At the beginning of 2020, life was pretty normal. In the United States, we had the usual business of politics, and we had the typical business of business. In March, for the most part, business and normalcy ground to a halt. No one, not even Nostradamus, could have predicted how the world and the United States would react to the COVID-19 pandemic. Never in the United States history have we experienced an almost complete shutdown of our society and economy.

Since March, companies and entire industries have experienced financial hardship and ruin. In many states, businesses remain in lockdown mode; many businesses will never reopen. Many folks throughout the US, locally and our relatives, have been laid off or furloughed, and we truly feel for all those impacted. In addition, we do not take safety precautions and social distancing lightly, as many of our friends and family have been affected by the virus.

At Lighthouse, we are very fortunate to be part of an industry that has always been recession-proof. From what we have experienced over the last six months, we are highly resistant to the adverse financial effects of COVID -19. Home Insurance premiums are a function of life for most folks, and they have been minimally affected during this pandemic.

As a company, prior to COVID-19, we had already initiated a remote work plan on a part-time basis. We quickly pivoted to a full-time remote program for the majority of our associates. Since March, our Tampa and Orlando offices have remained open, with only a handful of folks working in them. Even at mostly remote, Lighthouse has not missed a beat. Sales and Operational units have been re-directed to support the mission, and we continue to evolve as our industry slowly reopens in the states where we do business.  

Time will tell when we can get back to how we operated in the past, including our face-to-face interactions with our business’ lifeblood— our agents. Our way of conducting business will continue to morph into something acceptable to all parties as we deal with new standards and norms placed upon us by state and local jurisdictions, business owners’ specific guidelines for interaction, and how the overall industry adapts. All we know is that we have experienced a once-in-a-lifetime event, and things are bound to be different.  

We are One Lighthouse; adaptable, flexible, and committed to our mission of being a beacon of light by making a difference in our communities and industry.    

Be well,

David

Written by David Howard, President