Establishing credibility when entering a new job is difficult. This is especially true for insurance producers. It is hard to walk into an insured office and tell them to trust you without having a proven track record.

Our guests from Gregory & Appel Insurance, Brad Dumbauld, Tyson Vaughn, and Reid Putnam share some advice on how to ease this challenge. They cover the importance of having a set of stories, the power of using “we”, and how to be of service. The role of an insurance agent is changing into that of a risk management consultant: “Insurance is just how we get paid”. Join us to learn more about the other ways to add value to your client. 

Brad Dumbauld is a thoughtful, dedicated alternative risks industry champion. As an advisor, Brad strives to make true connections with his clients. He often seeks out creative solutions in order to cover their insurance needs and exudes confidence in explaining why certain coverages should be in place. Brad joined Gregory & Appel in 2003 after fifteen years of working for public and privately held insurance brokerage firms. He began his insurance career as a commercial underwriter at Heritage Mutual Insurance Company, now Acuity. Brad has his BA in History from Bowling Green State University. He is currently in pursuit of his Associate in Captive Insurance (ACI) designation and expects to complete it by the end of 2020. Brad’s years of experience and knowledge are shown in how he relates to each of his accounts. Not only does Brad value each and every one of his clients on a business level, he’s also known to become acquainted with them on a personal level as well, often remembering birthdays, anniversaries, and personal factoids. Brad is famous around the office not only for his industry expertise but for the way he shows his heart–– intentionally stopping his busy agenda to make human connections or to volunteer help whenever there’s a need. In his free time, Brad enjoys, spending time with his friends and family, and staying active by playing a round of golf or going for a ride on his bicycle.

Reid Putnam is a risk management advisor who refuses to back down from a challenge and carries that determination into his everyday service. Reid’s passion is to be of service to his clients, helping them become better consumers of insurance through education and the understanding of analytics. A detail and process-oriented guy, he enjoys all facets of risk management, especially when he can share his subject matter expertise to help his clients thrive. Reid received his Bachelor’s Degree from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. He spent his early career in underwriting and management, serving over 13 years in various roles with Chubb Insurance. After acting as the Commercial Underwriting Manager for Chubb in the state of Indiana, Reid decided to bring his expertise to Gregory & Appel in 2014. Today, as a Vice President of Property & Casualty, Reid is a co-leader of G&A’s Medical Services Division. He presents on matters of Enterprise Risk Management and Cyber Liability, having spoken in front of the Indiana Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ISHHRA), LeadingAge, and the Indiana Security & Privacy Network (INSPN), amongst others. With his cyber expertise, he is also regularly recruited to participate in a variety of panel discussions. Reid also engages in partnerships with the Indiana Society of Healthcare Risk Management (ISHRM), INSPN, and the Indiana Executive Cyber Council. When not thinking up new and innovative ideas for his clients, Reid enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Tyson Vaughn is a commercial risk advisor with a long history of risk management education up to his sleeve and informed business decision-making in his DNA. Tyson is energized by getting to know his clients’ hopes and fears so that he can help them assess opportunities and protect them against any subsequent risk. After considering careers in the medical field and military, Tyson analyzed his own skillset and graduated instead with a Bachelor’s in English Literature from Miami University in Oxford, OH. For five years post-graduation, he tapped his affinity for evaluating risks against rewards, traveled the nation providing risk management and operations consulting for Delta Upsilon International Fraternity, and gained expertise in crisis management. From there, he took his on-the-job experience and landed a job with Travelers Insurance. He served 10 years as an underwriter and was working as a managing account executive when Gregory & Appel tapped him on the shoulder. Joining G&A in 2013, he embraced the firm’s philanthropic values and has been enjoying doing his part to take care of his clients and colleagues ever since. In the community, Tyson is a member of Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, regularly volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, and has found unexpected joy supporting kids’ learning with the Soapbox Derby. When he’s not cheering on his own kids on the lacrosse field or chasing cars down the track, he can be found on the slopes in the winter and the links in the summer.