Why Strong Partnerships Drive Greater Value and Better Outcomes for Policyholders

Featuring insights from: Matthew Burnett, Chief Financial Officer; Brent Johnson, Vice President of Reinsurance and Specialty; and Ric Sirmans, Vice President of Underwriting

We know that exceptional insurance outcomes are the product of strong partnerships. Our business is built on expertise. To serve our policyholders well, we don’t just rely on individual talent — we tap into a network of strategic partners who help us plan, innovate, and deliver with confidence.

Collaboration Across the Enterprise

Internally, our teams in sales, underwriting, IT, finance, accounting, claims, and people operations work closely to ensure every decision is supported by organizational insight. Across Builders, we emphasize consistent, clear communication and align around shared goals.

“Without clear, effective communication, we would go off the rails,” says Brent Johnson, VP of Reinsurance and Specialty. “Our process is built around methodical engagement and transparency. That’s the Builders standard.”

The open communication process at Builders initiates proactive problem solving to solutions for our customers. Everyone is encouraged to be accessible and responsive, both sharing and listening. Throughout Builders, team members follow these communications best practices: be timely, be honest, collaborate and stay connected. It’s how we get the most out of our internal partnerships.

Agents and Industry Partners: Our Strategic Allies

Our partnerships extend well beyond our walls.

Ric Sirmans, VP of Underwriting, says agents are key strategic allies of Builders. A true partnership, strong relationships with agents across the company are necessary for Builders to succeed.

Builders and its agent partners collaborate daily on shared initiatives and to create better products. Whether by email, in person, forums or on the phone, our team members use multiple methods to communicate to inform and empower agents.

“It’s about accessibility and responsiveness,” says Sirmans. “We use partner input to make smart decisions and drive better outcomes for our agents, their clients, and our business.”

Sirmans further highlights the recent digital transformation, where listening first and acting second was a guiding principle in Builders’ execution. This mindset supported our multi-year collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Guidewire, a property and casualty insurance software solution, to deploy a robust core operating platform. The monumental effort was delivered on time, on budget, and is now fully operational across nearly every state we serve — with additional enhancements to come. It’s a testament to the collaborative mindset at Builders and our ability to use our partners’ expertise to deliver a superior experience

Matthew Burnett, Chief Financial Officer, echoes that point when reflecting on Builders’ relationship with Mariner Institutional. Since 2001, Mariner has served as a trusted advisor on our investment portfolio, playing a pivotal role in expanding our assets under management from $100 million to nearly $900 million while surplus has grown from $35 million to $390 million.

“It’s a long-standing relationship that has helped us strategically position and plan our investments,” says Burnett. “Even as our asset mix evolved to include private credit, real estate, structured credit, and more, Mariner’s partnership has remained a cornerstone of our success through disciplined risk management.”

Johnson adds that Builders’ specialty lines wouldn’t function without strong, trusted partnerships with managing general agents (MGA), claims administrators, and reinsurance brokers. MGAs are a primary partner bringing in business to our Specialty Division. Strong partnerships with expert claims administrators ensure our clients are made whole and deliver on our promise to provide a seamless customer experience. Our long-standing relationships with reinsurance brokers give us the ability to secure critical coverage — and it’s all built on mutual trust.

At Builders, partnership isn’t a buzzword — it’s our operating model. And it’s what helps us deliver real value to policyholders, year after year.