Riviera Insurance formally took up residence in Suite B of 3710 State St on March 15, 2006. Our first year has flown by and I, personally, have enjoyed every day of our venture. Going into 2007, I am confident of Riviera’s success.

Of course, I have a fantastic team standing alongside me. The depth of knowledge here is incredible, as is the passion for insurance. Riviera is a young company with old world experience. Between Steve, Sandy, Jackie, Marianne, and myself we bring over 90 years of experience to the table. During this time, we have seen just about every situation and we have come to thrive on the creativity that this experience allows us. My team is constantly looking for a better mousetrap.

I am also proud to announce that while Riviera Insurance is growing internally it is also becoming a part of a larger, local community. We recently joined, as a Premium Sponsor, the Central Coast MIT Enterprise Forum. CCMIT is a great organization that has been very successful in developing and strengthening the entrepreneurial community on the Central Coast. Each year they host a number of programs and symposiums to promote ideas, highlight exceptional individuals, and inspire and teach growing entrepreneurs.
The next program is on March 21st. If interested please go to http://www.centralcoastmit.com/events.php and register.

Thank you for your continued business and support,

Christopher Hill
President

Be prepared. Prepared for what?

Business, like anything in life, is full of daily risks. Accepting this risk is one thing, but it is best to go a step further and prepare a defense against risk. So what is your backup plan?

While you’re initial reaction to this question might be defensive; “Backup plan? I don‘t need a backup plan! We‘re doing just fine with our current plan.”, and then, when pushed on the subject, you might begin to rationalize; “But I‘m too busy to develop a backup plan, I need to keep momentum going with my original plan.” It is important to realize how vital a well laid-out backup plan is.

In the Boy Scouts, I learned the importance of the words “Be prepared”. I continue to put this lesson to use by being proactive with my financial investments and business. Having the right backup plan can save you a significant amount of time, capital, and effort. Quite simply, if you do not have a backup plan then you are risking everything unnecessarily.

For example:
Say I own a restaurant on the most popular street in town. What happens if one morning a kitchen fire destroys the property?
Or
My company provides web-based access to complete business management software and data storage for a monthly fee. What happens if my server is destroyed, deleting thousands of gigabytes of information?
Or
I have a sales person who brings in 20 percent of the business. What do I do if they leave the company?

This list of examples could go on forever; the key is to identify those risks that would affect you the most. As a business owner looking at this question, you need to begin imagining your worst fears and worst case scenarios because, unfortunately, they do happen. Whether you are running a business or a family there is too much at stake to ignore the potential of disaster.

When you begin exploring all of the “What if?” scenarios, you will soon realize the potential of backup plans to help adverse reduce financial consequences. It is also important that you consider the feasibility and practicality of the plan.

For the software company which processes thousands of GB’s of data a day it is vital to have multiple sites and continuous updates of backup channels.

The company with the star sales person can have backup plans to help ensure that the relationship will continue, after such a person is gone, by providing multiple levels of interaction with their clients.

However, sometimes backups fail, or are not practical.

The restaurant with the best location in town is not going to be able to set up at another location and expect to do the same volume of business, nor will it continue to produce revenue if the kitchen is smoldering. In this case, the location is critical and it is vital to be properly insured.

When the stakes are high, insurance is a powerful backup measure and can help transfer the financial risk when other backup plans are not practical. More often than not, the costs associated with these disasters are insurable.

When running a business it is important to define the potential risks and understand that the situations you most dread can happen. Your backup needs to be thought through carefully and then practically implemented by someone with knowledge of your industry. Finally, use insurance as a tool to protect your backup plan or to be on the front line when such a plan is not practical.

We hope that those nightmares never become reality, but if they do, we will be here for you.

Q & A with Marianne Engelkes by Christopher Hill

Our Newest Team Member!

Marianne Engelkes joined the Riviera team this February. Originally from the Bay Area in Northern California, Marianne and her husband Jeff have recently moved to Santa Barbara.

Marianne brings with her a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and is excited to be joining our team. Her responsibilities will include running the front office and assisting with client support.

CH: Where did you grow up?

ME: I grew up in northern California, close to San Francisco. I go back now and then to visit my younger sister, as well as my mom and dad. The Central Coast is a great place to call home, but I‘m glad to still be so close to my hometown.

CH: What activities were you involved with before beginning your career?

ME: Competitive swimming was a huge part of my life. I started swimming at the age of 6 and continued all the way through college. All of the years of training provided me with a scholarship to attend Cal State Northridge; a Division I college for swimming (Big West). Individual events were always fun, but I most enjoyed the relays. Swimming has taught me many things including that discipline and hard work pay off.

CH: What brought you to Santa Barbara?

ME: The beauty of the area was one of the biggest draws, I also like the fact that my brother and his wife live here.

CH: What is it that you are looking for at Riviera?

ME: I want to be able to take on responsibilities and make the job mine. Since joining Riviera at the beginning of February, I have been put in charge of the administrative tasks. Every week I am adding new things to my schedule and list of responsibilities. Right now, I am most looking forward to obtaining my license, so that I can start the educational curriculum and can continue to grow.

CH: How would you describe yourself at work?

ME: Being part of a team and contributing to the success is my ultimate goal and my best opportunity for that is to continue learning. My strengths, as I see them, include my organizational skills, compassion, enthusiasm, dependability and my resourcefulness.

CH: What do you like to do outside of work?

ME: On the weekends, Jeff and I enjoy going to the beach and on hikes. During the week, I hit the gym. I’m also an animal lover, especially dogs.

CH: How would you like to sum up this interview?

ME: I am excited to learn more about the insurance industry and become a significant contributor to Riviera’s success. I chose this job because I enjoy my teammates and I believe that there is a great opportunity to grow with the company. Overall, I am very happy with my life here in Santa Barbara.