C3 Risk & Insurance Services (C3), a San Diego-based specialty insurance brokerage, has hired four insurance industry veterans to establish new construction and surety divisions. C3, which uses a discovery-based risk approach to provide a wide range of comprehensive products, will draw from these new hires’ decades of expertise to tackle the unique challenges faced by this foundational industry.

C3 welcomes the following new team members to the new construction and surety divisions:

  • Paul Heidemann, Managing Director: Heidemann has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance brokerage industry. His expertise includes risk management and brokerage services for medium to large construction companies; environmental and remediation contractors; homebuilders and residential development.
  • Rich Hallett, Director of Surety: With over 25 years of experience obtaining surety credit for national and international contractors and developers, Hallett is responsible for the management of C3’s contract and commercial surety practice. Over his career, he has underwritten and managed surety programs in excess of $750 million.
  • Teri Porlas, Client Consultant Executive: Porlas has over 35 years of experience working as a dedicated insurance professional providing creative and comprehensive coverage programs. Her expertise resides in the construction and real estate industries handling complex exposures for sophisticated businesses.
  • Doug Shea, Construction Practice Leader: ​​Shea is a commercial property and casualty insurance broker specializing in construction and real estate. He began his insurance career more than a decade ago, and his expertise includes providing risk management and brokerage services to medium to large construction companies; environmental and remediation contractors; and homebuilders and residential developers (OCIP/CCIP Programs).

“We’re formalizing our construction and surety divisions so we continue enhancing our capabilities to service an array of risks,” says Jamie Reid, co-founder and chairman of the board, C3. “The construction industry is a backbone to America. We’re confident with the addition of these four specialty insurance experts, this new division will not only have a different approach to the toughest insurance challenges, but also meet clients’ needs with sophisticated expertise and intimate knowledge of the industry.”

C3 believes insurance can be a colorful, collaborative experience

Under the leadership of Reid and co-founder Gabe Erle, C3 is disrupting the insurance industry by including clients in the process. Clients participate in writing the narrative that impacts their insurance cost and coverage through colorful insurance commercials that are submitted to underwriters. This unique approach breathes life into the special risk factors associated with the company that draw the attention of preferred underwriting. Established in 2017, the company now has nearly 70 employees boasting 500 years of combined experience, covering every aspect of the insurance world. C3 is licensed in all 50 states, and currently serves over 5,000 clients in the U.S. and worldwide.

C3 offers several lines of insurance, including workers compensation, professional liability, general liability, privacy liability, inland marine, commercial property, business auto, garage liability, accident participant, and many more along with specialty divisions including trucking, life science and construction and surety. In addition, C3 works to change the insurance game by including non-insurance elements for its clients, including video production services, online brand alignment with internal culture, claim cost containment and client technology portal. By giving clients 24/7 virtual access to their agents, C3 ensures customers receive the best advice possible for their situation at any time of day. Even medical emergencies don’t wait until the next day to be reported, thanks to the company’s nurse triage.

C3 also knows the key to success is working in close collaboration with clients to come to agreeable decisions. To do that, employees must be able to work to their full capacity. To this end, Reid and Erle are dedicated to investing time and money to get to know their clients better than anyone else and give employees what they need mentally and emotionally to give their clients top quality service. C3 employees enjoy a unique, fun, and professional work environment with plenty of opportunities for mobility, and benefits including profit-sharing, flexible schedules and wellness initiatives.

“Our team promises our clients the best service possible, and in order to do that we need the best people,” says Erle. “The insurance industry has been in a box for years, and our new construction and surety divisions will continue our mission of disruption through business relationships solidified by empathetic listening, divergent thinking and unprecedented resolve.”

ABOUT C3 RISK & INSURANCE SERVICES

C3 is shaking up the insurance industry by redefining the privately held insurance brokerage firm. Founded in 2017, C3 is locally owned and headquartered in San Diego. While young at heart, the breadth of experience spans decades. C3 inherently takes a different approach to managing the risk of companies from startups through multinational firms. Its unique business model and dedication to employees and clients has been a catalyst to C3 becoming one of the fastest growing insurance firms in the country. Learn more by visiting c3insurance.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or by calling 619-233-8000.

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