State National Executive Vice President Trace Ledbetter Reflects on the Bounty of the Season

This is the time of year where our minds begin to lean toward reflection and taking stock of the year that’s almost behind us. There have been many positive and hopeful changes since last Thanksgiving, especially the chance for many of us to get together and share Turkey Day with our families and friends this year.

Covid, of course, is still with us, but the landscape there has shifted since November 2020. People’s level of concern has waxed and waned, vaccines were introduced, and it seems we’re getting over the hump with the Delta variant. When you look at the business environment, things are reopening and this year we’ve gotten back to many of the conferences, events, and face-to-face client meetings we so sorely missed last year.

On the road again — with our clients and friends

Since relationships are the very cornerstone of our business, we are so grateful to be able to once again meet with our clients and reconnect in a more personal way. After the shutdowns of 2020, it really hit home how rewarding it is to be able to enjoy face-to-face conversations and laughter with our partners, so many of whom are also good friends!

It has also been heartening to see how well our partners’ organizations have performed this year. Their focus on taking care of their business and the people they serve has paid off, and we see them coming out of the uncertainty of the past couple years stronger than ever. We’re pleased and proud that State National has been able to play a pivotal role in helping them to mitigate risk in their institutions as they continue to grow and thrive.

Strong partnerships promote forward momentum

State National has also been fortunate to be able to keep innovating to expand and enhance our offerings. We’ve leveraged the last couple of years to move our service forward by continuing to invest in technology and in our people. We’re thankful to be in a position where we can maintain our lead as the major player in portfolio protection insurance for lenders, and we’re so grateful for the trust our clients place in us every single day.

As we head into Thanksgiving and the hectic holiday season that lies just beyond it, it’s important to take a moment to acknowledge just how blessed we are, and to express our appreciation for the people in our lives and the opportunities all around us. However you are celebrating the holiday, I hope you are surrounded by the people who mean the most to you. Happy Thanksgiving!