IASA 86 TH ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS SHOW Advanced Degrees, Professional Certifications & Designations – Are they worth the effort? Session Number 123

Cindy Powell, MCPMP, CSM Bespoke  Founder and President – Bespoke.  11 years with Bespoke, 28 years in Insurance (Health, Life, P&C)  Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification  Masters Certificate in Project Management (MCPMP) - Villanova University  Certified Scrum Master Certification (CSM) - University of Pennsylvania

Denise Woernley, CPCU, AIS, AINS, AU, Are Dryden Mutual Insurance Company  Business Analyst and Underwriting SME  24 years in Insurance Industry  Completed Associate in Accounting Degree, currently working toward BA Risk Management  Completed Certified Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation  Began teaching AICPcu courses in 2004 and has helped 24 people pass exams.

Zachary Collings, CPCU, ARe ISCS  Sales Engineer - ISCS since 2013  3 Years prior Insurance experience with catastrophe risk modeling vendor, Risk Management Solutions (RMS)  BA, Economics Wake Forest University  Completed MBA as full time student at the University of Washington  Completed CPCU, ARe and CCRA while working for RMS and ISCS

Arthur Salvadori, CPA Saslow, Lufkin & Buggy, LLP  Audit Partner - Saslow Lufkin & Buggy, LLP (SLB)  11 years with SLB and 17 years in the insurance industry  Primary focus is Property and Casualty Insurance  BS, Accounting, University of Connecticut  Certified Public Accountant, Licensed in 2000  Eligible to practice in several states

Lianne Watford, MCBA LHW Business Analysts  Founder, President – LHW Business Analysts  17 years in insurance industry  Associate in Science, Commercial Education - University of South Carolina  Completion of South Carolina Bankers School  Masters Certification in Business Analysis (MCBA) – Villanova University  Currently working on Certified Business Analyst Professional certification (CCBA) through International Institute of Business Analyst (IIBA)

Agenda  Why achieve an Advanced Degree or Professional Certification?  How difficult is the process of achieving these designations?  How have employers helped panelist achieve and maintain these credentials?  What is the impact to the day to day responsibilities and to the careers of the panelist?  Open forum for Q&A with panelist

Why achieve an Advanced Degree or Professional Certification?  PMP - “certification positively impacts project manager salaries — and helps you stand out and better market yourself to prospective employers” - PMI  CPCU - “92% of CPCUs believe earning their CPCU prepared them for their long-term career goals.” – theinstitutes,org  MBA – “one of the best tools a business person can have” – Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania  CPA – “ a vital part of any strong business or organization” – IBM Finance Forum  CBAP – “Recognition of professional competence by professional peers and management” - IIBA

How difficult is the process of achieving these designations?  Methods for preparing for exams  Time and Duration Required to be Successful  Work / Life Balance through the process  Maintaining Designation

How have employers helped panelist achieve and maintain these credentials?  Impact in getting the job and/or promotions  Financial Assistance and Incentives  Allocation of work hours toward preparation  In-house training programs and mentorships

What is the impact to day to day responsibilities and to the careers of the panelist?  How useful is what you learned in helping you succeed in the day to day responsibilities of the job?  Has achieving your credentials impacted the way you are viewed by peers and management?  Would you do it again?

Open forum for Q&A with panelist

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