IN-the-Know

Melissa Burt DeVriese is the President at Security First Insurance Company. She has been with Security First Insurance Company since 2009 and has been President since March 2020. Before serving as President, she held a variety of roles, including Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel. Melissa holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Miami and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown Law Center and is a licensed attorney in Florida, Washington D.C., and California. Before working at Security First, Melissa held a variety of legal and regulatory roles in Washington D.C. In today’s episode of the In The Know podcast, Chris Hampshire and Melissa discuss the state of the homeowners market in Florida, attracting more talent to the industry, and unique challenges Melissa faces in her role.

These onsite episodes of the In The Know podcast are brought to you by Gallagher Bassett.

Key Takeaways

• Melissa recalls her journey from law to insurance.
• Overcoming shortcomings in marketing the insurance industry.
• Melissa’s experience as a female leader in the industry.
• Effectively keeping up with technologies from a small carrier’s perspective.
• Industry evolutions in recent years, including diversity and attracting talent.
• Tactics and strategies for attracting and retaining personnel.
• The evolution of distribution strategies for both direct and agents.
• The current state of the unique Florida insurance marketplace.
• Key differences in approaching the Florida marketplace.
• Technology’s role in the future from the underwriters' standpoint.
• Melissa’s experience with the CPCU, insurance board, and education involvement.
• Messaging that needs to be shared with the rising generation of talent.
• Hiring insights and career progression from a president’s perspective.
• A five-year look at the future of the insurance industry.
• Melissa’s advice to her early career self.

Quotes

• “There are many similarities between the law and insurance.”
• “Unfortunately, I think insurance is viewed as very stale and old and probably male. And the fact of the matter is, that’s not the case.”
• “We have so much innovation in the industry space.”
• “If we find the right person with the right aptitude and the right attitude, we teach them insurance.”
• “From an insurance marketplace perspective, Florida is incredibly unique.”
• “The most important thing you can stress to someone who’s looking for a career at any stage of their career life cycle would be what insurance does in society.”

Kara Skinner is a third-generation surety professional with an extensive background in surety, helping clients understand and obtain surety credit. Over the years, Kara has worked with many surety companies, retail agents, obligees, attorneys, engineers, and contractors. She has managed the surety bond department of a major insurance wholesale brokerage. Kara is a past President of the Surety Association of Washington, a member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers, and an active member of several committees of other insurance and construction organizations. In this episode of the In The Know podcast, Chris Hampshire and Kara dive into all things surety, including the process of how it works and how the 4,000-year history of surety is shaping the future of the industry.

Key Takeaways

• From ballerina to bonds, Kara is a third-generation surety professional.
• Surety is a financial product more than an insurance product.
• The surety process from both the commercial side and performance and payment bonds.
• An overview of the current state of the surety industry.
• The most exciting elements of the surety aspect of the insurance industry.
• Insights into the benefits of being a third generation in surety.
• Kara’s advice for going out on your own, especially as a woman in the industry.
• Lessons learned from forming her own business, starting with relationships.
• The value of getting involved in professional organizations.
• Sharing information about bonds so that everyone can access them.
• Teaching, for Kara, started as a marketing idea.
• Kara’s advice for anyone considering a career in surety.
• Being a female CEO in a male-dominated industry.
• Ideas for better supporting women of color in the industry.
• Addressing the talent gap in the insurance industry.
• The future of surety relies on its 4,000-year history, which includes typewriters.
• A look to the fast-moving future of insurance.
• Kara’s relationship advice for her early career self.

Quotes

• “I like to say that surety is the opposite of insurance.”
• “The idea in surety is that we underwrite to zero losses.”
• “Surety is an exciting part of the insurance industry because it’s really different.”
• “Going out on your own isn’t for everybody. It’s a lot of work, but I love it.”
• “This is such a unique and different product that everyone needs to know about it.”
• “I want to get other agents as excited about surety as I am.”
• “The concept of surety has been around for 4,000 years. It’s the most archaic part of the insurance industry.”
• ‘The future is coming faster and faster, and we need to be ready for it.”

Omari Aarons-Martin is the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the National African American Insurance Association, a 2,100-member 501c6 organization that works to diversify the insurance industry and provides professional development programming to its members. A champion of workplace inclusion and equity, Aarons-Martin has received recognition from Insurance Business America, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Business Equality Magazine for his leadership and volunteerism. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and common cathedral, an outdoor congregational community for the unhoused, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Roxbury Community College. Aarons-Martin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and Master of Divinity cum laude in Global and Community Engagement from Boston University School of Theology where he was a Howard Thurman Fellow and served as President of the Association of Black Seminarians. In today’s episode of the In The Know podcast, Chris Hampshire and Omari discuss the current and possible future state of DEI in the insurance workplace, the role that NAAIA is playing in training and connecting African American members of the industry, and the need for increased collaboration and connection across all facets of the insurance industry.

These onsite episodes of the In The Know podcast are brought to you by Gallagher Bassett.

Key Takeaways

• Omari recalls his personal invitation into the insurance industry.
• The most appealing aspect of the industry was his transferable skills.
• The role that seminary theology training has played in Omari’s career.
• Inclusion in the insurance industry is increasing at a promising rate.
• DEI at the C-suite level is still a work in progress.
• At NAAIA, members have access to extensive training and development.
• Attracting new talent through professional development offerings for African Americans.
• Tactics for better supporting and fostering professional DEI relationships.
• Benefits of the accessibility of in-person versus virtual meetings.
• The importance of collaborating and sharing ideas with your professional circles.
• A five-year look at the future of the insurance industry.
• Omari shares a few of the many things he would have liked to know at the onset of his career.

Quotes

• “I now understand central motivation, what brings people to the table and what they really care about.”
• “We’ve seen a lot of activity around diversity, equity, and inclusion — more conversations and more transparency.”
• “There is still much more [DEI] work that we need to do as we look at CEOs, C-suite, senior manager roles to see inclusion really take hold.”
• “We know that the way people move through the industry is in relationships.”
• “Starting with an audit and assessment of the [DEI] environment where you are is key.”
• “Finding the right solutions to close the [DEI] gap is really important.”

This episode of In The Know features incoming 2025 CPCU President Sherry McFadden. Sherry recently retired from her position as Director of Enterprise Customer Care in Phoenix, AZ. Throughout her 34-year career with State Farm, she held various leadership roles in human resources, personal lines underwriting, and claims. Ms. McFadden has completed several insurance designations including CPCU, CLU, ChFC, and FLMI. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Human Resources from the University of North Florida and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Tougaloo College, MS. Sherry has served as a member of the executive board of the CPCU Society Leadership Council. She held leadership roles as the past Mountain States governor, past president, and vice president of the AZ CPCU Chapter. She has also served as the current board chair of the Greater Phoenix Urban League, the Western Region Board Trustee with the National Urban League, a member of the National Urban League Council of Board Chairs, and president of her local chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Together with Chris Hampshire, Sherry highlights her progressive career roles and leadership experience, the opportunities that her CPCU designation has provided in her career, and her vision for the CPCU Society in the coming year.

Key Takeaways

• Sherry’s path toward the role of 2025 CPCU President.
• The analytical side of insurance has always appealed to Sherry.
• Relocating seven times has offered challenges and rewards for Sherry’s career.
• Major changes to the industry over the last three decades.
• The importance of continuing education in Sherry’s career.
• DEI is an integral part of attracting new talent to the insurance industry.
• Sherry’s involvement in the CPCU Society started with a desire for career movement and a rewarding challenge.
• As the 2025 CPCU President, Sherry will focus on striving for excellence.
• Encouragement for anyone who is considering joining the CPCU Society.
• A look at the future of technology and talent in the industry.
• Sherry’s self-reflective advice to her early career self.

Quotes

• “My CPCU designation has helped me grow professionally, academically, and also as a leader.”
• “When there’s change, there’s always risk, but there’s also opportunity.”
• “My CPCU designation is all about career movement and the opportunity to prove my intelligence and my abilities.”
• “In the CPCU Society, the one thing we all have in common is the pursuit of our designation.”

Dr. Shirley Davis is the President and CEO of SDS Global Enterprises, Inc., and will be the closing keynote speaker at the In2Risk Conference this fall. Dr. Davis brings a unique background as a seasoned HR and Diversity & Inclusion global thought leader, a senior executive, a certified leadership coach, and a former Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for several major Fortune 100 companies. She has worked in more than 30 countries on five continents and delivers more than 80 speeches a year. She is the former Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Workplace Strategies for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and earned the highest designation in the speaking industry as a Certified Speaking Professional, bestowed by the National Speakers Association. She holds a Bachelor’s in Pre-Law, a Master’s in HR Management, a Ph.D. in Business and Organization Management, and is a former Ms. America United States. She is also a featured author for LinkedIn Learning’s online course, entitled “Inclusive Leadership.”

In this episode of the In The Know podcast, Chris Hampshire and Dr. Davis explore innovative strategies for attracting the best talent, developing future leaders, and enhancing inclusiveness and involvement in the insurance industry.

Key Takeaways

• A lifelong learner, Dr. Davis started in banking and has worked in a wide variety of industries.
• As a woman of color, Dr. Davis has earned her place at the table as a credible voice and now shares her empowering strategies with others.
• Bringing your best self to work starts with working at an organization that values great talent.
• Developing a meaningful life starts with the internal work of finding your personal power.
• The power of analyzing the “what if” questions that plague all of us.
• Dr. Davis’s advice on the best way to attract new talent to the insurance industry.
• Developing talent and clearly defining the career path starts with closing the leadership gap.
• Best practices to enhance inclusiveness and encourage involvement in insurance.
• Tactics for effectively messaging the value of the insurance industry from a humanitarian perspective.
• Dr. Davis shares her journey from the corporate sector into her own independent consulting business.
• The importance of surrounding yourself with people who are going to push you into your destiny.
• The writing process for Dr. Davis started with her successful speaking endeavors.
• A five-year look at the future of the insurance industry and the demand for entrepreneurship.
• Dr. Davis reflects on the risk-taking approach she wishes she would have taken in her career.

Quotes

• “It has certainly been a journey to get a seat at the table, becoming that person that is heard, seen, and perceived as credible.”
• “[Bringing your best self to work] starts with working at an organization that really does value great talent.”
• “In order to get a seat at the table, I’ve got to do some things for myself first.”
• “Every one of us wants meaning and significance. Every one of us wants to feel like we are being fulfilled and living our best life.”
• “Understanding what this next generation of talent needs and what their expectations are and understanding what they are asking for is very, very important.”
• “Relationships are the new currency. You’ve got to get around people who are not afraid of your BHAG.”
• “We want to hear from people who are going to push us into our destiny.”