The following text field filters the results that follow as you type.
Working in insurance doesn’t change how much we enjoy summer—it just changes how we see it.
Published on June 23, 2026
5-minute read
Summer can look a little different when you work in insurance, so we asked employees across Markel how their experience working in the industry has shaped the way they approach their favorite summer activities. The responses we received were equal parts funny, insightful and refreshingly honest.
Call it “second nature” or “noticing what others might miss”, but time spent in the insurance industry doesn’t take the fun out of summer—it just adds a layer of awareness. Throughout our responses, one theme came through loud and clear: we still love summer … we’re just a bit smarter about it.
Fire, food and summer fun
Nothing says summer like a grill, a fire pit and a backyard full of friends. But when you’ve seen a few claims in your day, you start to notice the finer details. Here’s what some of our teammates had to say:
Peter Dworsky
Sr. Risk Solution Specialist
“Grilling: Flavor belongs on the food—not the siding. Keep grills clear of walls and overheads.”
“Grilling: Flavor belongs on the food—not the siding. Keep grills clear of walls and overheads.”
Shannin Palmer
Sr. Manager, Claims
“Nothing says summer like hosting family and friends by the pool and firing up the grill ... Turns out, once you work in insurance, even a backyard barbeque comes with a mental risk assessment (and should have a fire extinguisher within close proximity).”
“Nothing says summer like hosting family and friends by the pool and firing up the grill ... Turns out, once you work in insurance, even a backyard barbeque comes with a mental risk assessment (and should have a fire extinguisher within close proximity).”
Joe Bizzarri
Sr. Investigator
“Hosting a big backyard party is great … until you remember ‘host’ can also mean ‘responsible for what happens next.’"
“Hosting a big backyard party is great … until you remember ‘host’ can also mean ‘responsible for what happens next.’"
It’s not about cancelling the cookout; it just means keeping more space around the grill, a closer eye on the fire and knowing where the hose is—just in case.
On the water
For many, summer means time spent in the water: from boats and jet skis to tubing and ocean swims, there’s no shortage of fun ways to unwind. For many of our respondents, though, a bit more awareness is built into their aquatic activities.
Donald Kuehler
Sr. Risk Solutions Specialist
“Lake life is great in the summertime, until you don’t have enough life vests on the boat for everyone!”
“Lake life is great in the summertime, until you don’t have enough life vests on the boat for everyone!”
Tess Vancura
Claims Examiner II
“Boating to the sandbar is always a blast! Remember to stay hydrated and aware of your surroundings at all times.”
“Boating to the sandbar is always a blast! Remember to stay hydrated and aware of your surroundings at all times.”
Mario Chiappetti
Sr. Marine Underwriter
“I’m all for boating during the day, but I’ve learned that nighttime on the water isn’t worth the risk—so I stay off it.”
“I’m all for boating during the day, but I’ve learned that nighttime on the water isn’t worth the risk—so I stay off it.”
Even small habits, like staying aware of your surroundings, slowing down in busy areas and double-checking equipment, go a long way to keep the “great” in “a great day”.
Classic summer staples
Fireworks, bounce houses, carnivals—summer wouldn’t feel complete without them. And if you ask our employees, they still enjoy it … just with a slightly different lens.
Larenz Johnson
Associate Underwriter
“Amusement parks have become an amalgamation of everything I don't want to see cross my desk. I love funnel cake as much as the next person, but … my head is constantly on a swivel whenever I decide to get on a roller coaster."
“Amusement parks have become an amalgamation of everything I don't want to see cross my desk. I love funnel cake as much as the next person, but … my head is constantly on a swivel whenever I decide to get on a roller coaster."
Jennifer Likander
Sr. Director, Commercial Package
“I’ll never look at bounce houses the same!”
“I’ll never look at bounce houses the same!”
Allison Elzer
Managing Director, Risk Engineering
“I always see families having a blast at summer pop-up carnivals, but I cringe at the electric cords across pathways and tent spikes with no cone or flag to keep people from tripping.”
“I always see families having a blast at summer pop-up carnivals, but I cringe at the electric cords across pathways and tent spikes with no cone or flag to keep people from tripping.”
It’s not about avoiding these moments entirely, just recognizing how a few thoughtful precautions can keep them fun for everyone.
Everyday summer moments
Sometimes it’s the simplest thing that stands out the most: many employees noted that regular summer activities are where a small mindset shift could make a big difference.
Brooke Mellen
Executive Claims Examiner
“I enjoy going to the beach in the summer, but I always leave my jewelry at home because I’ve seen too many claims for items lost while applying sunscreen or playing in the waves. I’d rather not spend my vacation with a metal detector trying to find my jewelry on the beach.”
“I enjoy going to the beach in the summer, but I always leave my jewelry at home because I’ve seen too many claims for items lost while applying sunscreen or playing in the waves. I’d rather not spend my vacation with a metal detector trying to find my jewelry on the beach.”
Tanner Grail
Underwriter
“Who doesn't enjoy taking in the calm of the beach under the shade of an umbrella? I know I do! But not until I make sure that it is tightly fastened and weighted into the ground.”
“Who doesn't enjoy taking in the calm of the beach under the shade of an umbrella? I know I do! But not until I make sure that it is tightly fastened and weighted into the ground.”
Constance Raines
Business Development Specialist
“As a kid, a pool is a pool. But now that I am an adult, I see the value in in-ground pools vs. above ground and/or having a fence around said pool."
“As a kid, a pool is a pool. But now that I am an adult, I see the value in in-ground pools vs. above ground and/or having a fence around said pool."
Same summer with smarter habits
Across our responses, one thing was clear: the difference isn’t what we plan to do, but how we plan to do it. People are still boating, grilling, traveling and loving all things summer—just with a few extra precautions.
At the end of the day, these small things add up: a quick check here, a bit of precaution there. Before long, that mindset shift is part of the fun—because we’re all about helping people enjoy their summer in a safer way.
