In this episode of Know Your Risk and Insurance Coverage, host Kyle Watts talks with Matt Sasso, Executive Director of RiskProNet, to reflect on a transformative year for the network—and lay out what’s ahead in 2026.

From a complete brand refresh and a new website to adding four new member agencies, launching new practice groups, and expanding corporate partnerships, RiskProNet has solidified itself as a nimble, collaborative force in the independent insurance landscape.

If you're part of the RiskProNet network—or considering joining—this conversation outlines everything you need to know about how the group is growing, modernizing, and creating new opportunities for its members across the country.

Timecodes:

00:00 – 01:10 - Podcast intro and episode overview

01:11 – 02:47 - Why the rebrand? A new logo, colors, and market positioning

02:48 – 03:56 - Member-led brand refresh process with creative collaboration

03:57 – 05:29 - Four new agencies in 2025: who they are and why they joined

05:30 – 06:59 - Key regions targeted for 2026 membership expansion

07:00 – 08:59 - New practice groups launching in 2026: surety, sales, nonprofit & more

09:00 – 10:50 - CIO, AI, and Risk Control groups: tech-driven collaboration for agencies

10:51 – 12:33 - Corporate partnerships: what they bring and what’s coming

12:34 – 14:07 - Two big wins from 2025: quality growth and strategic alignment

14:08 – 15:31 - Practice groups as a value engine—for both leadership and frontline staff

15:32 – 16:53 - New website and mobile app: modern tools for member access

16:54 – 17:25 - Shoutout to Patti Reed for her leadership on the site launch

17:26 – 18:23 - Final reflections on 2025 and closing remarks for the year

Resources:

Become a member at RiskProNet.com
Connect with Matt Sasso on LinkedIn
Connect with RiskProNet on LinkedIn

In this episode of Know Your Risk and Insurance Coverage, we’re joined by Kim Slager, President of Commercial Lines at BHS Insurance, to dive into one of the most unique and misunderstood sectors in insurance: botanical gardens.

With over 30 years of specialization, Kim walks us through the unexpected risks, coverage gaps, and creative underwriting strategies that make gardens far more complex than your average cultural institution. From glass greenhouses and hurricane zones, to slip-and-fall litigation and rare plant appraisals, Kim explains how her team builds tailored programs that protect these vibrant, high-exposure environments.

Whether you’re a RiskProNet member looking to serve a botanical garden client, or just curious how garden operations and coverage intersect, this episode reveals what makes this niche so critical and why standard policies just don’t cut it.

Timecodes:

00:00 – Welcome & guest introduction

01:11 – How BHS built the botanical garden insurance program

03:57 – Key exposures: slips, paths, glasshouses, misclassification

05:43 – Disaster readiness & natural disaster funding

07:43 – Event liability, liquor risks, and TULIP coverage

10:09 – Real-world claim: Abuse exclusion and uninsured loss

13:22 – Volunteer accident gaps, active shooter coverage, and client education

16:01 – Insuring rare trees, indoor plant collections, and replication strategies

17:57 – Who underwrites the program

19:14 – Partnering with RiskProNet members & claims trend insights

21:34 – Final thoughts and invitation to connect

Resources:

Become a member at RiskProNet.com

Connect with Matt Sasso on LinkedIn

Connect with Kim Slager on Linkedin

Connect with BHS Insurance on LinkedIn

Connect with RiskProNet on LinkedIn

In this special two-part episode of Know Your Risk and Insurance Coverage, host Chip Arenchild talks with leaders and interns from Moody Insurance and M3 Insurance to explore how real internship programs are shaping the future of the independent agency model. Guests include Ashley Canny and Hunter Rivers from Moody, and Jake Cline and Cyrus Choisy-Madon from M3. The episode dives into what makes these programs successful—from rotational department exposure to executive mentorship—and why young professionals are choosing to stay in insurance. Whether you’re building a pipeline or launching your first internship, this episode delivers practical ideas and candid stories.

Timecodes:

00:00 – Welcome and introduction
01:03 – Why RiskProNet is spotlighting internships
02:00 – Meet Moody Insurance’s internship leaders
03:20 – How Moody’s rotational program is structured
04:31 – Intern Hunter Rivers on his experience and takeaways
05:55 – What surprised him about working in insurance
07:13 – How Moody sources and selects interns
08:44 – What a “day in the life” of an intern looks like
10:31 – Live work, real projects, and measurable impact
11:52 – Summer School & executive mentorship at Moody
13:30 – How Moody evaluates and hires from the intern class
15:05 – Now to M3: Meet Jake Cline and intern Cyrus Choisy-Madon
16:23 – How M3 views internships as a culture-building tool
18:04 – M3’s internship model: data science, pharmacy, IT & more
19:46 – What Cyrus learned—and what changed his mind about insurance
21:21 – Interns doing real actuarial and benefits work
22:33 – The human side of the insurance industry
23:40 – Why insurance is complex, valuable, and growing
25:06 – Planning career paths after the internship
26:18 – Final thoughts from all four guests

Resources:

Become a member at RiskProNet.com
Connect with Chip Arenchild on LinkedIn
Connect with Moody on Linkedin
Connect with M3 Insurance on LinkedIn
Connect with RiskProNet on LinkedIn