What does it mean to engage with the Institute? Beyond taking courses or participating in seminars, there are many opportunities to engage with your local institute or chapter as a volunteer. Engaging as a volunteer has a special secondary benefit – not only are you gaining new or honing existing skills, but you’re also giving back to the p&c insurance industry in Canada. It’s this second type of benefit that can provide professionals some of the most memorable, rewarding and character-building experiences of their careers.

 

Read on to meet three Institute volunteers who have been engaged with the Institute (and beyond) – in roles including Career Connections Ambassadors, instructors and exam proctors – who share their stories of learning, teaching and giving back.

Kerry Diehl, B.Comm, CIP, CAIB, DAPM

Business Development Manager

FirstOnSite Restoration

 

How did you get started in the insurance industry?

 

I started in insurance like most of my generation, by opportunity, not by planning to do so. I was doing phone marketing after finishing university, where I had gone off to “B.Comm” somebody. The current client was the BC Automobile Association. After learning enough about their products, I applied to work there, and they hired me on the spot. I saw more opportunity in the insurance area, took advantage of training to get licensed and quickly completed my Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker designation (CAIB). I became an insurance supervisor of a branch within three years of being licensed. Insurance made sense to me, and I could easily explain complicated products to clients and help my staff.

 

After 25 years as a licensed agent, a change that surprised many, I joined the Insurance Council of BC as their first inspector, reviewing compliance at insurance agencies, and other licensees. It was a game changer that resulted in some pretty major rule changes for 30K+ licensed insurance people doing business in BC.

 

How did you get started volunteering with the Insurance Institute of BC?

 

After obtaining my CIP, I taught CAIB while they had weekly night classes. When this stopped, I took a Diploma in Applied Project Management, and while perusing the IIBC website, I came across an article on the Ambassador program through Career Connections. My son had just started grade 3, I was a basketball coach for several years, and I thought the opportunity to speak in classrooms would be a great fit for working on public speaking. This exposure also helped me become a CIP instructor, teaching C131, Advanced Skills for the Broker Agent.

 

When I first started with the Ambassador program, we had a workshop that showed us what support materials were available, and some tips and games and facts that we could use to tell the story of insurance, and expose students to the multitude of careers available. After that, selecting events from the emailed list was easy. Hats off to my employers along the way for making it easy to book the time away for work!

 

What volunteer roles have you been involved in over the years?

 

I have been involved with coaching kids’ basketball for Tri-Cities Youth Basketball Association; my previous coaching experience led me to one of the founding directors. I recently retired from 24 years as a youth basketball coach.

 

I just finished my eight year as a Career Connections Ambassador and estimate that I have participated in almost 50 events from high school classroom presentations, high school, university and college career fairs, to the occasional industry panel.

 

I recently joined the Simon Fraser University’s Mentors in Business program, to work with third year business students.

 

What skills and qualifications do you have that help you succeed in those roles?

 

Continual education, self-improvement and the variety of insurance jobs have given me great insight into the industry, and I have been blessed with some great teachers along the way. When I realized many of my peers started asking for help and advice, it gave me a boost that it was time for me to give back. 

 

One great lesson that I learned while learning about public speaking is that you use topics that you know about. For me, that was insurance. Another lesson was that in order to get good at anything, you had to go out and get some practice and positive experiences. I knew that if I could handle an audience of 10 to 12 kids, I could grow that into an audience of 20 to 30 kids. Recently I spent a full-day at a high school doing five straight classroom presentations, reaching up to 146 kids.

 

For you personally, what are some of the benefits of volunteering?

 

It’s the feeling when I get a LinkedIn invite from a student from a five-minute conversation at a career fair, and they keep in touch with me throughout their University career. When you see the ‘lights go on’ with someone, like when coaching a game and seeing the kids execute some offense or defense play, or when completing a presentation and having students ask some very engaging questions. That’s when I know I have created something, passed on some skills that are being used to make a difference, and there is pride. You don’t always think about how much some people’s lives will be impacted by your time, volunteering just a few hours a week.

 

Networking is the next biggest benefit. Other people participating in these events have become valuable contacts, and the sheer variety of people I have met is amazing. Knowing how insurance works is one thing, but knowing all the people and how they contribute to the industry brings you to a whole new level.

 

What advice would you give other professionals considering volunteer experience?

 

Get started. Use what you know; find the opportunities. Coaching kids’ sports is a great place to start. Take all the opportunities from the organization for training to help you early on while you are getting comfortable with the new roles. Look for a mentor to help you polish your style, and openly listen to feedback.

 

Derrick Roberts, CIP

Senior Casualty Specialist | Commercial Insurance

Aviva Canada

 

How did you get started in the insurance industry?

 

My father was an insurance adjuster so I was always aware of and intrigued by the insurance industry. When I got into high school and began considering my future career, the insurance industry appealed to me. My father always had a nice car, was always on the road attending meetings, and fire and accident scenes. As a young person the prospect of having a nice car, lots of mobility in my work, and getting unrestricted access to fire and accident scenes sounded really cool. (As an aside, now as an underwriter, I really don’t like fire and accident scenes!)

 

After high school I went to college and attended a Business of Insurance Certificate program and really enjoyed it. I had awesome instructors, and unlike in high school, my marks were quite good!

 

How did you get started volunteering with the Insurance Institute of Canada?

 

My first volunteering role with the Insurance Institute was proctoring CIP exams. Having grown up in a household with an insurance professional, and a very proud member of the industry at that, and then being immersed very quickly into the profession myself, I was more than pleased to give back in whatever way I could. My college and CIP course instructors, along with institute seminar instructors were amazing. The local institute office in Ottawa is amazing, as are all the mentors and trainers I’ve worked with during my career. Again, any little way I could give back, I was happy to help.

 

What volunteer roles have you been involved in over the years?

 

For many years, I have been a CIP exam proctor with the Insurance Institute. In the past six years, I have been an active Ambassador with the Institute’s Career Connections program. I really enjoy classroom presentations and educating high school students on career opportunities in the insurance industry, and representing the industry at college and university career fairs. There have been a number of other fun and rewarding opportunities to help prospective insurance professionals find their place in the insurance industry. For the last three years, I have sat on the Institute Ottawa Chapter board as a council member.

 

What skills and qualifications do you have that help you succeed in those roles?

 

I think, first and foremost, the pride and gratitude I have in being a member of this wonderful industry is what drives me to volunteer. The natural byproduct of this is being effective in the various volunteering roles I have. I think having my CIP designation and remembering the hard work that went into that achievement, as well as being well informed about the many facets of the industry also helps. Early in my career, I received formal training for public speaking and I had a lot of exposure to speaking in training sessions and larger business forums, which has helped me tremendously in developing my confidence in standing up in front of people.

 

For you personally, what are some of the benefits of volunteering?

 

I enjoy helping out and giving back to an industry that has been very good to me. I have fun volunteering and it’s rewarding! I have also met a number of colleagues over the years through volunteering and I’ve developed many professional relationships I otherwise wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for volunteering. Those relationships have helped me in my underwriting career and its great meeting and learning from these wonderful and tremendously intelligent people.  

 

What advice would you give other professionals considering volunteer experience?

 

My recommendation would be to inquire with your colleagues who currently volunteer and ask them about their experiences and what volunteering with the Institute is all about. Also I would recommend reaching out to your local institute chapter office to let them know you’re interested in helping. Be honest about your areas of interest and your time availability. Again, for me, volunteering is rewarding, it’s fun, and you meet great people! Sign up and give it a try!

 

Claudia Nembhard, CIP

Director, Claims Audit

Global Quality Assurance | AIG Property Casualty

AIG Canada

 

How did you get started in the insurance industry?

 

I started in the industry almost 20 years ago as a data entry clerk through word of mouth from a client. Like almost everyone in the industry, I fell into insurance and have been fortunate enough to build a rewarding career from this chance introduction.

 

How did you get started volunteering with the Insurance Institute of Ontario – GTA Chapter?

 

A few years ago, I read an article about becoming an Ambassador and what it entails but at the time my job was not flexible enough to allow me to participate. Fast forward five years when I took on a role as a Claims Auditor in the Global Quality Assurance Division with AIG. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate because one of AIG’s core principles is volunteerism and my current role provides me with the flexibility to volunteer with the Insurance Institute.

 

What volunteer roles have you been involved in over the years?

 

I perform classroom presentations to public and high school students about the insurance industry; attend high school, college and university career fairs; as well as participate in career mentoring sessions through the Junior Achievement initiative.

 

What skills and qualifications do you have that help you succeed in those roles?

 

The primary skills I bring to the role are the ability to listen and share my positive enthusiasm to engage and promote this industry. Through the course of my career I’ve had the opportunity to work on both the underwriting and claims side of the business which provide me with a unique perspective when sharing my experience about the insurance industry and the benefits of continuing your education through the Institute. I’ve also developed effective communication and public speaking skills which are an asset to the role of an Ambassador.

 

For you personally, what are some of the benefits of volunteering?

 

Engaging with young adults gives me the opportunity to dispel some of the myths about insurance and share a positive perspective of the industry. I have also gained valuable insight from the other volunteers and it has been a great experience. I learned about myself – how I could transfer my skills to have a positive impact, and along the way I built and developed new relationships with colleagues.

 

What advice would you give other professionals considering volunteer experience?

 

I would let them know it’s very rewarding knowing that a little bit of your time could have a lasting impact on someone’s career choice.