Profiles of Impact:
Steve Brewer

“My true north has always been deploying technology to enhance operational efficiency, particularly in the public sector. I get immense satisfaction from improving how things work through technological advancements.”

Steve Brewer is a Partner and the Head of Risk Solutions at Benchmark Analytics. Throughout his career, Steve has been driven by a passion for applying technology and analytics to improve outcomes for businesses and government. In this insightful interview, we sit down with Steve to discuss his career journey, the company’s mission, and the future of risk management in public safety.

Q: What led you to a career in risk solutions?

Steve: There is a saying in insurance: ‘People don’t find insurance, insurance finds you.’ My story aligns with this paradigm. I started in management consulting, focusing on transformative technology in the public sector. My true north has always been deploying technology to enhance operational efficiency, particularly in the public sector. I get immense satisfaction from improving how things work through technological advancements. After realizing the travel schedule wasn’t conducive to the family life I wanted, I joined a startup developing analytics for the insurance industry. I wasn’t looking to get into insurance, but I was excited about applying analytics to understand risk during the industry’s digital transformation. Over 18 years, I grew with the company through various transitions before joining Benchmark three years ago.

Q: What inspired you to join Benchmark, and how do you see your role evolving?

Steve: After numerous buyouts and transitions, I wanted to return to my roots in the startup space while continuing to apply analytics and technology to help industries and people. When a recruiter reached out about an opportunity at Benchmark, I initially wasn’t convinced. However, after meeting with the CEO, Ron Huberman, and learning about Benchmark’s mission, I realized it was exactly the opportunity I was looking for. The chance to work in a growth-based company that helps to apply technology and analytics to improve outcomes for the benefit of our society was too good to pass up. The timing was perfect, as my old company was going through a hostile takeover, so I joined Benchmark in 2021 to gain sponsorship from the insurance risk pool market in a meaningful way.

“The chance to work in a growth-based company that helps to apply technology and analytics to improve outcomes for the benefit of our society was too good to pass up.”

Q: Since joining Benchmark, what projects or initiatives have you led that you are most proud of?

Steve: Launching and growing our risk business line. Within risk solutions, two points are crucial: helping insurers understand and support their insured law enforcement agencies to improve outcomes and reduce risk, as well as convincing insurers to sponsor and promote our core BMS and First Sign products to their members as a new way of doing business. I feel fortunate to work towards these goals every day.

Q: How would you describe your leadership style, and has it evolved since joining Benchmark?

Steve: My leadership style is about being myself, building trust, and listening. I subscribe to the servant-leader philosophy — blending strategic thinking, innovative problem-solving, and focused execution.

Some leaders excel at conceptual or vision but struggle with execution, while others focus on execution but miss clarifying the mission—the purpose and the why. For me, it’s about balancing those two, and I will tell you that Benchmark is better at this than any organization I’ve been a part of; it’s part of what makes it an energizing workplace.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges specific to risk, and how has your team adapted?

Steve: What we’re doing is largely unheard of – at the agency, risk, and insurance levels – so the biggest challenge is illustrating our value in a way that convinces organizations to invest in us. We’re asking people to think differently, use analytics differently, and improve outcomes through research. Buy-in is only part of the equation; we have to convince agencies and insurers to act using our research. It’s a fascinating challenge to demonstrate that agencies are changing their practices because of us.

“We’re asking people to think differently, use analytics differently, and improve outcomes through research.”

Q: Where is the industry heading in the next five to ten years, and what role do you see Benchmark playing in that future?

Steve: I believe our research-driven, evidence-based early warning system will become as important to public safety as computer-aided dispatch or a record management system. We will be the third mission-critical platform — managing officer performance. Additionally, our perception of risk will become the standard by which insurers price and manage risks, giving us a significant say in how excellent agency operations should look.

Q: Looking back on your career, what are you most grateful for?

Steve: I’m grateful for the opportunity to pursue my career with an organization like Benchmark and work towards solving a problem that significantly affects public safety in America. It’s a privilege to work on something I’m passionate about, and that has a positive impact on both individuals and society.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Steve: The journey is more important than the destination. Despite being busy, we should always remember that the end goal is one of many things that matter. We have to appreciate the moments we spend with people and the relationships we build along the way. That’s the most important lesson I’ve learned in my career; it’s not about where we end up but about the journey and the people we meet along the way.