Insurance Federal Crop Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.982

Iowa

Professional Experience 

Executive Vice President & COO (2001-present) Startup Managing General Agency for federal multiple peril crop insurance (MPCI) specializing in low cost, direct delivery to the farmer via the Internet and well-established agri-retailers. 
President & CEO (co-founded 1999-present). Intellectual property, research and development, and consulting company for CQuest, Ltd. and other unrelated client companies. Clients include IGF Insurance Company, Science Applications Information Corporation (Washington, DC), USDA-Risk Management Agency and American Farmland Trust. 
Executive Vice President & COO (co-founded 1999-present). Foremost supplier and developer of agriculturally-supplied Carbon Emission Reduction Credits (CERCâ) for greenhouse gas mitigation. Negotiated first American sale of multi-sourced, multi-supplier agricultural CERCs to a Canadian consortium of energy companies (GEMCO). 

IGF Insurance Company, Des Moines, IA.Vice-President for Strategic Analysis, (1997-1999)
Developed strategic alliances and developmental initiatives for insuring cut-flowers, timber, citrus, adoption of best management practices (BMP), integrated resistance management, agricultural carbon credits, agri-business production interruption, and livestock price insurance (LGM). Developed new MPCI products under 508 (h) such as GRP-WRAP (pending), GRIP, and SugarBeetRevenue (pending). Developed a rule-based underwriting filter system for time constrained processing of MPCI reinsurance fund designations. Conducted research on the application of weather derivatives, remote-sensing, geographic information systems, precision farming, and integrated grain marketing strategies to crop insurance. Provide other company strategic planning.
Director, Strategic Analysis and Market Intelligence (1996-1997)
Identified poor underwriting production areas and agents. Developed loss reserving strategies and reinsurance pro-forma for calculation of projected underwriting gains and losses. Developed and successfully filed a new concept in companion crop-hail insurance called the Production Plan and an adaptation of the federal group risk plan for agri-business, AgPI, agricultural production interruption insurance. 
Director, Product Management, Underwriting and Rate Analysis (1993-1996)
Developed computerized system for rate calculation, filing, publication and distribution. Developed successful statistical scoring method for designating MPCI policies into reinsurance pools resulting in a 15-point improvement in underwriting gain with higher levels of retention.  
Dawson Hail Insurance Company, Fargo, ND.Director of Insuring Services, (1992-1993).
Responsible for product development, data processing, rate development, state insurance filings, underwriting, and internal audit and procedural compliance reviews. Developed two “price” risk supplemental policies and a new sales/marketing pitch called “Mapping Your Risk”. Successful designated MPCI renewals to a 40-point differential between assigned risk and commercial reinsurance pools. Developed a new rating scheme for deductible and increasing payment crop hail plans utilizing a little known loss severity report at substantial savings for statistical services. Developed a GIS mapping system to develop near-real time township maps of rates, premium, losses, loss ratios, and liability. Negotiated a major software agency package agreement and replacement of a data processing key contractor. Uncovered severe rating flaw in a popular supplemental policy in 1992. The poor results in 1993 forced the company’s merger with Crop Growers in 1993. 

Great American Insurance Company, Shawnee Msn, KS.Product Manager, Crop Division, (1990-1992). Restructured MPCI plan of operations and private reinsurance placement netting $500,000 in underwriting profit per year with no increase in net risk. Renegotiated crop-hail treaties to competitive terms, increasing ceded profits by 20%. Developed the historic first (Hybrid Seed Corn Increased Value) and second (Raisin Extra Expense) FCIC-approved direct endorsement to the MPCI policy. Investigated products for canola, hybrid seed corn, and low-deductible MPCI. Constructed and filed competitive crop-hail rates for 35 states. 
Administrative Manager, Crop-Farm Division, (1985-1990). Responsible for $3 million budget and related planning and control, data processing, underwriting, reinsurance, personnel, facilities, mail and supply for divisional headquarters and nine field offices. Restored data processing capability and directed reprogramming and redesign of entire data processing system for MPCI, crop-hail, and accounting systems, in stages, and over a period of two years with a minimum of downtime and expense while maintaining daily processing. Designed and directed a major office move of 100 employees and 21,000 square feet and transition to systems furniture. Instigated automated direct policyholder billing, self-mailing forms, lock-box handling of receipts, and home office reporting. Successful handled several complex personnel actions without litigation. Discovered errors in corporate premium tax accounting and reformed company statutory reporting of premiums, reinsurance, premium subsidies, and recoverable. Successfully managed a 100% growth surge in premium with limited added resources, resulting in a 5% underwriting expense factor. 

Union Insurance Company, Lincoln, NE.Marketing Manager (Texas), Crop Division (1983-1985).
Formulated marketing strategies, negotiated commission agreements, recruited agents, conducted farmer education meetings, supervised claims, settled problem claims, and developed national (13 territory) marketing plan, including advertising program, agent training, and incentives. Developed virgin territory with a $250,000 goal into a $1 million premium producer with 50% first-time agents and 85% first-time policyholders in one year. Division reorganized and sold to American Agrisurance in 1985. 

Agricultural Communications & Marketing, Inc., Bryan, TX. Co-founder (1983-1985). Developer and distributor of marketing materials, radio spots, advertising space, brochures, and software for use by independent insurance agents. Sold-out to partner in 1985. 

Griffin Insurance Agency, Bryan, TX.Founder  (1984-1985). Property and Casualty insurance agency specializing in crop insurance products. Closed in 1985 for personal move to Kansas and conflict of interest provision of employment with Great American. 
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, (1979-1983). Taught upper level course in farm and ranch management and graduate level course in production economics and risk management. Conducted research in the development of various computer-aided economic tools for improved decision-making and analyzing the farm-level impacts of federal farm policy. Conducted extension education program on farm management topics and provide cost and return information on most Texas crop and livestock enterprises by sub-state region. Key researcher in developing an impact analysis of the proposed 1980 Crop Insurance Act on Texas farmers which lead to an initial $200,000 grant (at the time the largest award won by an economist at TAMU) from FCIC to develop a crop insurance evaluation program executable on personal computers.  ARCIE (all-risk crop insurance evaluator) and its cashflow approach to crop insurance marketing were heralded as the single most significant research and extension projected funded by FCIC. The advisory committee created by ARCIE (1981) is still in existence today. ARCIE was the first computerized sales presentation tool for crop insurance and logically built upon a farmer’s own information to analyze the cashflow impact of crop insurance coverage. Developed the concept of “retro”-crop insurance as an alternative to massive ad hoc disaster payments and thwarted an end to crop insurance as the primary method for disaster assistance. Presented research findings at numerous professional and client group meetings. Published articles and news items in major journals, popular farm press, and newspaper release on a variety of farm management topics. 

Iowa State University, Center for Agricultural & Rural Development,Graduate Research Associate, (1975-1979). While pursuing a doctoral course of study, conducted economic research in soybean and soybean by-product stockholding and price variability utilizing a large-scale econometric model as background. Developed large-scale linear programming models of U.S. agriculture for use in assessing the impacts of alternative energy, land-use, conservation, export, world food, and supply-control policies. Completed all course requirements and qualifying examinations for a Ph.D. except completion of the dissertation. 

Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Economics,Graduate Research Assistant (1974-1975). Developed computerized decision aid for determining optimum selection and operation of farm machinery. 

Cook Industries, Inc., Processing & Refining Division, Memphis, TN. Intern Trader (1973).
Conducted market analysis, prepared bid offers, maintained commodity positions, and purchased soybeans for a soybean processing plant. General orientation to grain trade, barge trade, country origination, hedging strategies, and market analysis within a global (third largest in the U.S.) grain exporter and commodity trader. 

Oklahoma State University, Department of Agricultural Economics,Computer Programmer (1971-1973). Developed computerized simulation models for use in teaching farm and ranch management and futures market trading. Developed computerized databases and algorithms for calculating crop and livestock enterprise budgets, cashflow projections, and optimum farm plans.

Education

1975-1979 Post-Graduate Study (ABD), Economics, Iowa State University
1974-1975 Master of Science, Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University
1970-1973 Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University
Local Recording Agents License (80 hr/exam), Texas, 1984
Fire & Allied Lines Adjuster License (53 hr/exam) Texas, 1985
FCIC Certified Crop Insurance Agent, 1983
CPCU National Exams 1,5,7,8,9 - 1987-1991
Great American Executive Training & Development, 1989
AMA (Time Management, Performance Management, Strategic Planning), 1998
Licensed Crop Insurance Agent, Iowa, 2001 

Litigation Experience

Deposition (14 hours) for litigation involving IGF Insurance Company vs. Califorina “AgPI” claimants
Deposition (5 hours) for litigation involving IGF Insurance Company vs. Continential Casuality Co. (“CAN”)

HONORS and AWARDS

State Winner (KS), Employers Support for the National Guard and Reserve, 1981
Phi Kappa Phi (Oklahoma State University), 1973
Alpha Zeta (Oklahoma State University), 1973
Outstanding Senior (Agricultural Economics), 1973
State Farmer Degree (OK) and Star Chapter Farmer, Future Farmers of America, 1970
FFA National Champion Livestock Judging Team (American Royal), 1970

Insurance Industry Leadership

Vice-Chairman, Actuarial & Statistics Committee (standing), National Crop Insurance Services (1985-1992,1993-1999)

Memberships

American Agricultural Economics Association, Agronomy Society, American Association of Crop Insurers, Alpha Gamma Rho, Soil & Water Conservation Society, Iowa Environmental Council, Lutheran Church of Hope (WDM, IA).