Building Connections, Managing Risk: My Journey with Hylant
By Zach Unger
When people ask what I do for a living, I tell them I help businesses sleep better at night. As an Associate Client Executive at Hylant, my role goes far beyond simply selling insurance policies. I partner with companies to understand their unique operations, uncover potential risks, and build comprehensive protection strategies that support growth, stability, and peace of mind. But to truly understand what that means, you first have to know a bit about Hylant and why I’m proud to be part of this team.
Key Takeaways
Discover how business insurance in Orlando helps local companies grow with confidence through proactive risk management.
Learn how Hylant’s 90-year legacy of integrity and family values supports businesses across Central Florida and Altamonte Springs.
Explore the role of a Property and Casualty Insurance specialist in protecting local businesses from cyber threats, liability issues, and workers’ comp claims.
See how collaboration and “playing team ball” drive success for both clients and colleagues at Hylant Orlando.
Read a local success story about helping an Orlando liquor store save money and gain peace of mind through customized insurance coverage.
Understand how emerging risks like cybersecurity and AI are shaping the future of insurance in Florida.
Connect with a trusted local insurance professional in Altamonte and Orlando who helps businesses protect what matters most.
A Legacy of Family and Integrity
Hylant is not your typical insurance brokerage. Founded in Toledo, Ohio, and now over 90 years old, the firm has grown through five generations of family leadership. That longevity is a reflection of trust, consistency, and genuine care for people. In an industry often defined by transactions, Hylant has built its reputation on relationships.
Our firm has expanded and evolved across decades of economic shifts, technological change, and growing global complexity. Yet through it all, Hylant has remained grounded in its family-first philosophy: treating clients like partners, not policy numbers. Every decision—whether it’s hiring new talent, opening new offices, or adapting to emerging risks—stems from that same core value: protecting what’s important to people.
My Role: Associate Client Executive
Within this legacy, my role as an Associate Client Executive (ACE) sits at the intersection of strategy, service, and human connection. I specialize in Property and Casualty Insurance, which includes areas like Workers’ Compensation, Cyber Liability, and Special Event coverage. Each of these lines brings its own challenges and opportunities, and every client story is different.
Workers’ Compensation is about caring for employees and helping businesses navigate claims with empathy and compliance.
Cyber Liability addresses the fast-growing digital threats that can cripple companies overnight.
Special Event coverage ensures that when businesses gather to celebrate, network, or launch something new, they can do so with confidence and protection.
My day-to-day involves collaborating with clients, underwriters, and senior account executives to design and manage these programs. It’s analytical work—assessing exposures, reviewing contracts, benchmarking premiums—but it’s also deeply relational. The goal isn’t just to sell coverage; it’s to build long-term partnerships based on trust and shared success.
Playing Team Ball
One of the things that drew me to Hylant, and keeps me motivated daily, is the team culture. The phrase “playing team ball” might sound simple, but it perfectly captures how we operate. We celebrate wins together, share accountability, and always put the client’s best interests first. There’s no lone-wolf mentality here. Everyone contributes: from the client service team to the risk advisors to the executive leadership. Collaboration is what drives creative solutions.
That mindset also shapes how I approach networking and relationship-building. Making valuable connections is at the heart of my professional identity. Whether it’s at a local business mixer, a Chamber of Commerce event, or a casual lunch with a client, I see every interaction as an opportunity to learn, help, and grow. Insurance, at its core, is about people—understanding their ambitions, challenges, and stories. The stronger those connections, the better I can serve them.
Transitioning and Growing
Like many professionals early in their careers, I’m in a stage of transition and growth. The next step after Associate Client Executive is Client Executive (CE): a position that comes with greater responsibility, deeper specialization, and heightened expectations. It’s a milestone that represents both professional achievement and personal growth.
That transition isn’t just about title or pay grade. It’s about refining expertise—diving deeper into specific industries, mastering the nuances of complex risk portfolios, and developing the leadership skills that allow me to mentor others down the line. At the same time, it means learning how to balance pressure, performance, and purpose. Insurance can be a high-stakes business; clients rely on us to protect multimillion-dollar operations. But when you love what you do and believe in your company’s mission, that pressure turns into fuel.
The Bigger Picture
The future of insurance is changing fast. Emerging risks—like cybersecurity, AI, supply chain disruptions, and climate events—require a new generation of professionals who can think creatively and strategically. That’s where I see my role evolving: bridging traditional risk management with modern innovation.
At Hylant, I have the privilege of being part of a forward-thinking team that embraces growth. We’re reacting to change and leading it. Whether that means adopting new analytics tools, developing more efficient client workflows, or building educational content that helps businesses understand risk, we’re always looking ahead.
Case Study: Protecting a Local Orlando Liquor Store
One of my most rewarding experiences was helping a local liquor store in Orlando navigate a complex property and liability risk issue. After a detailed review, working with my team at Hylant, we built a tailored insurance program that lowered costs while broadening protection. The result? A business owner who could focus on growth instead of risk, confident that every bottle, cooler, and customer was properly covered. It was a perfect example of local partnership meeting professional expertise.
Let’s Connect
If you’ve made it this far, I’d love to connect. Whether you’re a business owner exploring ways to strengthen your insurance program, a fellow professional in the industry, or someone simply curious about risk management, I believe great things happen when people collaborate.
Feel free to reach out, ask questions, or just start a conversation. My work is about relationships, and I’m always open to building new ones. Find me (Zach Unger) on our Members Information page.
