For Cheryl R. Constantine, CPCU, ASLI, AIS, director of commercial lines training and education for Travelers, working for a company that highly values continuing professional and leadership development makes “Spreading the Word!” about the CPCU designation easy.

“Travelers communicates to employees that education and training are not one-time events but an ongoing process,” Constantine said. “And I have been encouraged to share my experience and knowledge about the CPCU Society and the American Institute for CPCU/Insurance Institute of America (Institutes).”

Constantine works in the Travelers Business Insurance Underwriting Professional Development Program (UPDP), which is a highly structured training program designed to develop skills in insurance underwriting, sales, marketing and product knowledge.

“UPDP participants are hired into offices across the country and paired with a coach who provides guidance through the comprehensive training. Participants learn and apply technical insurance knowledge in a structured, hands-on-environment,” she added. “We encourage them to think about enrolling in the CPCU program because it is a great opportunity to broaden their technical insurance knowledge and reinforces the high ethical standards and professionalism that we believe in.

“My role as director involves designing, developing and coordinating classes and materials for the program. During the insurance coverage classes I teach, I show the CPCU Experience video that was jointly produced by the CPCU Society and the Institutes, a slide show of photos from the Denver Annual Meeting, where Travelers was the sponsor of the Booth Buster Prize, and an Institutes’ PowerPoint presentation.

“Trainees show a great deal of interest and are very inquisitive about the CPCU program and the CPCU Society. They typically want to know how long it will take to complete the CPCU program, what methods of study are available and when and how they can get started. To spark their interest further, I also distribute a copy of the Society’s ‘Why Become a CPCU?’ brochure and a copy of a recent Underwriting Interest Group newsletter, as well as an Institutes’ bookmark about the CPCU program and its Succeed Catalog.”

Constantine is an active member and past president of the CPCU Society’s Connecticut Chapter. “It is easy for me to share with our trainees all of the positive experiences I have had being involved with the CPCU Society and the Institutes,” she shared. “Becoming a CPCU and a member of the Society hasprovided fantastic opportunities for me to network with other insurance professionals. These networking opportunities have enhanced my career and I have developed friendships that will last a lifetime.”