History in the Making: Celebrating Leaders & Learning from a Legend

If there was a single moment that captured what leadership feels like, not just in theory but in action, it was the powerful combination of honoring our industry’s trailblazers and hearing directly from one of the greatest leaders in sports history: Coach Nick Saban.

The room was electric as attendees gathered to celebrate the recipients of the PLUS Founders Award and the PLUS1 Award, which are two of the highest honors within the PLUS community.

• PLUS Founders Award, which recognizes exceptional and lasting contributions to PLUS and to the advancement of the professional liability industry, was awarded to:
  Robert D. Crocitto, President, ARC Excess & Surplus
• The PLUS1 Award honors outstanding leadership, service, and meaningful impact on the industry, and was presented to:
  Julianna Ryan, Founding Partner, Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP

These awards recognize the professionals who don’t just succeed in their roles, but elevate the entire industry through their innovation, mentorship, and impact.

Then, the energy shifted because the legendary, Hall of Fame Coach Nick Saban took the stage. With nine National Coach of the Year titles, Saban knows how to build champions, and he wasted no time pulling back the curtain. In a candid, enriching conversation moderated by Sarah Abrams, Head of Claims Operations at Baleen Specialty, Coach Saban revealed what it really takes to lead under pressure:

• Focus on becoming a transformative leader versus a transactional leader.
• People don’t remember what you said, but rather how you made them feel.
• It’s not about winning, but doing your best every. single. time.

He took us inside the huddle with stories that were part leadership masterclass, part adrenaline, and completely unforgettable—from building resilient teams to navigating massive industry shifts like NIL, athlete compensation, and the evolving college athletics landscape.

Coach Saban reminded everyone in the room:
“There’s no ‘I’ in team, but there is an ‘I’ in win.”

Every person left the room with something to take home whether it was a strategy, a mindset shift, or a spark. Between celebrating the leaders shaping the future of our industry and learning from a coach who has defined greatness for decades, it became clear and we took notes:

• Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a daily decision to show up, elevate others, and do the hard things that build excellence and accountability regardless of what stands in your way.

After we wrapped up the showstopper keynote, we rolled into the Welcome Tailgate with members wearing their alma mater gear with pride. Football tosses flew, cornhole bags dropped, beer pong games got competitive, and somewhere in the middle of all the cheering, someone held a baby alligator. The music was loud, the laughter was louder, and the energy? Absolutely electric.