A 24-year industry veteran, Matt spent the last year as an Ocean Marine Broker with Burns & Wilcox Orlando, focusing on commercial risks such as boat builders, passenger ferries, tug & barge fleets, shipyards, marinas, difficult to place cargo, and related risks. Matt received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University in Indiana with a double major in History and Philosophy. He began his career in the insurance industry straight away as an Underwriter Trainee for State Farm Insurance.  Determined to be a thought leader, shaping the direction of the marine insurance industry, Matt takes every opportunity to explore and create new solutions. Over the span of his career, Matt has had the opportunity to write a little bit of everything as a retail insurance agent for 12 years before spending 5 years in Marine wholesale. He’s placed in excess of $30,000,000 in premium during his marine wholesale tenure. His firsthand experience as a retail agent gives him the perspective to understand the challenges retailers face and treat opportunities with the urgency they deserve.