July 14, 2010
Hurricane Season: Are you Prepared?
History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster.
Disaster Plan:
· Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
· Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
· Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet.
· Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
· Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
· Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.
· Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance. National Flood Insurance Program
· Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit.
· Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.
Deepwater Horizon Situation
As we are all keenly aware, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is having far reaching environmental and economic consequences in the United States. We would like to extend our sincere thoughts and prayers to all our clients, colleagues, and friends who live on the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida that have been most immediately impacted by the oil spill.
Many of us are just beginning to feel the residual effects of this incident in our businesses and lifestyles. For many of our clients, changes are occurring on a daily basis. If you have encountered any changes in business operations, please contact your Insurance and Risk Advisors immediately to review your coverage(s) currently in place.
Small Business Tax Credits
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law on March 23 to reform the nation’s healthcare system, include a number of provisions that will affect businesses.
Small Business Healthcare Tax Credit - Effective with Tax Year Beginning January 1, 2010
One immediate benefit: a tax credit to help many small employers provide health insurance coverage to employees. According to the IRS, the credit is designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage for the first time, or maintain coverage they already have in place.
The maximum credit is up to 35 percent of premiums paid in 2010 by eligible small business employers and up to 25 percent of premiums paid by eligible employers that are tax-exempt organizations.
The credit is specifically targeted to help small business and tax-exempt organizations that primarily employ low and moderate income workers. It’s usually available to employers who have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees paying wages averaging less than $50,000 per employee per year and covering at least 50% of the cost of healthcare coverage for their workers.
For more information on the credit, including eligibility rules, credit amounts, and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the IRS website, www.irs.gov.
-By Dave Matthews
Bowl for Kids Sake
In March 2010, Landry Harris & Co. sponsored 2 teams to participate in the Bowl for Kids Sake annual charity event. Everyone had a good time!!!
Landry Harris & Co. Invited to
Captive Broker Panel
Charles Trent of Landry Harris & Co. has been invited to participate in the 2010 Captive Resources Construction Workshop Broker Panel for the 2nd year in a row. It is an honor to be selected as a representative for the Broker Panel. Charles was chosen because of his expertise in the construction industry and his expertise with captive insurance programs. He helped to develop four successful captives, including the National Contractors Insurance captive, and is working on a fifth for the Agriculture industry. Another captive that Charles helped to form was the Wildcat Energy Captive which celebrates its 1 year anniversary in July. If you would like to learn more about captives, please contact your Insurance & Risk Advisor at 337-266-2150.
What’s New at Landry Harris & Co.?
Landry Harris & Co. would like to take this opportunity to announce and congratulate the following employees.
Keresa Bonin – CISR. We are pleased to announce that Keresa Bonin has received her CISR (Certified Insurance Service Representative) designation. A CISR is recognized throughout the insurance industry as someone represents a comprehensive understanding of risks & exposures and have dedicated themselves to servicing their clients, companies, and agency at the highest level..
Ashley Leleux – Commercial Lines Account Manager. Ashley has been with Landry Harris & Co. since January 2010 as an Associate Account Manager. She has been promoted to Commercial Lines Account Manager where she will be a team leader in servicing the daily needs of her assigned accounts, providing certificates of insurance, and endorsing policies.
Lori Migues – Claims Specialist. Lori has been with Landry Harris & Co. since 2008 as an Associate Account Manager. She has been promoted to Claims Specialist.
Nancy Ardizone – Select Accounts. Nancy has been with Landry Harris & Co. since 2009 as an Associate Account Manager. She has been promoted to Select Accounts where she will be servicing the daily needs of her assigned accounts.
Shasta Bertrand – Commercial Lines Account Executive. Shasta joins Landry Harris & Co. as a Commercial Lines Account Executive. She brings more than 8 years of experience in the insurance industry with her most recent experience being from CNA Houston where she was an Underwriter specializing in Marine Insurance. Shasta has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Insurance & Risk Management.
Michelle Dugas – Associate Account Manager. Michelle is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and joins Landry Harris & Co. as an Associate Account Manager.
Please join us in congratulating these outstanding employees!
