Some debates are won in courtrooms. Some are won on stages. And some, apparently, are contemplated from a porcelain throne before the first cup of coffee has even cooled.
Over the years, Steve Badger and I have crossed swords often. These are usually over hail appraisal, insurer conduct, policyholder rights, and the general direction of the property insurance universe. If you follow this blog, you already know that Steve and I enjoy a spirited debate, usually in public, sometimes pointed, and always entertaining. Our exchanges have become a bit of a spectator sport, and I suspect many of you secretly enjoy them as much as we do.
Which brings me to February 11 and what promises to be one of the most entertaining moments in recent industry memory: the roast of Steve Badger at April Hall’s Storm Restoration Contractor Summit (SRC Summit).
Yes, you read that correctly. A roast. Live. In front of an audience. With people who actually know Steve—and who have been saving stories for just such an occasion.
And yes, I have been invited to be one of the roasters.
The SRC Summit has built a reputation for serious education, candid conversations, and no-nonsense discussion about where this industry is headed. April Hall has a knack for assembling people who don’t just talk theory but have lived it. This roast fits that mold perfectly. It’s not about tearing anyone down. Instead, it’s about pulling back the curtain and having a little fun with someone who has spent years doing the same to others, often with a straight face and a sharp pen.
Which leads me to the photographic evidence above.
I was talking with roofer Jeanne Boyd Curtis about the upcoming roast of Steve Badger that she and I will be part of. I told her that Steve told his London clients he reads my blog articles first thing every morning while he visits his “Royal Throne.” She told me that she has proof he does this and sent me this photo.
Now, to be clear, I make no representations about the authenticity of the photo, its staging, the dignity of its subject, or how Jeanne happened to obtain it. What I can say is that it perfectly captures the spirit of the moment and perhaps explains why some of my blog posts seem to strike such a nerve with Badger so early in the day.
The February 11 roast is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a side of Steve Badger that doesn’t usually appear in pleadings, conference panels, or insurer position papers. The people participating in this roast have debated him, sparred with him, and shared stages with him. We also happen to have very good memories and just enough restraint to make this fun rather than fatal.
If you care about the insurance contractor restoration industry, enjoy sharp wit, and appreciate the value of laughing at ourselves now and then, this is not an event to miss. You’ll learn something, you’ll laugh a lot, and you’ll walk away with stories that will be retold long after the summit ends.
April Hall has created something special with the SRC Summit. This roast is just one more reason to grab a ticket and be there in person. Seats will fill. Phones will come out. And Steve Badger, royal throne and all, will finally get the full-throated appreciation he has so carefully earned.
Here is a link for registration. https://www.srcsummit.com/order-tickets
Thought For The Day
“The throne is where the monarch sits; the power is where the people believe it is.”
— James Freeman Clarke
