AICP Pioneers

AICP Pioneers2020-12-16T17:50:25+00:00

AICP Pioneers

Jerry Bell   ·   Tony Bos   ·   Diane Brown   ·   Jack Casper   ·   Bill Foster   ·   Elena Leming   ·   Bob Lennon   ·   Wilma Moody   ·   Brady Smith   ·   Tom Tomlinson

25th Anniversary Feature

Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Jack Casper

Jack Casper remembers his first AICP meeting. Well, it was sort of his first meeting. And it was probably around 1989. The company he worked for at the time prohibited his actual attendance due to a perceived conflict of interest. He recalls standing outside the door. This was back when the Society of State Filers (now AICP) was holding their meetings in connection with the NAIC meetings. Once it became clear to his company (and others like his) that the Society of State Filers was not meeting for the purpose of setting rates he was permitted to join. He recalls the rest of the industry soon followed.

Jack was President of the AICP in 1992. And it was not planned either. Rather it was within one day’s notice that he stepped in and agreed to take the reins. Someone who was next in line to become President had taken a new job and was unable to assume the office as President. Things were running so close those days, and budgets with companies were tight ( sound familiar?) but he was able to step in never having actually served as VP or held another national office.

He recalls there was no good way to train people unfamiliar with compliance back then. He worked for a small company and everyone in the industry tended to hire other insurance company employees or hire from insurance departments. He himself came from the Colorado DOI to an insurance company in Kansas City. So he feels the SSF ( or AICP) provided some extremely helpful structure to the training ground for compliance professionals which has only grown and improved over the years.

The ability to meet with other industry compliance folks helped everyone become more organized, grow and mature in their profession. He recalls things were not as complex back in those days. Electronic communication has been transforming for the entire industry and Jack marvels that the AICP is no exception. He said the fact that AICP now offers classes, member discussion forums, and fosters career paths is very impressive… they had nothing like that back in his early State Filer days. A person can now feel like they are not alone in their work and do not have to worry about displaying ignorance or lack of knowledge.

As for other positions he has held, Jack believes he must have been a chapter officer since he was actively involved in the organization of the his chapter, (the very first AICP chapter I might add) — the Heartland Chapter in 1991. He heartily encourages others to become involved at the chapter level and run for office.

Jack feels the AICP filled a role that was needed back in those days that remains true today as well. That is the ability to send a compliance person to a meeting who can meet and establish camaraderie with someone who does the same type of job, someone who knows not only the compliance business but the insurance industry as well. He felt one of the most important aspects the AICP has accomplished is our website and the on line directory of contacts for both Life and Health and Property and Casualty.

As for hobbies outside of work Jack said he and his wife “pretend we are golfers”!

Jack Casper was a thoroughly pleasant person to interview and get to know better. I hope many of you took the opportunity to meet him at our annual conference.

Ginny McHugh
President, AICP


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Wilma Moody

        

So, what makes a person a pioneer? Is Captain John Smith anymore a pioneer that George Washington? Is Daniel Boone anymore a pioneer than President Abraham Lincoln? As we began looking at our 25th anniversary recognition initiative, the task force quickly adopted the strategy that the focus would not be the 25th anniversary in and of itself; rather our aim has been to recognize the success and achievements along the way that are markers of our continuing to meet the goals of our Mission Statement and Vision Statement.

Wilma Moody is one of those who joined the AICP after it’s beginning, but you will see that she is in every sense of the word, an AICP pioneer.

Wilma began her compliance career in 1979 when she worked as a paralegal with an Oklahoma Law firm and was on Senator Marvin York’s staff when we was a Pro Temp of the Oklahoma State Senate. Wilma then moved to work for CL Frates & Company, a Third-Party Administrator in Oklahoma City, and she was responsible for P&C filings.

Many of you may remember Wilma during her tenure with the AICP. To many of you, she may be a new person. So, let’s see what we can do to find out a bit more about Wilma Moody.

When did you join the AICP?

I joined in 1991. I had been working for CL Frates & Company and was looking for an organization comprised of P&C compliance professionals in order to expand my knowledge of P&C filing requirements. I still consider joining the SSF/AICP one of the best decisions I ever made.

What positions have you held in the AICP?

Since I joined the organization to further my knowledge about P&C filings, I immediately joined the Education Committee. I soon became the Education Committee’s Chairperson.

As I continued to become more involved in the planning of the association at the national level, I was nominated for the Vice President’s position and was successful at that election. This led to my becoming the President and then the Past President of the association.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

I was active during a time when there were so many changes, it’s hard to know where to begin. If I were to name three things, I would list: enhancing our educational initiative, expanding our industry focus, and increasing our networking with Regulators.

For me, the changes really began to happen during Robin Cherry’s term as President. I was on the Education Committee at that time, and it was decided that we really needed to begin working on a formalized educational program for the SSF. We began working on a P&C certification program, and Tom Tomlinson volunteered to author a Rate Making Manual. The Board saw this as a noteworthy start and asked the Education Committee to kick it up a notch and turn it into a professional designation program that would be respected in our industry. With hard work on behalf of the Education Committee members, and some sound marketing/public relations supported by our Board, we increased the visibility of our Associate State Filer (ASF) and Certified State Filer (CSF) designations, and many members began through the educational process to attain these designations. Given the educational foundation of our Mission Statement, we felt that achieving the successful roll-out of this designation program was a milestone for the SSF.

While I was the Education Committee Chairperson I moved my employment from CL Frates & Company and began to work with New York Life as a Manager of the Long Term Care Compliance Division in Austin, TX. Though it was a wonderful move for me in terms of my career, it was also a very difficult move because I was no longer involved in the P&C industry and, therefore, no longer eligible to continue as a member in the SSF.

It was hard for me to face the fact that I had to leave an organization I had become attached to and had worked so hard for. I mentioned this to others and questioned if I really needed to leave — after all, I would still be working with regulatory filings, just on a different product line.

The SSF Board had been discussing ways to expand and enhance its value to our industry. I was invited to attend a Board meeting in Florida and, while there, I was asked about efforts it would take to see if adding L&H was feasible. The Board was very happy with where we had come since 1985 and was somewhat skeptical about any move to open the organization up to L&H, but they were willing to give it a test run. The Board then asked if I would put some kind of an L&H program together for the upcoming Annual Conference.

I was so pleased that I could continue to be part of the SSF, but the task ahead was quite daunting. Working in conjunction with other Conference Planning Committee members, I planned a limited L&H program, and our invitation/registration for the 1997 Conference in Cincinnati, OH was sent to L&H insurance companies.

About 30-35 L&H compliance professionals came to that Annual Conference. I held a Q&A at the end of the Conference with the L&H attendees to see what they thought. It was clear from some of the feedback I received that this initial attempt did not have the tight planning the L&H folks were already accustomed to with LHCA and SOGCA. In fact, I was beginning to believe that adding L&H may not be viable. After all, L&H already had two very well respected compliance organizations, and perhaps that was sufficient. I was pretty much resigned to that when a tall young man stood up to give his input. Yes, he noted, there had been some mistakes during the Conference sessions (those specific to L&H were not always noted), but he felt that the SSF was on to something. Its seminar approach was very different from the Q&A approach used by LHCA and SOGCA, and he suggested that we take this initial feedback in a constructive way and see what could be done to enhance this beginning. I knew right then and there I wanted that person on my team if the Board decided to go through with L&H efforts. The Board did approve our going forward, and I soon found myself on the phone with Bill Douglas to ask him if he would lead our efforts to develop a L&H program that would be attractive and well organized for L&H compliance professionals, and we haven’t looked backed since. Not only did his team develop and vital L&H program, much attention was given to increasing Regulator involvement in our Conference, and the L&H program team was very sensitive that we not introduce L&H in such a manner that it become and “us (P&C) v them (L&H)” Conference. So, a lot of attention was also focused on planning sessions that were applicable to both P&C and L&H.

Around 85 L&H compliance professionals attended the 1998 Conference in Phoenix, and the feedback from those attendees was very favorable. The session break-out format was well received, the “both” sessions that included both P&C and L&H compliance folks went very well, and the increase in the number of participating Regulators was especially successful. I apologize for how much time I’ve spent on this area, but Annual Conference is our premier event each year. And, it was the impetus in expanding our membership to add L&H compliance professionals — another milestone of which we can be very proud. Not all organizations are flexible enough and forward thinking enough to absorb that great of a change.

And, finally, increasing Regulator involvement. As you can see from other pioneer articles, regulator involvement was an essential element from our very beginning. But, it was greatly accelerated during my tenure as a member. After the 1998 Conference, even more focus was spent on Regulator involvement and participation in Conference — to the extent that I received a number of telephone calls from Regulators asking what they had actually signed up for and what they might be in for, i.e. were they going to be the lambs led to the wolves. I contacted a few people about this, and Bill suggested that I host a Regulator Reception in my suite, address their concerns, and begin talking about membership in our association. That was our first Regulator Reception at Conference. From humble beginnings we’ve seen increased regulator participation at Chapter levels as well as at a national level, we’ve seen greater regulator attendance at Conference, Chapter meetings, and Chapter E-days, we held numerous annual Regulator Meetings with the Board, and we’ve seen increased Regulator membership.

These are not all of the changes we’ve seen over the life of our association. However, they are noteworthy milestones during my tenure as a member and as a leader of our organization.

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?

I sought an organization that would help me learn about P&C filings and, even more than that, help me with my professional growth. I found that in spades with the AICP. And, along the way I met some wonderful people. I personally would like to recognize some of my mentors who taught me so much and helped me along the way — Bill Foster, Patti McCollum, Tony Bos, Jerry Dables, Robin cherry and Jan Shemanske. I would be remiss if I also did not list a few people with whom I worked very closely as we led the AICP through some historic changes — Tom Tomlinson, Bill Douglas, Carole Deschambault, Kim Kennedy, Joe Bieniek, and Diane Higdon.

I left the industry and, therefore, the AICP when my husband and I lost our son to an explosion at his place of employment. However, the education I received from the AICP, the leadership skills I honed and strengthened — I use them on a daily basis. And some of the many, many people I met while in the AICP are still friends today.

What do you do outside of work; what are your hobbies?

My husband and I took a couple of years off after the loss of our son. Since then I’ve entered the real estate industry. We recently moved to Eufaula Lake, and we love the sunrises, the sunsets and the fishing. I’m in the process of establishing a real estate school in the area. I also enjoy reading and writing. One of my life’s dreams has been to write a novel, and I have begun working on it.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

Well, I do want to thank the AICP for recognizing me as one of its “pioneers.” I was honored to receive the Lennon Award and the President’s Award, but this kind of ongoing recognition beyond my tenure as a member means just as much to me.

I would encourage others to volunteer with the AICP. You never know where that will lead you. It definitely led me in positive ways, and I’m sure it would for others as well.

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Tony Bos

What a great opportunity we have to look back through the years and celebrate the pioneers who helped make the AICP what it is today! One of these pioneers is Tony Bos.

Tony was excited to offer his memories of the Society of State Filers and the AICP and how the organization has changed and grown over the years. He is proud of his tenure with the organization and movement through the ranks, so much so that he held onto copies of the ‘President’s Message’ from the Journal when he was President of the SSF!

Tony spent 37 years in the industry, retiring from Drake University Insurance Center in 2000. Since his retirement, he continues to golf and fish. During the interview he mentioned a word to the wise — that we should all cultivate our hobbies while we are young and hopefully have expense accounts!

Following is a brief interview with former President, Tony Bos:

When did you join the AICP?
I joined the AICP when it was the Society of State Filers (SSF). I joined the first year that the Society allowed persons other than those employed by a Property and Casualty Company as members.

What positions have you held in the AICP?
I was Treasurer for a few years, then on thru the chairs thru Past President. I also had the honor of being the first President of the Heartland Chapter.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?
My recollection is that the Society was quite “close knit” and concerned with the possibility of being taken over by “foreign entities,” like Life and Health persons and Regulators.

I, being a half ax and holding the designations of FLMI, CLU, ChFC, CPIM, & ACS needed to be on my best behavior. Oh by the way, I did attain the designation ASF before I retired. Over time I wormed my way into the Association’s heart. I always felt that had I held a CPCU designation I would have been less suspect. (I hope you’all can see some humor in my explanation, hope you’all notice that I acclimate rather quickly. I moved from Iowa to Kentucky and Texas, so now I say you’all.)

A wonderful change occurred when the membership was opened to the broader world of compliance personnel in all lines of insurance. I take some personal pride in the fact it occurred in the year I was president. The Association has helped and continues to help people grow in their profession and helps their companies become more proficient and current in regulatory matters.

What value have you received as a member of the AICP?
I grew professionally and met people that became very good friends. Membership helped by allowing me to be mentored by people who had expertise in areas in which I was lacking specific knowledge. Some of those friendships are still active 10 years into retirement, for which I am very thankful.

Words of wisdom…
I think it is important that people understand that membership is a two way street, giving and receiving. The more you give by being involved the more you benefit yourself and your employer.

Kelly McCumber
Chairperson, Marketing Committee


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Bill Foster

As an ongoing part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are continuing to recognize a few of our AICP pioneers — those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

Bill Foster! Now that’s a person to really think about when it comes to the AICP and the progress it has made along the way. And Bill was one of those tireless members who worked so diligently during the initial years of the association as well as into the late 90s and early 2000s to help form who we are. So, let’s pull some chairs up around the Texas barbeque and chat a while with Bill.

Bill is currently enjoying the retirement lifestyle with his wife, Judy. And given the way Bill approached his work and his dedication to the AICP, it is well deserved. But as you might guess, both Bill and Judy stay very active. So, while the barbeque is heating up, let’s get to know Bill a bit better.

A short interview with Bill follows:

When did you join the AICP?

I joined in 1985. There were a number of us who had read an article in the National Underwriter about a new organization for persons who were responsible for preparing and submitted P&C rate and form filings. I believe it was Jerry Bell who had sent that word out, and it was just the type of organization so many of us needed. It didn’t take much to convince me that it was an organization I wanted to be part of.

What positions have you held in the AICP?

Wow! During the early years of the SSF, it seems as if a number of us were doing whatever we could wherever we could to get our organization under way, to get the word out, and to enhance the educational meetings already under way.

Gary Amerine was the head of the Planning Committee that planned the first conference, and I had the distinct pleasure of working with others as we planned that first conference. In fact, I stayed on the Planning Committee for four years. However, it seems funny to think of a certain position or specific role during those formative years because many of us did whatever was needed.

I also helped with the formation of the Midwest Forum, and I was its first President (1993-1994). Kevin See, Cathy Bigham and John Costello were also members of the Midwest Forum’s first Board of Directors. I also served as Past President and as Director of the Midwest Forum. It was challenging and exciting to be part of forming a new chapter.

During the time the Midwest Forum was getting up and running, I was elected Vice President of the SSF (1994-1995). That followed with a year as national President (1995-1996), Past President (1996-1997), and I then followed up with a year as our national Treasurer (1997-1998).

During my tenure on the national Board we had numerous discussions about whether or not to add the Life & Health insurance compliance contingent to the SSF. We know that we expanded to include Life & Health, and it has been a great success. I think that my being a part of efforts to get our association underway, plus my experience helping to form a new chapter, and then being part of the Board that oversaw bringing in Life & Health was why I was asked to head the Global Development Task Force during 2002-2003. The AICP has generally looked for ways to add value to the insurance compliance community and it clearly has sought ways to expand the value it provides. There were a number of efforts on the part of the Global Development Task Force, and now to see that we have the Canada initiative and even have a member from Great Britain is great.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

This is a tough one to answer, and I’m sure I’ll miss something important over the time that the AICP has grown and expanded. Change and growth in an organization with such diverse areas of interest as ours have been long, and at times painful. However, we did have the initial vision for our organization, and that has kept our focus on the things that are and have been important to our association and its members, and this has helped us develop into a great organization.

Providing educational opportunities has been a vital goal of our association from its early days to the present. The SSF was initially a small group of individuals looking for opportunities to learn, share information and network. While these goals remain, the association has improved and surpassed the ideas of our early years.

Initially, communication among members was short and a bit infrequent. Gradually we added a quarterly newsletter (initially begun by Jerry Bell), enhanced the content of our quarterly newsletter, and now also have a website through which we can keep in touch. While this may seem “status quo” and somewhat “cliché” in today’s world, it has been achieved through the tireless efforts of volunteers with a vision and a commitment to bring ideas into existence.

Early meetings were a luncheon and included a speaker presentation. That led to the planning and implementation of annual meetings — starting with 1½ days and now going 2½+ days. Today we have chapters for localized, regional opportunities to participate in education and networking activities. And our annual meeting has grown to include speakers representing the industry, the regulatory community, state insurance departments, state Insurance Commissioners, federal agencies, and others pertinent to our world of insurance.

We started as a P&C filing industry, and a person needed to be employed by an insurance company to be a member. Today our membership includes Life & Health compliance professionals, state insurance department personnel, consultants, and third-party product and service providers. What a huge amount of change over our 25 years!

Part of our strength has relied on our ability to change as our vision and mission are enhanced, as the needs of our members change, and as our industry changes. As we look back at our first 25 years, not many of us who were part of the organization in 1985 could have envisioned what the AICP has become today. And, I’m sure that not many of us can truly envision the changes ahead during the next 25 years. Yet, I’m sure we’ll be there and we’ll continue to provide value to our members and community.

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?

I would sum it up in three words: education, people, and friends.

The educational opportunities have been very rewarding and certainly helped me with my career as an insurance compliance professional.

The people I have met and worked with in the AICP have been and are some of the greatest people I have ever met.

And, from those people I have met through the SSF/AICP, I have gained some true, true friendships that have been of great value, not only to me but to Judy as well, and are lifetime friendships.

Just one other quick note here. Bob Lennon was one of those people with whom I had the privilege to work. Gary Amerine was another, especially on conference planning. I feel very honored to have been named the Lennon Award recipient, the award named after Bob, and it coming my way the year after its first recipient, Gary Amerine.

Now that you’re retired, what keeps you busy and what do you enjoy doing?

Well, I may be retired, but Judy and I are far from just relaxing and watching life go on its merry way. I have some great friends I made in the SSF/AICP, and Judy and I enjoy visiting and staying in touch with our many friends. I enjoy golfing and fishing…somehow, I think those two go together when I think of some of my lost golf balls. And I now do have more time for enjoyable reading. Judy and I also like to travel.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

The AICP is a great organization that provides those who would like to make a difference with opportunities to step up, volunteer, and become involved. Our association and its future are in the hands of those caretakers who will volunteer and give their time to keep our momentum. I encourage anyone to volunteer, participate in reshaping and refining our mission, and help lead the AICP over the next 25 years. Become a part of the vision.

A big “THANK YOU” to all of those persons with whom I’ve had the opportunity to work over the years and the support and camaraderie they provided. I also extend my appreciation to the senior management of the company I worked with during most of my AICP involvement, American Modern Home Insurance Group, and the employees in its Product Development Department.

Now, let’s see how the barbeque is doing. You haven’t had barbeque until you have Texas barbeque!

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Elena Leming

        

As an ongoing part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are continuing to recognize a few of our AICP pioneers — those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

How many of you know Elena Leming? How many? Oh, there’s a few hands. Well, let’s get to know Elena!

Elena works for Insurance House out of Marietta, Georgia. Insurance House is an MGA that writes business in the Mid-Atlantic providing Personal Lines and Commercial Lines coverages in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, DC, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The Georgia Branch, of which she is the Branch Manager, writes in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. It actually owns an insurance company which writes non-standard auto as well as some mobile home and property coverage. Additionally, as an MGA, Insurance House represents E&S companies and supports all commercial lines.

Many of you may not know Elena Leming since she hasn’t been involved with the AICP for a while. But, Elena is certainly one of our pioneers that each of us should take time to get to know better. She was there “at the beginning” as the SSF was just getting off the ground, and she was very active in significant initiatives during AICP’s formation. Let’s get to know Elena better.

When did you join the AICP?

I joined in 1985. I was aware that several folks had been meeting on an informal basis at quarterly NAIC meetings. I was working for American Bankers at the time, and the issues that were being discussed at these informal meetings was exactly some of the information we needed at American Bankers. When I heard that those folks were going to formalize their meetings and begin a new organization, I joined immediately.

What positions have you held in the AICP?

Oh, goodness, that question takes me back! Our initial activity was aimed at education about P&C filing issues and seeing what we could do to get some regulators on board to help us with collecting and providing that information. I worked for Diane Schatz (Brown) at the time and we became very involved in the education activities.

Gary Amerine led our Planning Committee as we planned our first Conference in 1987. Gary was very focused on the success of that first Conference, and I recall he laid things out very nicely as we committee members dug in on the planning activities. We put in a good amount of work, and I remember how pleased we were at the success of that first conference … and relieved that we actually pulled it off.

There were so many things going on during our formative years, I sometimes feel as if I was involved, at least in part, with about everything that was going on. It was such a wonderful time for the SSF, and I was meeting so many nice folks. Bob Lennon (you knew when he was in the room), Jerry Bell, Tom Flanagan, Robin (Bujaucius) Cherry, Jan (Galbraith) Shemanske, Diane (Schatz) Brown, Dick Reeves, Tom Tomlinson, Bob Ratch … gosh, I haven’t thought of some of those folks in years…they were so dedicated to our organization and we all worked together for the SSF.

Diane (Schatz) Brown was actually our first woman President, and I was her Vice President from 1989 to 1990. Jan (Galbraith) Shemanske as our Secretary/Treasurer and Bob Lennon was the Director. I received so much support from them and others as I stepped into my VP role. I was the President of the SSF from 1990 to 1991, and I followed that by being the Director from 1991 to 1992.

I guess you could list those as my main SSF positions, but so many of us were working on so many things, it’s hard to remember just exactly what specific activities/roles we had.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

The SSF exploded with membership! It was pretty clear to us that there had been a lot of pent up need in our P&C filing community for reliable and timely information. To see us go from a few folks, to a hundred, and then to hundreds within just a few years was amazing.

We also felt that we were very quickly being recognized as a viable organization — viable enough to be able to make presentations to the NAIC. And the increased dialogue between industry and the regulatory compliance groups was essential and happening in a way that was successful.

It is amazing to see where the AICP has come today!

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?

At American Bankers I often found myself travelling around the states to visit various state insurance departments to discuss filings. So often I would think, “If we’d only known in advance what they required!” So, I guess the first thing that comes to mind is meeting peers and sharing information about filing requirements was a great value. It certainly helped us become more efficient and effective. It also helped us to begin to design “best practices” for our filing efforts.

I also think that having regulators involved was of great help. Not only could we discuss the diversity they brought to our organization, but we could discuss our commonalities as well.

And, as I think about it, it’s the folks I met. Not only were they peers with whom to share information, many of them also became friends. And, in some instances, those became lifelong friends.

What do you do outside of work; what are your hobbies?

Is there life outside of work? Really? I put in some very long hours, so time outside of my job is focused on just a few things. First and foremost for me is family. My grandchildren live in the same general neighborhood as my husband and I, so I spend as much time with them as I can. My husband is retired now, and we do like to travel when we get an opportunity.

Thinking of retirement, when I retire I will be dancing in the streets!

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

Hmmmm…well, as I think about the AICP, where it began and where it is now, and as I think about my participation in our association, it reminds me that there are numerous opportunities in our industry to come together as various groups for the common good of all involved. The success of the SSF/AICP demonstrates that anything is possible.

I also think that the act of coming together in various groups for the common good has something in it for our society as a whole, and for our world community.

I have been very fortunate to be a part of the AICP, and I thank all of those with whom I’ve worked for their sharing, their dedication, and for their friendship.

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Bob Lennon

If you have been a member of the AICP for any period of time, or have ever attended annual conference, you know about the Lennon Award. The Lennon Award is the highest recognition bestowed by the AICP, awarded annually to a volunteer for outstanding service. According to the AICP website: “The Lennon award was named after one of our founding fathers who was not only instrumental in the initial development of our organization but contributed years of service.” It notes that the award is given “in the memory of the caring spirit of the late Bob Lennon.” What you probably don’t know is the answer to the question: Who was Bob Lennon — and why was he chosen to be the honored namesake of this very special award?

For this information, we reached out to some of association’s earliest members, who knew and worked closely with Bob. While they all had their personal remembrances and stories, they all described personality and character traits that they felt exemplified the essence of the man.

Diane Brown, who became the associations’ first vice president in 1988, worked with Bob in the early days of the Society of State Filers (SSF). She remembers Bob as being charismatic and outgoing, describing him as “a big teddy bear that could roar like a lion — everyone was aware of his presence the minute he entered the room.” She said his laughter was contagious and that “he made you feel good even if you were having a Murphy’s Law day.”

Jerry Bell, a founder of the SSF, agreed. Bob was a tall man, and with his height, loud voice, and spontaneous laugh, he was someone hard to ignore. He was friendly and likeable. Jerry said Bob “never met a stranger.”

Bob is also remembered for his kindness. Robin Cherry became a member of the association in early 1989 and immediately became actively involved. She recalled that when she met Bob, she was new to the association and to volunteering. She said she was not used to travelling and felt a bit out of her element. She remembers Bob’s efforts to make her feel comfortable. “He went out of his way to make me feel welcome and invite me to join in dinners, etc.,” Robin said. “I honestly believe I never would have become so involved if it wasn’t for him.” Robin went on to become a national president of the SSF.

Bob was an inspiration to those around him. Jan Shemanske, one of the SSF’s early leaders, met Bob in 1987, when he had assumed the role of association secretary. Jan remembered Bob’s efforts to encourage others to grow within the association by assuming leadership positions. He was a strong promoter of ongoing education and believed it was the key to success. Jan recalled that Bob’s guiding principle, which he shared with all, was to learn as much as possible, and simply “to be the best you could be”.

Bob led by example; he devoted many hours to helping to develop the fledgling organization. One of his accomplishments was completing the paperwork and filing process to have the SSF recognized as a 501c(3) association. Jan noted that “he was always giving of himself and to the SSF.” Diane Brown noted how Bob was willing to assist with any issue that arose. She remembered his determination to get the job done, no matter what. His drive helped keep the founders and early members on track and focused. Diane was impressed with his seemingly boundless energy, noting that he would work “into the wee hours … and be back at it again in the morning.”

Jerry Bell also spoke of Bob’s drive and determination, remembering Bob as “the consummate professional” and “a tireless worker,” and added that Bob was equal to any task.

In addition to being known for his hard work, Bob is fondly remembered for his enjoyment of life. It has been said that he worked as hard as he enjoyed life itself. Diane Brown recalled, “Sometimes when Bob was real intense or got on a roll about an issue, I would respond to him in Spanish, which would catch him completely off guard, something hard to do.” Diane said his typical reaction was to burst out laughing — a contagious laugh that made everyone smile.

Jan also spoke of Bob’s zest for life, which, she felt, was heightened since he had several episodes of battling brain cancer. “He always stressed that you had to live life to its fullest,” Jan said. “He really enjoyed going out to dinner and tried anything new (in terms of food) he had not experienced before. I recall this as he was trying to get me to try something that didn’t look as appetizing to me as it did to him; he would just heartily laugh at me.”

Bob was born in Boston on January 3, 1935, and died January 29, 1992, at the age of 57. Bob attended Georgetown University and St. Michael’s College in Vermont. He served in the Army and was a member of the Marine Reserves. He married his wife, Mary, in 1962 and they had two children, Joseph and Mary Katherine.

Bob was assistant vice president and state filings superintendent at General Reinsurance Corp. in Stamford, Connecticut, and had previously worked at Foremost Insurance Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bob became the SSF’s first president in 1988. In addition to his active leadership role in the SSF, he was also a member of the Southern Association of Workmen’s Compensation Administrators, the Eastern Association of Workers Compensation Boards and Commissions and the Western Association of Workers Compensation Boards. He was also involved with the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions.

So who was Bob Lennon? Bob was a kind person, friendly and personable. He inspired others and led by example. He was a professional who worked hard. He enjoyed life and loved to laugh. He made other people feel important and appreciated. He lived his values and was known as a man of integrity.

To sum it up: Bob Lennon was a leader.

So, this year, the AICP’s 25th anniversary, we remember Bob Lennon with appreciation and gratitude. He helped to make the association what it is today, and his spirit and memory inspires us to be all that we can become.

Penny Kilberry, Chair
Conference Planning Committee


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Brady Smith

As part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are continuing to recognize a few of our AICP pioneers – those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

Many of you know Brady Smith. For many years if you saw a camera pointed your way at conference, the man behind the camera was Brady. The pictures you were able to obtain from our picture posterboard at conference were there through Brady’s efforts, and most of the pictures we project to the screens at conference are pictures that Brady has taken.

Brady began his career in the insurance world in 1976 with Pemco. He started out in the customer service area and quickly rose through the ranks to become the rates & forms coordinator. Brady was recruited for a job opening at Mutual of Enumclaw in 1984 and was hired as a product development specialist. Through a series of events, Brady found himself looking for additional opportunities in 2004. A friend and contact he had met through the AICP told Brady of an opportunity at Symetra Life Insurance Company. Rather than relying on Brady’s many years of experience in the P&C lines, this was a position that supported Life & Annuity products. However, he was persuaded by his AICP associate that he had a wealth of transferrable skills, so he applied for the job and began working on new product lines in December 2004. There are opposing opinions of whether he moved “to” or “from” the dark side, but as Brady acknowledges, this was definitely a great example of using the professional networking opportunities afforded by the AICP.

So, let’s get to know Brady a bit better. A short interview with Brady follows:

When did you join the AICP?
I joined the Society of State Filers in 1985. There was an ad in the National Underwriter about a new organization aimed at P&C rates and forms filers. Jerry Bell was listed as a contact person, so I wrote a letter to him and asked for more information. Jerry sent me a membership registration form, and I sent it back immediately.

What positions have you held in the AICP?
I started out as a contributor to the society’s quarterly publication, News and Events. I assumed the editor position in 1992 and continued as the editor of what later became The Journal until 2006. It was quite a run, but I felt that I would not be able to give the editor position the time it needed when I was elected as the national vice president in 2006. I am very honored and pleased to have been the association’s vice president, president and past president, beginning in 2007 and ending in 2009.

I also was the first vice president of the Northwest Chapter (1997-1999), then president (1999-2001) and finally past president (2001-2003). Additionally, I was the Northwest Chapter’s regional director from 2000 to 2002.

In terms of national committees, I chaired the ByLaws Committee and the Past Presidents’ Council, and I’ve been a member of the Website Committee, as well as assisting other committees over the years.

The AICP provides ample opportunity for those who would like to be actively involved, and I’ve enjoyed my time as a chapter officer, national officer, and committee member.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?
Let me give you a bit of history first before I give you my answer to this.

The initial guard, if you will, of the SSF were focused on a few parameters regarding our organization:

  1. They wanted us to be an organization of individuals rather than of companies. They wanted to form us in such a manner that it would mitigate, if not eliminate, any potential of larger companies using the organization as a mouthpiece.
  2. They wanted us to be an organization whose members were from industry. There were some vendors who held a lot of influence in the industry, and they did not want that influence to have any potential of undue influence with our society. Additionally, it was initially thought that including regulators in discussions might operate to inhibit open and frank discussion. Regulators were invited to do presentations, but they were not included in the general session or breakout sessions.
  3. They wanted to make sure we stayed focused on our initial goals rather than trying to be everything to everybody.. This gave us very clear and specific objectives for us to achieve and to mark our progress rather than spreading us too thin.

Each of these made a lot of sense to our start-up organization. Now, given those initial parameters, the three more significant changes I’ve seen are:

  1. Allowing regulators to join. This has allowed the AICP to be the venue for industry and regulators to get to know one another better, to understand each other, and to discuss ways in which we can work better together. The networking afforded to us by having regulators as part of our organization has strengthened the AICP, and regulators are becoming more and more involved at leadership levels within our organization which makes us stronger.
  2. Allowing third-party product and service providers to join. Third-party providers have taken the time and invested a lot of money into designing and implementing products and services that enable us to do our jobs more efficiently and effectively. e are a better organization by having our third-party providers as part of the AICP.
  3. Going beyond P&C, i.e., reaching out to L&H. This has been a significant expansion for the AICP. There has been an increase in diversity within our industry. We aren’t simply filers any more. We are not only involved in filing, but in product development, market conduct exams, complaint handling, legislative review and implementation, etc. The addition of L&H has necessitated an expansion of scope to meet the various needs of compliance professionals.

With these changes, not only have we kept our eyes on commonalities among the various accountabilities of a diverse compliance population, but we have also made sure to value the differences and focus on meeting diverse needs of our membership.

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?
First and foremost, I value my networking. As we’ve already discussed, I was able to move from a P&C employer and background to a Life & Annuities employer, and it was through someone I had met through my participation in the AICP that gave me that opportunity. I cannot underscore enough how much this has meant to me.

And, moving from P&C to Life & Annuities segues well into information sharing. I’ve been able to shorten my learning curve and attain a higher level of proficiency by gaining access to information through the AICP and its members on new product lines to me. This includes networking with regulators as well. By already knowing many regulators, even if only by name in some instances, I have been able to call upon those regulators to ask questions and run things by them. In this sense, networking and sharing information go hand in hand.

In line with sharing information, I was a one-state filer when I worked at Pemco. I moved to a three-state company at Mutual of Enumclaw. Both companies had only a regional reach. Moving to Symetra has definitely broadened my scope and has given me an opportunity to see a bigger picture, i.e. on a national basis. Having information and networking available to me on a national basis has been very helpful.

I would also say the name recognition associated with my participation in the AICP has been valuable. It has provided me with enhanced opportunities to increase my networking as well as exchange information.

And, finally, I think the honors that the membership has bestowed upon me have great value to me. The AICP membership has allowed me to work in leadership positions and has entrusted me with working with other AICP leaders to ensure we keep the best interest of our membership and the organization as a whole in our focus. I have also been honored with the Lennon award, and I was the first recipient of the Northwest Chapter’s President’s award.

In summary, the AICP has brought things into my personal and professional life that I would have missed greatly had it not been for the AICP and the many, many folks I’ve come to know.

What do you do away from work? What are your hobbies?
I am an avid reader, and sci fi is what I read a lot. I read other things as well, but do enjoy reading the classics of sci fi and well as discover new authors. I also like to walk, but not as much or as often as I should.

Family is important to me, and I love my new role as Grandpa. It’s a new and exciting experience.

My wife and I enjoy the beaches of Puget Sound, and we love cruising. We just need to do more of it.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?
I think this 25th year for the AICP is a critical one. We’ve seen our growth rate slow down. This may be due, in part, to our economy, but we may also have begun to reach maximum saturation in our industry. I think we need to look for new ideas to provide value to our members. I’m very glad to see new members step up and participate in the AICP, but I also think we need to balance that with those who have been participating for a number of years in order to keep informed of where we’ve been, why certain decisions were made, and what direction we have been pursuing.

I am also looking forward to Conference this year. I love finding a time to see so many people whom I’ve met through the years as well as make new friends. The AICP and its members have become a part of my life, both personal and professional, and I appreciate what it has given me along the way and the promise of what is in store.

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Diane Brown, AICP’s First Woman President

Diane Brown surprised and delighted me from our first email exchange about this article. When I wrote to ask if I could interview her for the series of pieces that the Journal is publishing to celebrate our 25th anniversary she replied, “the thought never even entered my mind that I was the first female president.”

The year was 1989, the Society of State Filers hadn’t yet morphed into the organization now called the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals and the term ‘glass ceiling’ was freshly coined, so I was more than curious how Diane’s gender had managed to go unnoticed when she stepped in to the organization’s top leadership role. In her email she wrote, “[It was] probably because the association was very young and diverse at that time. We were crossing so many boundaries and had so much to accomplish, no one noticed who was who or what.”

She later expounded upon this idea-in a way that made both her deep knowledge of insurance and her unique ability to overcome barriers shine through.

“We were just so involved in the start up of what we called the Society of State Filers at that point and how to get the group off the ground and how to get recognized, and in a national way, and not just from the industry but also on the regulatory side. And trying to solve problems w/ regulators b/c there were issues on both sides. Regulators would get frustrated by filings they would receive and companies would be frustrated too. So we were trying to open channels of communication on both sides, and it didn’t matter whether you were male or female, you all had the same problem!”

Jerry Bell and Bob Lennon asked Diane to step up as Vice President of the Society, which put her in line for the top spot one year later. Two other qualities inherent in this remarkable woman-modesty and a matter-of-fact willingness to do what it takes to get a job done-showed themselves when Diane explained, “Actually I was surprised when I did receive the phone call. I didn’t have a clue and I was completely off guard and I didn’t even think I would be considered for that type of a position. And I was like ‘ok, what does the VP have to do?’ And then I said, ‘ok I think I can do that.'”

After listening to Diane talk about her background, I wasn’t surprised at all that she was sought out to lead a brand new organization through its early years of development. She regularly attended quarterly NAIC meetings and had a fairly good network of regulators (a huge understatement I suspect). Diane also told me, “at that time I was working w/ a national insurance carrier and they dealt w/ all states in U.S., and Canada and Puerto Rico, so it was a good start.”

Diane Brown has dedicated her entire career to the insurance industry, from the time when she took a summer position at Little Aetna when she was 17. (She tells me you Aetna folks will know exactly what she’s talking about.) She’s currently Products Manager at Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Company, the only A-rated domestic company in the state.

Since she’s clearly no stranger to controversy, I asked Diane whether she’d faced any unique challenges as a woman in her work. First she mentioned the 16 years she spent at American Bankers Insurance. To hear Diane tell it, she “grew with them, basically.”

According to Diane, American Bankers “was very supportive of females in the work force, and in promoting females, which, if you think about it back then, that’s probably why it didn’t dawn on me about being the Society’s first female president b/c my employer was so supportive. And they were also education-conscious. They pushed education and had a tremendous training program that included college courses. This was in the early 80’s so they were very ahead of their time.”

In hitting the highlights of the Society’s accomplishments Diane provided a history lesson of how the early members’ focus and determination laid the foundation that supports an organization that is now 1500 strong:

“When we started out it was completely question and answer and we said we have to do more and we did. We came out with a state filing handbook, we came up w/ a filer’s forum, we did a couple of other things, a rate making guide, of course the membership directory, salary survey, and also a certification program so we could get people their education requirements, like a nationally recognized certification program. Then the really big thing was to get some type of standardization w/ filing forms and we had a big push and I believe that is what ended up becoming SERFF, and that took a long, long time. But to finally get the nation-all the states-except for Florida of course-on board, that was really something.”

Diane has seen a lot of progress over the years, but certain changes stand out in her mind:

“Oh, definitely the membership, the size. It has grown so large. Ten years ago there were maybe 900 and now there’s over 1500 members. That’s just the size. Also, the reputation. We have gotten such a great reputation and it’s b/c of the educational programs. And it’s not just question and answer sessions, it’s everything we’ve put together. The diversity of the people we’re bringing in. We have regulators, we have third parties coming and discussing topics that people want to hear, they have a chance to meet with these people and network one on one. And also what’s nice is you can choose which avenue you want to pursue within the educational seminar and the annual meetings. It’s diversified to where it’s not just P&C anymore. We brought in life and health people and opened it up to regulators and opened it up to vendors. And it’s great. It’s almost like it globalized. And that’s how you grow.”

One thing that hasn’t changed is AICP’s strong support of women leaders. Diane Brown was the first in an impressive line of female Presidents that include Elena Leming, Robin Cherry, Patty McCollum, Wilma Moody, Debra Matthews, Diane Higdon, and Cathy Bigham (who was President two or three times).

I asked Diane if she had any advice for AICP’s current female President, Ginny McHugh. Diane’s advice to Ginny was “keep innovating.”

Diane Brown intuitively understands what her Florida 220 agent’s exam instructor told her in 1986, namely that nothing in this world moves without insurance. When she sees a new business venture or something out of the ordinary on television, she’ll think to herself, “I wonder who insures that.” She lives and breathes insurance. She is one of us. Unfortunately she won’t be joining us at the AICP Annual Meeting in October, but don’t fret. Ms. Brown will be in Aruba, celebrating her husband’s birthday and their 20th wedding anniversary.

And check this out — Diane is a metal smith who works with gold and silver to cast and create jewelry with and without gemstones. She is also talented with mosaic, having learned the craft one year when a flood destroyed her countertops.

I asked if she had any final words, and that was a tough one. After a short silence, Diane said softly, “I wish Bob Lennon was here to see all this.”

A million thanks to Diane Brown for her dedication, her expertise, and most of all her leadership. She has my deep respect because of her quiet strength, her trailblazing spirit, and her skills with a blow torch.

Karen Yotis, Co-Chair
Publications Committee


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Tom Tomlinson

As part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are recognizing a few of our pioneers – those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

Many of you know Tom Tomlinson. Tom enjoyed a long career with Bituminous Casualty Corporation in Rock Island, IL, retiring after 33 years. When he retired, Tom held the position of director – product development and filings and was responsible for overall compliance, rate development, market conduct examinations, complaint handling, forms development, and filing.  The fact that he is now retired does not mean that Tom has left the AICP. He still maintains his membership and serves on the Government & Industry Relations Committee. Tom also works part-time for Martin & Company. He just can’t seem to get away from the business. Several of us had heard Tom say, “If you were to cut me, you’d see me bleed AICP green.” Those who know Tom know that to be true.

A short interview with Tom follows:

When did you join the AICP?

I joined during the summer of 1985. I was reading through the National Underwriter, and there was a blurb about a new organization aimed to address and discuss P&C compliance issues.  Gerry Bell was listed as a contact person, so I gave him a call to ask about this new organization.  After talking with Gerry, I signed up immediately.

What positions have you held in the AICP?

Oh, goodness! Let me think. I’ve been a member of the Great Lakes Chapter all during my membership. I was the vice president, president, and past president of the chapter. I also held numerous positions in the chapter to help organize meetings and E-days.

I’ve been a member of just about every national committee – not all of them, but just about. I’ve been the co-chair of the Education Committee, chair of the Bylaws Committee, chair of the Nominating Committee, and chair of the Past Presidents’ Council. I was also the AICP’s first communication liaison. I also wrote our Rate Making Manual and graded the test results.

Additionally, I have also been the Vice President, President and Past President of the AICP.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

When I first contacted Gerry Bell about the organization, my compliance work responsibilities were fairly narrow in scope. Over time the role of compliance professional has changed a lot, and my responsibilities at work became more encompassing and broad. The AICP has also gone through a similar change. We were once known as the Society of State Filers, and much of our focus was on state filing issues, working with ISO, interacting with regulators, etc. Compliance professionals are now involved not only in filing, but in product development, rate development, market conduct exams, internal compliance audit, complaint handling, etc., as well as filing and approval negotiations.  he AICP has continued to broaden its scope to include this expansion of compliance professional responsibilities.

There has definitely been an increase in membership and increased diversity in our membership due to the expanding roles of compliance professionals. We made a big step in 1997 when the organization decided to bring Life & Health into the fold. Not only did this open new doorways for the AICP, but we were able to provide a unique experience to L&H compliance professionals that did not exist at that time.

I also think that incorporating regulators into the AICP has been one of the better changes we’ve made. This gives industry and regulators an opportunity to get to know one another better, to understand each other, and to identify ways to work better together. After all, we each are responsible for compliance and share many of the same objectives – we just need to find ways to work well together to meet those goals. I think the AICP has been at the forefront in terms of bringing industry and regulators together to look at these challenges and turn them into opportunities.

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?

How much time do you have? I could go on and on about what I’ve received from the AICP.

The first thing that comes to mind is the sharing of information, what works and what doesn’t work, that helped me so much on the job. As part of sharing information, I also appreciated being asked to be a presenter at various meetings very much. I think it’s important for those of us who are more experienced than some of our colleagues to share our expertise and experience and to mentor those who are newer to compliance.

I also truly enjoyed meeting others, building relationships with regulators, and strengthening my network. It’s wonderful that I now call many folks friends who started as professional colleagues, and those friendships last a lifetime.

And, I appreciate participating in the evolution of and change in the AICP as it continued to keep up with the change in our compliance community. Speed to market was and continues to be of special interest to insurance companies, and I enjoyed being part of Charlie Rapacciuolo’s speed-to-market group.

My wife, Pauline, and I have attended every Annual Conference but one. We have very much enjoyed Annual Conference over the years.

What I may have appreciated most, though, was having been awarded the President’s Award and the Lennon Award. This is an honor not only bestowed by an organization I’ve been a part of for 25 years, an organization that has helped me become a better compliance professional, an organization that made opportunities for me to become a leader and participate in its mission, but also bestowed upon me by my professional peers and by my friends. I truly cannot begin to adequately thank the AICP and the many, many colleagues and friends I have for giving me so much. I can only hope that I have given something of value back.

Now that you’re retired, what are your hobbies?

Well, my hobbies didn’t begin with retirement. I have always enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and gardening. I also am quite involved in my church, and I love spending more time with Pauline (though she may think that challenging at times). I do keep involved in the AICP – at a much reduced level than before, but still involved. And, I love keeping up with the many friends I’ve developed over the years through the AICP.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

I think we’ve covered pretty much everything. But, I would like to say one last thing to the AICP.  Thank you for the many years and opportunities you’ve provided me and to the many, many friends I have made along the way. You have enriched my life. Thank you!

Interview conducted by Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


AICP – 25 Years Young Recognizing AICP Pioneers

As part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are continuing to recognize a few of our AICP pioneers — those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

Many of you may have heard the name, Jerry Bell. He is known as being one of our association’s founders. Take a look at the history of our leadership on the AICP website, and you will see Jerry’s name during the early years.

Jerry began his insurance career in 1953. He worked for several insurers, including Progressive Insurance Group and Foremost Insurance Company. When he became involved in working with others to develop what is now the AICP, he was working with Unigard out of Seattle, WA. Jerry moved from Unigard to NAII (nowPCIAA), from which he later retired, January 1, 2000.

Let’s get to know Jerry a bit better and find out more about the beginnings of our association. We have very few folks still with us who were there at the start of the AICP, and we’re fortunate to have reconnected with Jerry. A short interview with Jerry follows:

How and when did the AICP start; who were the folks who began our association?

During the early 1980s, there were several of us in the P&C compliance/filing field who began to have lunch together on an informal basis as we attended the quarterly NAIC meetings. We were eager to discuss P&C filing requirements for various states and, the ongoing changes states implemented. The luncheon meetings gave us an opportunity to share information so we could work smarter.

Our informal luncheons started to become known and in 1984 others were invited to join us. It became very clear to us that more and more filers needed to network and share information about compliance and filing functions. Folks wanted more, so we began to invite a speaker who would speak on a particular topic. We would also have a regulator come in and talk to us about state requirements, and often we would have an Insurance Commissioner join us.

We placed a small ad in the P&C National Underwriter announcing our luncheon meeting and invited filers/compliance persons to join us. As a result, attendance at the luncheons became greater. Attendees were hungry for information, so several of us decided it was time to formalize our group.

So, it started with 3 to 4 folks having lunch together at quarterly NAIC meetings, and then grew to quite a sizable group. Based on that, it was decided a more formalized group was needed. Who worked on the development of the AICP and how did it come about?

The first folks I remember who led in these efforts were Bob Ratch of Allstate, Dick Reeves of Travelers and Tom Flanagan of USAA. They were the ones who initially met for lunch, and I came in about the second or third lunch. Because of our rapid initial growth, it was necessary to open a bank account in the Society’s name to receive dues and pay for luncheon and other expenses. So, we formed a ByLaws Committee and I was appointed the chairperson of that committee.

This is where Bob Lennon, a dear, dear friend of mine, really became involved with our organization. Though he was not part of the initial luncheons, our association should consider Bob as one of our founders in every sense of the word. He was working with GenRe at the time, and he prevailed upon the legal department at GenRe to help draft our initial bylaws and to incorporate the Society—gratuitously, I might add . Bob truly was committed to our association and was determined that we would become a recognized not-for-profit organization. I had known Bob for quite some time, in fact he worked for me at Foremost for a number of years. He and I worked very closely together to develop our bylaws and to review the not-for-profit papers developed by the legal department at GenRe. Without Bob’s dogged determination this work would not have gone as well and as quickly as it did. It was a great day when we were approved and “officially” recognized as a not-for-profit organization.

What positions have you held with the AICP?

Well, as I noted above, I was the first chairperson of the Bylaws Committee for 1985-86, and that was very rewarding. I became the first Secretary in 1986 that went through most of 1987. In 1987-88 I was the President/Chairman of the association, following Tom Flanagan (who had followed Dick Reeves). I became a Board Director for the 1988-89 year.

Additionally, though not a “position” per se, I also began News and Views while at Unigard. It was our first association publication, and I authored a column titled, “A View from the Chair” for the first several quarterly editions. This gave us a venue to bring together various state filing requirements and experiences into one publication that could be distributed to our members. It certainly was not the polished publication The Journal is today. Everything was done manually on typewriter and using photocopiers. But, we were pleased with its beginnings and folks did send in information and topics to be covered.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

Oh, goodness, where to begin?!?

Obviously, we were P&C focused, and our main topic was filing. We needed to develop a network of folks who could share information about state requirements. States were often changing what they needed or wanted, and this was a way for us to keep up with all of the changes. It also helped folks who were new to filing.

Over the years the role of the compliance professional has certainly grown and broadened. The AICP has been able to recognize the evolving role of compliance professionals and has become much more inclusive. Big steps were the inclusion of regulatory personnel and the addition of the L&H contingent in the mid to late 90s.

Frankly, I’m not sure any of us could have imagined the degree of change our luncheons and resulting organization would go through to get where it is today.

What value were the founders looking for in our organization, and do you believe the AICP has been delivering?

Yes, absolutely! Our first and foremost goal was to develop a network of folks who could share information. That idea has been incorporated into the very fabric of the AICP and is part of our Mission Statement. We were looking for ways to help compliance professionals do their jobs better and to help them with professional development. The AICP has met that goal in spades and, in fact, has gone a long way to have the role of the compliance employee to be recognized at a professional level. And, as we began to grow and diversify, we wanted to meet the dynamic needs of employees in our industry. Truly, the AICP has met that challenge. I am very proud of the AICP, where it has been, where it is, and where it is going. I am convinced that our each of our founders would also be very proud of the organization today.

Now that you’re retired, what are your hobbies?

Family is very important to my wife, Marilyn, and me. We are very involved in our family and now have three great grandchildren. Marilyn and I also love to travel and recently came back from a trip to Costa Rica. Other tours included Mexico, Canada, Scandinavia and six other European nations. We are also very active in our church.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

We’ve covered a lot of territory, Bill. But, I’m acutely aware that life isn’t all about “me”. I would be derelict if I failed to recognize the one person who contributed the most to my professional success. Thank you, Marilyn. Without her support and encouragement through the years, I would not have been able to take advantage of many opportunities that led to the depth of my involvement with the AICP in its formative years. We will have been married for 56 years next month. Anything Jerry Bell ever achieved in life simply would not have happened without Marilyn Bell.

We are excited about seeing you all in Dallas in October.

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force

AICP Pioneers2020-11-18T18:27:13+00:00

AICP Pioneers

Jerry Bell   ·   Tony Bos   ·   Diane Brown   ·   Jack Casper   ·   Bill Foster   ·   Elena Leming   ·   Bob Lennon   ·   Wilma Moody   ·   Brady Smith   ·   Tom Tomlinson

25th Anniversary Feature

Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Jack Casper

Jack Casper remembers his first AICP meeting. Well, it was sort of his first meeting. And it was probably around 1989. The company he worked for at the time prohibited his actual attendance due to a perceived conflict of interest. He recalls standing outside the door. This was back when the Society of State Filers (now AICP) was holding their meetings in connection with the NAIC meetings. Once it became clear to his company (and others like his) that the Society of State Filers was not meeting for the purpose of setting rates he was permitted to join. He recalls the rest of the industry soon followed.

Jack was President of the AICP in 1992. And it was not planned either. Rather it was within one day’s notice that he stepped in and agreed to take the reins. Someone who was next in line to become President had taken a new job and was unable to assume the office as President. Things were running so close those days, and budgets with companies were tight ( sound familiar?) but he was able to step in never having actually served as VP or held another national office.

He recalls there was no good way to train people unfamiliar with compliance back then. He worked for a small company and everyone in the industry tended to hire other insurance company employees or hire from insurance departments. He himself came from the Colorado DOI to an insurance company in Kansas City. So he feels the SSF ( or AICP) provided some extremely helpful structure to the training ground for compliance professionals which has only grown and improved over the years.

The ability to meet with other industry compliance folks helped everyone become more organized, grow and mature in their profession. He recalls things were not as complex back in those days. Electronic communication has been transforming for the entire industry and Jack marvels that the AICP is no exception. He said the fact that AICP now offers classes, member discussion forums, and fosters career paths is very impressive… they had nothing like that back in his early State Filer days. A person can now feel like they are not alone in their work and do not have to worry about displaying ignorance or lack of knowledge.

As for other positions he has held, Jack believes he must have been a chapter officer since he was actively involved in the organization of the his chapter, (the very first AICP chapter I might add) — the Heartland Chapter in 1991. He heartily encourages others to become involved at the chapter level and run for office.

Jack feels the AICP filled a role that was needed back in those days that remains true today as well. That is the ability to send a compliance person to a meeting who can meet and establish camaraderie with someone who does the same type of job, someone who knows not only the compliance business but the insurance industry as well. He felt one of the most important aspects the AICP has accomplished is our website and the on line directory of contacts for both Life and Health and Property and Casualty.

As for hobbies outside of work Jack said he and his wife “pretend we are golfers”!

Jack Casper was a thoroughly pleasant person to interview and get to know better. I hope many of you took the opportunity to meet him at our annual conference.

Ginny McHugh
President, AICP


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Wilma Moody

       

So, what makes a person a pioneer? Is Captain John Smith anymore a pioneer that George Washington? Is Daniel Boone anymore a pioneer than President Abraham Lincoln? As we began looking at our 25th anniversary recognition initiative, the task force quickly adopted the strategy that the focus would not be the 25th anniversary in and of itself; rather our aim has been to recognize the success and achievements along the way that are markers of our continuing to meet the goals of our Mission Statement and Vision Statement.

Wilma Moody is one of those who joined the AICP after it’s beginning, but you will see that she is in every sense of the word, an AICP pioneer.

Wilma began her compliance career in 1979 when she worked as a paralegal with an Oklahoma Law firm and was on Senator Marvin York’s staff when we was a Pro Temp of the Oklahoma State Senate. Wilma then moved to work for CL Frates & Company, a Third-Party Administrator in Oklahoma City, and she was responsible for P&C filings.

Many of you may remember Wilma during her tenure with the AICP. To many of you, she may be a new person. So, let’s see what we can do to find out a bit more about Wilma Moody.

When did you join the AICP?

I joined in 1991. I had been working for CL Frates & Company and was looking for an organization comprised of P&C compliance professionals in order to expand my knowledge of P&C filing requirements. I still consider joining the SSF/AICP one of the best decisions I ever made.

What positions have you held in the AICP?

Since I joined the organization to further my knowledge about P&C filings, I immediately joined the Education Committee. I soon became the Education Committee’s Chairperson.

As I continued to become more involved in the planning of the association at the national level, I was nominated for the Vice President’s position and was successful at that election. This led to my becoming the President and then the Past President of the association.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

I was active during a time when there were so many changes, it’s hard to know where to begin. If I were to name three things, I would list: enhancing our educational initiative, expanding our industry focus, and increasing our networking with Regulators.

For me, the changes really began to happen during Robin Cherry’s term as President. I was on the Education Committee at that time, and it was decided that we really needed to begin working on a formalized educational program for the SSF. We began working on a P&C certification program, and Tom Tomlinson volunteered to author a Rate Making Manual. The Board saw this as a noteworthy start and asked the Education Committee to kick it up a notch and turn it into a professional designation program that would be respected in our industry. With hard work on behalf of the Education Committee members, and some sound marketing/public relations supported by our Board, we increased the visibility of our Associate State Filer (ASF) and Certified State Filer (CSF) designations, and many members began through the educational process to attain these designations. Given the educational foundation of our Mission Statement, we felt that achieving the successful roll-out of this designation program was a milestone for the SSF.

While I was the Education Committee Chairperson I moved my employment from CL Frates & Company and began to work with New York Life as a Manager of the Long Term Care Compliance Division in Austin, TX. Though it was a wonderful move for me in terms of my career, it was also a very difficult move because I was no longer involved in the P&C industry and, therefore, no longer eligible to continue as a member in the SSF.

It was hard for me to face the fact that I had to leave an organization I had become attached to and had worked so hard for. I mentioned this to others and questioned if I really needed to leave — after all, I would still be working with regulatory filings, just on a different product line.

The SSF Board had been discussing ways to expand and enhance its value to our industry. I was invited to attend a Board meeting in Florida and, while there, I was asked about efforts it would take to see if adding L&H was feasible. The Board was very happy with where we had come since 1985 and was somewhat skeptical about any move to open the organization up to L&H, but they were willing to give it a test run. The Board then asked if I would put some kind of an L&H program together for the upcoming Annual Conference.

I was so pleased that I could continue to be part of the SSF, but the task ahead was quite daunting. Working in conjunction with other Conference Planning Committee members, I planned a limited L&H program, and our invitation/registration for the 1997 Conference in Cincinnati, OH was sent to L&H insurance companies.

About 30-35 L&H compliance professionals came to that Annual Conference. I held a Q&A at the end of the Conference with the L&H attendees to see what they thought. It was clear from some of the feedback I received that this initial attempt did not have the tight planning the L&H folks were already accustomed to with LHCA and SOGCA. In fact, I was beginning to believe that adding L&H may not be viable. After all, L&H already had two very well respected compliance organizations, and perhaps that was sufficient. I was pretty much resigned to that when a tall young man stood up to give his input. Yes, he noted, there had been some mistakes during the Conference sessions (those specific to L&H were not always noted), but he felt that the SSF was on to something. Its seminar approach was very different from the Q&A approach used by LHCA and SOGCA, and he suggested that we take this initial feedback in a constructive way and see what could be done to enhance this beginning. I knew right then and there I wanted that person on my team if the Board decided to go through with L&H efforts. The Board did approve our going forward, and I soon found myself on the phone with Bill Douglas to ask him if he would lead our efforts to develop a L&H program that would be attractive and well organized for L&H compliance professionals, and we haven’t looked backed since. Not only did his team develop and vital L&H program, much attention was given to increasing Regulator involvement in our Conference, and the L&H program team was very sensitive that we not introduce L&H in such a manner that it become and “us (P&C) v them (L&H)” Conference. So, a lot of attention was also focused on planning sessions that were applicable to both P&C and L&H.

Around 85 L&H compliance professionals attended the 1998 Conference in Phoenix, and the feedback from those attendees was very favorable. The session break-out format was well received, the “both” sessions that included both P&C and L&H compliance folks went very well, and the increase in the number of participating Regulators was especially successful. I apologize for how much time I’ve spent on this area, but Annual Conference is our premier event each year. And, it was the impetus in expanding our membership to add L&H compliance professionals — another milestone of which we can be very proud. Not all organizations are flexible enough and forward thinking enough to absorb that great of a change.

And, finally, increasing Regulator involvement. As you can see from other pioneer articles, regulator involvement was an essential element from our very beginning. But, it was greatly accelerated during my tenure as a member. After the 1998 Conference, even more focus was spent on Regulator involvement and participation in Conference — to the extent that I received a number of telephone calls from Regulators asking what they had actually signed up for and what they might be in for, i.e. were they going to be the lambs led to the wolves. I contacted a few people about this, and Bill suggested that I host a Regulator Reception in my suite, address their concerns, and begin talking about membership in our association. That was our first Regulator Reception at Conference. From humble beginnings we’ve seen increased regulator participation at Chapter levels as well as at a national level, we’ve seen greater regulator attendance at Conference, Chapter meetings, and Chapter E-days, we held numerous annual Regulator Meetings with the Board, and we’ve seen increased Regulator membership.

These are not all of the changes we’ve seen over the life of our association. However, they are noteworthy milestones during my tenure as a member and as a leader of our organization.

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?

I sought an organization that would help me learn about P&C filings and, even more than that, help me with my professional growth. I found that in spades with the AICP. And, along the way I met some wonderful people. I personally would like to recognize some of my mentors who taught me so much and helped me along the way — Bill Foster, Patti McCollum, Tony Bos, Jerry Dables, Robin cherry and Jan Shemanske. I would be remiss if I also did not list a few people with whom I worked very closely as we led the AICP through some historic changes — Tom Tomlinson, Bill Douglas, Carole Deschambault, Kim Kennedy, Joe Bieniek, and Diane Higdon.

I left the industry and, therefore, the AICP when my husband and I lost our son to an explosion at his place of employment. However, the education I received from the AICP, the leadership skills I honed and strengthened — I use them on a daily basis. And some of the many, many people I met while in the AICP are still friends today.

What do you do outside of work; what are your hobbies?

My husband and I took a couple of years off after the loss of our son. Since then I’ve entered the real estate industry. We recently moved to Eufaula Lake, and we love the sunrises, the sunsets and the fishing. I’m in the process of establishing a real estate school in the area. I also enjoy reading and writing. One of my life’s dreams has been to write a novel, and I have begun working on it.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

Well, I do want to thank the AICP for recognizing me as one of its “pioneers.” I was honored to receive the Lennon Award and the President’s Award, but this kind of ongoing recognition beyond my tenure as a member means just as much to me.

I would encourage others to volunteer with the AICP. You never know where that will lead you. It definitely led me in positive ways, and I’m sure it would for others as well.

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Tony Bos

What a great opportunity we have to look back through the years and celebrate the pioneers who helped make the AICP what it is today! One of these pioneers is Tony Bos.

Tony was excited to offer his memories of the Society of State Filers and the AICP and how the organization has changed and grown over the years. He is proud of his tenure with the organization and movement through the ranks, so much so that he held onto copies of the ‘President’s Message’ from the Journal when he was President of the SSF!

Tony spent 37 years in the industry, retiring from Drake University Insurance Center in 2000. Since his retirement, he continues to golf and fish. During the interview he mentioned a word to the wise — that we should all cultivate our hobbies while we are young and hopefully have expense accounts!

Following is a brief interview with former President, Tony Bos:

When did you join the AICP?
I joined the AICP when it was the Society of State Filers (SSF). I joined the first year that the Society allowed persons other than those employed by a Property and Casualty Company as members.

What positions have you held in the AICP?
I was Treasurer for a few years, then on thru the chairs thru Past President. I also had the honor of being the first President of the Heartland Chapter.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?
My recollection is that the Society was quite “close knit” and concerned with the possibility of being taken over by “foreign entities,” like Life and Health persons and Regulators.

I, being a half ax and holding the designations of FLMI, CLU, ChFC, CPIM, & ACS needed to be on my best behavior. Oh by the way, I did attain the designation ASF before I retired. Over time I wormed my way into the Association’s heart. I always felt that had I held a CPCU designation I would have been less suspect. (I hope you’all can see some humor in my explanation, hope you’all notice that I acclimate rather quickly. I moved from Iowa to Kentucky and Texas, so now I say you’all.)

A wonderful change occurred when the membership was opened to the broader world of compliance personnel in all lines of insurance. I take some personal pride in the fact it occurred in the year I was president. The Association has helped and continues to help people grow in their profession and helps their companies become more proficient and current in regulatory matters.

What value have you received as a member of the AICP?
I grew professionally and met people that became very good friends. Membership helped by allowing me to be mentored by people who had expertise in areas in which I was lacking specific knowledge. Some of those friendships are still active 10 years into retirement, for which I am very thankful.

Words of wisdom…
I think it is important that people understand that membership is a two way street, giving and receiving. The more you give by being involved the more you benefit yourself and your employer.

Kelly McCumber
Chairperson, Marketing Committee


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Bill Foster

As an ongoing part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are continuing to recognize a few of our AICP pioneers — those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

Bill Foster! Now that’s a person to really think about when it comes to the AICP and the progress it has made along the way. And Bill was one of those tireless members who worked so diligently during the initial years of the association as well as into the late 90s and early 2000s to help form who we are. So, let’s pull some chairs up around the Texas barbeque and chat a while with Bill.

Bill is currently enjoying the retirement lifestyle with his wife, Judy. And given the way Bill approached his work and his dedication to the AICP, it is well deserved. But as you might guess, both Bill and Judy stay very active. So, while the barbeque is heating up, let’s get to know Bill a bit better.

A short interview with Bill follows:

When did you join the AICP?

I joined in 1985. There were a number of us who had read an article in the National Underwriter about a new organization for persons who were responsible for preparing and submitted P&C rate and form filings. I believe it was Jerry Bell who had sent that word out, and it was just the type of organization so many of us needed. It didn’t take much to convince me that it was an organization I wanted to be part of.

What positions have you held in the AICP?

Wow! During the early years of the SSF, it seems as if a number of us were doing whatever we could wherever we could to get our organization under way, to get the word out, and to enhance the educational meetings already under way.

Gary Amerine was the head of the Planning Committee that planned the first conference, and I had the distinct pleasure of working with others as we planned that first conference. In fact, I stayed on the Planning Committee for four years. However, it seems funny to think of a certain position or specific role during those formative years because many of us did whatever was needed.

I also helped with the formation of the Midwest Forum, and I was its first President (1993-1994). Kevin See, Cathy Bigham and John Costello were also members of the Midwest Forum’s first Board of Directors. I also served as Past President and as Director of the Midwest Forum. It was challenging and exciting to be part of forming a new chapter.

During the time the Midwest Forum was getting up and running, I was elected Vice President of the SSF (1994-1995). That followed with a year as national President (1995-1996), Past President (1996-1997), and I then followed up with a year as our national Treasurer (1997-1998).

During my tenure on the national Board we had numerous discussions about whether or not to add the Life & Health insurance compliance contingent to the SSF. We know that we expanded to include Life & Health, and it has been a great success. I think that my being a part of efforts to get our association underway, plus my experience helping to form a new chapter, and then being part of the Board that oversaw bringing in Life & Health was why I was asked to head the Global Development Task Force during 2002-2003. The AICP has generally looked for ways to add value to the insurance compliance community and it clearly has sought ways to expand the value it provides. There were a number of efforts on the part of the Global Development Task Force, and now to see that we have the Canada initiative and even have a member from Great Britain is great.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

This is a tough one to answer, and I’m sure I’ll miss something important over the time that the AICP has grown and expanded. Change and growth in an organization with such diverse areas of interest as ours have been long, and at times painful. However, we did have the initial vision for our organization, and that has kept our focus on the things that are and have been important to our association and its members, and this has helped us develop into a great organization.

Providing educational opportunities has been a vital goal of our association from its early days to the present. The SSF was initially a small group of individuals looking for opportunities to learn, share information and network. While these goals remain, the association has improved and surpassed the ideas of our early years.

Initially, communication among members was short and a bit infrequent. Gradually we added a quarterly newsletter (initially begun by Jerry Bell), enhanced the content of our quarterly newsletter, and now also have a website through which we can keep in touch. While this may seem “status quo” and somewhat “cliché” in today’s world, it has been achieved through the tireless efforts of volunteers with a vision and a commitment to bring ideas into existence.

Early meetings were a luncheon and included a speaker presentation. That led to the planning and implementation of annual meetings — starting with 1½ days and now going 2½+ days. Today we have chapters for localized, regional opportunities to participate in education and networking activities. And our annual meeting has grown to include speakers representing the industry, the regulatory community, state insurance departments, state Insurance Commissioners, federal agencies, and others pertinent to our world of insurance.

We started as a P&C filing industry, and a person needed to be employed by an insurance company to be a member. Today our membership includes Life & Health compliance professionals, state insurance department personnel, consultants, and third-party product and service providers. What a huge amount of change over our 25 years!

Part of our strength has relied on our ability to change as our vision and mission are enhanced, as the needs of our members change, and as our industry changes. As we look back at our first 25 years, not many of us who were part of the organization in 1985 could have envisioned what the AICP has become today. And, I’m sure that not many of us can truly envision the changes ahead during the next 25 years. Yet, I’m sure we’ll be there and we’ll continue to provide value to our members and community.

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?

I would sum it up in three words: education, people, and friends.

The educational opportunities have been very rewarding and certainly helped me with my career as an insurance compliance professional.

The people I have met and worked with in the AICP have been and are some of the greatest people I have ever met.

And, from those people I have met through the SSF/AICP, I have gained some true, true friendships that have been of great value, not only to me but to Judy as well, and are lifetime friendships.

Just one other quick note here. Bob Lennon was one of those people with whom I had the privilege to work. Gary Amerine was another, especially on conference planning. I feel very honored to have been named the Lennon Award recipient, the award named after Bob, and it coming my way the year after its first recipient, Gary Amerine.

Now that you’re retired, what keeps you busy and what do you enjoy doing?

Well, I may be retired, but Judy and I are far from just relaxing and watching life go on its merry way. I have some great friends I made in the SSF/AICP, and Judy and I enjoy visiting and staying in touch with our many friends. I enjoy golfing and fishing…somehow, I think those two go together when I think of some of my lost golf balls. And I now do have more time for enjoyable reading. Judy and I also like to travel.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

The AICP is a great organization that provides those who would like to make a difference with opportunities to step up, volunteer, and become involved. Our association and its future are in the hands of those caretakers who will volunteer and give their time to keep our momentum. I encourage anyone to volunteer, participate in reshaping and refining our mission, and help lead the AICP over the next 25 years. Become a part of the vision.

A big “THANK YOU” to all of those persons with whom I’ve had the opportunity to work over the years and the support and camaraderie they provided. I also extend my appreciation to the senior management of the company I worked with during most of my AICP involvement, American Modern Home Insurance Group, and the employees in its Product Development Department.

Now, let’s see how the barbeque is doing. You haven’t had barbeque until you have Texas barbeque!

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Elena Leming

       

As an ongoing part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are continuing to recognize a few of our AICP pioneers — those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

How many of you know Elena Leming? How many? Oh, there’s a few hands. Well, let’s get to know Elena!

Elena works for Insurance House out of Marietta, Georgia. Insurance House is an MGA that writes business in the Mid-Atlantic providing Personal Lines and Commercial Lines coverages in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, DC, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The Georgia Branch, of which she is the Branch Manager, writes in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. It actually owns an insurance company which writes non-standard auto as well as some mobile home and property coverage. Additionally, as an MGA, Insurance House represents E&S companies and supports all commercial lines.

Many of you may not know Elena Leming since she hasn’t been involved with the AICP for a while. But, Elena is certainly one of our pioneers that each of us should take time to get to know better. She was there “at the beginning” as the SSF was just getting off the ground, and she was very active in significant initiatives during AICP’s formation. Let’s get to know Elena better.

When did you join the AICP?

I joined in 1985. I was aware that several folks had been meeting on an informal basis at quarterly NAIC meetings. I was working for American Bankers at the time, and the issues that were being discussed at these informal meetings was exactly some of the information we needed at American Bankers. When I heard that those folks were going to formalize their meetings and begin a new organization, I joined immediately.

What positions have you held in the AICP?

Oh, goodness, that question takes me back! Our initial activity was aimed at education about P&C filing issues and seeing what we could do to get some regulators on board to help us with collecting and providing that information. I worked for Diane Schatz (Brown) at the time and we became very involved in the education activities.

Gary Amerine led our Planning Committee as we planned our first Conference in 1987. Gary was very focused on the success of that first Conference, and I recall he laid things out very nicely as we committee members dug in on the planning activities. We put in a good amount of work, and I remember how pleased we were at the success of that first conference … and relieved that we actually pulled it off.

There were so many things going on during our formative years, I sometimes feel as if I was involved, at least in part, with about everything that was going on. It was such a wonderful time for the SSF, and I was meeting so many nice folks. Bob Lennon (you knew when he was in the room), Jerry Bell, Tom Flanagan, Robin (Bujaucius) Cherry, Jan (Galbraith) Shemanske, Diane (Schatz) Brown, Dick Reeves, Tom Tomlinson, Bob Ratch … gosh, I haven’t thought of some of those folks in years…they were so dedicated to our organization and we all worked together for the SSF.

Diane (Schatz) Brown was actually our first woman President, and I was her Vice President from 1989 to 1990. Jan (Galbraith) Shemanske as our Secretary/Treasurer and Bob Lennon was the Director. I received so much support from them and others as I stepped into my VP role. I was the President of the SSF from 1990 to 1991, and I followed that by being the Director from 1991 to 1992.

I guess you could list those as my main SSF positions, but so many of us were working on so many things, it’s hard to remember just exactly what specific activities/roles we had.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

The SSF exploded with membership! It was pretty clear to us that there had been a lot of pent up need in our P&C filing community for reliable and timely information. To see us go from a few folks, to a hundred, and then to hundreds within just a few years was amazing.

We also felt that we were very quickly being recognized as a viable organization — viable enough to be able to make presentations to the NAIC. And the increased dialogue between industry and the regulatory compliance groups was essential and happening in a way that was successful.

It is amazing to see where the AICP has come today!

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?

At American Bankers I often found myself travelling around the states to visit various state insurance departments to discuss filings. So often I would think, “If we’d only known in advance what they required!” So, I guess the first thing that comes to mind is meeting peers and sharing information about filing requirements was a great value. It certainly helped us become more efficient and effective. It also helped us to begin to design “best practices” for our filing efforts.

I also think that having regulators involved was of great help. Not only could we discuss the diversity they brought to our organization, but we could discuss our commonalities as well.

And, as I think about it, it’s the folks I met. Not only were they peers with whom to share information, many of them also became friends. And, in some instances, those became lifelong friends.

What do you do outside of work; what are your hobbies?

Is there life outside of work? Really? I put in some very long hours, so time outside of my job is focused on just a few things. First and foremost for me is family. My grandchildren live in the same general neighborhood as my husband and I, so I spend as much time with them as I can. My husband is retired now, and we do like to travel when we get an opportunity.

Thinking of retirement, when I retire I will be dancing in the streets!

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

Hmmmm…well, as I think about the AICP, where it began and where it is now, and as I think about my participation in our association, it reminds me that there are numerous opportunities in our industry to come together as various groups for the common good of all involved. The success of the SSF/AICP demonstrates that anything is possible.

I also think that the act of coming together in various groups for the common good has something in it for our society as a whole, and for our world community.

I have been very fortunate to be a part of the AICP, and I thank all of those with whom I’ve worked for their sharing, their dedication, and for their friendship.

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Bob Lennon

If you have been a member of the AICP for any period of time, or have ever attended annual conference, you know about the Lennon Award. The Lennon Award is the highest recognition bestowed by the AICP, awarded annually to a volunteer for outstanding service. According to the AICP website: “The Lennon award was named after one of our founding fathers who was not only instrumental in the initial development of our organization but contributed years of service.” It notes that the award is given “in the memory of the caring spirit of the late Bob Lennon.” What you probably don’t know is the answer to the question: Who was Bob Lennon — and why was he chosen to be the honored namesake of this very special award?

For this information, we reached out to some of association’s earliest members, who knew and worked closely with Bob. While they all had their personal remembrances and stories, they all described personality and character traits that they felt exemplified the essence of the man.

Diane Brown, who became the associations’ first vice president in 1988, worked with Bob in the early days of the Society of State Filers (SSF). She remembers Bob as being charismatic and outgoing, describing him as “a big teddy bear that could roar like a lion — everyone was aware of his presence the minute he entered the room.” She said his laughter was contagious and that “he made you feel good even if you were having a Murphy’s Law day.”

Jerry Bell, a founder of the SSF, agreed. Bob was a tall man, and with his height, loud voice, and spontaneous laugh, he was someone hard to ignore. He was friendly and likeable. Jerry said Bob “never met a stranger.”

Bob is also remembered for his kindness. Robin Cherry became a member of the association in early 1989 and immediately became actively involved. She recalled that when she met Bob, she was new to the association and to volunteering. She said she was not used to travelling and felt a bit out of her element. She remembers Bob’s efforts to make her feel comfortable. “He went out of his way to make me feel welcome and invite me to join in dinners, etc.,” Robin said. “I honestly believe I never would have become so involved if it wasn’t for him.” Robin went on to become a national president of the SSF.

Bob was an inspiration to those around him. Jan Shemanske, one of the SSF’s early leaders, met Bob in 1987, when he had assumed the role of association secretary. Jan remembered Bob’s efforts to encourage others to grow within the association by assuming leadership positions. He was a strong promoter of ongoing education and believed it was the key to success. Jan recalled that Bob’s guiding principle, which he shared with all, was to learn as much as possible, and simply “to be the best you could be”.

Bob led by example; he devoted many hours to helping to develop the fledgling organization. One of his accomplishments was completing the paperwork and filing process to have the SSF recognized as a 501c(3) association. Jan noted that “he was always giving of himself and to the SSF.” Diane Brown noted how Bob was willing to assist with any issue that arose. She remembered his determination to get the job done, no matter what. His drive helped keep the founders and early members on track and focused. Diane was impressed with his seemingly boundless energy, noting that he would work “into the wee hours … and be back at it again in the morning.”

Jerry Bell also spoke of Bob’s drive and determination, remembering Bob as “the consummate professional” and “a tireless worker,” and added that Bob was equal to any task.

In addition to being known for his hard work, Bob is fondly remembered for his enjoyment of life. It has been said that he worked as hard as he enjoyed life itself. Diane Brown recalled, “Sometimes when Bob was real intense or got on a roll about an issue, I would respond to him in Spanish, which would catch him completely off guard, something hard to do.” Diane said his typical reaction was to burst out laughing — a contagious laugh that made everyone smile.

Jan also spoke of Bob’s zest for life, which, she felt, was heightened since he had several episodes of battling brain cancer. “He always stressed that you had to live life to its fullest,” Jan said. “He really enjoyed going out to dinner and tried anything new (in terms of food) he had not experienced before. I recall this as he was trying to get me to try something that didn’t look as appetizing to me as it did to him; he would just heartily laugh at me.”

Bob was born in Boston on January 3, 1935, and died January 29, 1992, at the age of 57. Bob attended Georgetown University and St. Michael’s College in Vermont. He served in the Army and was a member of the Marine Reserves. He married his wife, Mary, in 1962 and they had two children, Joseph and Mary Katherine.

Bob was assistant vice president and state filings superintendent at General Reinsurance Corp. in Stamford, Connecticut, and had previously worked at Foremost Insurance Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bob became the SSF’s first president in 1988. In addition to his active leadership role in the SSF, he was also a member of the Southern Association of Workmen’s Compensation Administrators, the Eastern Association of Workers Compensation Boards and Commissions and the Western Association of Workers Compensation Boards. He was also involved with the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions.

So who was Bob Lennon? Bob was a kind person, friendly and personable. He inspired others and led by example. He was a professional who worked hard. He enjoyed life and loved to laugh. He made other people feel important and appreciated. He lived his values and was known as a man of integrity.

To sum it up: Bob Lennon was a leader.

So, this year, the AICP’s 25th anniversary, we remember Bob Lennon with appreciation and gratitude. He helped to make the association what it is today, and his spirit and memory inspires us to be all that we can become.

Penny Kilberry, Chair
Conference Planning Committee


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Brady Smith

As part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are continuing to recognize a few of our AICP pioneers – those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

Many of you know Brady Smith. For many years if you saw a camera pointed your way at conference, the man behind the camera was Brady. The pictures you were able to obtain from our picture posterboard at conference were there through Brady’s efforts, and most of the pictures we project to the screens at conference are pictures that Brady has taken.

Brady began his career in the insurance world in 1976 with Pemco. He started out in the customer service area and quickly rose through the ranks to become the rates & forms coordinator. Brady was recruited for a job opening at Mutual of Enumclaw in 1984 and was hired as a product development specialist. Through a series of events, Brady found himself looking for additional opportunities in 2004. A friend and contact he had met through the AICP told Brady of an opportunity at Symetra Life Insurance Company. Rather than relying on Brady’s many years of experience in the P&C lines, this was a position that supported Life & Annuity products. However, he was persuaded by his AICP associate that he had a wealth of transferrable skills, so he applied for the job and began working on new product lines in December 2004. There are opposing opinions of whether he moved “to” or “from” the dark side, but as Brady acknowledges, this was definitely a great example of using the professional networking opportunities afforded by the AICP.

So, let’s get to know Brady a bit better. A short interview with Brady follows:

When did you join the AICP?
I joined the Society of State Filers in 1985. There was an ad in the National Underwriter about a new organization aimed at P&C rates and forms filers. Jerry Bell was listed as a contact person, so I wrote a letter to him and asked for more information. Jerry sent me a membership registration form, and I sent it back immediately.

What positions have you held in the AICP?
I started out as a contributor to the society’s quarterly publication, News and Events. I assumed the editor position in 1992 and continued as the editor of what later became The Journal until 2006. It was quite a run, but I felt that I would not be able to give the editor position the time it needed when I was elected as the national vice president in 2006. I am very honored and pleased to have been the association’s vice president, president and past president, beginning in 2007 and ending in 2009.

I also was the first vice president of the Northwest Chapter (1997-1999), then president (1999-2001) and finally past president (2001-2003). Additionally, I was the Northwest Chapter’s regional director from 2000 to 2002.

In terms of national committees, I chaired the ByLaws Committee and the Past Presidents’ Council, and I’ve been a member of the Website Committee, as well as assisting other committees over the years.

The AICP provides ample opportunity for those who would like to be actively involved, and I’ve enjoyed my time as a chapter officer, national officer, and committee member.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?
Let me give you a bit of history first before I give you my answer to this.

The initial guard, if you will, of the SSF were focused on a few parameters regarding our organization:

  1. They wanted us to be an organization of individuals rather than of companies. They wanted to form us in such a manner that it would mitigate, if not eliminate, any potential of larger companies using the organization as a mouthpiece.
  2. They wanted us to be an organization whose members were from industry. There were some vendors who held a lot of influence in the industry, and they did not want that influence to have any potential of undue influence with our society. Additionally, it was initially thought that including regulators in discussions might operate to inhibit open and frank discussion. Regulators were invited to do presentations, but they were not included in the general session or breakout sessions.
  3. They wanted to make sure we stayed focused on our initial goals rather than trying to be everything to everybody.. This gave us very clear and specific objectives for us to achieve and to mark our progress rather than spreading us too thin.

Each of these made a lot of sense to our start-up organization. Now, given those initial parameters, the three more significant changes I’ve seen are:

  1. Allowing regulators to join. This has allowed the AICP to be the venue for industry and regulators to get to know one another better, to understand each other, and to discuss ways in which we can work better together. The networking afforded to us by having regulators as part of our organization has strengthened the AICP, and regulators are becoming more and more involved at leadership levels within our organization which makes us stronger.
  2. Allowing third-party product and service providers to join. Third-party providers have taken the time and invested a lot of money into designing and implementing products and services that enable us to do our jobs more efficiently and effectively. e are a better organization by having our third-party providers as part of the AICP.
  3. Going beyond P&C, i.e., reaching out to L&H. This has been a significant expansion for the AICP. There has been an increase in diversity within our industry. We aren’t simply filers any more. We are not only involved in filing, but in product development, market conduct exams, complaint handling, legislative review and implementation, etc. The addition of L&H has necessitated an expansion of scope to meet the various needs of compliance professionals.

With these changes, not only have we kept our eyes on commonalities among the various accountabilities of a diverse compliance population, but we have also made sure to value the differences and focus on meeting diverse needs of our membership.

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?
First and foremost, I value my networking. As we’ve already discussed, I was able to move from a P&C employer and background to a Life & Annuities employer, and it was through someone I had met through my participation in the AICP that gave me that opportunity. I cannot underscore enough how much this has meant to me.

And, moving from P&C to Life & Annuities segues well into information sharing. I’ve been able to shorten my learning curve and attain a higher level of proficiency by gaining access to information through the AICP and its members on new product lines to me. This includes networking with regulators as well. By already knowing many regulators, even if only by name in some instances, I have been able to call upon those regulators to ask questions and run things by them. In this sense, networking and sharing information go hand in hand.

In line with sharing information, I was a one-state filer when I worked at Pemco. I moved to a three-state company at Mutual of Enumclaw. Both companies had only a regional reach. Moving to Symetra has definitely broadened my scope and has given me an opportunity to see a bigger picture, i.e. on a national basis. Having information and networking available to me on a national basis has been very helpful.

I would also say the name recognition associated with my participation in the AICP has been valuable. It has provided me with enhanced opportunities to increase my networking as well as exchange information.

And, finally, I think the honors that the membership has bestowed upon me have great value to me. The AICP membership has allowed me to work in leadership positions and has entrusted me with working with other AICP leaders to ensure we keep the best interest of our membership and the organization as a whole in our focus. I have also been honored with the Lennon award, and I was the first recipient of the Northwest Chapter’s President’s award.

In summary, the AICP has brought things into my personal and professional life that I would have missed greatly had it not been for the AICP and the many, many folks I’ve come to know.

What do you do away from work? What are your hobbies?
I am an avid reader, and sci fi is what I read a lot. I read other things as well, but do enjoy reading the classics of sci fi and well as discover new authors. I also like to walk, but not as much or as often as I should.

Family is important to me, and I love my new role as Grandpa. It’s a new and exciting experience.

My wife and I enjoy the beaches of Puget Sound, and we love cruising. We just need to do more of it.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?
I think this 25th year for the AICP is a critical one. We’ve seen our growth rate slow down. This may be due, in part, to our economy, but we may also have begun to reach maximum saturation in our industry. I think we need to look for new ideas to provide value to our members. I’m very glad to see new members step up and participate in the AICP, but I also think we need to balance that with those who have been participating for a number of years in order to keep informed of where we’ve been, why certain decisions were made, and what direction we have been pursuing.

I am also looking forward to Conference this year. I love finding a time to see so many people whom I’ve met through the years as well as make new friends. The AICP and its members have become a part of my life, both personal and professional, and I appreciate what it has given me along the way and the promise of what is in store.

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Diane Brown, AICP’s First Woman President

Diane Brown surprised and delighted me from our first email exchange about this article. When I wrote to ask if I could interview her for the series of pieces that the Journal is publishing to celebrate our 25th anniversary she replied, “the thought never even entered my mind that I was the first female president.”

The year was 1989, the Society of State Filers hadn’t yet morphed into the organization now called the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals and the term ‘glass ceiling’ was freshly coined, so I was more than curious how Diane’s gender had managed to go unnoticed when she stepped in to the organization’s top leadership role. In her email she wrote, “[It was] probably because the association was very young and diverse at that time. We were crossing so many boundaries and had so much to accomplish, no one noticed who was who or what.”

She later expounded upon this idea-in a way that made both her deep knowledge of insurance and her unique ability to overcome barriers shine through.

“We were just so involved in the start up of what we called the Society of State Filers at that point and how to get the group off the ground and how to get recognized, and in a national way, and not just from the industry but also on the regulatory side. And trying to solve problems w/ regulators b/c there were issues on both sides. Regulators would get frustrated by filings they would receive and companies would be frustrated too. So we were trying to open channels of communication on both sides, and it didn’t matter whether you were male or female, you all had the same problem!”

Jerry Bell and Bob Lennon asked Diane to step up as Vice President of the Society, which put her in line for the top spot one year later. Two other qualities inherent in this remarkable woman-modesty and a matter-of-fact willingness to do what it takes to get a job done-showed themselves when Diane explained, “Actually I was surprised when I did receive the phone call. I didn’t have a clue and I was completely off guard and I didn’t even think I would be considered for that type of a position. And I was like ‘ok, what does the VP have to do?’ And then I said, ‘ok I think I can do that.'”

After listening to Diane talk about her background, I wasn’t surprised at all that she was sought out to lead a brand new organization through its early years of development. She regularly attended quarterly NAIC meetings and had a fairly good network of regulators (a huge understatement I suspect). Diane also told me, “at that time I was working w/ a national insurance carrier and they dealt w/ all states in U.S., and Canada and Puerto Rico, so it was a good start.”

Diane Brown has dedicated her entire career to the insurance industry, from the time when she took a summer position at Little Aetna when she was 17. (She tells me you Aetna folks will know exactly what she’s talking about.) She’s currently Products Manager at Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Company, the only A-rated domestic company in the state.

Since she’s clearly no stranger to controversy, I asked Diane whether she’d faced any unique challenges as a woman in her work. First she mentioned the 16 years she spent at American Bankers Insurance. To hear Diane tell it, she “grew with them, basically.”

According to Diane, American Bankers “was very supportive of females in the work force, and in promoting females, which, if you think about it back then, that’s probably why it didn’t dawn on me about being the Society’s first female president b/c my employer was so supportive. And they were also education-conscious. They pushed education and had a tremendous training program that included college courses. This was in the early 80’s so they were very ahead of their time.”

In hitting the highlights of the Society’s accomplishments Diane provided a history lesson of how the early members’ focus and determination laid the foundation that supports an organization that is now 1500 strong:

“When we started out it was completely question and answer and we said we have to do more and we did. We came out with a state filing handbook, we came up w/ a filer’s forum, we did a couple of other things, a rate making guide, of course the membership directory, salary survey, and also a certification program so we could get people their education requirements, like a nationally recognized certification program. Then the really big thing was to get some type of standardization w/ filing forms and we had a big push and I believe that is what ended up becoming SERFF, and that took a long, long time. But to finally get the nation-all the states-except for Florida of course-on board, that was really something.”

Diane has seen a lot of progress over the years, but certain changes stand out in her mind:

“Oh, definitely the membership, the size. It has grown so large. Ten years ago there were maybe 900 and now there’s over 1500 members. That’s just the size. Also, the reputation. We have gotten such a great reputation and it’s b/c of the educational programs. And it’s not just question and answer sessions, it’s everything we’ve put together. The diversity of the people we’re bringing in. We have regulators, we have third parties coming and discussing topics that people want to hear, they have a chance to meet with these people and network one on one. And also what’s nice is you can choose which avenue you want to pursue within the educational seminar and the annual meetings. It’s diversified to where it’s not just P&C anymore. We brought in life and health people and opened it up to regulators and opened it up to vendors. And it’s great. It’s almost like it globalized. And that’s how you grow.”

One thing that hasn’t changed is AICP’s strong support of women leaders. Diane Brown was the first in an impressive line of female Presidents that include Elena Leming, Robin Cherry, Patty McCollum, Wilma Moody, Debra Matthews, Diane Higdon, and Cathy Bigham (who was President two or three times).

I asked Diane if she had any advice for AICP’s current female President, Ginny McHugh. Diane’s advice to Ginny was “keep innovating.”

Diane Brown intuitively understands what her Florida 220 agent’s exam instructor told her in 1986, namely that nothing in this world moves without insurance. When she sees a new business venture or something out of the ordinary on television, she’ll think to herself, “I wonder who insures that.” She lives and breathes insurance. She is one of us. Unfortunately she won’t be joining us at the AICP Annual Meeting in October, but don’t fret. Ms. Brown will be in Aruba, celebrating her husband’s birthday and their 20th wedding anniversary.

And check this out — Diane is a metal smith who works with gold and silver to cast and create jewelry with and without gemstones. She is also talented with mosaic, having learned the craft one year when a flood destroyed her countertops.

I asked if she had any final words, and that was a tough one. After a short silence, Diane said softly, “I wish Bob Lennon was here to see all this.”

A million thanks to Diane Brown for her dedication, her expertise, and most of all her leadership. She has my deep respect because of her quiet strength, her trailblazing spirit, and her skills with a blow torch.

Karen Yotis, Co-Chair
Publications Committee


Recognizing AICP Pioneers: Tom Tomlinson

As part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are recognizing a few of our pioneers – those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

Many of you know Tom Tomlinson. Tom enjoyed a long career with Bituminous Casualty Corporation in Rock Island, IL, retiring after 33 years. When he retired, Tom held the position of director – product development and filings and was responsible for overall compliance, rate development, market conduct examinations, complaint handling, forms development, and filing.  The fact that he is now retired does not mean that Tom has left the AICP. He still maintains his membership and serves on the Government & Industry Relations Committee. Tom also works part-time for Martin & Company. He just can’t seem to get away from the business. Several of us had heard Tom say, “If you were to cut me, you’d see me bleed AICP green.” Those who know Tom know that to be true.

A short interview with Tom follows:

When did you join the AICP?

I joined during the summer of 1985. I was reading through the National Underwriter, and there was a blurb about a new organization aimed to address and discuss P&C compliance issues.  Gerry Bell was listed as a contact person, so I gave him a call to ask about this new organization.  After talking with Gerry, I signed up immediately.

What positions have you held in the AICP?

Oh, goodness! Let me think. I’ve been a member of the Great Lakes Chapter all during my membership. I was the vice president, president, and past president of the chapter. I also held numerous positions in the chapter to help organize meetings and E-days.

I’ve been a member of just about every national committee – not all of them, but just about. I’ve been the co-chair of the Education Committee, chair of the Bylaws Committee, chair of the Nominating Committee, and chair of the Past Presidents’ Council. I was also the AICP’s first communication liaison. I also wrote our Rate Making Manual and graded the test results.

Additionally, I have also been the Vice President, President and Past President of the AICP.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

When I first contacted Gerry Bell about the organization, my compliance work responsibilities were fairly narrow in scope. Over time the role of compliance professional has changed a lot, and my responsibilities at work became more encompassing and broad. The AICP has also gone through a similar change. We were once known as the Society of State Filers, and much of our focus was on state filing issues, working with ISO, interacting with regulators, etc. Compliance professionals are now involved not only in filing, but in product development, rate development, market conduct exams, internal compliance audit, complaint handling, etc., as well as filing and approval negotiations.  he AICP has continued to broaden its scope to include this expansion of compliance professional responsibilities.

There has definitely been an increase in membership and increased diversity in our membership due to the expanding roles of compliance professionals. We made a big step in 1997 when the organization decided to bring Life & Health into the fold. Not only did this open new doorways for the AICP, but we were able to provide a unique experience to L&H compliance professionals that did not exist at that time.

I also think that incorporating regulators into the AICP has been one of the better changes we’ve made. This gives industry and regulators an opportunity to get to know one another better, to understand each other, and to identify ways to work better together. After all, we each are responsible for compliance and share many of the same objectives – we just need to find ways to work well together to meet those goals. I think the AICP has been at the forefront in terms of bringing industry and regulators together to look at these challenges and turn them into opportunities.

What value have you received from being a member of the AICP?

How much time do you have? I could go on and on about what I’ve received from the AICP.

The first thing that comes to mind is the sharing of information, what works and what doesn’t work, that helped me so much on the job. As part of sharing information, I also appreciated being asked to be a presenter at various meetings very much. I think it’s important for those of us who are more experienced than some of our colleagues to share our expertise and experience and to mentor those who are newer to compliance.

I also truly enjoyed meeting others, building relationships with regulators, and strengthening my network. It’s wonderful that I now call many folks friends who started as professional colleagues, and those friendships last a lifetime.

And, I appreciate participating in the evolution of and change in the AICP as it continued to keep up with the change in our compliance community. Speed to market was and continues to be of special interest to insurance companies, and I enjoyed being part of Charlie Rapacciuolo’s speed-to-market group.

My wife, Pauline, and I have attended every Annual Conference but one. We have very much enjoyed Annual Conference over the years.

What I may have appreciated most, though, was having been awarded the President’s Award and the Lennon Award. This is an honor not only bestowed by an organization I’ve been a part of for 25 years, an organization that has helped me become a better compliance professional, an organization that made opportunities for me to become a leader and participate in its mission, but also bestowed upon me by my professional peers and by my friends. I truly cannot begin to adequately thank the AICP and the many, many colleagues and friends I have for giving me so much. I can only hope that I have given something of value back.

Now that you’re retired, what are your hobbies?

Well, my hobbies didn’t begin with retirement. I have always enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and gardening. I also am quite involved in my church, and I love spending more time with Pauline (though she may think that challenging at times). I do keep involved in the AICP – at a much reduced level than before, but still involved. And, I love keeping up with the many friends I’ve developed over the years through the AICP.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

I think we’ve covered pretty much everything. But, I would like to say one last thing to the AICP.  Thank you for the many years and opportunities you’ve provided me and to the many, many friends I have made along the way. You have enriched my life. Thank you!

Interview conducted by Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force


AICP – 25 Years Young Recognizing AICP Pioneers

As part of the AICP’s recognition of its 25th anniversary, we are continuing to recognize a few of our AICP pioneers — those who helped initiate, develop and grow the AICP to become the association it is today.

Many of you may have heard the name, Jerry Bell. He is known as being one of our association’s founders. Take a look at the history of our leadership on the AICP website, and you will see Jerry’s name during the early years.

Jerry began his insurance career in 1953. He worked for several insurers, including Progressive Insurance Group and Foremost Insurance Company. When he became involved in working with others to develop what is now the AICP, he was working with Unigard out of Seattle, WA. Jerry moved from Unigard to NAII (nowPCIAA), from which he later retired, January 1, 2000.

Let’s get to know Jerry a bit better and find out more about the beginnings of our association. We have very few folks still with us who were there at the start of the AICP, and we’re fortunate to have reconnected with Jerry. A short interview with Jerry follows:

How and when did the AICP start; who were the folks who began our association?

During the early 1980s, there were several of us in the P&C compliance/filing field who began to have lunch together on an informal basis as we attended the quarterly NAIC meetings. We were eager to discuss P&C filing requirements for various states and, the ongoing changes states implemented. The luncheon meetings gave us an opportunity to share information so we could work smarter.

Our informal luncheons started to become known and in 1984 others were invited to join us. It became very clear to us that more and more filers needed to network and share information about compliance and filing functions. Folks wanted more, so we began to invite a speaker who would speak on a particular topic. We would also have a regulator come in and talk to us about state requirements, and often we would have an Insurance Commissioner join us.

We placed a small ad in the P&C National Underwriter announcing our luncheon meeting and invited filers/compliance persons to join us. As a result, attendance at the luncheons became greater. Attendees were hungry for information, so several of us decided it was time to formalize our group.

So, it started with 3 to 4 folks having lunch together at quarterly NAIC meetings, and then grew to quite a sizable group. Based on that, it was decided a more formalized group was needed. Who worked on the development of the AICP and how did it come about?

The first folks I remember who led in these efforts were Bob Ratch of Allstate, Dick Reeves of Travelers and Tom Flanagan of USAA. They were the ones who initially met for lunch, and I came in about the second or third lunch. Because of our rapid initial growth, it was necessary to open a bank account in the Society’s name to receive dues and pay for luncheon and other expenses. So, we formed a ByLaws Committee and I was appointed the chairperson of that committee.

This is where Bob Lennon, a dear, dear friend of mine, really became involved with our organization. Though he was not part of the initial luncheons, our association should consider Bob as one of our founders in every sense of the word. He was working with GenRe at the time, and he prevailed upon the legal department at GenRe to help draft our initial bylaws and to incorporate the Society—gratuitously, I might add . Bob truly was committed to our association and was determined that we would become a recognized not-for-profit organization. I had known Bob for quite some time, in fact he worked for me at Foremost for a number of years. He and I worked very closely together to develop our bylaws and to review the not-for-profit papers developed by the legal department at GenRe. Without Bob’s dogged determination this work would not have gone as well and as quickly as it did. It was a great day when we were approved and “officially” recognized as a not-for-profit organization.

What positions have you held with the AICP?

Well, as I noted above, I was the first chairperson of the Bylaws Committee for 1985-86, and that was very rewarding. I became the first Secretary in 1986 that went through most of 1987. In 1987-88 I was the President/Chairman of the association, following Tom Flanagan (who had followed Dick Reeves). I became a Board Director for the 1988-89 year.

Additionally, though not a “position” per se, I also began News and Views while at Unigard. It was our first association publication, and I authored a column titled, “A View from the Chair” for the first several quarterly editions. This gave us a venue to bring together various state filing requirements and experiences into one publication that could be distributed to our members. It certainly was not the polished publication The Journal is today. Everything was done manually on typewriter and using photocopiers. But, we were pleased with its beginnings and folks did send in information and topics to be covered.

What changes have you seen over the years with the AICP?

Oh, goodness, where to begin?!?

Obviously, we were P&C focused, and our main topic was filing. We needed to develop a network of folks who could share information about state requirements. States were often changing what they needed or wanted, and this was a way for us to keep up with all of the changes. It also helped folks who were new to filing.

Over the years the role of the compliance professional has certainly grown and broadened. The AICP has been able to recognize the evolving role of compliance professionals and has become much more inclusive. Big steps were the inclusion of regulatory personnel and the addition of the L&H contingent in the mid to late 90s.

Frankly, I’m not sure any of us could have imagined the degree of change our luncheons and resulting organization would go through to get where it is today.

What value were the founders looking for in our organization, and do you believe the AICP has been delivering?

Yes, absolutely! Our first and foremost goal was to develop a network of folks who could share information. That idea has been incorporated into the very fabric of the AICP and is part of our Mission Statement. We were looking for ways to help compliance professionals do their jobs better and to help them with professional development. The AICP has met that goal in spades and, in fact, has gone a long way to have the role of the compliance employee to be recognized at a professional level. And, as we began to grow and diversify, we wanted to meet the dynamic needs of employees in our industry. Truly, the AICP has met that challenge. I am very proud of the AICP, where it has been, where it is, and where it is going. I am convinced that our each of our founders would also be very proud of the organization today.

Now that you’re retired, what are your hobbies?

Family is very important to my wife, Marilyn, and me. We are very involved in our family and now have three great grandchildren. Marilyn and I also love to travel and recently came back from a trip to Costa Rica. Other tours included Mexico, Canada, Scandinavia and six other European nations. We are also very active in our church.

Is there anything you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

We’ve covered a lot of territory, Bill. But, I’m acutely aware that life isn’t all about “me”. I would be derelict if I failed to recognize the one person who contributed the most to my professional success. Thank you, Marilyn. Without her support and encouragement through the years, I would not have been able to take advantage of many opportunities that led to the depth of my involvement with the AICP in its formative years. We will have been married for 56 years next month. Anything Jerry Bell ever achieved in life simply would not have happened without Marilyn Bell.

We are excited about seeing you all in Dallas in October.

Bill Douglas
Chairperson, AICP 25th Anniversary Task Force

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