A Conversation with Trusted Advisor Forum Member Tom Carroll
Tom Carroll is the President and CEO of Diversified Insurance Industries, a family-owned agency, founded in 1969 and headquartered in Hunt Valley. He is a member of the CBMC Trusted Advisor Forum that meets monthly at Kelly Benefits. We were happy to have the opportunity to engage with Tom for this edition of our newsletter and we’re grateful for his time and his thoughts.
How long have you been involved with CBMC?
I’ve been part of the CBMC Trusted Advisor Forum for almost three years. Before that I believe I had something of a vague awareness of CBMC and I may have been invited to one of their meetings several years ago. But I didn’t go until I was personally invited.
What are a couple things that bless you in your involvement with CBMC?
One would definitely be the consistent faith orientation in our monthly meetings and the continuity in the theme of applying biblical principles in our corporate leadership roles. There is always biblical learning and discussion, along with being challenged to think biblically. I’ve always been a curious guy and in our Forum we’re challenged to seek, understand, and apply biblical explanations in cases where that might not have been top-of-mind a few years ago.I appreciate that we come to each of our meetings with a specific agenda, and that our facilitator keeps us moving on time and on point.
Does your Trusted Advisor Forum bless you in ways that distinguish it from other Peer groups you may be involved with? How so?
Certainly, again, in the strong biblical grounding that the group is challenged to bring into the problem-solving arena, whether related to our companies, our families, or our spiritual lives. We are exposed regularly to a well-grounded perspective of biblical truth.
In October, you shared a compelling story of how God used very difficult situations in your life to bring you closer to God. How has your time with CBMC helped bring your relationship with God into sharper focus?
As you know, I was “volun-told” by our group for this assignment and it certainly put me into a position far outside my comfort zone. It made me acutely aware of my part as a tool in God’s toolbox. Perhaps the greatest blessing was that in preparing the talk I was forced to go back to those pivotal events to find God in the moments.
If a Christian business owner or senior executive was seeking regular fellowship with like-minded men, would you be likely to steer him toward a CBMC Trusted Advisor Forum?
Absolutely yes. I look forward to the opportunity to invite more men into our group - or another one when that time comes.
Any other thoughts?
It can be lonely leading a company and the isolation in that role can be damaging in important respects. The time I get to spend each month consistently breaks that isolation and puts me into the company of Christian men who lead their businesses biblically.
About Trusted Advisor Forums
A CBMC Trusted Advisor Forum is a peer advisory group for senior business leaders who desire to lead their business according to Biblical principles and become part of a community with other like-minded leaders in their geographic area. These groups provide a confidential peer-to-peer environment where faith and leadership intersect. It is a whole-life leadership approach, encompassing the multiple roles and responsibilities leaders maintain with their businesses, families and greater community.