tough to begin with; there is no product that’s a magic bullet. There are many things we do to make it easier with the utilization of technology, but to me, our success is derived from collective wisdom and organizational resources. Access to the wealth of expertise and support within our company has been instrumental in positioning us to win. By fostering an environment conducive to collaboration and continuous learning, our organization has empowered team members to deliver exemplary service to our clients.  

  

 

Navigating the aftermath of Hurricane Ian posed one of the most daunting obstacles I’ve overcome. It was a challenging time, particularly the last quarter of 2022 and the first six months of 2023. Natural disasters of such magnitude can place immense strain on agencies, particularly when unprepared. I take pride in our agency's readiness and our ability to deliver exemplary service to our clients during trying times. The aftermath of the storm, coupled with the demand for addressing client claims and navigating premium increases, underscored the resilience and adaptability required in our line of work. It was a taxing feat, but I am proud of my team and me for overcoming it.  

  

 

My principal takeaway from Hurricane Ian is the imperative of mental preparedness and proactive client management in the wake of such catastrophes. Effectively managing client expectations amid the claims process, which inherently entails complexities and delays, is paramount. Drawing from our experiences with Hurricane Ian, our agency conducted educational webinars to equip clients with insights into navigating the aftermath of such events. By imparting knowledge and setting realistic expectations, we aim to enhance client satisfaction and resilience in the face of future disasters. The more we can reach our clients and educate folks on the impact of storms and what it may look like after the fact, the better experience we'll hopefully all have. While Southwest Florida has weathered its share of storms in recent years, our proactive measures ensure we are better prepared to confront future challenges head-on.