Brian Wilsher
Director, Claims Program Business, Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company
In 2019, Brian Wilsher took on a key leadership role at Amerisure at the age of 29. “It was a challenge to overcome,” he says of stepping into that position at such a young age. “I was leading a group of my former peers, all of which were more experienced than I was.”
Wilsher has not only grown comfortable with being a young professional in leadership, but has also thrived. “That’s been the theme since I’ve been in leadership,” he says. “I’ve been the youngest person in the room since getting in. I’ve frequently been leading people that have been handling claims way longer than I have.”
At Amerisure, Wilsher has excelled handling auto, general liability, and construction-defect claims. As his nominator puts it, “Brian is a thought leader already at such a young age, mature beyond his years, and will be a driving force in the insurance industry for many years to come.”
A graduate of Florida State University with a degree in risk management and insurance, Wilsher stands as an example of how the industry’s outreach to young talent can pay off. “The risk management program at Florida State advertised a nearly 100% placement rate on graduation,” he says. “That sounded pretty appealing.”
Wilsher’s advice to other young professionals: “Find a mentor. And there could be different mentors for different things.” He explains that, for professionals who want to work in a specific area in claims but are unable to get hands-on experience, finding a technical mentor who can provide the necessary knowledge can be invaluable. “If you can find someone to piggyback, and attend a mediation with them or go watch a trial—that’s one of the most valuable experiences in my career: sitting through trials and seeing all of the gamesmanship and negotiating.”