May Visibility Spotlight Winner “Spreads the Word!” on AIG Intranet

Bart Shachnow, CPCU, CFP, CLU, ChFC, associate director of the Broker Outreach Program for the AIG Insurance School, recently wrote an article about the CPCU designation for AIG’s intranet, which reaches employees around the world. The article, entitled “The AIG Insurance School and the CPCU: Advancing Careers in Insurance,” was posted in December.

“My boss at the time, Carol Mauro, director of Corporate Training, asked me to do it, given her awareness of my active involvement in the New York Chapter. Carol is also a CPCU and a member of our chapter. Frank Baron, director of the Insurance School and my current boss, has been just as supportive.

It should also be noted that Martin Sullivan, our CEO, has made it clear to his senior management team that there needs to be renewed and consistent support for professional designation programs. This senior management support has certainly helped our efforts,” Shachnow said.

Since the article was published, Shachnow has developed several tactics to increase awareness and interest in the CPCU designation through a collaboration between AIG’s Insurance School, the Human Resources Department, and the Office of Diversity. A major initiative involves a regional rollout in May of the Professional Designation Task Force, comprised of AIG employees in the 10 major Commercial Insurance Group’s offices throughout the United States. The task force’s objectives include raising interest and awareness in the CPCU and other professional designation programs, and emphasizing the importance of career development both to AIG and individual employees.

Response to these visibility efforts has exceeded expectations, he said. “Our Atlanta office ran an informational program on designations with little advance notice and planning, and 40 people still showed up. Clearly there is an interest here; we need to respond to that interest and need for support effectively,” he said.

From a personal perspective, Shachnow believes he has a responsibility to educate all audiences about the importance of insurance. “Insurance is a vital social tool that helps lubricate the economy and protects individuals, families, and organizations of all sizes from financial catastrophe. At the risk of sounding ‘corny,’ what we do is noble, good, and heroic, but you wouldn’t know that from the way the industry gets bashed in the media. We need to change this negative perception. When people don’t believe in insurance, or trust those who practice in this field, then they invariably don’t buy the right type or amount—at great risk to themselves and damage to the industry,” he said.