Maria L. Lara
Massapequa
Summary
Marketing Manager with a track record of success in increasing sales for the New York Long Island Territory from $1,000,000 to $6,000,000 in written premium. Developed over $1,000,000 in new business as a Sales Producer in Colorado. Effectively managed the Workers' Compensation Program for three large Chambers of Commerce in Denver, Colorado. Implemented streamlined workflow and budget processes, resulting in decreased expenses and increased revenues. Played a crucial role as a Project Manager in developing bilingual marketing, training, and measurement tools for national insurance companies. Co-created bilingual training and education programs for first-time home buyers, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Experienced trainer and mentor to new and junior staff members. Passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and actively engages with DEI platforms.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
Work History
Eastern Regional Sales Manager – Commercial Lines Property & Casualty
Futuristic Underwriters
08.2024 - Current
- Responsible for the development & execution of the Eastern U.S. territorial business plan, outlining key initiatives for growth, profitability & expense control.
- Management of agent / broker distribution network as well as identify and appoint new agents / brokers in my territory.
- Drive new business production, key account retention, new product roll-out and account prospecting.
- Participation in charitable and non-profit sponsorships for more presence in the community and for new business networks
- Implementation of Insurance Agency Partner – Producer Management.
- Mentoring junior Business Development Managers & underwriters.
Sr. Business Development Manager - Private Client
AIG
08.2015 - 09.2023
- Responsible for the development & execution of a territory business plan, outlining key initiatives for growth, profitability & expense control.
- Management of agent / broker distribution network as well as identify and appoint new agents / brokers in my territory.
- Drive new business production, key account retention, new product roll-out and account prospecting.
- Meet with Long Island underwriting team weekly for strategic teamwork in helping drive new business production.
- NY State certified training for Insurance Agent licensing Continuing Education classes for Insurance Agent license renewals.
- Network with various entities and venues to drive new business production such as Sothebys Christies, Equestrian events, Wine events & Elegance de Concours for Exotic and collectible vehicles.
- Participation of charitable and non-profit sponsorships for more presence in the community and for new business networking.
- Implementation of Insurance Agency Partner – Producer Management.
- Mentoring junior Business Development Managers & underwriters.
- Participant in AIG ERG groups and on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion panel.
Sr. Marketing Executive - Personal Lines
The Hartford
01.2013 - 08.2015
- Responsible for the development & execution of a territory business plan, outlining key initiatives for growth, profitability & expense control.
- Management of agent / broker distribution network as well as identify and appoint new agents / brokers in my territory.
- Drive new business production, key account retention, new product roll-out and account prospecting.
- Managed Hartford’s AARP program (Association for Retired Persons) product line for Home, Auto, Personal Excess Liability coverages.
Private Client Advisor – Personal Lines Property & Casualty
Marsh, U.S. Consumer
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Implementation of annual insurance portfolio stewardship reviews for affluent high net worth clients.
- Negotiate placement of insurable liabilities to our insurance company partners on behalf of our clients.
- Implementation of sales and stewardship skills via seminars, presentations and networking opportunities to obtain more referral business from attorneys, financial planners and trustee advisors.
- Responsible for cross-selling and up selling of existing insured client book of business to meet annual individual growth goals.
Business Development Director – Real Estate
Creative Realty Solutions
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Creation of knowledge to future real estate investors.
- Partnering of investor clients with engineers, developers, architects and financing partners.
- Full cost benefits analysis for clients & prospective clients for purchasing future or current properties.
- Prospecting for future clients.
- Bilingual class for first time homeownership guidelines.
Sales Producer / Business Specialist (Small / Medium Business Owners)
Van Gilder Insurance Corp. (USI Insurance)
01.2005 - 01.2008
- Increased sales for newly created division to 1 million through partnerships with new contacts, market networking, referrals and leads.
- Created & implemented new client profile procedures, workflow procedures and internal auditing of contracts & files.
- Implemented cross selling techniques in my group to increase customer retention & loyalty.
- Implemented, trained and managed affinity workers’ compensation program for Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce & Denver Chamber of Commerce
- Mentored & trained new sales producers, account managers & account executives within our firm.
Sales / Marketing Representative Personal Lines Property & Casualty
Simon Paston & Sons Insurance
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Expanded the marketing team from 0 to 5 representatives.
- Doubled division revenues for the newly created marketing department.
- Expanded sales to include mass market accounts.
- Negotiated select rates & packaged rates for clients to reduce expenses and retain them as clients as well as sell new lines of products & coverage to them.
- Mediator between prospects, clients, sales producers and the insurance company marketing representatives and underwriters.
- Trained & managed new customer account managers within agency.
Agency Sales & Marketing Manager – Personal Lines Property & Casualty
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company
01.1999 - 01.2003
- Increased territorial new business production for the Long Island, NY territory from $1M to $6M in revenue through training & development, promotional campaigns & new product introduction.
- Received company bonus 4 years running for accomplishing production goals.
- Developed annual budgets, business retention goals, claim loss ratios for a 300-agent territory which were successfully met over a 4-year period.
- Implemented DISC personality training for agents / clients that needed help in training their staff in how to work efficiently with each other.
- Trained agent / client on marketing our products and usage of our online marketing & rating platforms.
- Worked with Home Office advertising & public relations for marketing campaigns.
- Recruitment of new insurance agents.
- Contingency / Commission & Contracts implementation for all insurance agents in the Long Island territory.
- Management of State Insurance Planning Process.
- Key member in the planning & marketing of a new customer service center for agent / brokers.
Production / Marketing Senior Underwriter – Personal Lines Property & Casualty
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
01.1995 - 01.1999
- Increased new business production for the Long Island, NY territory by 25%.
- Managed a $25M book of business which consisted of national brokers & agents.
- Managed the In-roads program for new hire / interns.
- Member of Chubb’s National Diversity Leadership Training Program.
- Senior Underwriter with manager’s level of authority for approval of risks over $10M in total insurable value.
- Steering team member that had direct involvement with the state management planning process for New York insurance regulations.
- I acted as a management mediator to assist client insurance brokers with conflict resolution for Chubb.
Account Executive – Small Commercial & Personal Lines Property & Casualty
H & R Phillips, Inc.
01.1990 - 01.1995
- Placement and marketing of large VIP accounts for personal lines coverage.
- Attended a monthly internal marketing meeting within the insurance agency to cross sell and market to other prospects / clients within other divisions of our agency.
- Managed and sold Business Owners Policy to small commercial business owners.
- Sold, managed and reviewed accounts for regional minority owned supermarkets for one of our non-admitted supermarket programs.
Insurance Inspector / Appraiser Marketing / Production Underwriter
The Home Insurance Company
01.1985 - 01.1990
- Risk management inspection of homes valued over $500,000 with concentration on any loss control issues and compliance on insurance to value on all properties.
- Increased new business production for the State of New Jersey by 15%.
- Conducted agency travel throughout the entire state of New Jersey reviewing state issues and underwriting guidelines for the insurance agents who sold business for The Home Insurance Company.
- Reviewed market segmentation and correct product representation.
- Streamlined agency pool for the state of New Jersey from 300 agents to 150 agents, concentrating on the top 20 tier agents who gave company 80% of our total business.
- Senior underwriter responsible for re-insurance review and auditing of policies for presentation to our re-insurance carrier.
Education
Business administration and marketing studies
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY01.1987
Pre-medical studies with specialization in speech pathology
St. John’s University
Jamaica Estates, NY01.1980
Skills
- Negotiation expertise
- Sales presentations
- Territory management
- Competitive analysis
- Contract negotiations
- Customer service
- Effective multitasking
- Decision-making
- Training and mentoring
- Team building
- Business development and planning
- Conflict resolution
- Presentations and public speaking
- Strategic planning
- Staff training
- Lead follow up
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Eastern Regional Sales Manager – Commercial Lines Property & Casualty
Futuristic Underwriters
08.2024 - Current
Sr. Business Development Manager - Private Client
AIG
08.2015 - 09.2023
Sr. Marketing Executive - Personal Lines
The Hartford
01.2013 - 08.2015
Private Client Advisor – Personal Lines Property & Casualty
Marsh, U.S. Consumer
01.2011 - 01.2013
Business Development Director – Real Estate
Creative Realty Solutions
01.2008 - 01.2011
Sales Producer / Business Specialist (Small / Medium Business Owners)
Van Gilder Insurance Corp. (USI Insurance)
01.2005 - 01.2008
Sales / Marketing Representative Personal Lines Property & Casualty
Simon Paston & Sons Insurance
01.2003 - 01.2005
Agency Sales & Marketing Manager – Personal Lines Property & Casualty
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company
01.1999 - 01.2003
Production / Marketing Senior Underwriter – Personal Lines Property & Casualty
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
01.1995 - 01.1999
Account Executive – Small Commercial & Personal Lines Property & Casualty
H & R Phillips, Inc.
01.1990 - 01.1995
Insurance Inspector / Appraiser Marketing / Production Underwriter
The Home Insurance Company
01.1985 - 01.1990
Business administration and marketing studies
Adelphi University
Pre-medical studies with specialization in speech pathology
St. John’s University
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