Together, We Are NAMIC

John A. Bykowski is a believer in the power of solidarity and strength in numbers. In choosing the theme “Together, We are NAMIC” for his coming year as NAMIC’s chairman, he is actually building on what many members have been saying during the past year.

“My theme is a continuation of the ‘I Am NAMIC’ idea,” he explained.

According to Bykowski, NAMIC’s strength in numbers is key to addressing what he feels is the association’s major challenge: the ever-changing regulatory environment.

“Fifty states and the federal government influence the way we do business,” he said. “NAMIC’s protection of its members against political interests is balanced with meeting advocacy challenges while helping members continue to give excellent service to their customers.”

As president, CEO, and chairman of the board of SECURA Insurance Companies located in Appleton, Wisconsin, Bykowski brings 35 years of property/casualty insurance industry experience and expertise to NAMIC’s leadership.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he moved through parochial grade school and high school, and graduated from Marquette University with a major in political science and liberal arts. Before entering the insurance industry, he taught junior high social studies.

From 1972 to 1979, Bykowski held underwriting management positions at Milwaukee Mutual and Allstate Insurance. He served as vice president of casualty operations at Wisconsin Employers Group from 1979 to 1983. From 1983 until 1997, he served as senior vice president of marketing at West Bend Mutual in West Bend, Wisconsin. In January 1997, he was named president and CEO of SECURA, being named chairman of the board in April 2004.

John and Rose Bykowski have two children. Their daughter and son-in-law are high school teachers and have a daughter, 2. Their son is an insurance agent in Madison, Wisconsin, who also has a 2-year-old daughter and a 2-month-old son.

Bykowski loves golf – so much so, he has extended his interest to building custom golf clubs in a home workshop. So far, he has built 35 sets of clubs and donated a set of ladies’ clubs to the Insurance Education Institute Silent Auction held at the NAMIC’s 2006 Annual Convention.

His management philosophy echoes SECURA’s mission and vision statements: “SECURA is a service-focused, relationship-driven, mutual property and casualty insurance company operating through independent agents …. Our vision is to be the company of choice for agents, policyholders, and associates.”

Building on the factors that have made SECURA a successful company for more than 100 years, Bykowski focuses on ensuring profitable growth in a performance-oriented, associate-centered, family-friendly environment; providing best-in-class service and a stable market for independent agents.

He feels this ethic has more than paid off in maintaining an excellent, talented staff. “As costs go up, people want opportunities,” Bykowski explained. “The only way to attract good employees and agents is to provide a clear benefit in good opportunities. The company and its management are visible in the community. We want to be known as the best place to work. The company’s employee turnover is almost nil, and the average tenure is in double digits.”

Bykowski also has a clear vision of service to NAMIC and its members in the year ahead.

“I would like to see an increase in member involvement: attending conferences, serving on committees, being active in advocacy roles such as the Congressional Contact Program and the NAMIC PAC,” he said. “I urge members to take advantage of NAMIC services. There is so much to benefit everyone.”

Posted: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 4:03:38 PM.

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We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.