We are already a month into 2020 — how are your resolutions going? Many of us set goals to lose weight, to exercise regularly, volunteer in our community or otherwise make changes that improve our lives going forward.
Telcom Insurance Group is no different. The start of a new year is a time for us to look back at our successes in 2019 and set goals for an even better 2020 — and beyond.
I look forward to kicking the year off with one of my favorite events, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association’s annual conference, RTIME. It is an opportunity to meet with our members and get to know them on a deeper level. It is a great time to exchange ideas about our business and an opportunity to hear from each of you.
I am especially looking forward to our Policyholder Breakfast, when I will have the opportunity to talk with you about our reflections on the past year and ways we are working to serve you even better in the future.
One of the ways we are working to serve you better is to continue pushing forward on our long-term goal of shifting our operations to Wichita, Kansas. This plan is still a couple years away from fruition, but we are already setting wheels in motion. Moving our headquarters from Greenbelt, Maryland, to the Sunflower State will mean great opportunities for us and for our customers. This centralized location will allow us to better serve our customers in the western time zone and operate more efficiently.
Unlike the business model used by many of our larger competitors, we are not making this move to save money and boost profits. We are shifting to more efficient operations so we can pass cost savings on to you. This may appear to be a novel approach and one not often seen in the current business environment, but it is a philosophy we firmly believe in. You are more than just a customer. You are more than a claim number. You are a part of our family and a vital component to everything we have accomplished.
As each year passes, technology becomes a greater influence on our daily lives. As our reliance on the digital world grows, so does the threat of cyber attacks. That is why we have expanded our cyberliability coverage to 30 states over the past year. This is a growing segment of our business and the focus on cyber security is a trend we don’t expect will change anytime soon.
While we are growing, we realize that we are not the largest insurer in the market. This means that we are competing against bigger companies with deeper pockets. Is bigger better? Many of you reading this would not exist if that was a true statement. But how small are we really?
A recent review of numbers shows we insure $5.2 billion worth of real property and $7 billion in total value. That is a very impressive number and an achievement we are very proud of. It means we protect not only you and your network but also a big portion of a critical infrastructure of the United States. But we are not finished. We continue to grow, and without you, that wouldn’t be possible. Together we will accomplish great things in 2020 and for years to come.
I hope 2020 is off to a great start for you, and I look forward to seeing you in Phoenix.