Advanced Degrees, Professional
Certifications & Designations – Are
they worth the effort?
Session Number 123
IASA 86TH ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS SHOW
Cindy Powell, MCPMP, CSM
Bespoke
 Founder and President – Bespoke.
 11 years with Bespoke, 28 years in Insurance (Health, Life,
P&C)
 Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
 Masters Certificate in Project Management (MCPMP) Villanova University
 Certified Scrum Master Certification (CSM) - University of
Pennsylvania
Denise Woernley, CPCU, AIS, AINS,
AU, Are
Dryden Mutual Insurance Company
 Business Analyst and Underwriting SME
 24 years in Insurance Industry
 Completed Associate in Accounting Degree, currently
working toward BA Risk Management
 Completed Certified Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)
designation
 Began teaching AICPcu courses in 2004 and has helped 24
people pass exams.
Zachary Collings, CPCU, ARe
ISCS
 Sales Engineer - ISCS since 2013
 3 Years prior Insurance experience with catastrophe risk
modeling vendor, Risk Management Solutions (RMS)
 BA, Economics Wake Forest University
 Completed MBA as full time student at the University of
Washington
 Completed CPCU, ARe and CCRA while working for RMS
and ISCS
Arthur Salvadori, CPA
Saslow, Lufkin & Buggy, LLP
 Audit Partner - Saslow Lufkin & Buggy, LLP (SLB)
 11 years with SLB and 17 years in the insurance industry
 Primary focus is Property and Casualty Insurance
 BS, Accounting, University of Connecticut
 Certified Public Accountant, Licensed in 2000
 Eligible to practice in several states
Lianne Watford, MCBA
LHW Business Analysts
 Founder, President – LHW Business Analysts
 17 years in insurance industry
 Associate in Science, Commercial Education - University
of South Carolina
 Completion of South Carolina Bankers School
 Masters Certification in Business Analysis (MCBA) –
Villanova University
 Currently working on Certified Business Analyst
Professional certification (CCBA) through International
Institute of Business Analyst (IIBA)
Agenda
 Why achieve an Advanced Degree or Professional
Certification?
 How difficult is the process of achieving these
designations?
 How have employers helped panelist achieve and maintain
these credentials?
 What is the impact to the day to day responsibilities and to
the careers of the panelist?
 Open forum for Q&A with panelist
Why achieve an Advanced Degree or
Professional Certification?
 PMP - “certification positively impacts project manager
salaries — and helps you stand out and better market
yourself to prospective employers” - PMI
 CPCU - “92% of CPCUs believe earning their CPCU
prepared them for their long-term career goals.” –
theinstitutes,org
 MBA – “one of the best tools a business person can have”
– Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania
 CPA – “ a vital part of any strong business or organization”
– IBM Finance Forum
 CBAP – “Recognition of professional competence by
professional peers and management” - IIBA
How difficult is the process of
achieving these designations?
 Methods for preparing for exams
 Time and Duration Required to be Successful
 Work / Life Balance through the process
 Maintaining Designation
How have employers helped panelist
achieve and maintain these
credentials?
 Impact in getting the job and/or promotions
 Financial Assistance and Incentives
 Allocation of work hours toward preparation
 In-house training programs and mentorships
What is the impact to day to day
responsibilities and to the careers of
the panelist?
 How useful is what you learned in helping you succeed in
the day to day responsibilities of the job?
 Has achieving your credentials impacted the way you are
viewed by peers and management?
 Would you do it again?
Open forum for Q&A with panelist
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IASA 86TH ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS SHOW