Bruce Bender
Bruce Bender

Bruce Bender, Arizona

Bruce Bender is one of those people who often works behind the scenes but whose impact is substantial. As one of the nation’s leading experts on flood insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), over the years Bruce has helped members understand how flood insurance does or does not work and how it should work with other NFIP programs like mapping, regulations, and mitigation. Below is a summary of his activities that have helped ASFPM and our members.

  • Bruce has been a member of ASFPM since 2004 when he joined and immediately was asked to serve as co-chair of the Flood Insurance Committee, replacing a retiring co-chair.
  • Bruce received the Jerry Louthain Award for Service to Members (2014) and Special Service Award for Extraordinary Initiatives and Commitment to Improve the NFIP (2009).
  • Bruce has been the ASFPM representative on the Flood Insurance Producers National Committee (FIPNC) and has represented ASFPM at Institute of Business and Home Safety’s (IBHS’s) Flood Executive Committee and with the National Flood Association meetings.
  • In 2008, Bruce created the Flood Insurance Committee Corner for ASFPM’s Insider newsletter to educate our members on various flood insurance issues, including the NFIP and its current Risk Rating 2.0 methodology, group flood insurance policies, PIVOT, reinsurance, and has been an active writer and contributor to that column ever since—over 15 years of effort and insights.
  • Bruce has continually monitored and advised ASFPM regarding state and federal flood insurance legislation, Federal Register postings, and government and non-government organization reports related to the NFIP as well as private flood insurance. 
  • On behalf of ASFPM, Bruce has provided training to members on flood insurance, impacts of legislation on insurance, private flood insurance, Risk Rating 2.0 (RR 2.0) and more.  He has visited Congress with ASFPM and provided training to Congressional staff members.
  • Bruce keeps membership updated on changes to the NFIP; e.g., Bulletins, new manuals, impacts of new legislation (e.g., Biggert-Waters; Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act).  He answers members’ insurance questions and works on insurance issues raised by members; e.g., Increased Cost of Compliance, affordability, LOMAs-out as shown, grandfathering, Risk Rating 2.0 as well as many other insurance related issues.
  • Bruce has led the Elevation Certificate Workgroup since 2005, advising FEMA every three years on changes needed to be made to the Elevation Certificate.
  • Bruce coordinated co-presentations with FEMA on RR 2.0 for ASFPM members as well as at different state chapter conferences.  He created fact sheets to help inform members about specific aspects of Risk Rating 2.0.  He actively participates in the RR 2.0 workgroup to address members’ issues and concerns with the new rating methodology.
  • Bruce assisted in the review and updating of ASFPM’s National Flood Programs and Policies in Review (NFPPR) 2015.
  • Bruce has served as the MC at the conference awards luncheon, which recognizes the outstanding contributions by members and organizations to help keep communities safe from flood loss and advance the association’s mission.