fbpx

Born from a Storm

Boca Raton company becomes one of state’s largest insurers

By Arnie Rosenberg  |  Photography by Larry Wood

Clint Strauch
Clint Strauch

In its own way, Hurricane Andrew gave birth to Florida Peninsula Insurance Co.

When the Category 5 storm unleashed more than $25 billion in damage on Florida in 1992, Clint Strauch already had been an Allstate insurance agent for seven years. He witnessed the massive property damage, as well as the human toll, that was left in the storm’s wake. He also noticed that a number of larger insurance companies were pulling out of the state.

“I saw a lot of smaller companies popping up, and saw that as an opportunity,” Strauch recalls. A few years later, he and a longtime friend were having dinner and began sketching out the idea for a homeowners insurance company – on a napkin.

Today, Strauch is president of the Florida Peninsula family of companies (Florida Peninsula Insurance Co. and Edison Insurance Co.), and that friend, Stacey Giulianti, is the company’s chief legal officer and heads the claims department.

“He was a plaintiff’s attorney and I was an Allstate agent,” Strauch remembers. “I saw how insurance played a really valuable role, especially in Andrew. I saw firsthand some of the damage these people went through.”

It took Strauch and Giulianti another three years after having dinner to fine-tune their business plan to launch what they hoped would be an innovative insurance company, one that would utilize significant technology yet hold onto old-fashioned values. Today, Florida Peninsula and Edison combined make up the 13th-largest homeowners insurance company in the state, with about 120,000 policyholders, $280 million annually in premiums, and 120 employees and 1,500 agents statewide. Its Boca Raton office just expanded nearly 40 percent to 26,000 square feet.

“Our ultimate goal was to be a long-term solution, to provide a stable homeowners insurance solution for the citizens of Florida and to do it in a really friendly way,” Strauch says.

It certainly was a baptism of fire in May 2005 when Florida Peninsula opened its doors, offering only wind insurance.

“We figured 2005 was a great year to start, because in 2004, we’d seen four storms,” Strauch says. “What were the chances of even one storm in 2005? By July, we were surprised by the first storm (Hurricane Dennis), and then, with every storm after that (including Katrina and Wilma), we became even more surprised.”

The storms gave the fledgling company the test it needed and the chance to validate its processes for claims, underwriting and customers service. Strauch and key company officials spent time in the field, making sure their plans worked in the real world, not just on paper.

And after successfully handling 5,000 claims that first year, and watching a number of insurance companies go out of business, Florida Peninsula set its sights on expansion. In 2007, it added fire, theft, vandalism and liability coverage to its portfolio. In 2010, it purchased Edison Insurance Co. with 25,000 policies.

From the outset, Florida Peninsula has stressed cutting-edge technology and user-friendly customer relations. Today, Strauch says, Edison is the only insurance company where shoppers can get an accurate homeowners insurance quote online. However, the company derives much of its success from its diverse board, according to Strauch. In addition to his agency experience and Giulianti’s legal insights, the board comprises a former CEO of Prudential Property & Casualty, a former CFO of Aetna Property & Casualty and two Harvard-trained businessmen.

Seeing challenges in the marketplace through what Strauch calls “multifaceted lenses” remains the company’s strength.

“When you have bigger challenges and you get six people with diverse backgrounds in the room, you can come up with some really great solutions that are nontraditional,” Strauch says. “That diversification has allowed us to tackle some of the challenges that continue to face us in the marketplace.” 

You May Also Like
Navigating Tax Changes

The estate exemption will be going back to previous levels.

Read More
Tax Changes
Banesco USA Achieves Landmark Achievement With Assets Exceeding $4 Billion

The community bank has seven locations between South Florida and Puerto Rico.

Read More
Banesco USA
Stephanie Green at the Forefront of Fifth Third Bank’s Rapid Growth in South Florida

JD Power ranks it as the top bank in Florida for customer satisfaction.

Read More
Stephanie Green
City National Bank of Florida Introduces National Capital Markets Group

It will offer capabilities in the capital market by providing structured financial solutions.

Read More
Capital Markets Group
Other Posts
Guy Harvey Foundation Hosts Fundraising Gala to Support Ocean Conservation Efforts

The 16th annual event will be held on Oct. 30.

Read More
Guy Harvey Foundation
Mareva 1939 Tempts Diners With Delectable Spanish Dishes in Miami Beach

The Spanish-stylish restaurant is located at The National Hotel.

Read More
Mareva 1939
A Modern Dining Ambiance With a View Greets Visitors at Universal Orlando Resort’s Aventura Hotel’s Bar 17 Bistro

The venue is a great place to visit when enjoy the local theme parks.

Read More
Universal Orlando Resort
Limo Miami Sets the Standard for Upscale and Stylish Transportation Services

Those looking for a new transportation method have a luxurious option.

Read More
Limo Miami

Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.