This quarter, we spoke with our Regional Commercial Lines Sales Manager & Public Entity Practice Leader Tom BeLusko (shown here at far left, with his team). With decades of experience in the insurance needs of cities, counties, school districts, and special districts, Tom and his team are committed to bringing dedicated expertise and strategic solutions to public entities across the Northwest.
What challenges have your team – and the industry – faced over the past year?
We’ve got very experienced individuals on our team, with well over 50 years of combined experience. The market recognizes each of us as seasoned professionals – yet building that recognition under The Partners Group banner has been a challenge, since this division is relatively new.
Beyond that, the public entity insurance market is demanding. It really takes someone fully dedicated to this vertical to get clients through such a challenging cost and coverage environment. You can’t do this part-time – it requires complete focus.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for Q4 and into 2026?
One of our priorities is to get out there more, to be seen in the associations where cities and counties spend their time, so they know we’re fully dedicated to the public entity space. We’re also focused on growing our team – because in order to deliver on our promises, we need good people with the right experience behind us.
How does TPG lead the way within your field?
The key differentiator for us is experience. When I brought the idea of a public entity division to TPG, they were supportive right away, and now that vision is becoming reality. Every member of our team has lived in this space for their entire career. We know the subtleties of Oregon law, the markets, and the service standards. We work with a sense of urgency, not reaction, and we live up to our promises. That’s what makes us different.
Can you share a real-world example of where your team has gone above and beyond?
Contract management is a big one. Cities, counties, and school districts do a lot of building and facility use, and there’s often a lack of control around insurance and risk management. We help clients create processes for certificates of insurance, coverage, and construction contracts that reflect the unique requirements. That saves them a lot of risk, cost, and negative implications down the line.
Another example is with a county client who was struggling with their workers’ comp program. We rolled up our sleeves, joined their safety committee meetings, provided training, and worked closely with their insurance program. A year later, this client’s claim frequency and severity have been reduced, their safety culture is stronger, and with our assistance, the county was notified that they are the recipient of the CIS/AOC Excellence in Safety Award – all under the leadership of TPG and our highly engaged client. That’s a tangible difference – and it’s exactly what we aim to provide.
What excites you most about the future of your team?
There’s a real service hole in this market. Too often, public entities are served by agencies that dabble in this space, but don’t specialize. That leaves clients frustrated – or worse, unprotected. What excites me is showing them that we make the complicated easy. We’re proactive with budgeting, pre-renewal planning, and communication. When we do our jobs right, clients can focus on serving their communities, not stressing over insurance.
Which TPG core value resonates most with you right now?
Own it. I can’t turn off my computer at night if I haven’t followed through on a promise. Even if I don’t have the answer yet, I’ll let the client know I’m thinking about them. That sense of urgency is part of who I am, and it’s what I expect from our team. If we don’t close the loop on every client interaction, then we’re less than our competitors. If we can’t own it, we don’t deserve it.
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Tom and his team are happy to talk with you about their work in public entities. Email him directly at tbelusko@tpgrp.com.
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