The Mother of Wrap-Ups
How Karen A. Frankel Shaped an IndustryHow did modern wrap-ups come to be? In this episode, we sit down with Karen A. Frankel, a nationally recognized authority in construction insurance with nearly fifty years of experience, to trace the origins of wrap-up programs and the systems that still shape the industry today.Karen began her career in the 1970s as a project accountant before becoming Minnesota’s first female estimator and project manager. Her transition into the insurance world placed her at the center of the earliest OCIP, CCIP, and general liability wrap-up programs. From manual enrollment processes and handwritten ledgers to the first national administration systems, Karen helped transform wrap-ups into a structured and scalable approach that contractors and owners still rely on.In this conversation, Karen shares stories from the early days of project insurance, the challenges of fast-track construction, the emergence of deduct and add alternate bidding, and the behind-the-scenes realities that shaped today’s wrap-up practices. Her perspective offers rare insight into the origins of an entire segment of the industry and the innovation required to build it.In this episode you will learn:How wrap-ups emerged after World War II and why they became essential for large projectsThe role Karen played in developing early administration systems and bid alternate strategiesWhat construction risk management looked like before technology and automationWhy early wrap-up programs required extensive manual processes and on-site coordinationHow industry consolidation and new broker practices influenced wrap-up growthThe innovations and lessons that still guide wrap-up administration todayWhether you are a construction risk professional, an insurance leader, or someone who works with wrap-up programs, this episode delivers a detailed look at the history, structure, and evolution of the practices that support modern project insurance.Stay covered, stay curious, and enjoy this conversation with the Mother of Wrap-Ups herself......Sign-Up for the NewsletterStay ahead in the industry with exclusive insights, guest highlights, and more. Sign up for the Inside Insightnewsletter and get all the latest episodes delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now!.....Shape the ConversationWe want Inside Insight to be shaped by the conversationsthat matter most to you. Share your questions, suggest topics, or even recommend yourself (or someone you know) as a future guest.Submit your ideas through our landing page: info.c-r-solutions.com/podcast-request, or email us directly at [email protected] with the subject line “PodcastQuestion”......Follow the Inside Insight Podcast:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/insideinsightpod Instagram: instagram.com/insideinsightpod/Facebook: facebook.com/insideinsightpod Website: c-r-solutions.com/podcast .....Connect with our hosts:Beau Lunceford & Trevor Caseylinkedin.com/in/beauluncefordlinkedin.com/in/trevorcasey3/ Connect with our guest: Karen A. FrankelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-a-frankel-b91a60140/Email: [email protected] more about how CR Solutions is innovating in riskmanagement:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/consolidated-risk-solutionsInstagram: instagram.com/wrapadmin/Facebook: facebook.com/consolidatedrisksolutionsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapadminEmail: [email protected] this episode? Follow, rate, and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! It helps more listeners like you join the conversation.
