Origin Specialty Underwriters Announces Executive Transitions and Appointments

Origin Specialty MGA

Origin Specialty Underwriters, a leading national MGA in the restaurant and hospitality space and member company of the Beyond Risk group of companies, announced today the following transitions and appointments in its executive management team:

Distinguished Programs Adds Sales Executive Roles

Distinguished Programs and HUB

Linda Picha and Beth Fulton have been hired as Regional Sales Executives by Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager. Picha will oversee broker relationships in Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Washington, while Fulton will oversee broker relationships in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. “We’re proud to have… Continue reading Distinguished Programs Adds Sales Executive Roles

Shopping-Mall Giants Back Expanded Delivery-Only ‘Ghost Kitchens’ in Food Courts

Restaurant minimum wage law

As the U.S. hospitality industry rebounds from pandemic closures, former hotelier Sam Nazarian is moving into the food-hall business, marrying the traditional dine-in model with delivery-only “ghost kitchens” in hopes of solving revenue problems that have long plagued retail and food spaces. Mr. Nazarian said his new venture, Creating Culinary Communities, which counts investors such… Continue reading Shopping-Mall Giants Back Expanded Delivery-Only ‘Ghost Kitchens’ in Food Courts

SBA Releases New Details for Its $28.6 Billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund

Happy business owner opening the door at a cafe wearing a facemask to avoid the spread of coronavirus – reopening after COVID-19 concepts

Over the weekend, the Small Business Administration got one step closer to launching the much-anticipated $28.6 billion grant program for hard-hit food service businesses. The agency overseeing the program, dubbed the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), released new details and application requirements on Saturday. Over the next two weeks, the SBA said it would establish a… Continue reading SBA Releases New Details for Its $28.6 Billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund

About 17% of U.S. Restaurants Have Permanently Closed Since COVID Pandemic

Mandatory closures

The coronavirus pandemic is decimating the restaurant industry. The National Restaurant Association, a restaurant industry group, sent a letter on Monday to majority and minority leaders in both the Senate and House of Representatives sharing the results of a nationwide survey on the economic plight of restaurants. The survey found that since the onset of… Continue reading About 17% of U.S. Restaurants Have Permanently Closed Since COVID Pandemic

Insurer Appealing North Carolina Restaurant BI Claim Decision

Interior design of a modern restaurant.

The question of whether insurance companies can be held liable for COVID-19 losses has not yet been settled. A Durham court’s decision to grant a business interruption claim due to restaurant losses from pandemic restrictions has been appealed by the insurance company. Durham restaurant owners Matt Kelly and Giorgios Bakatsias won a lawsuit last month… Continue reading Insurer Appealing North Carolina Restaurant BI Claim Decision

Distinguished Programs Taps Mike Schleich as Regional Sales Executive

Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager, today announces Mike Schleich has joined the company as regional sales executive covering the North Central Territory. This region includes Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky, as well the city of Chicago. Schleich brings more than 25 years of industry experience and expertise to his new role. “Mike’s extensive… Continue reading Distinguished Programs Taps Mike Schleich as Regional Sales Executive

U.S. Businesses Are Fighting Insurers in the Biggest Legal Battle of the Pandemic

Sorry we're CLOSED due to COVID-19. Foldable advertising poster on the street

John Houghtaling was working in the second-floor den of his mansion near the Garden District in New Orleans when a legal memo arrived in his email inbox. It was mid-March, not long before the pandemic shut down much of the U.S., and cooks in white aprons were downstairs preparing an extravagant dinner: lobster casserole, veal… Continue reading U.S. Businesses Are Fighting Insurers in the Biggest Legal Battle of the Pandemic

Distinguished Programs Adds Brando Guerrero as New York Sales Executive

Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager, today officially announces the hiring of Brando Guerrero as a regional sales executive in New York. Guerrero will oversee growth/broker partners in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley, and the rest of greater New York. “Brando brings a strong history of insurance experience in sales strategy and management that will… Continue reading Distinguished Programs Adds Brando Guerrero as New York Sales Executive

Arch Insurance and ProHost USA Announce Partnership to Better Serve the Restaurant Industry

Interior design of a modern restaurant.

Arch Insurance today announced a new underwriting partnership with ProHost USA, a Minneapolis-based insurance program administrator that provides specialty packages customized for the restaurant industry. ProHost USA is part of Distinguished Programs, one of the largest program administrators in the U.S., making it easy for retail agents to learn about the new program through Distinguished… Continue reading Arch Insurance and ProHost USA Announce Partnership to Better Serve the Restaurant Industry