by Michael J. Whitlock, Executive Vice President – Bail Division
Mike Whitlock Speaking at the CBAA Annual Conference in Las Vegas
“Where in the world is Mike?” is something I get asked a lot during my travels — though occasionally, I have to ask that of myself.
A few weeks back, I was speaking before a group of agents about bail issues being addressed across various states when I had a senior moment:
“What state am I in now?” I asked the group.
“Idaho,” they replied in unison.
Travel for me is steady throughout the year but particularly dense in the fall months when annual meetings are held for state and national associations. Leading up to my trip to Pocatello for the Professional Bail Agents of Idaho Annual Meeting, I had already been to Ohio, Georgia, and Texas — on three separate occasions.
From Idaho, it was on to Colorado Springs for a state legislative event, Bryan, Texas to sign a new agent, Baton Rouge for the ALBU Annual Conference, Las Vegas for the California Bail Agents Annual Conference, and finally Los Angeles to visit with several American Surety agents.
At the CBAA Conference, I was a guest speaker. I prefer speaking to listening — which explains a lot. My presentation, “Underwriting Bail in the 21st Century,” reflected on how those of us who have been underwriting bonds in two different centuries have witnessed the evolution of bail underwriting firsthand through the decades.
I decided to drive the four and a half hours from Las Vegas to Los Angeles since I’d need a car in L.A. anyway. Plus, I try to follow the “four-hour rule”: I won’t fly if my destination is within a four-hour drive. I picked up my rental car at 7 a.m., needing an early start to make it to Sherman Oaks by noon for lunch with a new prospect.
The drive took longer than expected due to heavy rain. While fueling up in Barstow, a trucker warned me about an accident on I-15 at the bottom of the hill. That proved to be good advice — I took an alternate route and still made it to lunch right at noon.
I needed to be in Santa Ana the following morning to meet with an agent, so I decided to stay the night in Orange County instead of driving back north to L.A. It’s only sixty miles, but that’s an hour and a half drive in Southern California traffic.
It was a long day — a lot of driving and a lot of stress navigating through a rainstorm — but travel days can be deceptively long. After finally sitting down to rest, I thought to myself, “Holy cow, did I really do all that today?”
That trip wrapped up with another agent visit the next morning, an unexpected meeting with a new prospect, and dinner that evening with an agent and friend in Beverly Hills. I flew home the next morning.
The year isn’t over yet. I’m looking forward to the Professional Bondsmen of Texas Annual Meeting in San Antonio next week, followed by the 10th Annual ABC Agent Meeting in New Orleans, November 18–19. That one will be a can’t-miss.
Travel is part and parcel of what I do. Some business can be handled over the phone or by video, but if you want to establish and maintain strong, lasting relationships, it has to be done in person. Whether I’m meeting new agents, discussing legislation, or supporting our partners in the field, these visits remind me how interconnected our work really is — from the courtroom to the statehouse to the local agent’s office.
Everywhere I go, I’m encouraged by the professionalism and commitment of ASC’s agents. They continue to build trust in their communities, even as our industry faces change and new challenges. That dedication is what keeps me on the road.
On my direct flight from LAX to Indianapolis, my wife texted me:
“Don’t forget we have that thing tonight.”
That thing?
“Yeah, the quartet doing instrumental Fleetwood Mac songs amid a thousand candles.”
Oh, that thing.
After weeks of airports, hotel rooms, and rental cars, sitting beside my wife listening to Fleetwood Mac under candlelight was the perfect reminder of what makes coming home worthwhile.