Regional Director Candidates
Cole Finchen
I have been a Compliance professional for ten years, working with carriers, agencies and third-party administrators. I currently serve as a Compliance Director at Assurance IQ, in addition to my roles as Membership Committee Chair and Northwest Chapter Financial Liaison. I am engaged to my lovely fiancée Ashley, and can provide pictures of any of our five pets (three cats and two dogs) upon request.
Give a brief description of your involvement (current and past) with the AICP
I currently serve as the chair of the Membership Committee, as well as the Financial Liaison for the Northwest Chapter.
What skills do you bring to the office? What qualifications make you a viable candidate for the office?
I both my attention to detail, organization and work ethic will be valuable assets to the National Board. I think I get things done, and am always happy to volunteer to help others.
What would be your goals for office if you are elected?
I would like to continue to grow our Membership to eventually exceed pre-pandemic numbers. Beyond that, my main goal is to use my time and energy to facilitate the specific goals of individual committees.
If elected, how would you use your office to work with others in the AICP to pursue the AICP’s current goals and objectives, to meet member needs, and to enhance the AICP’s value in our insurance compliance community?
One thing I would love to do from this role is collaborate with other chapters on how they support their members and facilitate valuable interactions. For instance, I know the Midwest Chapter does a road show, but I have no idea what the intricacies of those events look like. I think this is a great opportunity for cross pollination and the betterment of each individual chapter.
Where would you like to see the AICP in the future and what would you do to move the AICP toward the vision?
Coming back to a prior point, I would like to see more collaboration and interaction between chapters, whether it’s about recruiting new members, webinar ideas, or how to plan out E-Day. Perhaps one way to do this would be have more conversational webinars, or perhaps an entirely separate sort of session in which members have a better opportunity to interact directly.
Dawn Wellenbrink
Dawn has worked in the insurance industry for over 17 years. As a Compliance Analyst, she’s been responsible for The Standard’s Individual Annuity suitability program; conducting and drafting the department’s annual audits, as well as providing the department’s suitability and replacement trainings. She reviews and files various products, forms and advertising materials, assists with data calls and market conduct exams, as well as drafting compliance advisories. Having worked on both sides of the business, she adds a unique perspective. Dawn is a native Oregonian and has been married to her husband Scott for the past twenty-three years. She enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family and hunting for vintage treasures. Dawn has been a member of the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP) since 2016. She served as the Northwest Chapter Secretary from 2018 – 2021 and has been the acting NW Chapter Regional Director since 2021.
Give a brief description of your involvement (current and past) with the AICP
I have been a member of the AICP since 2016. I served as the NW Chapter Secretary from 2018 – 2021 and have been the acting NW Chapter Regional Director since 2021. As an RD, I’ve assisted the COC with the following initiatives, updating our E-Day sponsorship levels and form, reviewing and providing feedback about AICP bylaws and website, the creation and execution of an RFP procedure and finally, providing feedback about a document for newly elected RD’s.
What skills do you bring to the office? What qualifications make you a viable candidate for the office?
Skills that l bring to the office include successful communication, problem solving, leadership, decision making, active listening and teamwork.
I believe these skills, along with my experience on the board, make me a viable candidate for office.
What would be your goals for office if you are elected?
If elected, I will continue to act as the liaison between my local chapter membership and the AICP’s national board. I also plan on joining a planning committee this term.
If elected, how would you use your office to work with others in the AICP to pursue the AICP’s current goals and objectives, to meet member needs, and to enhance the AICP’s value in our insurance compliance community?
If elected, I will continue to work on active COC initiatives and the national board restructure. I will work with my local chapter board to plan next year’s E-Day and to join a committee this term.
Where would you like to see the AICP in the future and what would you do to move the AICP toward the vision?
I’d like to see AICP grow, not only in membership but for it to continue to serve as an outstanding networking opportunity for the insurance industry.
