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May 10, 2011
Mario Fiel of Overland Solutions, Inc. Elected 2011-2010 President of National Society of Insurance Premium Auditors (NSIPA)
Mario Fiel, AVP - National Sales Director, Overland Solutions, Inc., will serve as president of the National Society of Insurance Premium Auditors (NSIPA) for the 2011-2012 year. NSIPA is one of the premier insurance industry organizations committed to the growth, development, professionalism and education of the insurance premium auditor. As a leading provider of premium audit services, Fiel’s presidency provides unprecedented exposure and reach for Overland Solutions, Inc., and an opportunity to further NSIPA’s goals as an organization.
Previously serving as the Executive Vice President, Fiel has also served on the NSIPA Board of Directors since 2005. “As Executive Vice President, I had the opportunity to work with the entire board in effort to improve communication with members,” Fiel said. “Having served in previous board positions, I have a very in-depth understanding of the purpose and function of NSIPA.”
Fiel has also learned from previous presidencies and hopes that, through his leadership, NSIPA can continue to move forward. “In the past three years, the Board of Directors established a plan to provide better services to members. My focus for the coming year will be to continue to deliver on that plan, and to develop new projects that will further enhance the premium audit industry,” Fiel said.
In fact, Fiel’s platform is two-pronged. One is developing a more efficient collaboration between NSIPA and its five Regional Associations and the other is increasing the level of Insurance Carrier’s participation in memberships overall.
“We feel very honored that Mario Fiel has been elected as President of NSIPA. Mario is a great representative of what NSIPA stands for. His dedication to the premium audit industry is without peer. His extensive industry knowledge, professionalism and commitment to providing excellent service and quality to all or our customers makes him a great representative of both Overland Solutions, Inc. and NSIPA. We are proud that Mario is serving the industry in this capacity.”
More than anything, Fiel is happy to be able to give back to an industry which he has been involved in for more than 34 years. “My involvement with NSIPA is an opportunity to return some of the things I have learned over the years to those around me,” Fiel said. “As for the nationwide premium auditors (both field and phone) at Overland Solutions, Inc., I would like to impress on them the value that they contribute through their level of professionalism, integrity, dedication and commitment.”
January 25, 2011
AuditStream™ Web 2.0 Portal Reduces Insurer Risk and Costs By Boosting Completion Rates and Data Accuracy
OVERLAND PARK, KS – Overland Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of insurance services and solutions, today announced the availability of AuditStream, a secure online premium audit solution for commercial-lines carriers. AuditStream is the first industry solution that addresses the inefficiencies and costs associated with voluntary premium audits and related work flow processes. An intuitive Web 2.0 portal, with more than a dozen industry tracks, the carrier-branded portal manages service selection, increases overall completion ratios and gives policyholders a convenient medium for accurate data submission.
AuditStream, developed by Overland Solutions, Inc., is a secure workflow-based Web portal designed to manage voluntary premium audits for commercial-lines carriers. AuditStream provides the ideal selection process for smaller Workers’ Compensation and General Liability policies, at the most affordable cost, for a completed premium audit. The patent-pending portal was created in partnership with behavioral psychologists to provide a compelling user experience. Users enter required information into a secure Web site featuring intuitive questions that help guide them through the process.
AuditStream applies configurable rules and best-practice processes to increase completion rates and trigger additional data requests or phone audits if needed. Each report is reviewed by an OSI premium audit professional for quality assurance or escalation. The result is a completed premium audit that can be immediately processed and billed by the carrier, reducing the need for any follow-up with the policyholder. Completed AuditStream reports are delivered via system-to-system (S2S), Web or email transfer.
“We believe AuditStream is the first solution to address the inefficiencies and costs associated with the process of conducting voluntary premium audits. The portal provides a dynamic, user-friendly automated platform that ensures better quality data, boosts response rates and brings greater value to the market,” commented Jeffery L. Haniewich, CEO, Overland Solutions, Inc. “Much like the due diligence we conducted in designing the AuditStream interface and intuitive workflow, we also ensured the portal was field-tested and as turn-key as possible. Several leading commercial-lines carriers have been using AuditStream for their smaller premium policies and noted increased completion rates and more comprehensive data.”
ROI and Availability
The portal delivers 30% greater completion rates – and at a lower cost – than other mediums, by enabling policyholders to enter required data using a password-protected site at their convenience within a specified timeframe, and with online help and tips. Extensive interviews with P&C insurance carriers revealed that the typical response rate for voluntary premium audits completed manually is 50%. AuditStream pilot customers reported higher completion rates of up to 86%.
The Overland Solutions AuditStream Web 2.0 premium audit portal is available today, enabling commercial-lines carriers to quickly realize ROI by cutting costs and time spent and increasing data completion and accuracy for better underwriting and reduced risk. AuditStream offers one general and more than a dozen best-practice industry tracks, advanced workflow and configurable rules. Carrier-branded portals are typically delivered in one week. Pricing is based upon volume and escalation parameters.
Jannuary 6, 2011
AAISalliance Partner
Overland Solutions, Inc. is an inaugural AAISalliance partner and featured on the newly redesigned website of American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS).
The AAISalliance is designed to provide AAIS members special pricing and information services with preferred companies, one of which is Overland Solutions, Inc. Services from Overland Solutions, Inc. and other AAISalliance partners will be visible and readily available to AAIS member companies that use the AAISdirect internet service. Other AAISalliance partner organizations include e2value, MarketStance and RiskMeter.
Featured positioning on the AAIS website means increased industry-wide promotion and awareness of the Overland Solutions, Inc. brand and services. It is also a powerful endorsement from AAIS – a national insurance advisory organization that develops policy forms and rating information used by more than 600 Property & Casualty insurers throughout the United States.
"AAIS is a knowledgeable forum of experts who keep abreast of trends and issues facing our industry. AAIS members appreciate the value of information and Overland Solutions, Inc. offers services to empower their best business decision-making. We look forward to assisting AAIS in its goal of providing premier and cost-effective services and information solutions to its member companies and affiliates,” said Jeffery L. Haniewich, Chief Executive Officer, Overland Solutions, Inc.
For additional information about AAIS, please visit their website at www.aaisonline.com. To read the full press release, please click here.
September 17, 2010
Knowledge in Action: Patrick Connolly published in MyNewMarkets.com in an article called "The Importance of Correctly Classifying a Business"
Patrick Connolly, National Training Director, authored a feature article for MyNewMarkets.com, an online community for 15,000 members of the P&C Insurance industry. Patrick champions interactive training curriculum that translates into field professionalism and a better end product for our business partners. To read "The Importance of Correctly Classifying a Business," please click here.
August 2, 2010
Jerilyn Hessel named National Customer Service Team Manager
Jerilyn Hessel was promoted to Manager of the National Customer Service Team located in the Overland Solutions, Inc. Home Office in Overland Park, Kansas. Jerilyn comes to the position with a wealth of experience and a passion for customers. Her leadership supports our corporate philosophy to deliver a proactive, responsive customer service to ensure an optimal experience for all of our business partners.
Overland Solutions, Inc. stands out with exceptional account management and strong customer service. We will dedicate resources to our customers who are well-versed and proactive with account management. Our company concentrates on service, quality, new product development and field training to deliver services in the most efficient way.
Jerilyn Hessel, National Customer Service Team Manager, said, “Customer Service is an important aspect in any industry. I have always believed that you should treat your customers the same way you would want to be treated and I have always had a passion to give the customers what they need and expect. It is a great feeling when your customer lets you know they appreciate your efforts. It makes you want to work harder to provide and maintain the ELITE customer service our company offers.”
Jerilyn started with the company in 1988 transcribing loss control reports and transferred into Customer Service later that year. She became the Denver Office Manager, a position she excelled in for 14 years. In 2002, Jerilyn was promoted to Office Manager Supervisor for the Northeast and later accepted a position as Director of Office Processing for all offices nationwide. In 2003, Jerilyn was promoted to General Manager for the New York office. Since 2005, Jerilyn has been managing the New England office. In that role, she has been instrumental in driving quality and service improvements that create long-term value for the organization. She has also held the Treasurer position for the Insurance Auditors Association of New England. Jerilyn’s leadership, industry knowledge and focus on customer service are a tremendous asset for our National Customer Service Team.
Jeff Haniewich, Chief Executive Officer, said, ““Jerilyn has extensive industry knowledge, humanism and an intense desire to make service a differentiator in our relationships with our customers. We are very pleased to have Jerilyn in this very important customer service role.”
June 1, 2010
Customer-Centric Focus Strengthens
As the outlook for our industry brightens, Overland Solutions, Inc. has been making several investments in how we deliver services. Our Customer Advisory Group has given us several recommendations to build our position as the first choice provider of premium audits. We have been listening and acting. Below are some recent actions:
+ Investments in Customer Service and Quality
Overland Solutions recently realigned responsibilities of our Executive Team to better concentrate our efforts on Customer Service, Quality Assurance, New Product Development and Field Training to be your strategic solutions partner. We will continue to develop products that provide tremendous value and combined excellence in service and quality.
+ Adding Local Strength to a National Footprint
Our strength has always been our national footprint and “faces in more places.” We have tactically positioned our regional Field Audit team to best satisfy your business requirements and standards for service. As always, our all-employee audit personnel are committed to professionalism and exceeding industry standards for premium auditing.
+ Accountability for Customer Satisfaction
Overland Solutions has refocused our local field management team to provide both technical and operational support for your business. This will empower us to deliver a new level of proactive, responsive customer service and enhance its customer service methodologies.
Actions are more important than words. Therefore, we look forward to showing our customers how we can deliver value to their companies. As always, we welcome your feedback and appreciate the opportunity to continuously earn the privilege to be the business partner of choice for the industry. Please contact Jeff Haniewich, Chief Executive Officer, or your Sales Executive with any questions.
April 6, 2010
Overland Solutions, Inc. and Valen Technologies Partner to Deliver "RateRight" Expanded Predictive Analytics and Follow-on UEV Services
Overland Park, KS and Denver, CO -- Overland Solutions, Inc., a premier supplier of premium audit and Underwriting Exposure Verification (UEV) services, and Valen Technologies, a leading supplier of predictive analytics to the P & C Insurance market, announced today a partnership designed to combat the growing premium leakage problem for Workers’ Compensation and General Liability insurers.
The combined services of Overland Solutions and Valen will identify premium leakage resulting from misclassified Workers’ Compensation and General Liability policies. RateRight, Valen’s latest predictive analytics product is designed to identify policies at high risk of misrepresented payroll. Used in combination with Overland Solutions’ UEV services the expected exposures can be validated and rectified. Insurers who adopt RateRight and Overland Solutions UEV service will have the ability to provide higher quality service, manage their risks, identify fraudulent activities and collect unpaid premium.
“Based on an analysis of five million premium audit results, an estimated 45% of Workers’ Compensation and General Liability policies have some form of misclassification,” said Dan Bankson, SVP of Analytics at Valen Technologies. “The estimated leakage is about 4% or approximately $3 billion dollars annually which needs to be absorbed by the insurance industry.”
“We are very excited about the Valen partnership as we believe it will provide a natural expansion of the products and services that OSI provides to its client base,” said David Robinson CIO at Overland Solutions Inc. “We are also optimistic that RateRight is only the first offering that this partnership will bring to the insurance market place.”
About Overland Solutions, Inc.
Overland Solutions, Inc. leads the industry in offering meaningful information services specializing in premium audit, loss control and inspection services. We are passionate about providing accurate and timely results to meet our business partners’ needs. Overland Solutions, Inc. has a nationwide network of specialists dedicated to accuracy to make certain our clients receive actionable information in every report. Our flexible technology platform enables direct system integration and unmatched ease of doing business. For more information about Overland Solutions and our strategic solutions, please call 1-888-827-2118 or visit us at www.olsi.net.
About Valen Technologies
Valen Technologies, Inc. enables insurers to improve underwriting and premium audit results through our hosted predictive analytics solutions, UnderRight® and AuditRight®. Our experts combine our clients’ data with historical risk, firmographic and econometric information in our XData® and ValenNetworks™ databases and use that data to build, deploy and monitor models for improving underwriting and optimizing premium audit processes. The combination of our data and our modeling expertise gives us the unique ability to create the industry’s most effective predictive models. To learn more about Valen and Valen products, please call 1-800-280-3304 or visit website at www.valen.com.
December 2, 2009
Overland Solutions, Inc. and FirstBest Systems Announce Strategic Partnership to Serve Insurance Industry
Overland Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of premium audit, loss control and inspection services and FirstBest® Systems, Inc., provider of insurance software solutions that help Property & Casualty insurance carriers write more business and write better business, today announced a strategic partnership that will allow insurers to simplify their underwriting process by electronically incorporating premium audit, loss control and inspection reports and delivering them in real-time directly to the underwriter’s desktop.
Overland Solutions and FirstBest have partnered to integrate Overland Solutions’ nationwide services platform with FirstBest Underwriting Management System (UMS™), a next-generation underwriting workstation combined with a business analyst workstation and a web 2.0 agent portal.
“This new alliance illustrates Overland Solutions’ commitment to be the elite information solutions provider through our commitment to customers, ease of doing business and an unwavering passion for quality and service,” commented David Robinson, Senior Vice President and CIO, Overland Solutions, Inc.
FirstBest has established an enviable reputation for delivering P&C solutions that help insurance companies price risks effectively and providing carriers the ability to write better business while lowering their loss ratio. The integration of Overland Solutions’ services and FirstBest UMS will help carriers gain visibility and insight into the underwriting process.
David Robinson, Senior Vice President and CIO, said, “Overland Solutions champions process improvement and efficiency through innovative solutions. We strive to make it easier for our business partners to get access to the actionable information that we provide. Our partnership with FirstBest brings our customers a myriad of ways to access Overland Solutions’ nationwide platform of services with the click of a mouse.”
“Our partnership with Overland Solutions is part of FirstBest’s strategy to provide carriers with the best technologies to service their customers and agents, while improving their profitability. Together, we are enabling carriers to integrate their outsourced business services with their underwriting management system, speeding transactions and improving customer service,” stated Tony Rosati, FirstBest VP of Business Development.
To read the complete press release, please click here.
October 1, 2009
Changes to our Executive Management Team
As Overland Solutions continues its mission of excellence, it is critical that we align individuals’ expertise with the areas that can create the greatest success and significance for our employees and customers. On that note, I am pleased to announce a few changes to our Executive Management Team effective October 1, 2009.
Jason Baie will transition from Senior Vice President, Western region to Senior Vice President, Sales. Jason has served in various sales and operations leadership roles within the company since 1996. Mario Fiel, AVP-National Sales Director, will report directly to Jason. These two will spearhead our sales efforts across the nation by demonstrating the many advantages of Overland Solutions.
Kevin Kramer will assume responsibility for the premium audit operations of our Western region while still maintaining his role as Senior Vice President, Quality Assurance. He will manage our Los Angeles, San Francisco and Northwest branch offices. Kevin has 24 years of experience associated with the audit function of insurance or insurance-related companies and advocates for quality across the entire Overland Solutions organization. He holds an MBA degree as well as APA and CIPA professional designations.
Kevin Farley will become Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Business Development. He will lead efforts to grow our core business in new markets as well as championing new product development and diversification.
Overland Solutions offers a comprehensive range of information services that focus on our business partners’ needs. We specialize in collecting critical data that assists with improving underwriting results and loss ratios. Our full platform of nationwide services includes Premium Audit Services, Loss Control Consultative Services, Inspection Surveys, Residential Underwriting Surveys and Underwriting Exposure Verification.
Please contact me at 888.827.2118 or jeff.haniewich@olsi.net if you have any questions or feel that we can be of further service to your organization.
August 2009
Insight Solutions: Powering Knowledge in Our Industry
Overland Solutions, Inc. created a new company called Insight Solutions, LLC to focus on innovative training, education and analytics. Insight Solutions offers a unique approach to the education of the insurance industry. The curriculum provides a multi-media experience coupled with effective educational concepts.
The Pathways Learning Series was created by Insight Solutions as an innovative tool to elevate today’s industry training to a new level. The curriculum puts learning directly into the hands of the student. Some of the advantages are:
§ Multi-media functionality with a blended approach to learning
§ Virtual scenarios to apply and master new skills
§ Curriculum constructed and reviewed by industry and education experts
§ Adaptability to the changing needs of today's tech-savvy learners
§ Web-based training program requiring no software installation
§ Unlike any training in the insurance industry
The Pathways curriculum was written by our in-house experts. It concentrates on specific topics of training for the insurance industry. The program features a Virtual Mentor who journeys with the student through real-life scenarios to better illustrate concepts and build upon existing knowledge.
Participants will also work in simulated virtual situations to apply their newly acquired knowledge as a skill. Course facilitators and supervisors can monitor each student’s progress throughout the duration of the training. The Capstone Course is the final step to complete this extensive learning series and ensure the student has mastered the key educational objectives.
The 12-week curriculum is enhanced by weekly webinars led by our in-house experts covering industry topics and current trends to empower students to achieve full comprehension.
The Pathways Learning Series currently offers courses in:
§ Physical Premium Audit
§ Telephone Premium Audit
§ Agent Awareness of Premium Audit
§ Underwriter Awareness of Premium Audit
§ Residential Replacement Costs
§ Custom-built training specific to a clients’ specific business
The official product launch is scheduled for August 28 at the CPCU Expo in Denver, Colorado. Several Insight Solutions representatives will be on hand to introduce the product with technical demonstrations and conversations.
Insight Solutions will be featured on its own website, so please visit www.myinsightsolutions.com soon to learn more about the company and its distinctive training products. Overland Solutions, Inc. is happy to reinforce its leadership position in the industry with Insight Solutions and this exciting new venture.
July 2009
New Inspection Survey Products
Overland Solutions, Inc. now offers three options for Inspection Surveys to best meet the needs of our business partners. This offers unique, competitively priced products at all price points.
We offer:
§ Overland Solutions, Inc. Premier Survey
§ Overland Solutions, Inc. Core Survey
§ Overland Solutions, Inc. Value Survey
Our advantages include our ability to align customers’ needs with the final product, a range of report options from a simplified inspection survey to loss control consulting and a report style that determines the required qualifications of field professional. As an industry expert, Overland Solutions, Inc. offers true partnership as our clients’ one-stop shop with a great range of products featuring VALUE Inspection Survey through Loss Control Consulting. In addition, we provide formal quality review, user-friendly and innovative technology capabilities and extensive training.
To learn more about your choices for Inspection Surveys, please see the Our Services section on our Loss Control page. Thank you for your interest in Overland Solutions, Inc.
July 2009
Industry Authority
Craig Locante, President, Castle Inspection Service, was quoted in the current issue of Consumer Reports magazine. The story featured eight ways to trim your auto, home and life insurance premiums. Locante spoke to underinsured homes and replacement cost coverage. To read the full story, click here. Castle continues to be recognized as the nation's most progressive provider of residential surveys and replacement cost data, keeping your book of business insured to value.
April 2009
Win, Place or Show...
Jeffery L. Haniewich, Chief Executive Officer of Overland Solutions, will speak at the Insurance Auditor's Association of the Southeast (IAASE) on May 18, 2009 in Louisville, Kentucky. Jeff will share his insight on the factors that are influencing the insurance industry today.
With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, Jeff has seen the market fluctuate numerous times. His expertise comes from his roles on the front line for The Ohio Casualty Group as well as his wisdom leading a top provider of information services. Jeff understands the significance of a premium audit and how this meaningful data can influence a company's profitability and success.
Win, Place, or Show... Where Does our Industry Stand in These Times?
The keynote speech will focus on the present soft insurance cycle and our current economic issues. It is critical to understand how these factors relate to the prognosis for the insurance market and the effect on the premium audit profession. The session will also focus on the importance of significant information in the underwriting process; the value a premium audit provides for the insurance industry as a whole; and the constant need for professionalism, technical competency, and the recruitment of new professionals into the industry. This knowledge will assist participants in preparing for the future in a challenging environment.
We hope to see you on May 18. For more information about the seminar, please visit www.nsipa.org and click on the event link IAASE event. To print a reminder card for the seminar, click here.
September 2008
Overland Solutions, Inc. offers a Specialized Product to Meet your Farm and Ranch Needs
Overland Solutions, Inc. (OSI) leads the industry with proven expertise in offering meaningful information services. Our customers can expect OSI to be industry experts, deadline sensitive, and committed to delivering cutting-edge technology solutions, customized to meet their needs. Our full services platform includes premium audits, loss control, surveys, inspections, and residential insurance surveys.
Overland Solutions, Inc.'s non-evasive farm and ranch inspections are tailor-made to meet your requirements. Completed by our skilled professionals, all inspections and surveys undergo an intensive verification process. Our farm reports contain valuable underwriting information regarding crops and livestock as well as Description of Operations, Employees, General Hazards, and Opinion of Risk. We are able to provide accurate replacement costs, photo confirmations, and full risk assessments. With our nationwide coverage, our experts are available all over the country and will visit your property in a timely manner.
Overland Solutions, Inc. remains focused on providing information through superior customer service. Let us partner with you for excellence.
To learn more about our farm and ranch inspections, please visit us at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) convention and personally speak to an Overland Solutions, Inc. professional about your specific needs. We will be available at Booth #204 in Philadelphia on September 28 through October 1. For more information about this event, please visit the NAMIC website at www.namic.org.
March 2008
Training Today's Auditors for Tomorrow's Industry
By Patrick J. Connolly
The value of a thoroughly trained workforce cannot be overstated. Training a geographically dispersed workforce can be costly, especially when you consider the interests of many companies to contain internal costs. So how can you effectively train your auditing staff with a reduced training budget? Using technology and different forms of media to train and provide continuous learning to your staff can be an effective approach. Overland Solutions, Inc. (OSI) uses a blended approach to training that incorporates many different technologies to drive maximum effectiveness in learning and knowledge retention. Overland Solutions, Inc. remains the industry leader with an experienced and highly trained work force.
The training of our field staff exemplifies OSI’s commitment to our employees and our high standards for the premium audit industry. As the industry leader, Overland Solutions, Inc. believes that enhancing the education and training of auditors in the insurance field is important. We believe in providing a healthy learning and continuing education environment to sustain a growing audit profession. It is our business to provide meaningful, accurate, and timely information that assists you in making better underwriting decisions. Because of this, it is a necessity to effectively develop and train our field staff so that they are equipped to meet those expectations. Since providing meaningful information is what we do, we must ensure that we are equipped to do it well.
It is not just the initial training that is important. Providing a nurturing environment for continuous learning is key. Overland Solutions, Inc. places focus on providing continuing education tools for more experienced employees that are looking to brush up on their industry knowledge. While offering training in classroom settings and using technology is important, training is not effective unless follow-up mentoring and coaching is completed on an ongoing basis. This is one of the major reasons that we have Audit Managers, Regional Managers, and General Managers to provide continuous guidance and support to our field staff. One of the primary responsibilities of that manager is to reinforce text book, computer, and live training with frequent mentoring and coaching. This is critical in a business where theory is important, but practical application of theory is vital. Overland Solutions, Inc. never underestimates the importance of mentoring and coaching in our field branch offices and continues to devote our time and energy towards this effort.
In this industry, consistent and timely data is a key ingredient to your company’s success. Overland Solutions, Inc. is dedicated to training our employees to the highest industry standards in order to consistently meet our customers’ specific needs. We want to partner with your company to give you meaningful information that can maximize your profitability and improve your underwriting results.
Patrick J. Connolly is the National Training Manager for Overland Solutions, Inc. Patrick will share his training expertise when he speaks at the 2008 National Society of Insurance Premium Auditors (NSIPA) Annual Seminar in Las Vegas on April 6-9, 2008. For more information about Overland Solutions, Inc. and our innovative training program, please click here to visit the Employee Training page of our website.
February 2008
In Print
Castle Inspection Service, a division of Overland Solutions, Inc., was recently interviewed and quoted as an industry expert by Consumer Reports magazine in its February issue. The publication's article highlighted common financial oversights that consumers make.
Castle commented on the percentage of residential U.S. properties that are undervalued for insurance purposes in an article entitled “12 money mistakes that could cost you $1,000,000" in a section called Underinsuring your Home. To see an online portion of the Consumer Reports article, please click this link.
Castle is regarded as the premier independent residential insurance inspection company in the industry. Castle has assembled highly trained, experienced professionals who are experts in their field. Many companies only trust Castle with their important accounts because of their reputation for high value residential surveys. For additional information about Castle, please click here to visit their website.
January 2008
The Importance of Information to a MGA Professional
by Jeffery L. Haniewich
We all know the value of up to date and timely information in the underwriting process. This is critical in every part of the underwriting cycle which seems to be always changing.
In soft markets, pricing becomes highly competitive. The same risk that was either adequately or more adequately priced in a firm market is now generally priced significantly lower due to competitive market pressures. Since the same risk is bringing with it less premium, how can an organization be profitable with less premium to pay losses? Reducing operating costs by trimming budgets and economizing where practical can help to reduce expense ratios and impact the combined operating ratio.
However, we think that better underwriting and risk selection can have the greatest return for your company. In order to better understand what a risk’s characteristics are, more inspections and surveys can be performed to provide better up-front information to assist the underwriter in making more informed decisions.
Do you know what you have in your policy portfolio? Would inspections help you to determine if you want to stay on the policy or remove your company from it within the free look period? We think so. We also believe that the identification of major exposures is a primary concern for many. Recommendations generated during the inspection process can ease your concerns and be tailored to focus on specific areas that you determine to be the most critical.
The tendency in a soft market is to cut costs and associated budgets, especially in the Loss Control area. While this is possibly a quick fix to expense issues, this may be the worst action taken in a soft market. Instead, requiring more surveys, loss control work, and inspections can assist to reduce loss ratios to offset the up-front soft market pricing.
A Managing General Agent must always be price conscious and sensitive to the trends in the insurance industry. If you decide to outsource your fieldwork, it can be a cost-effective solution for you and the carriers that you represent. You can receive specialty services performed by experts to help to ensure the quality of your book of business without increasing your staff. You will obtain the important information that is required through inspections while improving your profitability.
Quality risk assessment translates into improvement in loss ratios. If one big loss can be avoided, the cost of an inspection is relatively insignificant and will surely pay for itself. The issue really becomes whether or not you can afford to spend less on good underwriting when the premium you are getting for each risk is much less than in a harder market. That choice is up to you.
Jeffery L. Haniewich is the Chief Executive Officer of Overland Solutions, Inc. (OSI). OSI leads the industry in business outsourcing services, specializing in premium audit services, loss control and inspection services, and residential underwriting services across the country. For more information about OSI, please visit our website at www.olsi.net.
October 4, 2007
Redesigned Website
We are excited to launch a new design for our corporate website, www.olsi.net, released to all online guests and customers.
The new look and feel of the website is fresh and bright with new graphics and colors. The website offers improved content and showcases all three divisions and their industry knowledge. Each division has its own section with content dedicated to its expertise and services.
Other new features of our website include:
· A Leadership page highlighting the leaders of Overland Solutions, Inc.
· A Tradeshow Calendar to outline the tradeshows where OSI will be exhibiting in the coming
months
· Pages dedicated to Frequently Asked Questions for all three OSI divisions
· A Job Search function listing all of Overland Solutions, Inc.’s employment opportunities
· Improved functionality and navigation
One significant change is the way our web customers log on to the web site. Web customer will not enter their username and password on the OSI home page under client login. Instead, customers will click a button called “Login” in the top right corner and be transported to a Client Home Page to enter their information. This will offer added security with little inconvenience. If you are a frequent user, you may have checked the box called "Remember my password." Our new Client Home Page may not remember that username and password. For any questions regarding this change, please contact our Help Desk at 1-800-690-2182, option 1.
As always, we thank you for visiting our website and hope you have a pleasant online experience.
October 1, 2006
OSI to exhibit at ISOTech and The National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference & Expo Conference.
Overland Solutions, Inc. (OSI) will feature its solutions at two industry shows this November. We invite you to stop by to talk with one of our OSI professionals. OSI will exhibit at ISOTech 2006, the insurance technology conference, on November 12 to 14 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida. ISOTech is regarded as a premier conference for the property/casualty insurance industry offering information on best practices, systems, and technology for our industry. The convention features speakers, workshops, resources, and vendors to help support your success in today’s business world. Additional information can be found on their website at www.iso.com/conferences/isotech06. Please stop by and visit us at booth #111.
OSI will also exhibit at The National Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference & Expo Conference (NWCD) on November 14 to 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. The convention has fourteen years of success providing valuable knowledge for professionals in the in the disability or workers’ compensation industries. As the nation’s largest workers’ comp and disability show, NWCD attracts more than 200 exhibitors to feature their products and services. Additional information can be found on their website at www.wcconference.com. Please stop by and visit us at booth #906.
April 18, 2006
CEO will be Keynote Speaker at 2006 NSIPA Conference
Jeff Haniewich, Chief Executive Officer, will be the keynote speaker for the 2006 National Society of Insurance Premium Auditors (NSIPA) conference in Boston, Massachusetts this April. Jeff will share some of his experiences in the insurance industry and focus his presentation on the customer’s perspective of a Premium Audit.
Overland Solutions, Inc. (OSI) will exhibit at the conference, showcasing its products and services. Other OSI executives in attendance include Mario Fiel, Lead National Account Executive and President of NSIPA, Lisa Hood, VP of Marketing and Sales Support, Peter Falco, Account Executive, and Brian Keller, Account Executive.
Overland Solutions, Inc. is proud to be a sponsor of NSIPA. The organization offers a broad spectrum of involvement opportunities for auditors across the country, including chapter participation, networking, continuing education, a lending library full of resource materials, recognition programs, and volunteer opportunities for Premium Auditors. NSIPA is a valuable resource for OSI, as many of its employees are members of local chapters and attend chapter seminars to stay informed of the latest industry news and trends. This year’s annual conference will be held April 26 through 28, and Jeff Haniewich will be speaking on Thursday, April 27 at 8:15 a.m. For more information about NSIPA and this year’s conference, please visit their website at www.nsipa.org.
For more information about Overland Solutions, Inc. and its involvement in similar associations, please contact the Marketing department at 888.827.2118 ext. 8702.
August 31, 2005
OSITrac Launched Nationwide
More than 200 executives, General Managers, Audit Managers, Office Managers, and Reviewers participated in the week-long training session beginning June 6 in Overland Park, Kansas. The event marked the first time in Overland Solutions, Inc.’s history that these groups of professionals were all together in the same location. The training centered on OSITrac Professional, the business portion of our new software, which focuses on the back office portion of the software used by our management, office staff, and sales force.
Warren Aldrich, OSITrac Implementation Director, said, "Management training was a great experience for all involved. I believe those experiencing OSITrac for the first time were amazed at the versatility of this new system. With 10 additional training sessions over the next two months, many exciting changes are coming our way!"
As OSITrac was implemented across the company this summer, some questions and concerns about the system arose. IT addressed those concerns through weekly conference calls that focused on specific topics to help familiarize everyone with the new system. This allowed users to provide feedback on the use and deployment of OSITrac. IT and the Help Desk staff worked overtime to attend to all OSITrac inquiries.
Our company accomplished a major initiative by completing OSITrac training for every branch staff member and field representative across the country. The OSITrac team completed eleven training sessions in ten cities from June 6 until the first week in August to educate our branch and field professionals about OSITrac. The OSITrac team logged countless hours preparing training materials and presentations, writing and creating training manuals, and ensuring all the necessary equipment was ready and available for every attendee.
Warren Aldrich, OSITrac Implementation Director, said, "Thinking back over the last few months, I find it rather amazing that Cherlyn Lewis and I were able to coordinate travel and facilities for the training of approximately 1,000 OSI employees on the new OSITrac systems. I think our success can be attributed to the dedication of Bob Gits, his trainers and SMEs, the branch office staff who helped with numerous tasks at each of the local sites, the IT department and their long hours of hard work at each training site, as well as many Home Office employees who worked extremely hard at making this project a success. Of course, we cannot forget the field staff who took several days out of their busy production schedules for training. This is what teamwork is all about. Thanks to all of you for making the OSITrac rollout sessions a huge success!"
David Robinson, Chief Information Officer, said, "The rollout this summer was the culmination of a year of hard work and dedication from the IT staff, Field Support, Training Department, and many others. I am very proud of what has been accomplished and believe it will help OSI provide ELITE service to our customers."
August 1, 2005
Safety Resources Ranked #2
Safety Resources, a division of Overland Solutions, Inc., was recognized as the second largest independent safety consultant in the August 1, 2005 issue of Business Insurance (BI) magazine. Rankings were based on 2004 revenue and included factors such as staff and clients.
The article indicated that independent safety consultants own 43.1 percent of the market share as compared to 56.9 percent of the market share controlled by brokers/insurance companies.
According to the BI survey, the most common services offered are safety/audit reviews, evaluations or inspections, on-and off-site training classes, safety program assistance to employers, OSHA and DOT audits. The research also showed that the majority of the staff (81.5 percent) is focused on safety.
Jack Leonard, President, said, "This growth was certainly not possible without the hard work of many people as we transitioned the OSI survey business into the Safety Resources organization. We were also supported by the sales force and Home Office staff of OSI."
Overland Solutions, Inc. congratulates Jack and his team of hard-working professionals for this honor of national recognition and noteworthy exposure in our industry. Check out Business Insurance magazine online at www.businessinsurance.com.
March 14, 2005
Kevin Kramer as Vice President of Quality
In support of Overland Solutions’ continual efforts to improve the quality of our products and services, we are pleased to announce the formation of a new national Quality organization. This team will report directly to Jeff Haniewich, CEO, and will be accountable for overseeing the review process at OSI.
Kevin Kramer has been recruited to lead this effort. Kevin has 20 years experience associated with the audit function of insurance or insurance-related companies. He spent 5 years with Equifax Commercial Specialists as the Assistant Manager of the Chicago branch, managing the premium audit function, local sales, and oversight of loss control function. Most recently, Kevin was with Royal & SunAlliance. During his nine years with RSA, his responsibilities included Regional Operations Executive for the Risk Management & Global division; National Premium Audit Executive for all divisions; Premium Services Executive,; and he was responsible for all Premium Audit, Premium Accounting, and Premium Processing functions. Kevin holds an MBA and the APA and CIPA professional designations. In addition, he is a past president of the Midwest Insurance Auditors Association. Kevin will join OSI as Vice President of Quality on March 14.
OSI is committed to providing high-quality service to all of our valued customers. The inception of this national Quality function is one additional step to ensuring that we do exactly that.
January 26, 2005
New CEO Announcement
Overland Solutions, Inc. (OSI) is pleased to announce that Jeffery L. Haniewich, a seasoned insurance executive with extensive experience in the Property and Casualty industry, has been named Chief Executive Officer of Overland Solutions, effective January 31, 2005. Haniewich brings more than 20 years of relevant industry experience, including senior roles at The Ohio Casualty Group, Great American Insurance, and Progressive Casualty Insurance.
In welcoming Haniewich to the company, Alok Singh, Managing Director at New Mountain Capital and Chairman of Overland Solutions, says, "Jeff’s track record in the insurance industry is outstanding. In particular, Jeff brings a great understanding of OSI’s core customers and their evolving needs. We are confident that Jeff’s industry knowledge, leadership qualities and proven success of building customer service focused organizations will enable him to lead OSI to be both the highest quality outsourced provider of premium audit, personal lines inspection and commercial loss control services and increasingly a strategic partner to our customers."
Haniewich says, "I am very excited about the opportunities at Overland Solutions and working with the excellent people at both Overland and New Mountain Capital. Overland is already one of the premier providers of Premium Audit, Loss Control, and Personal Lines inspection services to the Property and Casualty industry. I look forward to working with all the employees of Overland to help make OSI without peer in the insurance service industry. In order to accomplish this and to add greater value to our customers, investors, stockholders, and employees, we will work hard to provide unparalleled service and quality to our customers. This will be accomplished through a strong focus on hiring and retaining talented employees who possess enthusiasm, integrity, and loyalty and who have a passion and sense of urgency to do things right for our customers."
Prior to accepting the position at OSI, Mr. Haniewich served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Lines Business, at the Ohio Casualty Group. His responsibilities included leading the Commercial Lines segment, the largest segment of Ohio Casualty, comprised of all field and home office functions including marketing, underwriting, pricing, product management, business automation, loss control, and premium audit. From 1998 to 2001, he served as Regional Vice President at Ohio Casualty, and from 1990 to 1998 was a Senior Vice President at Great American Insurance, which became part of Ohio Casualty. His other insurance industry positions included being Division President of Progressive Casualty Insurance’s Central Division. From 1976 to 1983, Jeff was a practicing attorney at Arter and Hadden in Cleveland, Ohio.
Throughout his career, Mr. Haniewich has demonstrated a strong track record of success. Jeff graduated with a B.A. degree in Economics and also received a J.D. degree from Cleveland State University. Jeff was also a member of the board of the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI) during 2003-2004.
The search committee for OSI engaged Heidrick & Struggles, one of the largest and most respected providers of executive search and leadership consulting services, for this process, and Mr. Haniewich was selected after an extensive search.
January 3, 2005
Restructuring Including Branch Changes
Overland Solutions, Inc. is in constant pursuit of improvement in our products and services for all of our customers. To support and enhance our ability as a premier provider of services in the marketplace, OSI continuously reexamines and, at times, reinvents itself. We would like to announce several exciting changes that are occurring due to opportunities for continual growth, market strength, and ever improving customer service. The first described change involves segregating our product offerings of Premium Audits, Commercial Surveys, and Personal Lines Inspections into separate OSI divisions to ensure that you always get the best possible products and services from us. The second reflects some upcoming changes in the branches.
Company Divisions
With the recent acquisitions of Safety Resources and Castle Inspection Service, we at Overland Solutions have truly positioned ourselves as the premier provider of non-claims-related services to the insurance industry. We are a growing, vital, customer-focused company. We can offer a far greater range of products than in the past, and through these acquisitions, we now have industry leaders heading each of our product lines.
With this growth comes the ability to segregate our product lines based on expertise. This will enable us to better serve you, our customers, to create better career and development opportunities for our staff, and to improve financial strength through increased market share and revenue. This month, we will begin organizationally segmenting our products into three operating divisions. Overland Solutions, the leader in our field for audits, will continue as our premium audit division. Safety Resources, with expertise that includes middle market and high end inspections, will be responsible for all loss control work, including all existing survey work. And Castle Inspection Service, utilizing their expertise in personal lines dwelling evaluations, will be responsible for all personal lines and high-value Homeowner valuations.
Some of the changes will be immediate; some will take several months to implement. When fully implemented, each of the three divisions will be focused on its own area of expertise. Safety Resources and Castle Inspection Service will retain their current names and will be referred to as a “Division of Overland Solutions.”
Branch Changes
In support of the restructuring that has been mentioned above, several branch-level changes will be made. Effective 12/20/2004, the Staten Island, Birmingham, Columbus, and Anaheim branches began a consolidation process into four other existing branch offices. The consolidation was completed by 12/31/04. Customers will not be affected by these changes in that our field staff will continue to work their current territories. Specifically:
· The Staten Island branch merged into New York/New Jersey
· The Birmingham branch merged into Atlanta
· The Columbus branch merged into Louisville
· The Anaheim branch merged into Los Angeles
You may wonder why OSI has made such an apparently dramatic change regarding our footprint across the nation. OSI is responsible for continually improving products, processes, and our organization for the good of customers and the future of our company. Based on the business model changes of moving to three operating divisions, the mix of audit and survey business, and proximity to other offices, the service to our customers and employees for these locations is improved through the consolidation.
Although we are creating three operating divisions and making changes regarding the branches, we remain one company focused on customer satisfaction. We enhance our commitment to our corporate vision to “Meet or exceed our customers’ needs in quality and time service on a national basis, achieved through standardization and continual improvement of our products and services.” These changes represent the next step in our efforts to continually improve. We are excited as we move the company along toward our next step to our achievement of world-class status.
We believe that the modifications to our organization as outlined in this communication are in the best interests of our customers by allowing us to provide dedicated and focused services. We know that customers will see increasingly positive impacts of these changes as we move forward, as partners, into the future.
December 6, 2004
Castle Acquisition Letter for OSI Customers
We are very pleased and excited to announce that, on December 1, 2004, Overland Solutions, Inc. acquired The ITV Solutions, Inc. group of companies including Castle Inspection Service, Rapid Survey Group, and Castle Data Services. This acquisition follows our previously announced strategic plan to aggressively develop the scale and breadth of our nationwide service offerings in order to meet the growing needs for outsourced services from our core clients in the insurance, financial, and government sectors.
Castle Inspection Service is the nation’s premier provider of personal lines inspections and replacement cost data. (Castle Inspections is the inspection company. Castle Data Services is the replacement cost company). With an objective of being the one-stop resource for the needs of the personal lines insurance industry, Castle offers high-value and exterior residential insurance surveys, risk analysis surveys, a replacement cost estimator, and various book analysis products. Castle’s staff is made up of over 300 highly-trained professionals located throughout the US. Castle has built a reputation on professionalism, replacement cost expertise, and innovative automated solutions.
The acquisition of Castle is an important step forward in our development plans, which emphasize both organic growth and the expansion of our service capabilities by acquiring high-quality companies within our traditional areas of focus and in new areas of value-added services to our clients. This acquisition also enhances our unique ability to service all customers with a true nationwide team of professionals who deliver solutions to your needs. These professionals represent our collective mission to provide the highest quality Commercial and Personal Insurance services in the industry through “Quality People Providing Quality Information.”
Please feel free to communicate with your local Overland Solutions representative should you have any questions regarding this notification. We can also be reached at our web site at http://www.olsi.net/. All of us at Overland Solutions are looking forward to the future as we continue to develop true partnerships that allow you to continue to receive reliable information in a timely manner.
September 27, 2004
OSI Develops Special Employee Compensation Program for this Year’s Hurricane Season
Overland Solutions, Inc. (“Overland Solutions”), the leading outsourced insurance services provider has developed a special compensation program for its employees who could not complete audits and surveys during Hurricane Ivan and its aftermath.
Six branch offices of Overland Solutions, Inc. (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Atlanta, Georgia; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; and Memphis, Tennessee) were affected by this hurricane season.
Severe weather conditions, power outages, closed businesses, and curfews created numerous challenges for OSI field representatives to complete their jobs. Because of these challenges, the company has created a special compensation program for its field personnel. The company will reimburse these employees for work they could not perform during the hurricane and the time following.
Robert W. Wickizer, Overland Solutions President and CEO, said, “Our field representatives are critical to the success of our company. We are dedicated to supporting them and empowering them to do their best work. Our company puts a high value on our field representatives, and we will continue our commitment to all employees.”
Lee Surridge, Regional Vice President for the Southeast region, said, “After Hurricane Ivan, our team at the branch offices and our field representatives did a great job getting people back to work. Although many people in Alabama and Florida lost everything, our team was fortunate to only have suffered limited damages.”
April 7, 2004
OSI Acquires Safety Resources, LLC
Overland Solutions, Inc., the leading outsourced insurance services provider owned by New Mountain Capital, LLC, today announced the acquisition of Safety Resources, LLC (“Safety Resources”).
Safety Resources, based in Parsippany, New Jersey and established in 2000, is a leading specialty loss control services provider to the insurance industry. Safety Resources provides services that are aimed exclusively to meet the needs of the insurance industry in providing higher end loss control consultation to insureds, underwriting and engineering departments.
Jack Leonard, CSP, President Safety Resources said, “We are excited to be associated with Overland Solutions, the industry leader in outsourced insurance field services. We look forward to working closely with Overland Solutions to fulfill our collective mission to provide the highest quality field services in the industry.”
Bob Wickizer, Overland Solutions President and CEO, stated, “Overland Solutions intends to continue to aggressively develop the scale and breadth of our nationwide service offerings in order to meet the growing needs for outsourced services from our core clients in the insurance, financial and government sectors. The acquisition of Safety Resources is an important step forward in our development plans which emphasize both organic growth and the expansion of our service capabilities by acquiring high quality companies within our traditional areas of focus and in new areas of value-added outsourced services to our clients. Safety Resources is a very high-end loss control provider that will help to broaden our service offerings in order to meet the ever evolving needs of our customer base.”
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