Dare to Disrupt Episode 10 – Innovating the Environmental Insurance Business with David Rosenberg

David Rosenberg is the former Executive Vice President and Principal at Environmental Compliance Services (ECS). David and his two partners grew ECS from a small 12 person, $5 million in annual written premium agency to a 500 person, $200 million in annual written premium agency and a leader in the environmental insurance business.  ECS was sold to XL Capital Inc., a publicly held company in 1999.

In this episode, Rosenberg talks about how he and his business partners innovated the hiring methodology in the environmental insurance space, setting what would become standard best practice for hiring in the industry.  

At the end of the episode, Aryan Modi, a senior at Penn State studying industrial engineering, joins the conversation. He co-founded Reach.AI, which developed AI to analyze public data in rural Pennsylvania to bridge racial and ethnic health inequity and disparity. He is also the founder of Mills, which is building India’s largest community of family-owned small textile businesses. Modi talks to Rosenberg about working in an industry that lacks a lot of public awareness. 

Episode Chapters

0:00 – 7:15 Penn State experience

7:15 – 11:15 From a law degree to a private practice

11:15 – 14:15 scaling an insurance business

14:15 – 19:46 Hiring environmental engineers instead of hiring insurance professionals

19:46 – 23:48 His role in the business, getting acquired

23:48 – 26:50 Making philanthropy a priority

26:50 – 28:34 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

28:34 – 35:08 Student section

About David Rosenberg

David Rosenberg is the former Executive Vice President and Principal at Environmental Compliance Services (ECS). He received his bachelor’s degree in individual and family studies from Penn State. 

Download the full episode transcript

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Dare to Disrupt is a podcast about Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, and the stories behind their success. Learn more.