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Anthony Miller (pictured) co-founded Golden State Insurance Solutions (GSI) in 2014 to look after the risk needs of businesses across the San Francisco Bay Area. As the company’s president and CEO, Miller leads its overall direction and growth, and oversees its property & casualty consulting operations.
Through the years, Miller has worked on virtually every aspect of insurance and risk management within the property industry, from advising some of the largest property management companies to managing programs for large construction projects and developing one of the largest exclusive property owners’ programs in the state. His previous experience includes serving as a principal at HUB International and in leadership positions at Hobbs Group and Wills.
Miller is also a key player in the insurtech space and has helped address the complex risk issues of the tech industry. He currently serves as an advisor for Indio, a tech company providing cutting-edge solutions for insurance agencies across the country.
He features as an Insurance Business Top Producer 2018, so we caught up with him to find out more about his insurance journey:
How did you get started in the industry?
I started early in the insurance industry. My Dad was the CEO of a regional brokerage in California. While I was in high school I would come to the office and help file policies, add endorsements and enter policies into their agency management system. They had a really big sales board in the conference room with all the producers’ progress to date listed by name, and at the top of the board it said something like Sale to Win with a big picture of a sports car and a picture of Hawaii. The competition and the idea I could win a car intrigued me … this was the start. I had a friend who worked at Hobbs Group in college and he introduced me to their real estate practice leader. We hit it off and I started working there a few days later as a risk analyst. This was the beginning of what has been a great 20+ year career and counting.
What are the best parts of your job?
The best part of my job by far is the relationships I’ve built. I get to work with some of the best people you could ever know. They’re talented, dedicated and loyal. They challenge me to be better in so many ways. This is also the case with so many of my clients. I’ve had the privilege of building friendships with so many really smart, innovative and interesting people from across many different spans of life. This is what keeps me coming back to work every day.
What challenges have you faced in your role?
Because GSI has been so selective with who we bring on our team, it has been a fun challenge in finding and training the energetic, ambitious, creative and dynamic insurance pros of the future.
What have you learned from working at GSI?
I have learned that company culture is the key to most great company goals – growth, client retention, operational efficiencies, etc. All this happens when the team you work with is invested in the company culture and feels valued. This has been a strong conviction when launching GSI, but I was surprised at how a good company culture solves most issues. If you take care of your people, they will take care of your clients.
What advice would you give to someone working their way up the insurance ladder?
Find a mentor who is great at what they do and who you trust and respect inside and outside the office. Once you find them, go and work for them! Become a student of them.
If you weren’t working in insurance, what would you be doing?
I would be a basketball coach alongside building something in the insurtech space or in the real estate arena.
What is your favorite hobby?
I love basketball. I currently coach a men’s team in an adult NCAA summer league.
