50 years ago, when Bill Graham assumed leadership of Graham Company, he did so with a vision to reshape the role of the insurance broker. Where many similar companies were reactive and transactional, Bill believed in the value of long-term client relationships, mutual trust and a truly collaborative, proactive approach to risk management. He began hiring top talent from outside the industry, confident that he could teach lawyers, engineers and accountants about insurance — and that their diversity of thought and experience would provide a unique and necessary value to clients. This perspective became the foundation of “The Graham Way,” a mindset that continues to shape our culture and differentiate our company by prioritizing unparalleled client service, employee investment and innovation above all else. This year, Graham Company is also celebrating five years as a fully employee-owned company (ESOP) — a core value of our firm that has led to high employee satisfaction and stability. We’re proud to say that many of our clients have been working with the same Graham team for a decade or more, and that our advisors know their clients’ businesses and industries inside and out. That’s our secret sauce: The longevity, expertise and passion of our people. We’re trusted to protect what matters most, and everything we do as a company is shaped by that purpose. In 2022 — a year marked by global instability, a tightening labor market and a fluctuating economy — our team has been in the weeds with clients every day, analyzing new and evolving risk exposures and crafting long-term strategies for success. Even in the midst of unfavorable market conditions, our clients are experiencing real-time gains as we work together to investigate future supply chain risks, shore up cyber defenses, reevaluate employee benefits packages and create a culture of safety. While we celebrate the claims lowered and coverage achieved for our clients, what really matters is that those numbers represent the people and products that were protected: The safety hazards and injuries that were avoided, the cyber threats that were effectively blocked, the employees that were retained and the business interruptions that didn’t occur because we had a working backup plan. With results like these, 2022 has been a year of growth for Graham Company. We’ve gained national and regional clients, added employees across the country and expanded our capabilities into new offerings, such as human capital management. We anticipate continued growth in 2023, and plan to offer our expert advisory services on a consultation basis to companies interested in seeing how our approach — built on our proprietary P2RIME® process — can effectively manage risk and prevent claims, not just mitigate them. As we continue expanding, we remain focused on relentlessly advocating for our clients — of any size, in any location — to put them in the best position possible, regardless of their market. Our commitment to innovation means that we’re investing in and adopting the latest technology to enhance the client experience, which you’ll read about later in this issue of the Graham Advisor. We’re also prioritizing creative solutions to risk management, such as building captives to manage unusual exposures. You’ll read more about the innovation, trends and solutions we’re seeing affecting today’s insurance market throughout this issue. We’re covering the latest employee benefits priorities, cyber security outlook and emerging technologies; along with new considerations for human capital management and the ways a culture of safety can effectively protect against new hazards. Each insight ties back to the way we approach risk management and our dedication to uncovering areas of improvement and benefits, embracing innovation in everything we do, identifying efficiencies, protecting employees’ well-being and driving real value for each and every client. That’s the mission Bill instilled in our company many years ago, and it continues to embody our heart and soul.