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2018 Break Out Awards, West: Brandon Cole

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2018 Break Out Awards, West: Brandon Cole

BRANDON COLE

National director

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Glendale, California

Age: 34

Brandon Cole, national director at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in Glendale, California, entered the insurance industry in 2005 as an employee of Philadelphia Insurance Cos. He started as an account executive and moved up to underwriting and sales before moving to Gallagher. Specializing in serving schools and nonprofits across the country, he runs a national school insurance program, Scholastic First Insurance, and leads a team of seven. He also recently created an excess liability program for social service nonprofits.

Emerging risks in your specialty

I don’t know if it’s just our specialty, but I think cyber and things related to the use of technology are a big concern, and I don’t know that the insurance industry has kept up with those trends. What concerns me the most is that it’s a quickly evolving trend.

Job changes over the next 10 years

I’ll be taking on more management responsibility for younger people coming into the industry. The biggest hurdle with that is adapting. Our clients, I think, are going to expect more things and faster, but I think the employees I’ll be working with and training and mentoring want a better work-life balance.

Something people don’t know about you

It’s probably that I’m an Iron Man triathlete and an Eagle Scout.

Dream vacation

My dream vacation is completely unplugging and just spending time with the family. It doesn’t matter where, it doesn’t matter what we’re doing, but I think just completely being dedicated to spending time with them.

Favorite meal

Ice cream. That’s my guilty pleasure. I would just eat ice cream, if I could. As I get older, I’m realizing it takes even more work to burn that off.

 

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