Diane Bonanno
Diane Bonanno is the President of Insurance Careers, Inc., a specialized staffing firm she founded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in June 1976 after beginning her career as a secretary/employment counsellor at Cosmo Personnel in the 1970s. Drawing on her early experience in staffing, Diane built a company specializing in insurance placements in the property casualty insurance industry in Florida. Her success has been grounded in integrity, building long term relationships with candidates and top insurance regional and national insurnace agencies and companies focusing on roles that range from executive to junior levels. The company expanded from a small operation to a team of eight, with expansions into Boston and New York before returning to Florida.
Throughout her nearly five-decade career, Diane has emphasized a recruitment approach focused on understanding office culture and personality fit, ensuring that each placement benefits both the client and the candidate. She has successfully matched thousands of insurance professionals to their ideal positions in the Florida market. She has shared the challenges she faced along the way, from personal losses to balancing business responsibilities with family life, highlighting the resilience and dedication that have defined her career. Her focus on long-term relationships and careful career guidance has distinguished her from other agencies in the insurance staffing industry.
Diane’s professional philosophy is built on integrity, expertise, and client-centric service. She measures her success by the trust she has earned and the satisfaction of those she serves. While she continues to work with her longstanding clients in the Southeast Diane is thoughtfully considering her future plans, including potential retirement, even as she remains committed to fostering growth, innovation, and career success for insurance professionals across the region.
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to dedication, perseverance, and a genuine passion for helping others achieve their career goals. Since founding my staffing company in 1976, I have grown and adapted the business to meet the evolving needs of the insurance industry in Florida, specializing in placing insurance professionals. I view myself not just as a recruiter, but as a career counselor, focused on building long-term relationships with both clients and candidates, guiding them toward lasting success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Listen more than you talk, especially during interviews, that's how you discover real potential.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Believe in yourself first, lead with honesty always, and when you interview someone,
draw out the best of who they are.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges currently are talent shortages in the industry.
Particularly in specialized fields such as the Property Casualty Industry.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are family and the relationships I build with my candidates and clients. I prioritize nurturing strong, lasting connections and fostering trust, whether at home or in a professional setting, because these relationships are the foundation of meaningful and lasting success.