Michigan’s first 2 Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases were confirmed on March 10, 2020. Over the course of only two weeks, the number of cases broke 1,300 ultimately leading Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to issue a statewide stay-at-home order for all non-essential workers on March 23, 2020. In this episode of the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST Ron and Thomas discuss their in-house experience switching to remote work as part of the statewide effort to practice social distancing and how managed I.T. has given clients peace of mind during a time of uncertainty

Starting an agency from scratch can be difficult and complex but not impossible, and the pros certainly outweigh the cons. If this is your first entrepreneurial venture, be prepared for many roadblocks along the way. In this episode of the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST, we put Tara Smith, Principal at Birchfield Independent Insurance Agency on the Insurance Hot Seat to talk about her experience starting her own insurance agency, and the benefits of being an independent agent in a captive world.

In today's world, workplace diversity and inclusion are business necessities. Diverse employees can bring together their different talents, experiences and various skillsets to come up with creative and inventive solutions. In honor of Women's History Month, Madison, Monica, and Celia take over the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST to discuss their experience as women in the tech industry, as well as the importance of company culture and the benefits of having diverse employees.

Today, Michiganders are required by law to maintain a "No-Fault" automobile insurance policy, which includes coverage for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. The existing No-Fault law has been reformed so that on July 2, 2020, and later, many changes will take effect, including giving Michigan drivers a choice of six options for their level of PIP coverage. In this episode of the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST, we put Jeremy MacDonald, President at Mid-Michigan Agency, and Jason Verlinde, President at Verlinde Insurance Agency, on the Insurance Hot Seat to discuss the impact this new law will have on the Michigan insurance agencies statewide.

Ransomware is a form of malware that encrypts a victim's files. The attacker then demands a ransom from the victim to restore access to that data, but that's not the only price you pay if your business is attacked. In this episode of the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST, Ron and Thomas discuss real-life examples of ransomware victims, the repercussions of an attack, how incredibly accessible this malicious software is to hackers and the importance of having protection and a data recovery plan in place.

Today, Michiganders are required by law to maintain a "No-Fault" automobile insurance policy, which includes coverage for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. The existing No-Fault law has been reformed so that on July 2, 2020, and later, many changes will take effect, including giving Michigan drivers a choice of six options for their level of PIP coverage. In this episode of the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST, we put Bill Springer, Principal at Conrad Insurance Agency on the Insurance Hot Seat to discuss the impact this new law will have on the insured Michiganders. 

The year 2020 opens a new decade of innovation and opportunities for incorporating new technology in the workforce. Heading into the new year there is clear momentum for emerging technologies in automotive, 5G, A.I. and automation, augmented reality, and much more. In this episode of the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST, Ron, Luis, and Kris share their own personal technology predictions and discuss statistics for the year 2020.

Talent acquisition is a key component for growing your agency. Although HR technology spending is increasing, the candidate experience should never take a backseat. Some agencies may be adopting HR tech to help with talent acquisition without a strategy in place. On this episode of the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST, we put Keynote & TEDx Speaker Ira Wolfe from Success Performance Solutions on the Insurance Hot Seat to discuss his latest book “Recruiting in the Age of Googlization” and why you should avoid F.C.D.D. (frustration, confusion, disappointment, and distraction) for your agency's candidate hiring experience.

Just like that 2019 is almost over! A lot happened this year in the digital world of tech and cybersecurity. The rise of new technologies, ideas, and cyber-crime. In this episode of the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST, Ron, Luis, and Kris discuss what was predicted in tech versus what actually happened for the year. Tune in to hear what was a hit or miss for technology in 2019.

Is your agency management system living up to its full potential? That doesn't always mean having the shiniest product on the block with all the bells and whistles.  On this episode of the GEEK FREAKS PODCAST, we put Jordan Owens and Michael Doran from Strategic Insurance Solutions on the Insurance Hot Seat to talk about the Partner Platform, what their clients say is a complete system, and the importance of function over aesthetics.