2019 Break Out Awards, West: Justin M. Lehtonen
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JUSTIN M. LEHTONEN
Vice president
Worldwide Facilities LLC
Los Angeles
Age: 34
Justin M. Lehtonen joined surplus lines broker Worldwide Facilities LLC in 2007, where he has become an expert in the cannabis business. He previously worked for a development company. Mr. Lehtonen graduated summa cum laude from The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, California, with a Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies and bible exposition.
What is the No. 1 concern in your specialty?
One concern in my specialty, I think, is trust — people trusting the providers of the product and trusting that the provider is ultimately going to make them whole if something bad happens. We provide a level of confidence to someone who’s buying a nonadmitted product that ultimately, we’re the face of that product to the retail community, and that their trust in that nonadmitted product is a function of their trust in us.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the business?
Be known for your ethics and take good care of all your relationships.
What surprised you about the insurance industry?
I don’t think anything surprised me about it. I was crazy to decide to get into this business. It was not by design that I started working in the insurance business, so I had no preconceived ideas.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I have not consumed cannabis in the past 17 years.
What would you/do you binge watch?
I do not own a television set, and I don’t watch it. I did watch the Warriors play the Rockets last night, but I was at somebody else’s house.
What is your favorite meal?
I like to travel around and try unique, unusual stuff, like Anthony Bourdain-type of stuff. Anything that I’ve had before is not something I would look to necessarily try again.
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