Cheryl Komara
Mentor,OH
Summary
Seasoned Regulatory Affairs personnel with 20 years in developing effective processes and executing regulatory affairs initiatives for Sales, CRM and Claims. Improved processes and assisted in product guide reviews to ensure consistency. Maintained and followed up on records of regulatory information and submissions. Work with senior level personnel within the Sales Organization, advising on how to proceed with handling nonprofitable books of business. This typically leads to rehabilitation, contract suspension, termination and/or reduction of commissions.
I am eager to apply my skill set to a new Progressive initiative and potentially become part of a team that has direct impact on our profitability.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Regulatory Compliance Specialist III
Progressive Insurance Companies
06.2012 - Current
- Responsible for the compliance of direct employees, independent agents, and adjuster licensing
- Monitor all legislation, update internal communications, and ensure the business units are following current law, rules, and regulations
- Ensure the compliance of the claims organization by monitoring the salvage and titling laws
- Handle agency management issues and make decisions in collaboration with product managers, RSM's on how to handle issues and the respective book of business
- Responsible for Department of Insurance investigations, subpoenas, process reviews, agency garnishments, extensive legal research and analysis on state laws and reform
- Ensure regulatory compliance by conducting thorough audits and assessments of company policies and procedures
- Improved operational efficiency through consistent monitoring, analyzing, and improving the organization''s compliance programs.
- Streamlined reporting processes for swift identification and resolution of potential regulatory violations.
- Assisted in the preparation of regulatory submissions, ensuring timely submission and approval of essential documents.
- Conducted gap analyses to identify areas requiring improvement or enhancements within existing compliance frameworks.
- Supported external audits by providing necessary documentation, addressing inquiries, and implementing corrective actions as needed.
- Stayed abreast of evolving regulations by attending seminars, conferences, webinars, and other professional development opportunities.
- Reduced non-compliance risks with proactive monitoring of changes in relevant legislation or industry standards affecting the organization''s operations.
- Facilitated open lines of communication between departments to foster a healthy approach to regulatory compliance management across all business units.
- Championed process improvements within the company by identifying outdated practices and recommending innovative solutions that align with current regulatory requirements.
Coach- Licensing
Progressive Insurance Companies
03.2005 - 06.2012
- Responsible for a team of 10+ senior licensing coordinators
- Acted as an in-direct supervisor and monitor the volume of work and trend analysis
- Responsible for all licensing process flows, including, applications, renewals, name/address changes, continuing education, appointments, affiliations, appointment terminations for agents and adjusters
- Maintenance of procedures, reference materials and service level agreements
- Enhanced team performance by developing and implementing effective coaching strategies
- Boosted employee confidence through personalized training sessions and continuous feedback
- Streamlined operations for increased efficiency through regular process reviews and implementing necessary changes
- Collaborated with other departments to achieve organizational goals, fostering teamwork across various functions
- Conducted performance evaluations for staff members, identifying areas of improvement and guiding professional development plans
- Resolved conflicts among team members promptly, maintaining a harmonious working environment conducive to productivity
- Oversaw daily operations of the department, ensuring smooth workflow and timely completion of tasks
- Enhanced communication within the team by holding regular meetings and encouraging open dialogue among all members
- Identified operational inefficiencies and implemented corrective measures, leading to an overall increase in effectiveness
- Led major initiatives within the department that drove innovation or addressed critical business challenges
- Championed continuous improvement efforts within the organization by promoting best practices for processes, tools, or technologies
- Maintained compliance with company policies, objectives, and communication goals
Senior Licensing Coordinator
Progressive Insurance Companies
01.2002 - 03.2005
- Responsible for accurately processing licensing applications, renewals, and appointments prior to the state deadline.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations by meticulously reviewing license applications and documentation.
- Facilitated smooth communication between licensors and licensees, fostering strong relationships and promoting mutual understanding.
- Maintained accurate records of all licensing transactions, streamlining future audits and reference checks.
Processor
Progressive Insurance Companies
02.2001 - 01.2002
- Accurately process policy endorsements for customers in OWB.
- Reduced errors with meticulous attention to detail and thorough review of documentation.
- Maintained accurate records and ensured timely completion of all necessary paperwork.
- Contributed to the achievement of department goals through consistent high-quality work.
Call Center Representative
Progressive Insurance Companies
06.1999 - 02.2001
- Received incoming phone calls from customers regarding force placed insurance
- Update proof of insurance for their insurance company and removed the force-based coverage
- Also, called out to customers to obtain proof of insurance
- Managed high call volumes while providing exceptional customer support and maintaining professional composure.
- Developed rapport with customers through empathetic listening skills, creating positive experiences even during difficult conversations.
Support Coordinator
Progressive Insurance Companies
09.1997 - 06.1999
- Opened mail from insurance companies/vehicle lenders and batched them appropriately to be processed to ensure customers records were updated with their insurance information. If the insurance information was not correctly updated, the customer would then have a force-placed insurance policy.
- Demonstrated strong attention to detail through thorough proofreading of documents before distribution.
Education
Associate of Arts -
Lakeland Community College
Kirtland, Ohio06.2012
Skills
- Documentation Review
- Compliance Monitoring
- Regulatory Knowledge
- Legal Research
- Data Analysis
- Analytical Thinking
- Decision Making
- Process Improvement
- Organizational Skills
- Adaptability
- Project Management
- Problem Solving
- Interpersonal Skills
- Policy Analysis
- Negotiation and Persuasion
Accomplishments
- Identified and implemented areas of opportunity for automation with Employee Licensing Renewals
- Conducted research for each state for the Nonrenewal process, proposed and implemented new process which resulted in significant cost savings company wide.
- Composed procedures for Continuing Education and License Nonrenewal processes.
- Reduced agent commissions in escrow by $200,000 +
- Facilitated the transition of the agent garnishment process from the agency management team to our group
- Successfully completed the re-vamp of the service center guides. These guides are used by the claims service center management to ensure the service center is run in compliance with each respective state’s requirements, laws, and regulations
- Successfully completed legal research regarding homeowner licensing as we acquired ASI. This aids the business groups to ensure proper staffing and to follow all licensing and appointment laws in each state
- Successfully completed legal research regarding surplus lines licensing/tax premium payments. This aids the business groups to ensure proper staffing and follow all licensing and appointment laws in each state
- Successfully completed salvage and titling law guides for the salvage unit in claims. These guides are used by the business group to aid in the decision-making process on how to title a vehicle now owned by Progressive and how to properly calculate if the vehicle meets the definition of salvage or other titling brands
- Lead role in Surplus Lines guidance to business groups which include Commercial, CRM and Accounting
Timeline
Regulatory Compliance Specialist III
Progressive Insurance Companies
06.2012 - Current
Coach- Licensing
Progressive Insurance Companies
03.2005 - 06.2012
Senior Licensing Coordinator
Progressive Insurance Companies
01.2002 - 03.2005
Processor
Progressive Insurance Companies
02.2001 - 01.2002
Call Center Representative
Progressive Insurance Companies
06.1999 - 02.2001
Support Coordinator
Progressive Insurance Companies
09.1997 - 06.1999
Associate of Arts -
Lakeland Community College