Page 2 - Simkiss Rough Notes FlipBook

SBy Dennis H. Pillsbury
ome 24 years ago, Brian Block had just nished his junior year at Villanova University and was about
to embark on what proved to be a pro- pitious summer job. He had accepted a paid internship with The Simkiss Companies, an independent agency based in Philadelphia. It turned out to be much more than anticipated because, unlike many internships, it did not have interns “just stapling and ling,” but instead involved them in all aspects of the agency business, including joining producers at client meetings at the clients’ of ces and at lunches and dinners. The people at Simkiss liked what they saw in Brian, so when he went back to Villanova for his senior year, he had a job offer.
Not surprisingly, this unique internship program was the dream child of an educator, John Simkiss, who
began his insurance career as a profes- sor of insurance and risk management at the prestigious Wharton School, before starting his own agency in 1964 in center-city Philadelphia. It started out as a surety bond brokerage selling almost exclusively to contractors but soon expanded to include all lines of property/casualty insurance, as well
as bene ts. Surety was a eld John knew well, having worked part-time at a surety bond rm prior to becoming a full-time professor.
The internship program has been a success, allowing Simkiss to identify areas where potential candidates’
skill sets match up with the job the agency has in mind and the agency personnel get to see how the candi- date gets along with people, the most important skill set in the agency busi- ness. This is possible, Brian explains, because the intern “touches every part of the agency.”
Today, Brian, CPCU, AFSB, is de - nitely an example of how successful the program has been. He is president and CEO of the agency, which is now located in the Philadelphia suburb of Paoli. John Simkiss remains chairman and, in addition to Brian’s role, fellow owners Rich Decker and Bill Simkiss
“Over the years, as we added new clients, we immersed ourselves in their businesses in order to reach that same level of deep understanding.”
—Brian Block, CPCU, AFSB CEO and President Simkiss & Block
“Simkiss & Block has been an important part of our team for many years—they consistently provide our team across the country exceptional service and proactively reduce our costs.”
—Marty Connor Chief Financial O cer Toll Brothers
Brian Block and William Simkiss, CPCU, CLU, Executive Vice President, meet with Mike Young of Toll Brothers.Toll Brothers is America’s leading builder of luxury homes across the United States with annual revenues in the $6 billion range.