92 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • APRIL 2018
LAST LOOK
JAMES C. METZGER:
WINNING IN SPORTS & BUSINESS
By JEFF BERMAN
As chairman and CEO of Garden
City-based Whitmore Group, James
C. Metzger has guided the privately
held company that he started in
1989 into becoming one of the most
successful independent insurance
brokerage and financial services
firms in the region. We recently
caught up with him to get his take
on technology and other trends
impacting the insurance market,
what sets the Whitmore Group
apart from its rivals, and how sports
have played a key role in his youth
and career. Here are excerpts from
our conversation:
Long Island Press: What would you
say sets the Whitmore Group apart
from other insurance companies?
James C. Metzger: By virtue of
building the company over 30 years,
the premium volume that we have
with our carriers – both in terms of
the number of carriers we represent
and the premium volume that we
have developed with those carriers
– gives us underwriting advantages
and underwriting leverage with
those markets.
LIP: What is your vision for the
company amid the challenges faced
by your industry?
JM: I feel like we’ve kind of figured
out over 30 years how to be really
good at what we do, and to achieve
critical mass with the insurance
companies and to develop a lot
of trust and confidence with our
carriers. And what has helped us
achieve that is making strategic
acquisitions, over the last 10 years
in particular, of smaller agencies.
We’re still a privately held firm
and one of the relatively few left of
our size that have maintained our
independence.
LIP: Can you specify how
technology may be a disruptor?
JM: I have strongly considered how
self-driving cars will impact the
automobile side of our business.
That’s a real concern. Algorithms
and robotical technology also.
Let’s face it. We saw what happened
to travel agencies a long time ago.
The role of the advisor and the
role of the consultant, I think,
will always be important in the
insurance industry.
LIP: When you say some are buying
insurance directly from rivals,
would I be correct to guess some of
that is being done online?
JM: Sure. I think life insurance
is probably bought online more
frequently and in a bigger way than
property and casualty. Life insurance
and automobile insurance, I think,
we’ve certainly seen competition
that way. Those verticals within the
insurance industry have taken a
pretty big bite out of the apple.
LIP: You were a lacrosse All-
American at Hofstra University and
played lacrosse and football at Half
Hollow Hills High School. How do
you incorporate those interests into
your career?
JM: I think a win is a win – whether
you’re vying for an account and
you win the account or you win
a lacrosse game or a football
game. And you don’t always win.
There’s always a guy bigger, faster
or stronger, and you learn how to
compete. And I think you can learn
a lot from losing as well, not just
winning. Sometimes you can learn
more from losing than winning
because you have to address
possibly weaknesses or areas that
require improvement.
LIP: Philanthropy in general is very
important for you. Can you explain
why and how you select which
organizations to support?
JM: Many of our clients will approach
us with their philanthropy or the
causes in which they’re involved, or
the charities and foundations
that they support. I believe
in supporting academia on
Long Island. I have become involved
with the Arthritis Foundation, the
American Heart Association, Big
Brothers Big Sisters, to name a few.
It is a win-win-win situation. We’re
able to support the community
and enhance and bolster our brand
in the community as well, and
sometimes support our client.
LIP: How much
of an impact did
growing up on
Long Island
have on your
worldview and
success?
JM: I think
I had a lot of
advantages. I
was extremely
fortunate that I
grew up where
I did. I think
it had a great
impact on
my business
career too
b e c a u s e
our school
district was
terrific from
an academic
standpoint and
my experiences as a
student athlete.
LIP: What would
readers be surprised
to learn about you?
JM: People will
laugh if you write
this and they read
it, but I’m really a
humble person.
I’m around a lot
of people often,
but I really relish
time that I can
spend alone,
reading and
being reflective,
and I have a lot
of interests away
from the
business.
James C. Metzger
is as well
known for his
philanthropy as
heis for leading
the Whitmore
Group.