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AGENCY SUCCESS STORY

“In the workers’ comp marketplace, we’ve found that Summit has the best products, engagement, agent training, compensation, and incentives—they are leading the pack. Summit has competitors, but those competitors are second tier.”

– James Lumbra, President, LRA Insurance

AGENCY SUCCESS STORY

“In the workers’ comp marketplace, we’ve found that Summit has the best products, engagement, agent training, compensation and incentives—they are leading the pack. Summit has competitors, but those competitors are second tier.”

– James Lumbra, President, LRA Insurance

Center Bret Hughes with Summit team members (l-r): 1) Nick Montesano, Underwriting 2) Melissa Exner, Claims 3) Doug Chiles, Sales/Agency Exec 4) Heather Brown, Safety

Agency Success Story

“Meet My Workers’ Comp Dream Team”

Philip Gonzalez
Summit
SALES/AGENCY EXEC
Liz Perdue
Summit
UNDERWRITING
Wendy Beckum
Summit
CLAIMS
James Lumbra
LRA Insurance
PRESIDENT/
Agency Success Story

“Meet My Workers’ Comp Dream Team”

Philip Gonzalez
Summit
SALES/AGENCY EXEC
Liz Perdue
Summit
UNDERWRITING
Wendy Beckum
Summit
CLAIMS
James Lumbra
LRA Insurance
PRESIDENT/

Agency Success Story

“In the workers’ comp marketplace, we’ve found that Summit has the best products, engagement, agent training, compensation and incentives—they are leading the pack. Summit has competitors, but those competitors are second tier.”

– James Lumbra, President, LRA Insurance
Pictured on right, James Lumbra of LRA Insurance, with Summit team members [l to r]: Philip Gonzalez, Sales; Liz Perdue, Underwriting; Wendy Beckum, Claims

Right James Lumbra with Summit team members [l to r]: Philip Gonzalez, Sales; Liz Perdue, Underwriting; Wendy Beckum, Claims

Learn why LRA Insurance believes Summit is the ideal fit.

ABOUT THE AGENCY:

  • Opened in 1987 in Orlando, FL
  • 48 employees, 9 producers
  • 25-year collaborative relationship with Summit

James Lumbra  joined his father’s growing business in 2000 when there were nine employees. Today, the agency has grown to 48 team members, and James is now president following his father’s retirement in 2018.

He describes LRA as “relationship-based, not a transactional agency,” which is why, in large part, they have so much business with Summit. “We have mutual trust,” says Lumbra. “The business we have with Summit compared to other work comp carriers is tenfold. We know we won’t get burned, and that Summit’s expertise and responsiveness adds value to our relationships with clients and improves retention.”  

LRA enjoys direct access to Summit workers’ comp specialists who have seen it all.

What’s the biggest draw for the LRA agency? Summit provides first-class services across every discipline and direct access to workers' comp specialists in every department who have seen it all. “Underwriting, claims, safety, premium audit—it’s a well-rounded experience of the highest quality,” says Lumbra. “Even the billing side of Summit is compassionate, carried out with a human connection that our clients and producers value.”

John Lumbra, lead commercial producer with LRA, tells of a client who had been with Summit for years, then experienced another carrier, and was recently thrilled to be back with Summit due to the value of having long-term relationships with the company’s in-house premium audit specialists. Many carriers use third parties who send different audit reps every year, often resulting in miscommunication and confusion.

Summit’s collaborative approach supports LRA’s new business development.

Another big positive: Summit offers solutions and doesn’t shy away from challenges. When LRA has a potential policyholder that looks on the surface like a tougher risk to place, Summit takes time to fully consider the exposure and hear the client’s story. “I can always trust Summit and be confident in their decisions, whether it’s in our favor or not,” says Lumbra. “One prospect recently had a bad claim that other carriers would have run from. After careful deliberation, Summit wrote the account, and the relationship has been strong.” The client’s mod has dropped, and the business was able to free itself from a costly situation with a professional employer organization.

Lumbra says retention with Summit has always been high. “If we have a problem, Summit has a way to fix it. They make life easy for our producers and account managers. If there are challenges related to a current policy term or upcoming renewal, Summit has thoughtful conversations with us and our clients first to explain what’s happening and why, so no one is surprised or left wondering.”

Reducing severe injuries lowers client costs.

Summit Business Developer Phil Gonzalez has served LRA for several years. “From my perspective, the life of a policy normally brings plenty of opportunity for a carrier to demonstrate success or failure. Our agents recognize the consistency of their clients’ positive experiences with Summit.”

LRA’s primary contact for claims is Summit Claims Agency Liaison Wendy Beckum. She believes that what sets Summit apart from other carriers is communication. “I interact with LRA’s clients when questions come up to help clarify how the claims process works,” says Wendy. “We like to make things easier for everyone: the insurance agent, their client, and injured employees. So, we’re happy to coordinate a call with a policyholder that puts them at ease and helps to resolve an issue quickly.”

Underwriter Liz Perdue is the specialist for questions about new clients, premiums, renewals, etc. She says there’s a strong collaborative process that takes place when bringing on a new policyholder. “LRA helps explain everything to the client, but they’re also confident enough to take a step back and let Summit present our services, which often is the tipping point for writing new business.”

“It’s difficult to single out which area of Summit is the strongest,” says Lumbra, “because every department I’ve interacted with is top notch. We know we’re in good hands when we place a client with Summit.”
Headshot of James Lumbra.

We know we’re in good hands when we place a client with Summit. It’s difficult to single out which area of Summit is the strongest because every department is top notch.

James Lumbra | President, LRA Insurance