Laura Chapman
West Milford,NJ
Summary
Experienced professional prepared for leadership role. Proven track record in strategic planning, project management, and operational efficiency. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results. Dependable, adaptable, and skilled in communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
RVP, Contract Surety East
Euler Hermes North America dba Allianz Trade
07.2024 - Current
- Developed and executed a strategic business plan to expand the contract surety portfolio in the United States, with a primary focus on the East region
- Built and maintained strong relationships with brokers to drive business growth through active market engagement at industry groups and local Surety events, strengthening the company's brand presence and expanding industry network
- Led and mentored a team of underwriters, ensuring alignment with underwriting guidelines and portfolio management requirements to maintain profitability and risk mitigation while fostering professional development, team performance and productivity
- Underwrote and managed a diverse portfolio in compliance with company underwriting guidelines, ensuring sustainable business growth while minimizing risk
- Documented underwriting decisions and recommendations in a clear, transparent manner, adhering to internal policies and ensuring consistency across the team
- Collaborated cross-functionally with colleagues across the Americas and globally to align on risk management and underwriting strategies, ensuring a unified approach across regions
Senior Project Manager, Special Projects
Liberty Mutual Surety
08.2020 - 07.2024
- Deliver subject-matter expertise in underwriting and system development lifecycle functions to support expansion of system capabilities for global offices
- Liaise with Global Surety senior leadership across all global surety offices to effect enactment of strategic initiatives and ensure alignment of objectives and messaging across teams
- Identify implementation gaps in system deployments for select global markets, and successfully develop and execute targeted end to end solutions to address gaps
- Establish processes and best practices to enable the expansion of the global offices, and coordinate messaging with the Agile and Global Business Services departments
- Train and collaborate with Global Surety field operations to increase underwriting systems utilization, improve data capture quality, and support process improvement
- Plan, develop, and implement strategic projects for the Global Surety underwriting teams, including the Outside United States Underwriting Manuals and Operational Manuals, benefitting global surety field operations
- Gather, collate, and deliver requirements from Global Surety field operations to the Product Analysis team to develop reporting solutions for Global Surety field offices and senior leadership
Senior Underwriter, Surety
Liberty Specialty Markets
08.2018 - 08.2020
- Company Overview: (Sydney, Australia)
- Managed Australian book of business while providing support for Asia-based accounts, including negotiating of complex indemnities, bond wordings, and analyzing risk for a variety of industry sectors
- Facilitated cross-border transactions and worked with the Global Service Center to enable placement of fronted business as well as update regional reference materials
- Spearheaded local effort to implement global surety underwriting and bond registration platform for the Asia Pacific region
- Mentored junior underwriting staff and trained new hires
- (Sydney, Australia)
Underwriting Consultant
Liberty Mutual Surety
03.2008 - 08.2018
- Underwrote a book of international reverse flow accounts that averaged US$20 million premium annually, with a spike to US$28 million in 2015
- Worked with internal and external legal groups and clients in negotiation of foreign deeds of indemnity
- Managed key broker relationships for international reverse flow business out of the New York Metro office for new and existing business
- Mentored junior underwriters and underwriting assistants in international and middle market account management
- Tested new procedures and tools impacting the surety national/international account business for Global Surety, including a Large Contract Review process for projects valued over US$250 million
Underwriting Specialist
Liberty Mutual Surety
03.2012 - 11.2014
- Transitioned to a sole focus on underwriting the international reverse flow book of business
- Worked on procedures to refine management of the international reverse flow book of business for the New York Metro office
- Prepared and presented a broker roadshow to promote the capabilities of the company and local office for international reverse flow
- Exceeded gross written premium and profitability goals for books of business consistently
Senior Underwriter
Liberty Mutual Surety
03.2008 - 03.2012
- Managed a full book of contract accounts of a large and complex nature in addition to the largest international reverse flow account in the office
- Developed and executed annual marketing plans which resulted in securing several new accounts
- Achieved profitability and service standards as required for book of business consistently
Contract Surety Bond Specialist
The Hartford
08.2002 - 02.2008
- Company Overview: (Surety Bond Division)
- Managed territory included New Jersey, New York, Long Island, and Westchester County
- In addition to routine daily responsibilities, achieved the following unique accomplishments:
- Produced the 5th largest new contract business premium in 2007 for entire country with over US$1 million in increased premium while managing over 50% of the office book of business
- Wrote and implemented office procedures for account monitoring, annual update procedures, and closing old bonds
- Compiled quarterly management updates for the contract department, which included updates on submissions, marketing, broker activity, claims, and marketplace insights
- Trained contract surety new hires in financial analysis, interaction with Home Office, and writing annual updates and meeting memos
- (Surety Bond Division)
Universal Bonding
08.1999 - 08.2002
- Various duties, including administrative tasks, underwriting responsibilities, and special project support
Safeco Insurance Company of America
08.1998 - 08.1999
- Various duties, including administrative tasks, underwriting responsibilities, and special project support
Education
M.A. - Executive Leadership
Liberty University
B.S. - Business Administration: International Business
Liberty University
Skills
- Leadership
- Networking
- Mentoring
- Project Management
- Communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Attention to detail
- Flexible and adaptable
- Decision-making
Affiliations
- Liberty Valor ERG – Culture and Community Committee Valor Virtual Connect Lead (2022-2024)
- Liberty Women’s Resource Group ERG – Networking Committee (2022-23), Communications Committee (2024)
- Australia Surety Association (2018-2019)
- Women in Surety – Mentoring Committee (2017)
- National Association of Professional Women (2016-2017)
- Surety educational guest lecturer at Stevens Institute of Technology (2005)
- Surety Underwriters Association of New Jersey (President, 2004)
Certification
- Project Leadership Certificate (Completed June 2024)
- AFSB Designation (Completed 2004)
Timeline
RVP, Contract Surety East
Euler Hermes North America dba Allianz Trade
07.2024 - Current
Senior Project Manager, Special Projects
Liberty Mutual Surety
08.2020 - 07.2024
Senior Underwriter, Surety
Liberty Specialty Markets
08.2018 - 08.2020
Underwriting Specialist
Liberty Mutual Surety
03.2012 - 11.2014
Underwriting Consultant
Liberty Mutual Surety
03.2008 - 08.2018
Senior Underwriter
Liberty Mutual Surety
03.2008 - 03.2012
Contract Surety Bond Specialist
The Hartford
08.2002 - 02.2008
Universal Bonding
08.1999 - 08.2002
Safeco Insurance Company of America
08.1998 - 08.1999
B.S. - Business Administration: International Business
Liberty University
- Project Leadership Certificate (Completed June 2024)
- AFSB Designation (Completed 2004)
M.A. - Executive Leadership
Liberty University
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