SAN RAMON, Calif., June 30, 2025 -- The Surplus Line Association of California (SLA) is showing that even niche nonprofits can transform how they educate and build trust—by putting human-centered video and digital storytelling at the center of their strategy.
This month, the SLA earned top honors at the 2025 American Business Awards (ABAs), taking home two Gold and two Bronze Stevie Awards for its broadcast-quality video, livestreaming and multimedia content serving stakeholders across California's complex insurance market.
For CEO Benjamin J. McKay, the wins reflect a decade-long bet that paid off.
"Frustrated over a simple brake light I couldn't fix, I found the answer on YouTube—and that changed how I thought about the future of our work," McKay said. "If our members and partners learn like this, why wouldn't we deliver information the same way? Storytelling builds trust, and trust is everything when you work in an insurance market as complex as California."
That 2015 insight sparked a digital transformation. In 2020, the SLA launched the first broadcast studio of its kind among the nation's stamping offices and surplus line associations. Today, the team produces original programming year-round, including livestreamed events, on-demand continuing education courses and a new push into video journalism to cover emerging E&S insurance trends.
Award Highlights:
