Anthony Cristiano

Participating in the IGNITE internship program at the Florida Surplus Lines Service Office has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. The opportunity to learn about Florida’s surplus lines market gave me a deeper understanding of the insurance industry and laid a strong foundation for my future in insurance.

One of my favorite parts of the internship was working with the Agent and Insurer Services team. I had the opportunity to sit in on weekly meetings, observe the compliance and review processes for agents and insurers, and assist with outreach related to transactions in question. This gave me valuable insight into how FSLSO facilitates compliance across the industry.

Another highlight of my IGNITE experience was meeting with Liz Smith, a member of FSLSO’s board. She shared valuable insights into the various career paths available in the insurance field and shared interesting advice from her own professional experiences. I especially enjoyed learning about her career as an enterprise risk manager and how the role has shaped her industry perspective.

During the internship, I also completed the 60-hour surplus lines pre-licensing course, which expanded my understanding of Florida’s excess and surplus lines market and highlighted the importance of regulating Florida’s E&S market.

For any student interested in a career in insurance—especially in the surplus lines space—I highly recommend the IGNITE program at FSLSO. The hands-on experience, industry exposure, and professional connections I gained were incredibly beneficial to my professional growth.