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HTML clipboard About MBA Insurance MBA Insurance began in 1978 in Denver, Colorado as Miesner, Brooks and Alanko. Today Bert Alanko along with a team of fourteen insurance professionals provide innovative rental insurance products from thier offices in Scottsdale, Arizona. While much has changed, what has not changed since the beginning is the focus of the company to provide basically one product, Rental Insurance. MBA chose to start specifically as an insurance agency offering RV rental insurance due to the rental insurance market conditions at the time. "Way back then" all RV rental insurance was written on individual personal policies that were then upgraded to include rental coverage. MBA changed the way rental RV's are insured, and feels that in part, the program is responsible for much of the growth and success of the RV rental industry. Today MBA takes great pride in its reputation for friendly, fast and fair customer service. President Bert Alanko says, "I just love it when a dealer calls or writes that they enjoy dealing with our staff. I am very proud of our MBA family and the service that they are able to provide. Without a doubt it is what keeps us out in front. We try to stay loose, after all this isn't brain surgery, my attitude is to have fun. "By staying focused on just one aspect of the insurance business, MBA has been able to achieve a level of customer satisfaction and loyalty to be proud of. The RV business is just fun, Alanko says, "because our customers become our friends. If you can't have fun with your work and your customers, why be in the business, do something else." Though casual in attitude, MBA remains committed to providing superior service and product turn-around time. Alanko says, "like in sports, speed wins. You must be faster." MBA Insurance provides insurance coverage only for rental motor homes and trailers. We get asked all the time to insure this that and the other thing. That dealer who needs open lot/garage, auto rental or whatever coverage, we are more than happy to refer them to one of our industry friends who specialize in that particular area. We feel that specialization, specific knowledge, is really the best thing for the customer." MBA's newest innovation for the rental insurance business is the "CHOICE" rental insurance program. It was started three years ago, says Caldwell. "Choice allows the dealer to save money on insurance while tactfully allowing the rental customer to choose to accept responsibility for insurance or pass that burden along to the insurance company." It is the renters Choice. Choice has had wide acceptance, and today almost 200 of the 1000 accounts that MBA insures are on the Choice program. MBA admits that it takes a little bit of a mind shift to get used to Choice, but once that happens it becomes very easy to enjoy in saving the money. Alanko says, "Choice is revolutionizing the rental industry today the same way our initial approach to rentals did back in 1978." Along with rental insurance, MBA now offers to the industry: Rental training schools -- next one January 30-31, 2003:A 300-page rental training manual;Rental legal advice in the form of state-specific rental contract language and the "Guide to Federal and State Car Rental Law;"All check in and out forms;Rental Software -- Now MBA offers two completely different rental software packages for dealers to choose from. MBA's newest rental software package developed by Bill McCauley specifically for the RV Rental business, has features that are opening the eyes of even the most ardent critics. Alanko said that the rental software was introduced at the Las Vegas show and since then the response has been nothing short of fantastic. Some 73 dealers have signed on so far.The rental dealer community has been waiting for this product. Among other things, the RV Rental Manager software provides financial statements and the month-end accounting for leaseback fleets. As one dealer put it, this software will "change my life"."It is coming up with new products and services such as this that makes our business fun and keeps us fired up," says Alanko. "We really and truly want our customers to love working with MBA Insurance. Our goal is to give the customer more than they expect. I feel that everyone at MBA strives for the result; that at the end of the day, the customer says, 'WOW,' they're great to work with |
