The Past, Present, and Future of PLM
By Steve Firko
This month, PLM will be celebrating our 130th year in business. Very few companies in America have reached that milestone. This is a noteworthy accomplishment considering the challenges that PLM and our country has faced during the last 130 years from economic depressions, recessions, wars, pandemics, and various types of natural disasters. During this time, PLM has built a strong legacy of supporting and protecting the businesses that are the backbone and foundation of our country and economy. We don’t build things, but we are a vital part protecting the businesses that do.
None of this would have happened without the dedication and commitment from our PLM team members, both past and present, to keep this company growing and thriving during these difficult times.
In my new role at PLM, I look forward to helping our new leadership team and their team members develop and grow as leaders who will take PLM to the next level by skillfully navigating both growth and profitability in an increasingly complex business and insurance environment. I believe we have some of the most talented employees and insurance professionals in the industry. Their knowledge, skills and expertise benefit our customers and the brokers who represent them by crafting industry-specific insurance coverages, developing risk management tools to avoid or mitigate the potential for losses, and supporting our customers financially at time of loss to get them back in business as quickly as possible. Our PLM team members have demonstrated dedication and commitment to professional development to enhance their skills and knowledge base. We have 99% of our employees currently engaged in the study of insurance or job-related designations or certifications. In 2024, our PLM team passed 120 exams towards a designation, and 52 were successful in earning a designation. Of the 52 designations earned this year, 8 were for Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), the leadership standard in risk management and insurance. This is an extraordinary achievement given that we have just over 170 employees at PLM.
I firmly believe that our success as an organization is directly tied to the professionalism, ideas, and innovation our employees bring to PLM to serve and protect our customers. That is what has kept PLM successful and will help us grow and thrive for the next 130 years.
