Aviation insurance firm seeks $120K in incentives

SARASOTA — The Sarasota County Commission is scheduled to review an application today for Beacon Aviation Services, a local aviation industry insurance firm, to receive up to $120,000 in subsidies.

The incentives, according to a county statement, are “related to the company's retention or expansion in Sarasota County.” The Sarasota-based firm has eight employees, including a few recent hires, and COO Bob McManus says the company plans to add several more employees in the next few months. The expansion, says McManus in an interview today with the Business Observer, is partially related to a recent agreement the firm signed to provide workers' compensation insurance to National Air Transportation Association members. “We believe we will have some considerable growth in the near future,” McManus says.

Beacon Aviation focuses on workers' compensation for municipal airports, flights schools, charter operations, companies that operate corporate business jets and fixed-base operators (FBOs.) The firm offers coverage in most states, and it also provides property, casualty and group health insurance for aviation clients through an outside firm.

McManus is one of two Beacon Aviation executives who previously worked for Sarasota-based FCCI Insurance Group, a statewide leader in workers' compensation insurance. Ray Neff, former president and CEO of FCCI, is chairman of Beacon Aviation's board. Beacon Aviation's president and co-founder, John Cunningham, has held executive insurance positions in Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania, according to the firm's website.