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Latest Press Release
*NEW ARTICLE* - Weston Business Chamber of Commerce - Year in Review
Tom Kallman - Insurance Agent, Event Promoter,
and Leader
Weston on the Web
Author: Janet Marotta
Tom Kallman, owner of Kallman Insurance in Weston, is a man of diverse
talents including event promotions, politics, community leadership,
and insurance business know-how. Last month's successful
Rock & Pop Concert event at Weston's Regional Park was coordinated
by Kallman who continues to be inspired by his love for music. But
his other drive and where he spends most his time is overcoming
the challenges involved in helping clients secure the right coverage
for their business.
"To get someone covered properly is not like
it was 15 years ago," says Kallman. "Because of
the number of catastrophes, the caliber and quality of carriers
doing business in Florida is quickly declining. It's common
to be cancelled by insurance policy carriers due to gyrations in
the market. Being able to secure coverage requires a lot of expertise
these days."
According to Kallman, several major carriers are leaving
Florida . These include Allstate who is canceling coverage
on all commercial property statewide, even their own agents' offices;
Nationwide, who is involved in an active withdrawal in the market
on a vast majority of policy holders; Zurich , who is canceling
coverage on properties 10 or more years of age; and others such
as Statewide and Tower Hill.
"You have to know where to go to get the job
done," adds Kallman. "It requires constant education.
It's never been tougher to be an insurance agent from a stress
point of view."
Knowing where and how to get the job done has been
Kallman's life for the past 20 years. Even though he pursued
a degree in the technical end of entertainment industry; DJ'd for
four years at Ithaca College's radio station in Ithaca ,NY ; and
even managed and promoted concerts, Kallman was quickly sidetracked
by his family of insurance agents. After college, he worked
in Miami as an insurance adjustor for GAB Business Services, the
largest adjustment firm in the world and a great training ground
for the business.
Kallman did a brief stint back in Poughkeepsie where
he fulfilled one and one half terms as City Commissioner. He
moved back to South Florida in 1986, accepting a position, and later
becoming an Officer of a large Miami-based insurance agency. When
he moved to Weston in 1994, it did not take long before Kallman
grew tired of the daily commute to downtown Miami .
"The drive became longer and longer and it felt
like I was missing something," recalls Kallman. "I
was a bedroom resident just coming here to sleep and missed the
sense of community. I came from a small community in Poughkeepsie
where everyone knows one another and I needed that again."
In 1998, Kallman made the decision to open his own
business. "I needed to stop spending three hours a day
commuting to Miami . I needed to take my life back."
His desire to be an entrepreneur and credentials to
run his own insurance business has gone a long way since. Today,
90% of the business is commercial property and casualty insurance
and commercial real estate. Many businesses in and around
Weston including hotels, country clubs, and associations are covered
by Kallman Insurance Agency.
How does Kallman relieve stress? The answer
is in community involvement, which forces him to maintain a good
mix of business and community activities. Kallman serves on two
boards at the University of Miami Athletic Department; the Hurricanes
Club and the Hall of Fame; the Florida Bar Grievance Committee Board;
the Weston Democratic Club as Treasurer; the Rotary Club of Weston;
the Board of Directors for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber;
and the Weston Business Chamber of Commerce where he was elected
Chairman as of January 1 st .
As Chairman of the Weston Business Chamber, Kallman
plans to increase membership beyond the 450-member base, expand
networking opportunities countywide, and expand educational opportunities.
"There are usually two to three activities every
single week," explains Kallman. "If you're a business
person that wants to meet people in other areas of the county, the
chamber is a wonderful opportunity."
But perhaps the most fun for him is seeing events
like the Rock & Pop Concert exceed expectations. Kallman's
connections with various professional musicians, his personal friendships
and expertise in community sponsorships and his love for music ensured
a profit for the event.
"Rotary charities support Cypress Bay High School
and Western High School through college scholarships," Kallman
said. "Last year, we gave out around $60,000 in scholarships
with money earned also from the Rotary Run and the golf tournament.
We're constantly raising money to pay for the distribution
of the polio vaccine around the world."
Tom Kallman has spoken on many forums about Insurance
issues including WPLG 10 News, WNN 1470, WNWS News Radio, the Miami
Herald, the National Underwriter, Best's Review, The Governor's
Hurricane Conference and FEMA's National Hurricane Conference. He
has served on the Florida Association of Insurance Agent's Board,
and has served on various committees of the Broward County School
Board.
Tom is a featured columnist for the Sun Sentinel Newspaper
Group writing on various insurance topics, Weston On the Web.com,
SBTV.com, and The Source for Business Journal. For more information,
contact Tom Kallman, Kallman Insurance Agency at (954) 389-5897.
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