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Digital EditionIOA Broker John Unick Recognized as a 2026 Specialty Power Broker
John Unick, SVP, Managing Director, Equine and Self-Insured Risk
John Unick
SVP, Managing Director, Equine and Self-Insured Risk
IOA, Pleasanton, Calif.
Organizations operating in unique industries need insurance; John Unick aims to make it happen.
Case in point, Bill Knauf, president, Maryland Jockey Club, called his industry “a quirky insurance space,” where the world of horses, racetracks, sports venues, and training facilities come together. “A lot is happening at a racetrack, and John knows this industry like he’s an insider,” Knauf said. “When you have somebody who you don’t have to explain what your risks are, what a jockey needs, what the winner’s circle is, it becomes that much easier.”
Unick helped the club with a very important task this year: The Maryland Jockey Club was bought by the state as a for-profit, but within the span of just two months, it needed every single type of coverage to run the track as a nonprofit.
“From workers’ comp to general liability, John and his team focused on our needs. They pored through historical records, communicated to the new vendors, and because the previous entity was selfinsuring, no one in the industry knew these tracks. So, John had to educate the insurers on what these tracks were all about,” Knauf said. (That included explaining how an event like the Maryland-based Preakness, a Triple Crown race, amplifies the track’s exposures.)
Unick did it in record time, getting the club what it needed to keep operating.
“John is a high-energy broker who likes to solve problems,” said another client, G. Michael Lyon, president/CEO, SIG Solutions. “He’s innovative in his approach and knows our industry better than any broker I’ve run across.”
2026 Specialty Power Broker Winners and Finalists
What is a Power Broker?
A Risk & Insurance Power Broker® is an individual who stands out among their peers for the exceptional client work they have delivered over the past year. While brokers play many key roles in the insurance industry and risk profession, a Power Broker® award recognizes problem solving, customer service and industry knowledge.
Our goal is to broadly recognize and promote outstanding risk management and customer service among the brokerage community.
Who selects the winners?
Power Brokers are selected by risk managers based on the strength of the testimonials they provide to a team of 15 Risk & Insurance editors and writers.
