Results-driven underwriting professional prepared for this leadership role. Brings valuable experience in managing underwriting teams and leading strategic initiatives while fostering collaborative team environment. Known for achieving impactful results and demonstrating adaptability in dynamic settings. Skilled in risk management and financial analysis, with strong focus on achieving organizational goals.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
AVP, Group Underwriting
Chubb Workplace Benefits/Combined Insurance
03.2022 - Current
Lead, manage, and mentor an underwriting team, ensuring they follow best practices, underwriting guidelines and consistently meet business goals.
Adherence to underwriting strategies that align with overall business objectives, balancing profitable growth and risk.
Review, approve, and document underwriting referrals for complex or large cases, ensuring appropriate risk assessment and pricing.
Lead training and development opportunities to ensure the underwriting team is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge of market trends.
Foster a collaborative environment and encourage knowledge sharing among team members to improve underwriting consistency and decision-making..
Work closely with underwriting leadership to ensure pricing strategies align with risk profiles and business goals.
Continuously evaluate and refine underwriting processes to improve efficiency and accuracy while reducing cycle times.
Identify opportunities to automate or streamline underwriting operations through the adoption of technology or improved workflows.
Implement best practices and maintain a high level of quality control to ensure consistency and accuracy in underwriting decisions.
Collaborate with internal teams, including actuarial, sales, and product management, to align underwriting efforts with company objectives and market conditions.
Engage with Business Development Managers to address underwriting-related inquiries, negotiate terms, and build strong relationships.
Communicate underwriting decisions, strategies, and any changes in policies to key stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
Monitor and analyze underwriting performance, including loss ratios, profitability, and claims trends, and report findings to senior leadership.
Use performance data to make recommendations for improvements in pricing, risk management, or underwriting guidelines.
Regularly assess the effectiveness of underwriting practices and make adjustments to meet business goals and market changes.
Strong leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and guide a team.
Excellent analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess complex risk factors and pricing strategies.
Ability to communicate complex underwriting concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing market conditions.
Manager, Underwriting - Voluntary Benefits
Chubb Workplace Benefits
10.2018 - 03.2022
Manage 7 group underwriters
Project Manager for implementation of new underwriting rating system
Achieve profitable growth through effective use of underwriting and business skills
Evaluate and select new risks based on established company/departmental guidelines and within delegated authority
Maintain performance standards and meet satisfactory quote turnaround time
Partner with sales leaders and brokers to generate new business revenues by developing prospects, visiting brokers, and participating in presentations
Conduct loss frequency analysis; identify, analyze and provide plan for corrective action as necessary
Guide and mentor junior staff
Effectively negotiate and secure policy terms that align with the company directives, especially utilizing new product and service offerings to bring value to the client
Coordinate strategy and work collaboratively with other aligned business functions including operations, actuarial, and claims
Determine terms and conditions and complex rating plans
Handle more complex files and portfolios within underwriting authority
Manager, Group Underwriting
Dearborn National Life Insurance
09.2009 - 10.2018
Manage 8 new business underwriters and lead team in exceeding team metrics and organizational goals
Manage Team responsible for all manually rated groups
One year of responsibility managing large group underwriters with authority to release groups up to $2,000,000 in annual premium
Manage large volumes of quote activity on a daily basis and ensure time standards are being met
Manage intake of all new business quote activity
Underwriting representative for small group insurance exchange implementation
Strategic interaction with field sales force, including communication and execution of underwriting strategies
Work with internal partners, including but not limited to product development, policy issuance, account management, claims, and actuary
Underwriting point person for MAR Model Audit Rule process (internal audit)
Voice of the Customer ambassador
Underwriting ambassador for Small Group Business Redesign
Regional Sales Support and Operations Manager
MetLife Small Business Center
01.2009 - 09.2009
Manage a team of 21 new business raters and implementation/sales support associates across four states
Manage large volumes of quote activity and new business case implementation
Responsible for leading team to meet or exceed team metrics and regional metrics
Make sure operations of all offices are running within allotted budgets
Strategic interaction with field sales force, including communication of strategic service and underwriting initiatives
Build relationships with internal partners, i.e
Claims, product areas, home office underwriting, etc
Build and maintain relationships with customers and brokers
Group Underwriter
Dearborn National Life Insurance
07.2007 - 12.2008
Underwrite Life and STD coverage for groups with 10-2000 employees
Quote manual dental rates for groups of 10-100 employees
Quote manual Long Term Disability rates for groups of 10-500 employees
Build and maintain relationships with sales partners
Work with reinsurance partner in obtaining Long Term Disability quotes for groups over 500 lives
Work with Dental partner in obtaining quotes for groups over 100 lives
Benefits Account Representative
The Plexus Groupe, Inc.
10.2006 - 07.2007
Market group medical, dental, life, disability, and section 125 plans on behalf of clients
Analyze marketing data received from insurance carriers for accuracy
Prepare detailed proposals for clients, including fully-insured and self-funded exhibits
Work with insurance carriers in negotiating group benefit renewals
Handle day-to-day customer service issues for approximately 20 clients
Activities include insuring proper claims adjudication by carriers, enrolling new hires in a timely manner, setting up meetings with carriers, and making sure clients' employee benefit programs are operating in a satisfactory manner
Regional Manager
MetLife Customer Service Center
10.2004 - 10.2006
Lead a team of 14 Account Managers responsible for end to end service of high profile group customers up to 25,000 lives
Direct Account Managers to meet or exceed service standards and exhibit key behaviors that promote extraordinary service
Responsible for ensuring Account Manager's execute on customer facing activities
Responsible for leading team to meet or exceed team metrics and regional metrics
Financial responsibility for block of customers, including claims, billing, and overall profit and loss
Responsible for persistency and revenue growth of customer block
Strategic interaction with field sales force, including communication of strategic service initiatives
Build relationships with internal partners, i.e
Claims, product areas, etc
Build and maintain relationships with customers and brokers
Team Leader
MetLife Small Business Center
07.2001 - 10.2004
Underwrite new business for group customers in the 10-500 life market segment
Supervise a group of 16 underwriters
Prepare performance reviews for employees
Assist manager with interviewing new job candidates
Train all new underwriting staff
Ongoing education of underwriting concepts for existing underwriting staff
Special projects as assigned
Sales Specialist
MetLife Small Business Center
12.1999 - 07.2001
Underwrite new business for group customers in the 10-500 life market segment
Review and analyzing quote requests
Request missing information by phone or fax from brokers
Prepare and sell life, dental, LTD, and STD coverages to the brokerage community with respect to the 10-50 life market segment
Train New Business Underwriters
New Business Underwriter
MetLife Small Business Center
05.1999 - 12.1999
Underwrite new business for group customers in the 10-500 life market segment
Review and analyze quote requests from the brokerage community
Request missing information by phone or fax from brokers
Maintain relationships with sales partners and brokers
Account Services Coordinator
Schwartz Benefit Services
05.1998 - 05.1999
Market group medical, dental, life, disability, and section 125 plans on behalf of clients
Analyze marketing data received from insurance carriers for accuracy
Prepare detailed proposals for clients, including fully-insured and self-funded exhibits
Work with insurance carriers in negotiating group benefit renewals
Handle day-to-day customer service issues for approximately 30 clients
Activities include insuring proper claims adjudication by carriers, enrolling new hires in a timely manner, setting up meetings with carriers, and making sure clients' employee benefit programs are operating in a satisfactory manner
Special Risk Underwriter
Hartford Life Insurance
01.1995 - 01.1997
Communications Associate
Jack B. Loewy Marketing Consultants
01.1994 - 01.1995
Payroll Clerk
Leo Burnett
01.1992 - 01.1993
Luggage Sales Clerk
Emporium Luggage
01.1991 - 01.1992
Education
B.S. - Marketing Communication
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
06.1994
Skills
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Strategic Negotiations
Data Analysis & Reporting
Program & Project Management
Complex Problem-Solving
Building Strong Relationships
Team Leadership & Development
Stakeholder Communications
High-Quality Risk Assessment
Critical Thinking & Analytical Reasoning
Client Relationship Management
Verbal and written communication
Accomplishments
Approved policies up to $2 million dollars.
Successfully fostered three interns resulting in full time employment in underwriting roles.
Collaborated with internal teams in the development of a new end to end Underwriting and Administration platform.
Consistently helped achieve and exceed sales goals through underwriting collaboration with Business Development Managers and sales leadership.
Other Notable Work Experiences
Special Risk Underwriter, Hartford Life Insurance, 01/01/95, 12/31/97
Communications Associate, Jack B. Loewy Marketing Consultants, 01/01/94, 12/31/95