CSIA Insurance Programs
Insurance designed exclusively for Control System Integrators
CSIA's Insurance Programs were created to respond to CSIA members’ need for appropriate and cost-effective coverage that reflects the exposures associated with control system integration. This need resulted from the insurance world's lack of understanding about the operations of a control system integrator. Many CSIA members noted that they believed their insurance arrangements were inappropriate, leading them to be misclassified and resulting in potentially dangerous gaps in coverage.
In 2001, CSIA brought in Paul Barnard, an independent insurance broker. Paul worked directly with CSIA members to obtain a full understanding of their activities. He collated historical loss information that proved CSIA members are an excellent insurance risk. With this knowledge, he then proposed a long-term plan to develop and implement an insurance program to permanently address the need for availability of business insurance for the U.S.-based membership.
This first, ground-breaking business insurance Program, was and remains the only Program for CSIs. In line with CSIA’s commitment to helping members improve their business practices, fundamental to our Insurance Program is risk management and loss control which, when successfully implemented, result in our ability to continue to offer the breadth of coverage and competitive pricing that our membership warrant.
Included within our service is free contract review which encourages members to know what they are signing before putting pen to paper.
In addition to coverage and pricing, the service our members receive is of paramount importance. First Niagara Risk Management (FNRM), our sole insurance agent, provides this via outstanding professional risk management, loss control, claims and day-to-day servicing for our membership.
Testimonials
The testimonials below are just three of many plaudits received regarding First Niagara
"Working with First Niagara is refreshingly professional and pleasant. Their staff is responsive and sensitive to their clients’ needs and deadlines. I’ve worked closest with Heidi and she seems to be available even when she’s not at work. Even though I am only one of her clients, I always feel as though my questions, my issues or my concerns are as important to FNRM as they are to me. While FNRM has not worked with CSIA and their members for long, they have grasped the CSIA program and are able to assist me with any insurance concerns or questions I have with our coverage. The CSIA program offers a unique marriage of insurances to provide an integrated insurance package that is both competitive and comprehensive while meeting the unique needs of our system integration business. I have been unable to find any other program, broker, or package that understands our business and insurance needs like FNRM and the CSIA program do".
Brenda Matthews, Hallam/ICS
"I wanted to say that First Niagara has been an absolute breath of fresh air. We have been battling for two years with one state over worker’s compensation coverage and our previous broker repeatedly dropped the ball in getting the matter resolved. Within two weeks of notifying Heidi, the matter was taken care of and closed out. Her responsiveness has been first rate."
Jeff Eiermann, Avanceon
"Optimation has been working with the insurance team at First Niagara Risk Management for over 20 years. When we started working together, Optimation was a start-up company and FNRM was a small insurance broker. We’ve both grown over the years and FNRM has become the largest insurance broker in upstate New York. Over time, our relationship has grown stronger and the quality of their service has continued to improve. FNRM has always been a faithful advisor and a strong advocate when there was a need or a claim. I’m sure Suzanne Nasipak and her team will provide this same level of service for other CSIA firms who choose to work with them."
Bill Pollock, Optimation
Congratulations to the CSIA team at FNRM, Suzanne Nazipak, Heidi Hollman, Dan Glover and Adrianne O'Neil.
Bonding and Professional Errors & Omissions
Subsequently, CSIA has built on the initial success of the program with the development of two additional programs designed to meet specific needs of CSIA members. First, for those who have the need for surety bonding, a facility was negotiated with a surety company that has an understanding of control system integration and an appetite to write this business.
Secondly, following demand from membership for insurance coverage outside the United States, CSIA has negotiated a program to provide Professional Errors & Omissions coverage that includes the United States’ exposures of non-U.S.-based membership. With insurance brokers appointed initially in Canada, UK and Holland,
this much needed coverage is finally available to all CSIA members world-wide.
The CSIA insurance programs are designed for control system integrators. Coverages are specifically crafted to protect against the exposures inherent in control system integration, and the programs do not confuse insurance exposures with those of CSIA members’ customers.
For more information about CSIA’s insurance programs, contact Paul Barnard, CSIA insurance program manager, paulbarnard@csia-insurance.com or (610) 507-6595.
© 2010 Control System Integrators Association
22 N. Carroll St., Ste 300, Madison, WI 53703, USA, Phone: 800.661.4914, Fax: 888.581.3666,
Email: bmarsala@controlsys.org
