THANKS A BILLION - Acuity

nfocusGala Celebrates $1B MilestoneFind theKeep on truckin’! Our January was hidden on the big rig onpage 6. The three $100 winners chosen from correct entries wereceived are:Deb Van Tassel Associated Financial Hopkins, MNJessica Birkman Insurance Services of New Mexico Moriarty, NMJennifer Knutson Tricor, IncBeloit, WITo enter this month’s contest, find the hidden elsewherein this issue, then send an email with its locationto contest@acuity.com by February 28, 2013.This contest is open to agency staff only. •F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 PAGE 3

AREA inSIGHTEmails Keep Personal LinesPolicyholders Informed,Build Agent RelationshipsIn August 2012, ACUITY begansending monthly emails to all our personal linespolicyholders for whom we have a valid email address.These regular communications are designed to delivertimely news, helpful tips, and other informationthat they can use. So far, we’ve covered topics thatinclude the importance of credit, minimizing the riskof identity theft, fire prevention, preparing a home forwinter, and avoiding the post-holiday financial pinch.To be sure that customers only receive informationthey want, our email campaign always allowsrecipients to opt out. We also never make a sales pitchor push products in our emails. Each agency receivesthe same email we send out to the policyholders sothey are aware of what their clients are receiving.Additionally, the email program reinforces agentrelationships. We include the name, phone number,and email address of the policyholder’s agency withineach email. The emails are also signed on behalf ofboth ACUITY and the agency, and the “from” field inthe email shows both ACUITY and the agency name.The reception by policyholders has beenoverwhelmingly positive. We’ve had less than onepercent of policyholders opt out. Customer feedbackindicates that policyholders appreciate the fact thatACUITY is looking out for them. As we continueto develop our email program, we intend to targetinformation to particular customer segments andinform policyholders of new self-service features asthey become available.ACUITY’s policyholderemails provide anothertouch point to theclient on behalf ofthe agency with noadditional effortrequired by busyagents! In order toinclude customers inthe distribution, we needtheir email addresses—which are also useful tohave as additional contactinformation in the eventof storms and disasters.By SARAH PRINSEN,ANALYST II - PERSONALLINES MARKETINGTherefore, be sure to collect and include policyholderemail addresses on all applications.•Headquarters Marquee MakeoverCelebrates Workplace SuccessAfter three consecutive years of beingranked as the best mid-sized employer in the nationby the Great Place to Work Institute (GPTWI), wedecided a makeover to our Corporate Headquarterswelcome sign was in order. A custom-made sleeveover the permanent stone marquee announcesto travelers on Interstate 43 that ACUITY is the“Nation’s #1 Mid-Sized Employer!” •

nfocusNot the SameOld GrindACUITY is brewingsomething special at our SpeakingTours! The “ACUITY Buzz Tour”features a highly charged, caffeineinfusedprogram that is not tobe missed by agents seeking theinformation and inspiration they canuse to outperform the competition. •Spring Tour Dates and Locations:March 11 – Englewood, COMarch 12 – Albuquerque, NMMarch 13 – Phoenix, AZMarch 14 – Boise, IDMarch 15 – Salt Lake City, UTMarch 18 – Kansas City, MOMarch 19 – St. Louis, MOMarch 20 – Franklin, TNMarch 21 – Hershey, PAMarch 22 – Grand Rapids, MIJason GrunewaldNamed New CommercialUnderwriting ManagerCongratulations to Jason Grunewald, who ispromoted to Manager - Commercial Underwriting at ACUITY’sCorporate Headquarters. Jason fills the openingcreated by the retirement of Ken Zemanek.Jason joined ACUITY’s staff in 2005 as aCommercial Lines Underwriter. In 2012, he waspromoted to Senior Commercial Lines Underwriter.Before coming to ACUITY, Jason had worked as afinancial advisor for Thrivent Financial. He earned abachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and BusinessAdministration - Finance from UW-Platteville.Jason lives in Howards Grove with hiswife, Amber, and their two children,Landyn and Jacob. •Ken ZemanekRetiresOn January 30, KenZemanek wrapped up acareer in commerciallines that spannedalmost 45 years.Congratulations andthanks from all yourfriends and colleaguesat ACUITY!F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 PAGE 7

Ken Mueller’s PassionFOR SnowmobilingSnowmobiles have been a part of KenMueller’s life since he was a young boy living inBaraboo, Wisconsin. The first snowmobile he ever sawwas an air-driven machine that his father, Paul MuellerSr., built out of an airplane fuselage, a vintage Germanmilitary vehicle engine, and a pusher propeller. “Dadcalled it the ‘Blue Bird,’” recalls Ken, Team Manager,Information Systems at ACUITY.Snowmobiling became a family affair for theMuellers. Paul Sr. took a job with a machinery distributorin Stevens Point, Wisconsin, that sold the iconic Hus-SkiSnow Traveler, a two-part machine on which the driverrode on a sulky with skis pulled by a track-driven unit.After their experiences with a demo Hus-Ski, the Muellerfamily was motivated to purchase their first snowmobile,a single-chassis 1966 Scorpion J-250, followed by a1967 Ski-Doo Olympique.When Ken was 12, he took several part-time jobsand starting saving money for his own sled, eventuallypurchasing a 1971 Ski-Doo Olympique. “My family,aunts, uncles, and grandparents were all involved in trailriding from the 60s through the 90s, riding in groups ofup to 18 sleds,” Ken says. “I still ride with my cousinsand friends, but the groups are much smaller now.”Rebuilding and CustomizingEventually, Ken got interested in restoringantique snowmobiles. He bought the original 1967Ski-Doo from a family friend and set out to bringit back to original condition. “I learned a lot abouthow to rebuild engines, repair and fabricatecomponents, and do body work and paintingin order to bring the machine back to life,”says Ken, adding that he learned manyskills from his father who hadbeen a small enginemechanic for hisentire career.Ken and hisfamily quicklyset out to acquireseveral Hus-SkiSnow Travelers.As time went on, theyadded a wider variety of vintage sleds totheir collection. “Especially during those early days ofcollecting, searching for possible antique snowmobilesfrom various leads was some of the most fun a personcould have,” Ken says.The goal of early projects was to restore the machinesto original condition. “Later, I decided to customize somesleds to explore what those machines might have lookedlike if technology had progressed faster in the snowmobileindustry,” Ken says. His first custom project was basedoff a 1973 Ski-Doo TNT Silver Bullet and was featuredin American Snowmobiler magazine.Reconnecting and RestoringWhen Ken’s father passed away in 2002, Kenreassessed his priorities. He sold some of his and manyof his father’s sleds in order to meet the immediate needsof his family. “I decided I would no longer strive forhigh numbers of machines in my collection but insteadwould focus on the ones that were most important tome,” he says.Keeping that in mind, he currently owns 12 vintageand modern models, including the heirloom 1967 Ski-Doo that was the family’s second snowmobile, which isawaiting re-restoration. In January, he finished a customrestoration of a 1966 Scorpion J-250 to commemoratethe family’s first purchase.But there is one machine he would like to add to hiscollection: his father’s Blue Bird. “I am still looking forthat sled,” Ken says. “I know it’s probably still outthere, somewhere.”•Ken MuellerFamily Legacy Fuels(left) Ken and his 1973 Ski-Doo restoration,featured in American Snowmobiler. (above)His latest project, a 1966 Scorpion.

nfocusACUITY Safety MaterialsSelection ExpandsACUITY has expanded the scope of safety materials available for downloading or printing at acuity.com.From avoiding back injuries and carpal tunnel to fleet safety and return to work tips, ACUITY’s library of safety materialsprovide employers a free and valuable resource to increase employee awareness and improve the workplace.ACUITY’s safety materials are available by logging in to acuity.com, visiting the Agent Center or Customer Care Center,and clicking the Safety Materials, Webinars, & Videos link. •F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 PAGE 9

aCHAT With Answr_Man1Simply put, how can you describe your underwriting philosophy?“Common sense.”Can you tell me more?Common sense includes many things. It includes broad and stableunderwriting appetite and consistent underwriting standards in hard,soft, and transitioning markets. It’s getting the right price for theaccount each year, offering an expansive product portfolio, andproviding our agents with consistently great service.Why do you do it?It helps you by providing a stable market for your business insurancecustomers. This means lower costs and convenience for you because youdo not need to shop your renewals every year.

nfocusGreg Davis Honored byInsurors of TennesseeGreg Davis, Territory Director for Tennessee,was awarded the Presidential Citation from Insurors ofTennessee at its annual convention. The PresidentialCitation recognizes insurance professionals whose activities,experience, and attitude benefit the state’s IndependentAgents and the Insurors of Tennessee association.“Greg waschosen for hisprofessionalism,commitment toindependent agents,and unquestionablecharacter. The awardalso recognizes thatGreg is active notonly in insurance,but in his localcommunity,” saidRoger H. Smith,2012 Presidentof Insurors ofTennessee and co-ownerof the Thompson& Smith agencyin Jackson.“There are a lotof people in thisassociation who haveknown Greg for manyyears. We appreciateall he and ACUITY do tosupport independent agents,”Smith added.Greg joined ACUITY’s staff in 2005, bringing hisexperience on both the company and agency sides of theinsurance business. Greg holds the CPCU (CharteredProperty Casualty Underwriter), AMIM (Associate in MarineInsurance Management), and CIC (Certified InsuranceCounselor) designations. He earned a bachelor’s degreein foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. Greg livesin Franklin and is in his eleventh year of serving asa Williamson County Commissioner.•MPOSSIBLEinSURABLESA “Hole” LottaTroubleWe’re guessing that when the property ownersasked the electrician to “run wires into the building,” this isn’twhat they had in mind.We hope that repairs are made to this job before an electricalshort—or worse—occurs, but we won’t be insuring the risk tofind out. •F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 PAGE 11