Champion Spotlight

Periodically, the "Champion Spotlight" will focus on a CPCU Society Champion, and describe how they have responded to the unique challenges and opportunities a Champion can encounter within their employer, or while championing the CPCU designation and the CPCU Society to the property/casualty industry at large. In addition to this feature on the web site, Champions selected for the Spotlight and their employers will be profiled in e-LINK.

Champions are encouraged to submit stories about their experiences as a Champion. These stories can highlight successes, such as new initiatives implemented by employers as a result of Champion efforts. Or, tell us how you believe your career has benefited from your activities as a Champion. Champions can also use this Spotlight to invite other CPCUs to participate in their Champion projects. Send your Champion Spotlight story to CPCU_Champions@cpcusociety.org .

May 2008 Champion Spotlight: Noreen Kuziak, CPCU

Noreen E. Kuziak, CPCU, is a Property Reinsurance Underwriter for HSB SpecialtyRe, part of The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company in Hartford, CT. A member of the CPCU Society's Reinsurance Interest Group, Noreen is also the current Director of New Designees for the Connecticut Chapter. Noreen received her CPCU designation in 2004, (she also holds the ARe and AIS designations and an MBA), and became a Champion for The Hartford Steam Boiler ("HSB") in May 2006. Noreen has always felt fortunate that she worked for an organization as supportive as HSB, in terms of the time and encouragement provided to complete the designation as well as corporate policy. Corporate policy reimburses employees for the cost of obtaining the CPCU designation and awards monetary bonuses for each CPCU exam passed and for completing the CPCU program. In addition, all New Designees and their spouses/partners are sent to Conferment at the CPCU Society's Annual Meeting and Seminars, and HSB pays the annual CPCU Society dues thereafter.

Hartford Steam Boiler Group's Chairman, Richard H. Booth, while not a CPCU himself, has an impressive track record of supporting professional designations for his staff, including the CPCU. Recalls Noreen: “I had the unforeseen opportunity to present our then-CEO, Richard Booth, with the Connecticut Chapter’s CPCU Excellence Award about a year ago at an employee meeting. I did not know until late in the afternoon of the day before that senior AIG managers were going to be in attendance. My brief presentation spoke to our corporate culture and the support HSB has given to the Connecticut Chapter. I made sure to say ‘thank you’ to the senior managers present, and throughout my discussion, I was encouraged to see many of their heads shaking up and down as I spoke about the benefits of insurance and ethics education as well as the mission of the Society.”

In light of how supportive her employer is, one may think that Noreen would have little to do as a Champion for Hartford Steam Boiler. But Noreen notes, “my Champion activities have truly been a grassroots effort. HSB is a smaller company with a broad geographic spread of employees, and fortunately, I happen to work in the home office, so I can utilize or speak with resources that someone in a field office would not have access to. With that being said, the number one challenge is getting people to take courses. Speed of life issues are the main obstacle. In addition, if managers are not requiring employees to keep their skills current or employees cannot see the value in this education, then employees are not going to pursue the designation, despite the rewards along the way.”

Noreen has worked to enhance the visibility of the CPCU designation and the CPCU Society at HSB. Partnering with HSB Human Resources, she created an area on the organization's intranet to list all company CPCUs and to congratulate new designees from HSB. She credits the intranet for providing visibility for the CPCUs in the organization, and giving those CPCUs and HSB management a name and face to contact if they have questions. Peter Tingus, Director of HSB Training &Development, notes, “As I support the various training &development efforts here at HSB, I rely on Noreen to answer ‘anything CPCU’. She is great at articulating the value proposition the Society offers to individuals with careers in the insurance industry.” Noreen also checks to make sure that any new designees are aware of HSB's corporate policy. She is also working with HR to implement on-site and virtual CPCU classes, and wants to expand HSB support for and management involvement in Connecticut Chapter events.

This past summer, Noreen expanded her champion efforts to HSB's parent organization, American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”). According to Noreen, “I was fortunate to find some kindred spirits through the AIG Insurance School. We are putting together some initiatives to implement this year to promote awareness of, interest and enrollment in the CPCU and the CPCU Society. The group will be reporting back to senior AIG management with a status report. What this has done is taken a small grassroots effort here at HSB and integrated it with the efforts of other member companies of AIG. The goal would be consistency among the different companies.”

Thanks, Noreen, for championing the CPCU and CPCU Society! And thanks to all CPCU Society Champions for their ongoing support.