Buddy Campo, CRC Group, Metairie, was installed president of the Louisiana Surplus Line Association (LSLA) during a virtual townhall meeting held March 19.

Campo, a regional director with CRC Group with over 37 years’ experience in the insurance business, got his start in insurance with a wholesaler in Alexandria, Louisiana.

He moved to the company side of the business when he went to work for Scottsdale Insurance Company in Scottsdale, Arizona, eventually working his way up to manager of the P&C Division.

After being at Scottsdale Insurance Company for 16 years, Campo moved back to the wholesale side of the business, eventually ending up with CRC Group where he has worked for the last 14 years.

Campo has served on the board of LSLA for the last five years, and he previously served as president-elect and secretary/treasurer.

In addition to LSLA, he served on the Communications and Technology Committee for NAPSLO.

As president of LSLA, Campo hopes to grow the organization. He would also like to continue improving the organization’s website so that it can generate more interest in the organization and raise awareness of the organization among people in the insurance industry. He hopes that the improvement in the Covid numbers will allow LSLA to have its mid-year meeting in New Orleans. It is scheduled for Oct. 14 and 15 at the Higgins Hotel with a reception on the evening of the 14th and continuing education seminars scheduled on the 15th.

Among the benefits he sees in being a member of LSLA is networking with his peers in the insurance business. An additional benefit is that LSLA helps members gain a better understanding of legislation that will affect the surplus line market before the filed bill gets through the legislative process and becomes a law.

Campo believes that the biggest issue facing the insurance market in Louisiana and the nation is working through the hard market. He contends that the length and severity of the hard market could have an adverse impact on the insurance market.

David LeBlanc, Peachtree Special Risk Brokers, Metairie, was installed president-elect, and Courtney Dupuis, Risk Placement Services, Covington, secretary/treasurer. Assuming board positions were Carol Davis, Burns and Wilcox; Crystal DePascual, Amwins Access; Jack Duke, UIG; Bill Robeau, Central LA Insurance Consultants; Mike Rodrigue Jr., RODCO Worldwide, and David Wood, CRC Group.

Campo succeeded Michael Horton, USG Insurance Service Inc., who will continue on the board and serve as immediate past president.

Horton, an 18-year veteran of the insurance business, served as president of LSLA while the country was shut down during the pandemic.

A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Horton has worked his entire insurance career with USG Insurance Services. He started as a file clerk in the Troy, Michigan, branch office. Later, he moved to the Chicago area branch, and just after Hurricane Katrina, he came to the Covington branch where he currently serves as the vice president/production manager.