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John Drew (pictured) didn’t plan to build a career in insurance, let alone become a specialist in large-scale construction projects, but a college internship at a Minneapolis-based minority-owned brokerage opened his eyes to the possibilities of the sector. “I thought insurance was just going door to door like my dad did in personal lines,” he said. “But construction insurance was completely different. Once I got in, I never looked back.”
Drew, now a senior executive at Alliant Insurance Services, finds energy in the unpredictability and scale of construction work. “No two days are the same,” he said. “One day I’m on a job site doing a safety walk, the next, I’m in a claims meeting or helping a contractor get mobilized.” He’s worked on everything from hospitals to casinos to airports, and says the variety keeps the job fresh.
But for Drew, it’s the people that make the industry special. “I get to work with a diverse range of contractors and professionals across the country. That’s what I enjoy most.”
Ongoing labor shortages and supply chain disruptions are forcing clients to plan and stage projects more carefully. “Just-in-time delivery doesn’t work the way it used to,” Drew said. “You need to secure materials early because prices are volatile and lead times are long.”
That unpredictability affects insurance too. In the excess market, Drew said, carriers are pulling back. “It used to be one carrier could cover the whole excess tower. Now we’re stacking layers with multiple insurers and managing costs more tightly.”
Construction firms are also restructuring to cope. “Some are turning to tiered subcontractors to handle work at lower costs, which changes the risk profile and insurance needs,” he said.
Alliant is grappling with how to implement artificial intelligence and cyber protections, especially with clients who vary widely in their tech comfort levels. “Younger clients are more open to AI tools,” Drew said. “Others still want face-to-face interaction. It’s about finding the right balance.”
On the environmental front, he pointed to projects like the high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and California, which require careful navigation of state regulations and ecosystem concerns. “We have to think about the full impact, from pollution liability to local traffic and cost-of-living changes,” he said.
As projects grow more complex, Drew sees an opportunity to educate clients. Builders risk, pollution liability, and owner’s professional liability are areas where clients are becoming more hands-on. “They want control over their policies so they’re not negotiating with contractors mid-transition,” he said.
Environmental exposures such as stormwater management are also gaining attention. “Not all clients think about pollution risk upfront,” Drew said. “So we do deeper risk analyses and work with carriers to secure the right coverage.”
As seasoned professionals retire, Drew sees a pressing need to invest in training. “A lot of folks are coming in from other industries with no insurance background,” he said. “It takes time to get them up to speed, but it’s necessary.”
He dedicates time each week to mentoring, taking a flexible, open-door approach. “I let mentees drop into my calendar or shoot me a text. We need to be responsive,” he said.
Drew also co-leads Mosaic, Alliant’s diversity, equity, and inclusion group. Originally launched in response to the George Floyd protests, Mosaic has grown from a Black employee resource group to an inclusive platform for underrepresented professionals and allies. “Alliant supported us from day one,” he said. “Having direct access to the CEO and C-suite sponsors has made a huge difference.”
Outside work, Drew is focusing on family. “I used to travel constantly. Now I try to bring my family along when I can,” he said, and when he needs to recharge, you’ll likely find him fishing.
“We have to find our own ways to stay balanced,” he adds. “Because the work isn’t slowing down.”
Navigating complexity in construction insurance: A broker's evolving role – Insurance Business America
